American Gov

Landmark Supreme Court Cases

• Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.
• Schenck v. United States (1919) ruled that the Espionage Act of 1917 did not violate the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech.
  • The Act prohibited disclosing government information regarding national defense.
  • It also prohibited the expression of anti-war and unpatriotic sentiments.
• New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) established the "actual malice" test for libel cases.
  • Sullivan sued the New York Times for defamation.
  • The case standardized defamation law, putting the First Amendment at the forefront.
• Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) ruled that the Sixth Amendment's guarantee of the right to counsel applies to state criminal trials.
  • This case greatly expanded the power of the Fourteenth Amendment, which protects individual rights against both federal and state laws that threaten them.
• Miranda v. Arizona (1966) ruled that suspects must be informed of their Fifth Amendment rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.
  • This case established the Miranda warnings, which police are required to give to suspects.

US Politics and Government

• Watergate is the name of the investigation into the 1972 break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate Office Building, leading to the resignation of President Richard Nixon.
  • Nixon used executive privilege attempts to appeal against the investigation.
• There are 538 electors in the Electoral College.
• The Democratic Party was initially called the Democratic-Republicans.
  • Founded in 1828, the Democratic Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States.
  • Famous Democratic presidents include Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
• The Republican Party is often known as the Grand Old Party (GOP).
  • Founded in 1854, the Republican Party is one of the two major political parties in the United States.
  • Famous Republican presidents include Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump.
• The original Constitution did not specifically mention states.
  • It was designed to be a decentralized system with power concentrated at the state level and a week central government.
• Political parties use caucuses and primaries to select candidates for office.
  • Caucuses are private meetings run by political parties. Participants divide themselves into groups according to the candidate they support, with undecided voters forming a group of their own.
  • Delegates chosen in a primary must support the candidate they were awarded through the caucus or primary process.
• Lobbyists play a significant role in influencing policymakers.
  • They can provide information, build relationships, and advocate for specific policies.
  • While not the only way, lobbying also provides politicians with access to resources and networks.

C. Wright Mills and the Power Elite

• C. Wright Mills was an American sociologist and a professor of sociology at Columbia University from 1946-1962.
• Mills' book "The Power Elite" (1956) explored the theory of the power elite.
  • The power elite are individuals who hold key positions in the government, military, and business sectors.
  • They tend to share similar backgrounds, values, and interests.
  • With their power and influence, they can manipulate the political and social landscape.
  • The military-industrial complex is one example of this power elite.
• The revolving door refers to the movement of individuals between top positions in the government, business, and military.
  • This movement can result in conflicts of interest and a lack of accountability.

Political Leaders

• Kevin McCarthy is the current Speaker of the US House of Representatives.
• Hakeem Jeffries is the US House Minority Leader.
• Chuck Schumer is the US Senate Majority Leader.
• Mitch McConnell is the US Senate Minority Leader.

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