US Government and Politics

Constitutional Foundations

• The Constitution is the supreme law of the land
• Separation of powers: Legislative, Executive, Judicial
• System of checks and balances
• Federalism: Division of power between national government and states

Federalism

• Dual federalism: National government and states have separate spheres of authority
• Cooperative federalism: National government and states share authority
• Fiscal federalism: National government provides funding to states

Civil Liberties

• Bill of Rights: First 10 amendments to the Constitution
• Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition (1st Amendment)
• Right to bear arms (2nd Amendment)
• Protection against self-incrimination and double jeopardy (5th Amendment)

Civil Rights

• 13th Amendment: Abolition of slavery
• 14th Amendment: Due process and equal protection
• 15th Amendment: Voting rights for African Americans
• Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
• Voting Rights Act of 1965: Protects voting rights for racial and language minorities

Congress

• Bicameral legislature: House of Representatives and Senate
• House of Representatives:
  • 435 members, each representing a district
  • Serve 2-year terms
• Senate:
  • 100 members, each representing a state
  • Serve 6-year terms
• Powers:
  • Lawmaking
  • Budget and appropriations
  • Advice and consent (presidential appointments)

The Presidency

• Executive power: Enforces laws, commander-in-chief
• Executive privileges:
  • Executive orders
  • Pardons
  • Diplomatic appointments
• Presidential roles:
  • Head of state
  • Head of government
  • Commander-in-chief

The Judiciary

• Supreme Court: Highest court in the land
• Jurisdiction: Original and appellate
• Types of cases:
  • Original jurisdiction: Cases involving states or ambassadors
  • Appellate jurisdiction: Cases appealed from lower courts
• Judicial review: Supreme Court's power to declare laws unconstitutional

Political Parties and Elections

• Functions of political parties:
  • Nominate candidates
  • Campaign and electioneering
  • Governance
• Types of party systems:
  • Two-party system
  • Multi-party system
• Election types:
  • Primary elections
  • General elections
  • Caucuses and conventions

Interest Groups and the Media

• Interest groups:
  • Types: Economic, environmental, social
  • Strategies: Lobbying, litigation, grassroots mobilization
• Media:
  • Types: Print, broadcast, digital
  • Functions: Inform, persuade, entertain
• Relationship between interest groups and media:
  • Agenda-setting
  • Framing
  • Priming

Public Opinion and Political Socialization

• Public opinion:
  • Formation: Socialization, media, events
  • Measurement: Surveys, polls, focus groups
• Political socialization:
  • Agents: Family, school, media
  • Processes: Learning, internalization, reinforcement
• Political ideology:
  • Liberalism
  • Conservatism
  • Libertarianism