American Government Final Exam 2024 Study Guide PDF

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT FINAL EXAM 2024 STUDY GUIDE Topics Covered Chapter 1: - Theories of rule -rulers have legitimacy-seen as right and proper by important segments of a nations population Divine Right Rulers chosen by God or gods—major source...

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT FINAL EXAM 2024 STUDY GUIDE Topics Covered Chapter 1: - Theories of rule -rulers have legitimacy-seen as right and proper by important segments of a nations population Divine Right Rulers chosen by God or gods—major source of legitimacy Rulers claim power comes from God/gods to increase absolute power Natural Law and Natural Rights Natural law—system of rules derived from the natural world Provides just and rational order to all things in world, everyone possesses natural rights (human rights) Legitimate governments (supposedly) do not violate natural law) The Social Contract Social Contract theory—first governments formed as result of people agreeing to submit to authority of state, in return state provides people with protection and support Gov is legitimate only as long as parties give their power to state Thomas Hobbes talks about it in Leviathan, his book The state has lots of power because it has all the power people gave up John Locke—sees gov as result of social contract, emphasized people’s natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness), people governed by natural law, power must be limited to protect natural rights Jean-Jacques Rousseau—people lived happy lives but societies and government corrupts lives and makes them unhappy (introduced inequality), proposes people establish gov based on social contract and connected to “general will” - - Forms of government - 1. Monarchy - > Example: Jordan - > Ruled by a monarch, usually king/queen, who belongs to a royal family - > Power is inherited - > Absolute monarchs have unlimited power - - 2. Constitutional Monarchy - > Example: United Kingdom - > based on the idea that there are limits to the rightful power of the government over its citizens - > power of the monarch is limited by law - > may coexist with other forms of government such as a representative democracy - - 3. Dictatorship - > example: Cuba - > single dictator or small group holds absolute authority to make all decisions - > violence and force used to maintain rule - - 4. Tolatarian Regime - > Example: North Korea - >dictator holds ultimate authority - > the gov tightly controls all aspects of life- political, social, economic - > no formal or informal limits on government -  - 5. Oligarchy/Aristocracy - >Example: Ancient Greece {Sparta) - > small group of powerful people make most government decisions for their own benefit - > membership in ruling group may be based on wealth, family, or military power - - 6. Theocracy - > example: Iran - > rulers claim to represent and be directed by a set of religious ideas - > laws are rooted in a particular religion or religious doctrine - > government power is unlimited - - 7. Direct Democracy - > Athens - > citizens are ultimate source of government authority - > citizens come together and discuss and pass laws and select leaders - > works best in small communities - - 8. Republican/Representative Democracy - > example: united states - > government by the people - > indirect form of democracy - > citizens elect representatives to make government decisions on their behalf - > representatives elected for set terms - - Principles of American Democracy - A. Worth of the Indvidual - a. All people are created equal and deserve an opportunity to pursue their potential. - b. Individual freedom, personal responsibility, self-reliance, and individual achievement. - B. Rule of Law - a. Government is subject to recognized and enforced limits. - C. Majority Rule/Minority Rights - a. Majority rules but the rights of the policial minority are protected. - b. More than half of votes. - c. Not too much power to any one group (Framers). - d. All people, popular or not, have right to express opinions. - D. Compromise - a. Despite their differences, opposing groups can reach agreement to resolve conflicts. - E. Citizen Participation - a. A healthy democracy requires active citizen participation at all levels. - - Chapter 2: - Events leading to independence Early attempts at unity: First attempt was New England Confederation. Colonies were: Plymouth, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Haven. Purpose was to defend against threats from Native Americans and nearby Dutch colonies. Ended 40 years later  Second attempt was French and Indian War. Simulated more thoughts of unity amongst colonies. British vs French. Colonies urged to sign treaty with the Iroquois Confederation, active for 200 years. 3rd attempt Benjamin Franklin—> Albany Plan of Union, required a council of representatives, president general appointed by king that had the power to control trade, raise armies, build settlements, and equip fleets. PLAN WAS REJECTED, gave too much king power, basic draft of constitution. Growing Tension King George III tightened reigns Colonists handle their own affairs Loyal subjects Parliament worried Changes in British Policies French and Indian War was costly to Britain, which resulted in British being in debt Parliament looked to the colonies as revenue King George taxes colonists 1764, Sugar Act- taxed sugar to make Britain have less debt “No taxation without representation” The Stamp Act 1765, Stamp Act- an act that required a government tax stamp on paper goods and all legal documents Forcing stamp agents out of office (mocking) 1766 (repealed Stamp Act) More taxes Resistance groups begin Colonial Protests March 5, 1770 Boston Massacre 1772, Sam Adams forms the Committees of Correspondence December 16, 1773, The Boston Tea Party ❖ A group of colonists boarded 3 British ships and dumped the ships tea cargo into the Boston Harbor Congress’ Response to the Colonists 1774, Intolerable Acts was passed which closed the Boston Harbor and ended all forms of “self-rule” Called for housing of troops in private homes Continental Congress Virginia and Massachusetts assemblies called for a general meeting of the colonies to be held in Philly The First Continental Congress First Continental Congress (fall of 1774) Declaration of Resolves sent to king ❖ Demanded repeal of Intolerable Acts, end to British military occupation, and power to impose own tax laws Congress called for a boycott of British goods April 1775, British troops clashed with colonial militia at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts Clash called “the shot heard’ round the world” The Second Continental Congress  3 weeks after Lexington and Concord, met in Philly 12 out of 13 representatives for colonies Organize a ragtag militia around Boston into an official Continental Army Unanimous vote, delegates then made George Washington its commander 1775 congress a final report to King George III, he refused to read it August 23, proclaimed American colonists (full state of rebellion) “Suppress such rebellion, and to bring the traitors to justice.” Revolutionary war underway, congress took role of government Congress raised troops, borrowed money, sent diplomats to Europe and created a monetary system Colonies declared independent from Britain - - Declaration of Independence - Created a new government. Showed that the U.S was Independent from England. Wanted different rights and types of government than the English monarchy. 1)Individual Rights: ▪ life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness 2) Type of Government: ▪ Self Government o Republican government with strong legislature o Voting rights differed from state to state ▪ Limited Government o Careful not to grant unlimited power to their legislative bodies o Checks and balances on legislative power Annual elections Term limits Separation of powers o Feared that a strong executive might undermine a republic 3)Role of Government: ▪ Protect people’s rights ▪ Maintain order ▪ Ensure national security ▪ Resolve conflicts ▪ Provide services ▪ Provide for the public good - 1. Rights - 2. Type of government - 3. Government role - - Articles of Confederation - The articles of confederation was the first attempt at creating a constitution for the United States. The Articles limit the government and they failed. The restrictions and rules put in place by the Articles were destined to fail and create a weakened country. Under the Articles, there was no separate executive branch. This caused no ability to enforce laws made by Congress. There was also no national court system. This caused there to be an inability to apply national laws and settle issues between the states. Third issue was that there was no power to tax. This caused many issues on its own. The government couldn’t raise armies because of the lack of funds, there was no power to regulate trade, and there was no exclusive power to coin money. - - Great compromise  - - Federalists views - - Bill of Rights - The states ratified 10 of the 12 amendments proposed by Congress - Ratified in December 1791 - Protect rights of the people - - Amendment - Brief words to help with memorization - Freedom of religion, speech, press, - Right to basic liberties and the right to assembly and petition - - Asserts need for a militia and - Right to bear arms protects rights to keep and bear arms - - Prevents soldiers from taking over - Protection from housing troops private homes unless authorized by law - - Prohibits unreasonable search and - Protection from unreasonable search seizures and seizure - - Protects rights of accused persons - Rights of accused… Miranda rights - - Provides right to speedy and fair trial - Fair speedy trials - - Right to a trial by a jury of ones peers - Guarantees a jury trial - - Prohibits excessive bail and fines, - Protects from unreasonably high bail, prohibits cruel and unusual fines, or punishment punishment - - Peoples rights that are not - People have rights not listed in the specifically listed in the Constitution Constitution and Bill of Rights are retained by the people - - Grants to the states and to the people - States have rights not listed in the powers that are not specifically listed Constitution and Bill of Rights in the Constitution - - Chapter 3: - Principles of government Popular Sovereignty The people establish the government and are the source of its power. — Framers used sovereignty to firmly establish the power of the people, however, by establishing a republic democracy and not a direct democracy, the prevented people from having full power. — Having a republic democracy also prevents factions of people from arising that could cause unchecked and overpowered popular sovereignty. — Exercising our right to vote is exercising popular sovereignty. 1. Limited Government Government powers are restricted to protect people’s individual rights. — Limited Government protects individual rights and ensures that even government leaders are not above the law; also known as rule of law. — In the constitution, some powers of government are directly given, and some are directly and strictly prohibited. — The people can hold the government accountable when it exceeds and abuses its powers, or fails to meet their needs. 2. Separation of Powers The power to govern is divided amongst the three branches of government to prevent concentration and abuse of power from one branch. —The duties of the government are divided amongst the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, which all have different jobs to upholding the law. — The executive branch enforces law, legislative branch creates law, and judicial branch interprets law according to the Constitution. — All three branches should be held equal to each other; one cannot overthrow another. 3. Checks and Balances Each branch of government has the authority to check or restrain specific powers of the other two branches. — In order to prevent one branch from gaining too much power and harming the common good, the Framers instilled checks and balances to each branch of government — Congress can control taxes and spending of the executive branch and confirms or denies certain members of the executive branch. The president can veto laws created by Congress. The president can choose members of the Supreme Court to be confirmed by Congress, and the Supreme Court can exercise judicial review on both the legislative and executive branches to see if their actions are consititutional. 4. Judicial Review The judiciary has the power to strike down laws and other government actions as invalid under the Constitution. — The judicial branch has the right to decide what actions are constitutional or unconstitutional. If the judicial branch decides that an action by one of the branches is unconstitutional, they can enact judicial review. — Although judicial review is not a power given in the Constitution, it is assigned to the judicial branch in the Federalist papers. — Judicial review was firmly established as a power of the judicial branch in the Marbury vs. Madison Supreme Court case. 5. Federalism Power is divided between the federal government and the state governments in order to protect the rights of states. — Sometimes, legislation and government is best left to the federal government, but since every state is different, legislation may need to be different for each case. For laws that are not nationally universal, the state government controls and enacts legislation. — Some people disagree avbout where state government and federal government should have power. Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 - powers of the government - powers of congress I. Defining the Powers of Congress a. Expressed Powers i. Coining money ii. Collecting taxes iii. Regulating commerce iv. Raising and maintaining armed forces v. Declaring war b. Implied Powers i. Give national legislature the power to “make laws Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the [expressed] Powers and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States” ii. This clause is known as the necessary and proper clause c. Inherent powers i. Those powers that all governments of independent nations possess are known as inherent powers ii. Power to control borders iii. Make agreements with other nations iv. Involve foreign affairs d. Powers denied Congress i. Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution lists powers specifically defied to Congress II. Powers of the State Governments a. Draw electoral district lines b. Conduct elections c. Maintain state militias (the National Guard) d. Regulate commerce within the state e. Establish and operate state court systems f. Levy taxes g. Ratify amendments to the Constitution h. Exercise powers no specifically delegated to the nation or prohibited to the states III. Powers of the National Government a. Borrow and coin money b. Levy taxes c. Conduct foreign relation d. Raise armies, declare war, and make peace e. Regulate commerce with foreign nations and between states f. Establish post offices g. Regulate immigration and naturalization h. Establish and operate the federal court system i. Make laws necessary and proper to execute national powers  - Necessary and Proper Clause - Supremacy Clause - Grants in Aid - Block grants - provides a large sum of money from the national government for general purposes (ex. Welfare public health) Categorical grants - provides a large sum of money from congress for specific purposes (ex. Natural disaster) Project grants - a type of categorical grant from the federal government to the state and local governments on the basis of merit (ex. Department of Education’s Race to the Top - House qualifications and leaders Qualifications for the House - Must be at least 25 years old - Must be a U.S. Citizen for at least 7 yrs. - Must be a resident of the state he or she represents - o Know who the Speaker of the House is - Senate qualifications and leaders - Qualifications of Senate : 1. Age ~ Must be 30 years old 2. Citizenship ~ Citizen for 9 years 3.Residency ~ Live in state that they represent - o Know the people in office ▪ President of the Senate ▪ President Pro Tempore ▪ Majority Leader ▪ Minority Leader - Gerrymandering - Impeachment - Bill process – in a fill in the blank format with a word bank o Rule Committee o Veto o Pocket-Veto Chapter 6 and Chapter 7 Roles of the President Qualifications and Terms of Office Powers of the President Executive Branch o Cabinet o Independent Agencies