Final Government Exam Study Guide PDF

STUDY GUIDE FOR THE FINAL EXAM GOVERNMENT Category Know the following… Terms of office Legislative Speaker of the House (Mike Johnson) branch ○ Chosen in caucus ○ Presides...

STUDY GUIDE FOR THE FINAL EXAM GOVERNMENT Category Know the following… Terms of office Legislative Speaker of the House (Mike Johnson) branch ○ Chosen in caucus ○ Presides and recognizes ○ Appoints, schedules, and refers Committee stuff ○ Persuades and listens Talk in own party ○ 3rd for presidency President of Senate (Harris) ○ Vice president of US ○ Serves as president ○ Recognizes members and calls votes ○ Can’t debate ○ Only vote if it results in a tie Often doesn’t appear because of above President Pro-Tempore ○ Serves as president when VP doesn’t Meaning often ○ Most senior of the majority party ○ 4th in line for president House/Senate Majority Leader ○ Plans programs ○ Steers bills through the House ○ Guides the committees’ chairmen House/Senate Majority Whip ○ Senate Majority Whip is the most powerful position in Senate ○ Watch member’s attendance ○ Persuade their members to change House/Senate Minority Leader ○ Same as majority but for minority party House/Senate Minority Whip ○ Same as majority but for the minority party Requirements for membership Senate Requirements ○ Serve entire state  ○ 6 year term ○ 100 members total ○ Must be a citizen of 9 years ○ Must be 30+ years of age House Requirements ○ Serve their districts 9 districts in AZ ○ 2 year term ○ 435 members total ○ Each state must have at least one representative ○ Must be 7 year citizen ○ Must be 25+ years of age Both ○ Legal resident of that state they are running for ○ No term limits Current (2024) leaders and leadership offices (prior to elections) Speaker of the House - Mike Johnson President of Senate - Kamala Harris President Pro-Tempore - Patty Murray House Majority Leader - Steve Scalise Senate Majority Leader - Charles Schumer House Majority Whip - Tom Emmer Senate Majority Whip - Dick Durbin House Minority Leader - Hakeem Jeffries Senate Minority Leader - Mitch McConnell Constitutional rules for the Legislative Branch Legislative Powers ○ Pass laws ○ Taxing and spending power Revenue bills (taxing) Appropriations (spending) Regulation of other entities Regulation of economy ○ Other money power Borrowing Minting - coins Printing - dollar bills Punish counterfeiters  Establish bankruptcy laws When someone doesn’t have enough money to pay debt, Government takes over ○ Commerce Power (trade) Intra - inside state (not incharge) Inter - crosses state borders (has power) International trade Gives Congress most sweeping power Heart Atlanta motel v United States United States v Lopez Wickard v Filburn ○ Foreign Policy power Treaties - must be approved by Senate Declare war - last was WWII Maintain military ○ National growth power Citizenship New states New territories Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Samoa Guam Military bases Federal property - national forests, seasides, and monuments Copyright and patents Post Office Non-legislative powers ○ Investigating governmental policies, reactions, and behaviors ○ Choosing the president and vice president when the electoral college is in a tie House - president Senate - vice president ○ The power of removal Impeachment - accusation House accuses and Senate decides if it’s true 3 presidents got impeached - Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump ○ Confirmation of Appointments ○ Ratifications of treaties  ○ Amendments ○ The legislative veto, previously used, is now forbidden How Congressional districts are determined Through a census, which is done every 10 years Census is suppose to keep track of population → redistricting occurs A.k.a districts are based on population Gerrymandering - politicians that handled the census inappropriately The importance of committees in Congress It allows Congress members to have their work divided in smaller groups, which would contain members who are specialized in that specific area. It selects what bills are actually worth looking at potentially becoming a law. When holding public hearings, it allows the people to know about important problems that the country is facing. Different types ○ Standing committees committees that are permanent groups that oversee bills with certain issues Continues from one legislative season to the next The majority party would be reflected in the the standing committees if 80% of the House is Republican, then in a 10 person committee, 8 people would be Republicans and 2 would be Democrats ○ Select committees A temporary committee formed to study one specific issue and report its findings to their respective parts of Congress ○ Joint Committees A committee that consists of members from both the House and the Senate, formed to act as a study group that reports back to the House and Senate on a topic or bill Some issues would be energy independence, climate change, and reform and reorganization of Congress ○ Conference Committee A temporary joint committee set up when the House and the Senate have passed different versions of the same bill Steps in how a bill becomes a law (in detail) Rider - something added to main bills ○ Doesn’t have to apply to actual bill ○ Added to bills because it wouldn’t have not enough support for it by itself ○ If president doesn’t like 1 rider, rejects ALL of the bill, including main bill Process ○ 1. Introducing the Bill  Starts in hopper - House If bill is about tax, must start in the House Raise hand and say the bill - Senate Written anywhere, but members must introduce it ○ 2. The bill is given a number Either begins with ‘s’ or ‘hr’ Called ‘first reading’ ○ 3. Bill assigned to Committee* May also be sent to subcommittee Hearings Vote to kill bill Pigeonholing - put bills in a box, come back later, but never happens ○ 4. Bill is reported to the full House of Representatives ○ 5. Floor Action* Debates! Amending! Or… Closed rule - no changer Vote No majority - dies Yes majority - goes to Senate ○ 6. Action in the Other House* Repeats the same steps that happened in previous house Must pass both houses to move on, or else it dies ○ 7. Conference Committee Committee is made of members from House and Senate Conference Report - Compromise of the Senate version and the House version ○ 8. Conference Report to Both Houses * Can be vetoed and die Must pass both before it goes to the president ○ 9. Goes to President’s Office 4 ways it can go Sign ➡ law Veto - kills bills Pocket Veto ○ not sign the bill for 10 days at which point if Congress is adjourned (out of town and not in session)  then the bill dies Ignore ○ Can become if not signed and Congress is in session ○ Cannot be override ○ 10. Congress can override Both houses must have a ⅔ vote to override ○ 11. Register laws - put on books Roles (hats) of the president and what they mean Executive Head of State branch ○ A representation of the nation, hosts dignitaries, comforts victims of natural disasters, and other less serious ceremonial duties Chief Executive ○ Enforces acts of Congress, appoints federal judges and the heads of departments and agencies, and can grant pardon and reprieves Commander in Chief ○ Is responsible for the nation’s security and military Chief Diplomat ○ Able to recognize foreign government, make treaties, and appoint ambassadors Legislative Leader ○ Proposes legislation, signs or vetoes laws passed by Congress, calls Congress into special session, and delivers annual State of the Union address to Congress Economic Planner ○ Appoints economic advisors, prepares an annual budget request, meet with business leaders, and submit economic reports to Congress Party Leader ○ Leads his/her party, rewarding party supporters, and raises money for other party members The Electoral College system and term limitations Each state has a number of electors that is equal to number of Senators and Representatives + 3 ←for D.C ○ 538 - 270 to win ○ 11 electoral votes for AZ 1. Voters vote for their party’s state of electors when they cast their ballots ○ State of electors - most loyal person of that party ○ First Tuesday after the First Monday in November 2. Electors cast their official ballots, usually following party lines  ○ First Monday after the second wednesday in December 3. Congress opens official ballots and counts ○ January 6th 4. Inauguration is on January 20th, where president elect actually becomes president Issues … ○ Winner-take-all Clear majority - vote goes to that majority ○ 3rd party manipulation Electoral votes be used as bargaining tools ○ Election in the House (each state gets one vote) ○ Electors can change their “committed” vote Reforms … ○ Votes in Congressional districts Winner-takes- all by district - if one candidate wins majority that whole district is voting for that candidate ○ Votes determined in proportion to states popular vote Certain percentage based on who people voted for ○ Direct popular election Everyone votes directly for the president The offices of the Cabinet and what they oversee State - Antony Blinken ○ Making and putting the foreign policy into action by representing the United States in meetings with different countries Treasury - Dr. Janet Yellen ○ Manufacturing coins, collecting taxes, making payments to the public, borrowing money needed to operate, coordinating with other agencies to protect the nation’s finances from any threats Interior - Deb Haaland ○ Protects natural resources by supporting animal research, maintaining the extensive national park system and hundreds of national dams and reservoirs, issuing recreation permits and leases to companies who use natural resources, in charge of Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders Agriculture - Tom Vilsack ○ In charge of making and implementing policies that support farmers and ranchers, protect our national forests, promote agricultural trade, assure food safety, work to end hunger in America and abroad Justice - Merrick Garland ○ Enforces federal laws designed to protect public safety, reduce crime, punish people who break laws, enforce civil rights and  ensure justice for all Americans Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Civil Rights Division Commerce - Gina Raimondo ○ Supports the economy by developing and executing policies, promoting exports, enforcing international trade agreements, issuing patents and trademarks, administering laws relating to scientific and technical standards, telecommunications, and technology, monitoring data about oceans, weather, and doing the census Labor - Julie Su ○ Administers federal programs to protect and improve the productivity of workers by running programs to address job training, minimum hourly wage and overtime pay, employment discrimination, and unemployment insurance. Defense - Lloyd Austin ○ Protects the security of our country by our armed forces (U.S Army, U.S Navy, U.S Marines, and U.S Air Force) as well as staff, and it also is in charge of deterring war, assisting in disasters, and providing humanitarian aid Health and Human Services - Xavier Becerra ○ Protects the public health by providing health insurance ○ Funding medical research to improve public health and prevent diseases ○ Provides social services to those least able to support themselves Housing and Urban Development - Adrianne Todman ○ addresses America’s housing needs, improves and develops the nation’s communities, enforces fair housing laws, and supports families that are in the low/middle class through mortgage and loan insurance Transportation - Pete Buttigieg ○ oversees the nation’s railroads, bridges and waterway, and improves driver and pedestrian safety Energy - Jennifer Granholm ○ executes laws and policies about the nation’s energy, and by funding research and innovation for programs, it helps to increase our country’s energy independence Education - Dr. Miguel Cardona ○ helps public and private schools, collects data from schools, distributes research results, administers federal financial aid programs, and works with state and local sc Veterans Affairs - Dennis McDonough ○ gives benefit programs for veterans and their families and survivors through pension, education, disability compensation, home loans, life insurance, vocational rehabilitation, survivor support, medical care, and burial benefits Homeland Security - Alejandro Mayorkas ○ works to protect against acts of terrorism that would jeopardize the American people, key resources, and critical infrastructure, and if such acts were to occur, it leads efforts to respond and recover Other government commissions that advise the president Office of Management and Budget ○ Prepares the national budget for the president ○ Budget reflects what the gov’t will spend money on and how much National Security Council  ○ Coordinates American military, foreign policy and government’s planning for and response to domestic terrorism and catastrophes Council of Economic Advisors ○ Assesses the nation’s economic health ○ Predicts future economic conditions ○ Supports other executive agencies ○ Proposes solutions to specific problems Office of Science and Technology Policy ○ Advises the president on all scientific and technological matters that can affect the nation Office of US Trade Representative ○ Negotiates trade agreements with other nations White House Office ○ Gathers info ○ Advises President about policy and political strategy ○ Communicates on behalf of the president ○ Runs day-to-day operations Qualifications of the presidency Constitutional ○ Natural born citizen ○ Must be 35+ years of age ○ 14 years of resident Informal ○ Previous government experience Most commons is either governor or senator ○ Access to money Funding for campaigns ○ Moderate political belief in general Most likely to get votes if in range because can get voters from both sides ○ Ability to grow into the office ○ Personal ‘attractive’ characteristics, which might appeal to voters Look better - JFK vs Nixon Better policies Better ideas Leadership skills Success or failure in understanding the public  Effective or ineffective communication ability Keen or poor sense of timing Open or closed to new ideas Politically courageous or timid Handling the special treatment Accessibility or distant from staff and others Constitutional powers given to the president and amendments that deal with the presidency Constitutional powers ○ Make treaties ○ Nominate and appoint ambassadors and judges ○ Pardon people Informal powers ○ Own personality and how he understands office Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Etc. ○ Executive privilege get to do things because they’re the President ○ The will or acquiescence of Congress ○ The portrayal of the media ○ The order of the people Amendments that deal with the presidency ○ The make-up of the current US Supreme Court Judicial Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. - Swing (But slights conservative) branch Clarence Thomas - Conservative Samuel A. Alito - Conservative Sonia Sotomayor - Liberal Elena Kagan - Liberal Neil M. Gorsuch - Conservative Brett M. Kavanaugh - Conservative Amy Coney Barrett - Conservative Ketanji Brown Jackson - Liberal Different types of opinions Majority Opinion - written decision for why the justices voted that way Concurring Opinion - agrees with majority opinion, but for different reasons  Dissenting (minority) Opinion - written decision for why the justice(s) disagreed Two kinds of jurisdiction Original jurisdiction ○ seen for the first time Appellate jurisdiction ○ checking to see if the client’s rights were being upheld When lawyers said objection, the panel determines if the judge’s decision (Rejection or sustained) upheld the person’s rights Different types of juries Grand Jury - gives an indictment, meaning that there’s enough evidence to go to trial Petit Jury - Around 12 people, makes the unanimous decision of guilty or not guilty The importance of John Marshall and Sandra Day O’Connor John Marshall - longest ruling Chief Justice (34 years) ○ Shaped the Supreme Court as we know it Sandra Day O’Connor - First woman to be on Supreme Court ○ From AZ How the Supreme Court listens to arguments and makes decisions Session in October until it finishes (June) 2 weeks out of every month ○ Monday - Wednesday: Oral arguments are heard ○ Wednesday - Friday: Private between the Justices Other 2 weeks - working on paperwork, consideration of new cases, and writing opinions Most cases are appeals ○ Writ of Certiorari Comes by petition suggesting a legal error or constitutional issue If decided to take up, justices will order records to be sent up ○ Simple appeal Few cases accepted Come from Appellate Court After considering a case, moves to a discuss list ○ 4 judges must accept The Justices decide right away ○ Return case to lower court - OR - ○ Per curiam opinion - written decision of Justices, no actual hearing of cases Hear briefs from both sides ○ Briefs: summaries of the case that tries proves that the trial either unconstitutional or constitutional Oral arguments are presented Secret Friday Conference  ○ Called secret because only 9 of the judges are in the room ○ Chief Justice runs it ○ Longest on the Court speaks first, and descends in order from longest to newest At least 6 justices must be present to vote Simple majority (5-4) Writing Opinion ○ Unanimous opinion - all agree More common than public thinks ○ Majority Opinion - written decision for why the justices voted that way ○ Concurring Opinion - agrees with majority opinion, but for different reasons ○ Dissenting (minority) Opinion - written decision for why the justice(s) disagreed The role of the Chief Justice Presides over the Secret Friday Conference Same vote weight as associates justices Designates panels of judges who are to hear the cases and motions before the Court Marbury v. Madison Supreme Plessy v. Ferguson Court Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka decisions Miranda v. Arizona Roe v. Wade First Amendment freedoms Rights of Citizenship and naturalization Americans Duties of citizens The American legal system Civil and criminal law  Different forms of government (oligarchy, monarchy, totalitarian, etc.) The Autocracies - One person in charge of everything Foundations ○ Could be totalitarian dictatorship of American Monarchies - One ruler that generally keeps power in their family Government Oligarchies - Small group of people holds power Democracies - people retain the power, either directly or through representatives The Constitution and the various power it assigns The Constitution ○ A set of rules that guides how a country, state, or other political system works ○ Provides social order and how to maintain it ○ Provides national security ○ Provides public services ○ Shapes economic decisions ○ Provides leadership Powers that it assigns ○ Expressed power - powers directly stated in the Constitution Wage war Rules for naturalization Coin Money Signing treaties Regulate commerce Instituting military draft ○ Implied powers - Government’s powers not directly stated in the Constitution. I.e. space exploration and/or nuclear weapons Assess tariffs ○ Inherent powers - powers that allow the branches of government to do its job President issues executive orders ○ Reserved powers - powers belonging to the STATE government Public education ○ Concurrent powers - Powers that BOTH NATIONAL and STATE governments have Levy Taxes Borrowing money Establish courts Punish criminals ○ Denied Powers - powers that the Constitution specifically says not to do Tax exports Grant titles of nobility  The Amendments to the Constitution 1. Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition 2. Right to bear arms 3. No quartering soldiers during peace times 4. Unreasonable search and seizures 5. Don’t have to testify in court if they feel that it might incriminate themselves 6. Right to a fast speedy trial, be aware of the criminal charges, to confront witnesses during trial, have witnesses appear in trial, and legal representation 7. Right to a jury trial 8. Forbids the government from using torture as well as excessive fines and bail to punish people who have broken the law 9. Protect citizen’s rights not mentioned in the Constitution 10. When the US Government have powers that are not mentioned in the Constitution, the States are in charge of that, as long as they are not prohibited to do said action 11. A state cannot get sued by a citizen from another state or someone that is not in their state borders 12. Establishes rules and procedures when electing a vice-president and president 13. Slavery is abolished 14. Anyone born in the United States is a US Citizen and all states must give all citizens with their federal rights 15. No one should be denied their federal right to vote, regardless of race gender, or was once a slave 16. Income tax 17. Have the ability to vote for their senators 18. Cannot sell or consume alcohol 19. Women are allowed to vote 20. Establishes when Congress sessions start and when the president starts 21. Repeals the 17th amendment 22. Limits a president’s term to two 4 year terms 23. District of Columbia residents can vote for President and Vice President 24. People that couldn’t pay the poll tax for voting can now vote 25. Establishes procedures for when a President dies and the Vice President has to take over 26. 18+ can now vote 27. Limits members of Congress to give themselves raises during current session The layout of the Constitution Preamble - states goals for which they were establishing the new nation ALSO CALLED ARTICLES I. Legislative - to make laws II. Executive - to enforce laws III. Judicial - to interpret laws  IV. Federalism - describes powers and relationship between the three branches V. Amendments - how to change constitution VI. Supreme law of the land - power of the Constitution VII. Ratification of Constitution - Doesn’t apply to us anymore Amendments - 27 changes (equal to the original constitution) over 220+ years Early leaders who influenced our government (Locke, Jefferson, Madison, etc.) Writings of John Locke ○ Pro - Social contract ○ If a government abuses their power and continuously harms their citizens and their rights, the people could take back their rights and elect a new leader. Abuse has to be constant and for a long time, not just any minor inconveniences ○ State of Nature: Without government, people would resort to chaos, and harm people and their property ○ Law of Nature: Conscience and/or reason ○ Inspired a vast majority of the Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence (written by Thomas Jefferson) ○ Describes why the colonists want to leave Britain List of abuses: No taxation without representation, Intolerable/Coercive Acts ○ God made all men equal and gave them basic rights Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ○ The government is supposed to protect those rights ○ People can revolt if the government doesn’t do its job Federalists Papers (written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton) ○ Urged the ratification of the Constitution Early English documents that American colonists cherished as their own Magna Carta ○ Signed by King John ○ Limited Monarch’s power ○ Protection against unjust imprisonment ○ Certain taxes needed popular approval ○ Applied only to nobility Petition of Right (1628) ○ King Charles I ○ No taxes without Parliament ○ Hard to imprison ○ Quartering of troops  ○ Limited ability to declare martial law English Bill of Rights (1688) ○ William and Mary ○ The Glorious Revolution ○ No divine right claim ○ No actions without Parliamentary consent ○ No interference in elections ○ Fair and speedy trials ○ No cruel and unusual punishments Attempts by the colonists to work together 1. The Albany Plan of Union - 7 colonies 2. The French and Indian War 3. Stamp Act 4. Stamp Act Congress - 9 colonies 5. The Tea Party 6. The Intolerable Acts 7. The First Continental Congress - 12 colonies 8. Lexington and Concord 9. The Second Continental Congress - all 13 colonies ○ Lasted from 1775-1781 10. Declaration of Independence First and last states to enter the Union First State - Delaware Last State - Hawaii Arizona state leaders 2024 State and Governor - Katie Hobbs Local Senators - Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema Governments Representatives - David Schweikert, Eli Crane, Ruben Gallego, Greg Stanton, Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Raul Grijalva, Debbie Lesko, Paul Gosar Maricopa County and some city leaders Richard McHattie - Chief Information Officer (CIO) Aaron Judy - Chief Innovation and Emerging Technologies Erick Lao - Deputy CIO - Customer Engagement & Workspace Kevin Westover - Customer Experience Officer Michael Miller - Financial & Program Management Officer  Seema Patel - Chief Information Security Officer Shea McGrew - Chief Technology Officer Steven Gross - Deputy CIO - Enterprise Infrastructure & Operations The city form of government Key services and jurisdiction of state and local levels of government Our Nation’s Capital