American Government Study Guide PDF

American Government Study Guide 9. Magna Carta - charter of English political and civil liberties granted by King John at Runnymede, UK in 1. Unitary - gives all the power to the central June...

American Government Study Guide 9. Magna Carta - charter of English political and civil liberties granted by King John at Runnymede, UK in 1. Unitary - gives all the power to the central June 1215; document or piece of legislation that serves government; central government may delegate (or as a guarantee of basic rights; a document constituting a transfer) some duties to smaller political units like cities fundamental guarantee of rights and privileges. but it retains final authority over all decisions. Unitary central governments are stronger than federal central 10. Petition of Rights - (1628) petition sent by the governments. Sets uniform policies and laws that direct English Parliament to King Charles I complaining of a the entire nation; disregards local differences. series of breaches of law. The petition sought recognition of four principles: no taxation without the 2. Confederal -(confederate or confederation) - a loose consent of Parliament, no imprisonment without cause, alliance of countries or other political units like states. no quartering of soldiers on subjects, and no martial in Each unit has final control of its own laws and citizens; peacetime. To continue receiving subsidies for his central government makes decisions only on issues that policies, Charles was compelled to accept the petition, affect the entire confederation. Confederations can be but he later ignored its principles. unstable because members often want to do things their own way. Gives local/regional governments almost 11. English Bill of Rights - The 1689 English Bill of complete control; sets no significant uniform national Rights was a British Law, passed by the Parliament of policies. Great Britain in 1689 that declared the rights and liberties of the people and settling the succession in 3. Federal - divide power between the central William III and Mary II following the Glorious government and the government of smaller political Revolution of 1688 when James II was kicked to the units like states. Most federal systems give a lot of curb. power to the lower governments to handle local affairs.  A frequently summoned Parliament and free The central government handles issues that concern the elections entire country, like maintaining armed forces and  Members should have freedom of speech in negotiating treaties with foreign countries. Gives local Parliament governments more power; sacrifices national uniformity  No armies should be raised in peacetime on some issues.  No taxes could be levied, without the authority of parliament 4. Oligarchic - control rests with a small group of  Laws should not be dispensed with, or people with wealth or power. In most cases, citizen suspended, without the consent of parliament participation is restricted to the ruling group.  No excessive fines should imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted 5. Autocratic - one leader holds complete power. An  Established a constitutional monarchy in the autocracy is the opposite of a democracy. Citizens have United Kingdom no participation in government when living under an autocratic system. 12. Constitutional monarchy - form of government in which a king or queen acts as Head of State. The ability 6. Democratic - people hold supreme power. Usually, to make and pass legislation resides with an elected they exercise their power by electing officials to Parliament, not with the Monarch. represent them. All citizens have equal rights to participate in government regardless of their position or 13. Social Contract Theory - an actual or hypothetical wealth. compact, or agreement, between the ruled and their rulers, defining the rights and duties of each; people 7. Presidential Democracy - citizens elect the gave the government its power to rule, in return the legislators and executive separately. No one can be both government had to protect and respect the people’s a legislator and the executive at the same time. rights. 8. Parliamentary Democracy - citizens elect officials to 14. Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan – Life without act as legislators. The legislature then elects the government is “nasty, brutish, and short.” Agreement by executive (frequently called the prime minister) from its which people give up some individual freedom in members. exchange for peace and order. Favored absolute government (monarchy). 16. John Locke, Two Treatises on Government – 24. Anti-Federalists – those who opposed ratification, expanded on Social Contract Theory; government must in favor of stronger state governments. Argued that since protect natural rights (life, liberty, and property), if no Bill of Rights was included in the document, the rights are not protected, the government can be changed. stronger national government would infringe on the Favored limited, representative government (democracy, rights of the people. Also argued that the Constitutional republic). Locke’s work influenced Thomas Jefferson Convention was not given the power to create a new when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. form of government. 17. Charles Montesquieu (1689 - 1755) – Developed 25. Debate over Ratification of the United States the theory of separation of powers in his book, Spirit of Constitution - Laws; divided power among three branches– Legislative,  Only nine states were needed to ratify the Executive, and Judicial Branches. Constitution, but without the support of New York and Virginia, the new government would 18. The Spirit of Laws - book detailing how power in not last. government should be divided among three branches–  Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. Jay wrote The Federalist, a collection of essays published in New York, to convince voters to 19. The U.S. Declaration of Independence - Written support ratification. primarily by Thomas Jefferson, declaring the  The Constitution was ratified when Federalists independence of the American colonies from Great promised to add a Bill of Rights. Eventually all Britain in 1776, thus creating the United States of 13 states ratified the document. America. 26. There are 6 major principles of the Constitution: 20. Influence of Social Contract Theory on the U.S.  Popular Sovereignty - rule by the people Declaration of Independence -  Federalism - power is divided between national  Jefferson’s use of Locke’s theory of natural and state governments rights – “life, liberty, and the pursuit of  Separation of Powers – national government happiness” power is divided among the legislative,  Jefferson’s use of Locke’s theory of “consent of executive, and judicial branches the governed” and the people’s right to change a  Checks and Balances - each branch of government that does not protect natural rights government exercises some powers over the others, guarantees that no branch of government 21. U.S. Declaration of Independence as a persuasive will become too powerful. document:  Judicial Review - the power of the courts to  Introduction – states purpose of document and overturn laws and actions of national, state, and general rights local governments, ensures that laws made by  Body – lists specific complaints against King Congress and the states do not violate individual George III rights. Established by the Marbury v. Madison  Resolution! case (1803).  Conclusion – determination to separate from  Limited Government (Rule of Law) - the Great Britain Constitution limits government actions by specifying its powers and listing powers it does 22. The U.S. Constitution - not have.  The document that created the plan and structure of the U.S. government after the American 27. Structure of Legislative Branch: Revolution  Congress is a bicameral (two house) legislature  The second plan of government for the United  House of Representatives, 435 members, States (after the Articles of Confederation) representation based on population, members  James Madison is known as the “father of the elected to 2-year terms Constitution.”  Senate, 100 members, 2 from each state, members elected to 6-year terms, 1/3 of Senate 23. Federalists – those who supported ratification, in elected every 2 years favor of stronger national government. Argued that stronger national government was needed to protect citizens and their rights. 28. Powers of the Legislative Branch: 31. Leadership in the House of Representatives:  Primary power and duty is to make laws  Speaker of the House - acts as the leader of the  In order to become law, a bill must be approved U.S. House of Representatives. by the majority of both houses.  Majority Leader - second-in-command to the  Congress has 18 expressed (enumerated) Speaker of the House. powers. These powers are written in the U.S.  Minority Leader - serves as the floor leader of Constitution the “loyal opposition,” and minority counterpart  Congress can make laws in the following areas: to the Speaker of the House.  Economic Powers:  Majority Whip - responsible for assisting the o Levy taxes majority’s party leadership in bringing the o Borrow money party’s bills to the House floor, maintaining o Regulate Commerce communication between the leadership of the o Coin Money party and its members, counting votes on key o Punish Counterfeiting legislation, and persuading Members to vote for  Defense Powers: the party position. o Punish piracies  Minority Whip - responsible for assisting the o Declare war minority’s party leadership in bringing the o Raise, support, and regulate the party’s bills to the House floor, maintaining armed forces communication between the leadership of the o Provide a navy party and its members, counting votes on key o Call and organize a militia legislation, and persuading Members to vote for  Other Powers: the party position. o Naturalize citizens o Establish Post Offices 32. Leadership in the Senate: o Secure Patents and Copyrights  President of the Senate (Vice President of o Establish Courts U.S.) - presides over the Senate as its President. o Govern the District of Columbia The Vice President cannot vote except to break a  Congress also has powers not specifically tie. written in the Constitution. These implied  President Pro-Tempore - in the absence of the powers are required for the government to carry Vice President, the President pro tempore acts as out the expressed powers. Example: Establishing President. The Senate has the right to choose the immigration laws is an expressed power. President pro tempore and is usually the most Limiting the number of immigrants is an implied senior member of the majority party. This power. person becomes third in line of succession for the presidency, after the Vice President and the 29. House of Representatives - Speaker of the House.  435 Representatives  Majority Leader - The Senate Majority  Based on state’s Population Leader (also called Senate Floor Leader), who is  2-year terms a Senator elected by his or her party to serve as  Entire House elected every 2 years their primary spokesperson and to manage the  At least 25 years old legislative sessions.  U.S. citizen for at least 7 years  Minority Leader - the party member who  Resident of the state where elected directs the activities of the minority party on the floor of a legislative body, as of the U.S. 30. Senate - Congress.  100 Senators  Majority Whip - responsible for assisting the  2 from each state majority’s party leadership in bringing the  6-year terms party’s bills to the Senate floor, maintaining  1/3 of Senate elected every 2 years communication between the leadership of the  At least 30 years old party and its members, counting votes on key legislation, and persuading Members to vote for  U.S. citizen for at least 9 years the party position.  Resident of the state where elected  Minority Whip - responsible for assisting the minority’s party leadership in bringing the party’s bills to the Senate floor, maintaining communication between the leadership of the party and its members, counting votes on key legislation, and persuading Members to vote for the party position. 33. Functions of Leadership Positions in Congress:  If the President dies in office or becomes  Speaker of the House: disabled, the Vice President assumes the duties o Presides over the House of of the Presidency, permanently or temporarily. Representatives o Elected by the House, member of 37. Powers of the Executive Branch: majority party  Acts as Commander in chief of armed forces o Refers bills to standing committees  Appoints heads of the cabinet (Senate approval) o Rules on points of order  May pardon people convicted of a federal crime. o Puts questions to a vote  Make treaties with foreign governments (Senate o Assigns members to committees approval).  President of the Senate:  Appoints ambassadors, federal judges (Senate o Serves as Vice President of the United approval) States  Delivers a State of the Union Message o Presides over the Senate  Calls Congress into special session o Votes only in the case of a tie  Meets with heads of state of foreign countries  President Pro-Tempore of the Senate:  Commissions all military officers o Presides over the Senate in absence of  Ensures that the laws of the Constitution are the President “faithfully executed.”  Committee Chair Persons: o Lead the Standing (Permanent) 38. Roles of the President where powers are Committees in each house exercised: o Chosen from the majority party  Commander in chief o Decide when committee will meet  Chief Executive o Choose what bills to discuss, whether to hold public hearings, and what  Chief Agenda Setter witnesses to call  Representative of the Nation o Steer bills from committee to final  Chief of State passage  Foreign Policy Leader  National Party Leader 34. Impeachment - a formal accusation of misconduct against a public official by the House of Representatives. 39. Functions of the Cabinet -  Cabinet: heads of the 15 executive departments, 35. The Impeachment Process - the Vice President, and other top officials that  Congress has the power to remove officials of help the President make decisions and policy the executive or judicial branches from office by  Influence the president’s decisions on matters the process of impeachment. related to their departments’ areas of interest.  Majority of House of Representatives must vote to impeach 40. Secretary of State - the president’s advisor and  Senate conducts the trial representative for everything that has to do with foreign  Agreement of 2/3 of the Senate is required to affairs. (State Department) convict and remove from office  Chief Justice presides over the Senate if the 41. Secretary of Defense - the president’s advisor and President is being tried. representative for everything that has to do with military  Two examples: Presidents Andrew Johnson and issues. (Defense Department) William J. Clinton – both were impeached, but not convicted 42. Secretary of Treasury - the president’s advisor and representative for everything that has to do with money 36. Structure of the Executive Branch - and economic issues. (Treasury Department)  The Executive Branch is includes the President, the Vice President, the Cabinet and their 43. Secretary of Homeland Security - the president’s departments, and government agencies advisor and representative for everything that has to do with our country’s security and safety. Created after the  Presidential elections are held every four years. 9/11 terrorists attacks. The President may serve a maximum of two four-year terms, as established by the 22nd Amendment. 44. Attorney General (Head of the Department of 51. Supreme Court Decision Making Process- Justice) - the president’s advisor and representative on  Deciding which case to hear everything that has to do with legal questions and legal  Deciding the case itself issues.  Determining the explanation for the decision (Opinion) 45. Structure of the Judicial Branch -  Supreme Court and “lower courts,” which 52. System of Checks and Balances - include federal District Courts and federal Courts of Appeals, among others  Supreme Court has final authority in all matters of jurisprudence (any law-related issue) 46. Powers of the Judicial Branch -  Federal Courts have jurisdiction (authority to rule on cases) in all of the following cases:  Cases involving United States laws, treaties with foreign nations, or interpreting the Constitution.  Cases involving law at sea  Cases involving bankruptcy  Cases involving disputes between states 47. Powers of the Supreme Court -  Judicial Review – power to declare laws and actions of local, state, and national governments unconstitutional  Rules on appeals from state supreme courts 48. State Courts - have jurisdiction in all cases involving state laws. Most cases are handled at the state level. 49. Establishment of Judicial Review -  Established by Marbury v. Madison  Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the Supreme Court had the power to review acts of Congress - Judicial Review.  The Supreme Court ruled that a Congressional law was unconstitutional, and thus expanded the power of the Court. 50. The Supreme Court of the United States - 53. Federal system – system of government which  Highest Court in the United States divides power between state and national governments  Composed of 8 Associate Justices and 1 Chief  The U.S. Constitution states that the national Justice government has certain powers, while others are  Appointed for life terms by the President, with reserved to the states Senate confirmation  Article VI of the Constitution states that in cases  Has original jurisdiction (authority of a trial of conflict, the national government is supreme. court to be first to hear a case) in the following This is known as the “Supremacy Clause.” types of cases:  The U.S. Constitution is the “Supreme Law of  Disputes between states the Land.”  Disputes involving diplomats and foreign governments  Has appellate jurisdiction (authority of a trial court to hear a case on appeal from a lower court) from lower federal courts and state supreme courts   Step Three: General Election 54. Political Parties – a group of people with broad o Held at local, state, & national levels common interests, who organize to win elections, o For national elections, General Election control government, and influence government policies. takes place on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November 55. Political Party Organization and Roles - o Registered voters cast ballots for  Organized at local, state, and national levels candidates, winners take office  Recruit candidates for public office 57. Presidential Elections -  Educate public about issues  Follow same procedure as other elections, but  Run and staff the government with an added step provided for in the U.S.  Reward party loyalists with favors Constitution – the Electoral College – which  Oversee the party in power ultimately decides the outcome of Presidential  Encourage compromise Elections  Electors (members of the Electoral College) cast 56. The Nomination and Election Process - their votes based on the popular vote in each  Step One: Party Nomination state. The candidate who receives the most o Primary Election – elections held within votes from a state gets all of the electoral votes each state or district to determine a from that state. party’s candidate for the general election  Each state has the same number of electors as it o Nominating Convention – official public has senators and representatives. meeting of a party to choose candidates  538 electoral votes are available (3 for for office; can be held at state or Washington, D.C.) national level  A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the  Step Two: Campaigning and Promotion of Presidency Party Platform 58. Amendments that Extended Suffrage (the right to 65. 14th Amendment Rights - vote) -  Citizenship rights for all persons “born or  15th Amendment – suffrage for all male citizens naturalized in the United States…”  19th Amendment – suffrage for women  Extended citizenship and due process to former  23rd Amendment – suffrage for citizens of slaves Washington, D.C. in Presidential elections  All U.S. citizens are guaranteed equal protection  24th Amendment – abolition of the poll tax (pay under the law to vote)  26th Amendment – suffrage for citizens 18 years 66. Tools Used to Carry Out Foreign Policy - old or older  Diplomacy - The art or practice of conducting international relations, as in negotiating 59. Duties and Responsibilities of a Citizen - alliances, treaties, and agreements.  Obey the law  Aid - economic, military, and humanitarian  Pay taxes  Treaties – formal agreements between or among  Serve on juries nations  Participate in the political process  Sanctions – measures of withholding economic  Perform public service aid to influence a foreign government’s  Register for the draft activities  Be informed about current issues  Military intervention  Respect differing opinions 67. Lobbyist - an activist who seeks to persuade 60. Civil Liberties - Fundamental individual rights, such members of the government (like members of Congress) as freedom of speech and religion, protected by law to enact legislation that would benefit their group. against unwarranted governmental or other interference. 68. Laws/Rules for Lobbyists - all Lobbyists are 61. Civil Rights - The rights belonging to an individual required to follow the laws of the United States or else by virtue of citizenship, especially the fundamental they can be arrested and thrown in jail. They will freedoms and privileges guaranteed by the 13th and 14th however, use any legal means necessary to persuade as Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and by subsequent many officials as possible to be on their side. No bribes, acts of Congress, including civil liberties, due process, no large gifts. equal protection of the laws, and freedom from discrimination. 69. Special Interest Group - created to get a policy enacted whether through the courts, the legislative 62. The Bill of Rights - the first ten amendments to the branch, or the executive branch AND regardless of US Constitution, ratified in 1791 and guaranteeing such national or state; they are doing what their own members rights as the freedoms of speech, assembly, and worship. want. 63. 1st Amendment Freedoms - 70. Types of Special Interest Groups  Religion  Economic Groups - primarily have an  Assembly economic focus such as business and trade  Press associations—e.g. National Association of Home Builders, AMA, ABA, General Motors  Petition  Social Policy or Ideologically Based Groups:  Speech groups organized to support and promote a set of core ideological or political beliefs and ideals— 64. 5th Amendment Rights - e.g. ACLU  Rights of the accused to due process of law  Single issue group - narrowly focused on single  Right to an attorney issue—e.g. NRA (National Rifle Association)  Right to a formal charge  Public Interest Groups - exist for the express  Right not to be tried for the same crime twice purpose of pursuing public interests that would (double jeopardy) not otherwise be pursued—e.g. Common Cause  Protection from self-incrimination (campaign finance reform)  Right to just compensation for private property  Labor Unions - generally formed to provide taken for public use laborers with power against the strength of businesses and corporations—e.g. AFL-CIO, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, UAW 72. Political Action Group (PAC) - committee formed by a special-interest group to raise money for their favorite political candidates. 73. Grass Roots - the bottom of a political movement; starts with the regular everyday people. -------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------