U.S. Government Principles and Articles

Limited Government and Constitutional Principles

• Limited government is a constitutional principle ensuring powers are restricted by the Constitution.
• The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution outlines the government's objectives.
• Core principles include popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, and federalism.

Articles of Confederation Weaknesses

• The Articles lacked an executive branch, judicial branch, authority to tax, and power to regulate trade, which hindered effective governance.
• Shays' Rebellion highlighted deficiencies in the Articles, illustrating weak military and tax enforcement capabilities.

Federalist Papers

• Federalist No. 51 emphasizes checks and balances and separation of powers to prevent concentration of power and tyranny.
• Federalist No. 70 advocates for a strong single executive for efficient governance.
• Madison's Federalist No. 10 argues that a large republic safeguards liberty by diluting majority factions.

Judicial Powers and Legislative Oversight

• The Federal Judiciary Act of 1789 established a federal court system.
• Congress has oversight authority to conduct hearings, investigations, and budget reviews related to the executive branch.

Congressional Powers and Political Action

• Congress holds powers such as taxation, war declaration, and commerce regulation.
• Political Action Committees (PACs) and SuperPACs raise campaign funds, often operating under different regulatory frameworks.

Constitutional Clauses and Civic Rights

• The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits state discrimination, extending similar protections to federal actions.
• The Full Faith and Credit Clause ensures legal decisions and contracts from one state are recognized in others.

Electoral Systems and Representation

• The U.S. employs a winner-takes-all system for electoral votes, except in Maine and Nebraska.
• The Electoral College is tasked with officially selecting the President and Vice President, following state legislative nominations.

Amendments and Constitutional Ratification

• Article V outlines the amendment process, requiring supermajority approval from Congress and states.
• Ratification of the Constitution demanded approval from nine out of thirteen states according to Article VII.

Compromises and Structure of Government

• The Great Compromise established a bicameral legislature with equal representation in one house and population-based representation in the other.
• The Three-Fifths Compromise counted enslaved individuals as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation.

Governance Models and Democratic Theories

• Distinct democratic theories include participatory democracy emphasizing broad engagement, pluralist democracy recognizing group activism, and elite democracy limiting citizen roles to selecting leaders.
• Anti-Federalist perspectives, expressed in Brutus No. 1, champion smaller decentralized republics for better protection of liberties.

Public Policy and Governance Issues

• Supreme authority rests with the Constitution as affirmed by the Supremacy Clause, which positions national laws above state regulations.
• The Government's response to issues such as school education and civil liberties continues to evolve, influenced by historical events like the 9/11 attacks.

Responsibilities of Political Entities

• Congressional committees, such as the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, investigate executive actions for accountability.
• Impeachment serves as a mechanism for holding public officials accountable for abuses of power, initiated by the House and concluding in the Senate.

Rights and Legal Protections

• The Hatch Act restricts partisan activities by government employees to maintain political neutrality.
• Rights to counsel in criminal cases derive from the Gideon v. Wainwright ruling, ensuring legal representation for individuals unable to afford it.

Federalism and Shared Powers

• The Constitution delineates exclusive powers for the national government, while concurrent powers are shared between national and state governments, promoting a balance between local and federal control.### Balance of Power
• Exclusive and concurrent powers of national and state governments illustrate negotiations between these levels of governance.

Grants

• A financial sum provided by an organization, particularly the government, designated for specific purposes or causes.

Incentives

• Actions or rewards designed to motivate behavior; federal government offers incentives to states to ensure compliance with policies.

Aid Programs

• Notable programs include:
  • Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) Program focusing on nutrition assistance.
  • Head Start, which provides early childhood education.
  • Medicaid, offering health care for low-income individuals.
  • Medicare, providing health coverage for the elderly.
  • Food stamps assisting low-income families with food purchases.
  • Workfare (TANF) aimed at supporting families in need through work-oriented assistance.

Federal Revenue Sharing

• The distribution of federal income tax revenue to state and local governments, allowing for collaborative funding initiatives.

Mandates

• Requirements established by the national government that states must fulfill, irrespective of their acceptance of federal grants.