American Government Study Guide

American Government Study Guide

• Unitary Government: All power is held by the central government, which can delegate tasks to smaller units (like cities), but retains ultimate authority.
• Confederal Government: A loose alliance of independent states or countries. Each unit retains significant control, and the central government has limited powers, typically only handling matters affecting all members.
• Federal Government: Power is divided between a central and smaller political units (like states). The central government handles national issues, while the smaller units handle local affairs.
• Oligarchy: Rule by a small group of people, often wealthy or powerful, with limited citizen participation.
• Autocracy: Rule by a single person with complete power; citizens have no participation in government.
• Democracy: Citizens hold supreme power. All citizens, regardless of wealth or position, are equally entitled to participate in governance, usually by choosing representatives.
• Presidential Democracy: Voters elect a separate executive (president) and legislators. The executive and legislature are not the same people.
• Parliamentary Democracy: Voters elect the legislature (parliament). The parliament then chooses the executive (often called Prime Minister) from among its members.

Early English Political Documents

• Magna Carta (1215): A document establishing certain rights for the people, often considered a fundamental guarantee of rights and privileges. The document limited the rights of the king by restricting his governing powers.
• Petition of Rights (1628): A petition to King Charles I from Parliament, detailing grievances and rights, including the principle of no taxation without Parliament's consent.
• English Bill of Rights (1689): Guaranteed basic rights and liberties for the people, established the succession to the throne after the Glorious Revolution, and reinforced the principle of parliamentary supremacy.

Key Principles of American Government

• Popular Sovereignty: Rule by the people, the people are the ultimate source of governing authority.
• Federalism: Power is divided between the national and state governments.
• Separation of Powers: Power is divided among three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) of government.
• Checks and Balances: Each branch of government has the power to limit the actions of the other two branches.
• Judicial Review: The power of the courts to determine whether laws or actions of the executive or legislative branches are constitutional.
• Limited Government: Government actions are limited by its constitutionally defined powers. The government does not have complete control over individual rights.

Historical Influences on American Government

• Social Contract Theory: The idea that people voluntarily give up some freedom in order to create an organized government that protects their rights. Influenced by thinkers like John Locke and Thomas Hobbes.
• John Locke: Expounded on social contract theory, stressing the natural rights of life, liberty, and property, and the right of the people to alter or abolish a government that fails to protect these rights.
• Charles Montesquieu: Developed the concept of the separation of governmental powers among three separate branches.
• U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776): Declared the American colonies' independence from Great Britain, using arguments for the social contract that people have inherent rights.
• U.S. Constitution: A foundational document outlining the framework of the U.S. government.

Other Key Concepts

• Federalists: Favored a strong central government.
• Anti-Federalists: Favored stronger state governments.
• Debate over Ratification: The process and arguments surrounding the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.
• Bill of Rights: The first ten amendments to the Constitution, outlining fundamental individual rights such as freedom of speech, religion, press.
• Civil Liberties: Fundamental freedoms protected from government interference.
• Civil Rights: Rights guaranteed to all citizens, ensuring freedom from discrimination and ensuring equal protection under the law.
• Political Parties: Groups of people with shared political beliefs who organize to win elections and control government.
• Political Action Committees (PACs): Groups that raise money for political candidates.
• Grassroots: A political movement that starts with everyday people.
• Legislative Branch: The branch of government that makes laws.
• Executive Branch: The branch of government that enforces laws.
• Judicial Branch: The branch of government that interprets laws.

Leadership and Functions in Congress

• Each house (House of Representatives and Senate) has distinct leadership, including the Speaker and majority/minority leaders and whips.
• Legislative Leaders: Those who conduct legislative processes and persuade members to pass the bills they sponsor.

How a Bill Becomes Law

• The process of a bill moving through the House and Senate and finally to the President to be either signed as a law or vetoed.

The Impeachment Process

• The procedure for removing public officials from office.
• The House can impeach, and if impeached, the case goes to the Senate for a trial.

The Executive Branch

• The structure and function of the executive branch. This includes the president and their cabinet.
• Powers: The roles and duties of the executive branch, including commander-in-chief, foreign policy leader, appointing officials, and carrying out the laws of the land.

The Judicial Branch

• The structure and function of the judicial branch. This includes the Supreme Court and various lower federal courts and local courts.

The Federal System

• The distribution of power between the federal government and state governments in the United States.
• Concurrent powers: Powers shared by federal and state governments.
• Express/Implied powers: Powers specifically listed/implied in the Constitution for federal government.

Political Processes

• Political Parties: Group committed to a particular ideology or set of policies to win elections
• Nominations: Ways in which candidates are chosen for election
• General Elections: Process and procedures for voting