Participation in Government Final Review

Constitution & Government Structure

• Constitution outlines fundamental laws governing principles, structures, and processes.
• Article I establishes the powers of the legislative branch responsible for making laws.
• The legislative branch is bicameral, comprised of two bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
• The House of Representatives functions as the lower house, with representation based on state population.

Key Legislative Roles

• The Speaker of the House presides over sessions and is the leader of the majority party.
• The Senate consists of 100 members serving six-year terms, requiring a minimum age of 30 and U.S. citizenship for at least four years.
• The President of the Senate, the U.S. vice president, acts as its presiding officer.

Congressional Dynamics

• Congressional Committees support political parties, focusing on re-election campaigns and candidate challenges.
• Whips are appointed legislators responsible for maintaining party discipline.

Constitutional Provisions

• The Elastic Clause allows Congress to enact laws deemed "necessary and proper."
• Incumbents, those already in office, have a high re-election rate.

Executive Branch Overview

• Article II details the structure of the executive branch, responsible for enforcing laws.
• The President serves as head of state and is also the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

Electoral Process

• The Electoral College formally elects the President and Vice President of the United States.
• The Cabinet comprises heads of executive departments, serving as official advisers to the President.

Bureaucracy & Agencies

• Bureaucracy represents a system of government management via appointed officials rather than elected ones.
• Independent agencies, like the Federal Trade Commission, operate without direct presidential control.

Judicial Branch Insights

• Article III outlines the judicial branch, which administers justice in the U.S.
• The Supreme Court features nine Justices, including a Chief Justice, who preside indefinitely.

Key Legal Cases & Amendments

• Miranda Rights ensure individuals understand their rights when arrested.
• Plessy v. Ferguson established the "separate but equal" doctrine, later overturned by Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled school segregation unconstitutional.
• The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, while the 14th and 15th Amendments guarantee citizenship rights and voting rights regardless of race.
• The 18th Amendment enacted Prohibition, later repealed by the 21st Amendment.

Governance Principles

• Checks and Balances prevent abuse of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
• Federalism divides power between national and state governments.
• Powers are categorized as delegated (federal), reserved (state), and concurrent (shared).

Political Processes

• Elections determine governmental leadership, relying on public participation.
• Political parties influence government policy, with two major parties dominating: Democrats and Republicans.
• Third parties exist but rarely succeed in elections due to the dominance of major parties.

Political Ideologies

• PACs raise funds to support candidates, while special interest groups aim to sway legislation through lobbying.
• Moderates navigate the political spectrum between extreme views, while Democrats and Republicans represent liberal and conservative ideologies, respectively.