Final Exam Study Guide 2024 - PDF

‭Legislative‬‭Branch‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Terms‬‭of‬‭office‬‭:‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Senators‬‭serve‬‭6-year‬‭terms,‬‭with‬‭one-third‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Senate‬‭up‬‭for‬‭re-election‬ ‭every‬‭2‬‭years.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭Representatives‬‭serve‬‭2-year‬‭terms‬‭with‬‭al...

‭Legislative‬‭Branch‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Terms‬‭of‬‭office‬‭:‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Senators‬‭serve‬‭6-year‬‭terms,‬‭with‬‭one-third‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Senate‬‭up‬‭for‬‭re-election‬ ‭every‬‭2‬‭years.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭Representatives‬‭serve‬‭2-year‬‭terms‬‭with‬‭all‬‭members‬‭up‬‭for‬‭re-election‬‭every‬‭2‬ ‭years.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭Requirements‬‭for‬‭membership‬‭:‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Senate‬‭:‬‭Must‬‭be‬‭at‬‭least‬‭30‬‭years‬‭old,‬‭have‬‭been‬‭a‬‭U.S.‬‭citizen‬‭for‬‭at‬‭least‬‭9‬ ‭years,‬‭and‬‭be‬‭a‬‭resident‬‭of‬‭the‬‭state‬‭they‬‭represent.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭House‬‭of‬‭Representatives‬‭:‬‭Must‬‭be‬‭at‬‭least‬‭25‬‭years‬‭old,‬‭have‬‭been‬‭a‬‭U.S.‬ ‭citizen‬‭for‬‭at‬‭least‬‭7‬‭years,‬‭and‬‭be‬‭a‬‭resident‬‭of‬‭the‬‭state‬‭they‬‭represent.‬ ‭3.‬ ‭Current‬‭(2024)‬‭leaders‬‭and‬‭leadership‬‭offices‬‭:‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Senate‬‭Majority‬‭Leader‬‭:‬‭Chuck‬‭Schumer‬‭(D-NY)‬ ‭2.‬ ‭Senate‬‭Minority‬‭Leader‬‭:‬‭Mitch‬‭McConnell‬‭(R-KY)‬ ‭3.‬ ‭Speaker‬‭of‬‭the‬‭House‬‭:‬‭Mike‬‭Johnson‬‭(R-LA)‬ ‭4.‬ ‭House‬‭Minority‬‭Leader‬‭:‬‭Hakeem‬‭Jeffries‬‭(D-NY)‬ ‭4.‬ ‭Constitutional‬‭rules‬‭for‬‭the‬‭Legislative‬‭Branch‬‭:‬ ‭1.‬ ‭The‬‭legislative‬‭branch‬‭makes‬‭laws,‬‭declares‬‭war,‬‭regulates‬‭interstate‬‭and‬‭foreign‬ ‭commerce,‬‭and‬‭controls‬‭taxing‬‭and‬‭spending‬‭policies.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭The‬‭Senate‬‭has‬‭the‬‭power‬‭to‬‭approve‬‭treaties‬‭and‬‭presidential‬‭appointments.‬ ‭3.‬ ‭The‬‭House‬‭has‬‭the‬‭power‬‭to‬‭initiate‬‭revenue‬‭bills.‬ ‭5.‬ ‭How‬‭Congressional‬‭districts‬‭are‬‭determined‬‭:‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Congressional‬‭districts‬‭are‬‭determined‬‭through‬‭apportionment‬‭based‬‭on‬‭the‬ ‭U.S.‬‭Census,‬‭conducted‬‭every‬‭10‬‭years.‬‭The‬‭number‬‭of‬‭districts‬‭in‬‭each‬‭state‬‭is‬ ‭proportional‬‭to‬‭its‬‭population.‬ ‭6.‬ ‭The‬‭importance‬‭of‬‭committees‬‭in‬‭Congress‬‭:‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Committees‬‭allow‬‭for‬‭detailed‬‭examination‬‭of‬‭bills,‬‭hearings,‬‭and‬‭investigations.‬ ‭They‬‭play‬‭a‬‭crucial‬‭role‬‭in‬‭shaping‬‭and‬‭crafting‬‭legislation‬‭before‬‭it‬‭reaches‬‭the‬ ‭floor.‬ ‭7.‬ ‭Steps‬‭in‬‭how‬‭a‬‭bill‬‭becomes‬‭a‬‭law‬‭(in‬‭detail)‬‭:‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Introduction‬‭:‬‭A‬‭bill‬‭is‬‭introduced‬‭in‬‭either‬‭the‬‭House‬‭or‬‭Senate.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭Committee‬‭Review‬‭:‬‭The‬‭bill‬‭is‬‭sent‬‭to‬‭a‬‭committee,‬‭which‬‭reviews,‬‭amends,‬‭and‬ ‭approves‬‭it.‬ ‭3.‬ ‭Floor‬‭Debate‬‭:‬‭The‬‭bill‬‭is‬‭debated‬‭on‬‭the‬‭floor‬‭of‬‭the‬‭House‬‭or‬‭Senate.‬ ‭4.‬ ‭Voting‬‭:‬‭Members‬‭vote‬‭on‬‭the‬‭bill.‬‭If‬‭it‬‭passes,‬‭it‬‭moves‬‭to‬‭the‬‭other‬‭chamber‬ ‭(House‬‭or‬‭Senate).‬ ‭5.‬ ‭Conference‬‭Committee‬‭:‬‭If‬‭both‬‭chambers‬‭pass‬‭different‬‭versions,‬‭a‬‭conference‬ ‭committee‬‭resolves‬‭the‬‭differences.‬ ‭6.‬ ‭Presidential‬‭Approval‬‭:‬‭The‬‭bill‬‭is‬‭sent‬‭to‬‭the‬‭president,‬‭who‬‭can‬‭either‬‭sign‬‭it‬ ‭into‬‭law‬‭or‬‭veto‬‭it.‬  ‭7.‬ V ‭ eto‬‭Override‬‭:‬‭If‬‭the‬‭president‬‭vetoes‬‭the‬‭bill,‬‭Congress‬‭can‬‭override‬‭the‬‭veto‬ ‭with‬‭a‬‭two-thirds‬‭vote‬‭in‬‭both‬‭chambers.‬ ‭Executive‬‭Branch‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Roles‬‭(hats)‬‭of‬‭the‬‭president‬‭and‬‭what‬‭they‬‭mean‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭Chief‬‭of‬‭State‬‭:‬‭Ceremonial‬‭leader.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Chief‬‭Executive‬‭:‬‭Enforces‬‭federal‬‭laws‬‭and‬‭manages‬‭the‬‭executive‬‭branch.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Commander‬‭in‬‭Chief‬‭:‬‭Leads‬‭the‬‭military.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Chief‬‭Diplomat‬‭:‬‭Manages‬‭foreign‬‭relations‬‭and‬‭treaties.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Chief‬‭Legislator‬‭:‬‭Proposes‬‭laws‬‭and‬‭vetoes‬‭legislation.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Chief‬‭of‬‭Party‬‭:‬‭Leads‬‭their‬‭political‬‭party.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Chief‬‭Citizen‬‭:‬‭Represents‬‭the‬‭American‬‭people‬‭and‬‭their‬‭interests.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭The‬‭Electoral‬‭College‬‭system‬‭and‬‭term‬‭limitations‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭The‬‭Electoral‬‭College‬‭is‬‭the‬‭process‬‭by‬‭which‬‭presidents‬‭are‬‭elected.‬‭Each‬ ‭state‬‭has‬‭electors‬‭based‬‭on‬‭its‬‭congressional‬‭representation‬‭(Senators‬‭+‬ ‭Representatives).‬ ‭○‬ ‭The‬‭president‬‭serves‬‭4-year‬‭terms‬‭,‬‭with‬‭a‬‭maximum‬‭of‬‭two‬‭terms‬‭(22nd‬ ‭Amendment).‬ ‭3.‬ ‭The‬‭offices‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Cabinet‬‭and‬‭what‬‭they‬‭oversee‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭Department‬‭of‬‭State‬‭:‬‭Handles‬‭foreign‬‭affairs.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Department‬‭of‬‭Defense‬‭:‬‭Oversees‬‭the‬‭military.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Department‬‭of‬‭Justice‬‭:‬‭Enforces‬‭laws‬‭and‬‭oversees‬‭federal‬‭legal‬‭affairs.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Department‬‭of‬‭Education‬‭:‬‭Manages‬‭federal‬‭education‬‭programs.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Department‬‭of‬‭Health‬‭and‬‭Human‬‭Services‬‭:‬‭Oversees‬‭health‬‭policies‬‭and‬ ‭welfare‬‭programs.‬ ‭4.‬ ‭Other‬‭government‬‭commissions‬‭that‬‭advise‬‭the‬‭president‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭Examples‬‭include‬‭the‬‭Federal‬‭Reserve‬‭(monetary‬‭policy),‬‭the‬‭Environmental‬ ‭Protection‬‭Agency‬‭(EPA)‬‭(environmental‬‭regulations),‬‭and‬‭the‬‭National‬ ‭Security‬‭Council‬‭(security‬‭issues).‬ ‭5.‬ ‭Qualifications‬‭of‬‭the‬‭presidency‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭Must‬‭be‬‭at‬‭least‬‭35‬‭years‬‭old‬‭,‬‭a‬‭natural-born‬‭citizen‬‭of‬‭the‬‭U.S.,‬‭and‬‭have‬‭lived‬ ‭in‬‭the‬‭U.S.‬‭for‬‭at‬‭least‬‭14‬‭years‬‭.‬ ‭6.‬ ‭Constitutional‬‭powers‬‭given‬‭to‬‭the‬‭president‬‭and‬‭amendments‬‭that‬‭deal‬‭with‬‭the‬ ‭presidency‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭Powers‬‭include‬‭commanding‬‭the‬‭military,‬‭negotiating‬‭treaties,‬‭appointing‬‭federal‬ ‭judges,‬‭and‬‭vetoing‬‭bills.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Amendments:‬‭22nd‬‭Amendment‬‭(limits‬‭terms‬‭to‬‭2),‬‭25th‬‭Amendment‬ ‭(succession‬‭and‬‭incapacity).‬ ‭Judicial‬‭Branch‬ ‭1.‬ ‭The‬‭make-up‬‭of‬‭the‬‭current‬‭US‬‭Supreme‬‭Court‬‭(as‬‭of‬‭2024):‬ ‭○‬ ‭Chief‬‭Justice‬‭:‬‭John‬‭Roberts‬ ‭○‬ ‭Associate‬‭Justices:‬‭Clarence‬‭Thomas,‬‭Samuel‬‭Alito,‬‭Sonia‬‭Sotomayor,‬‭Elena‬ ‭Kagan,‬‭Neil‬‭Gorsuch,‬‭Brett‬‭Kavanaugh,‬‭Amy‬‭Coney‬‭Barrett,‬‭Ketanji‬‭Brown‬ ‭Jackson,‬‭and‬‭Jackson.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭Different‬‭types‬‭of‬‭opinions‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭Majority‬‭Opinion‬‭:‬‭The‬‭decision‬‭supported‬‭by‬‭the‬‭majority‬‭of‬‭the‬‭justices.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Concurring‬‭Opinion‬‭:‬‭Written‬‭by‬‭a‬‭justice‬‭who‬‭agrees‬‭with‬‭the‬‭majority‬‭but‬‭for‬ ‭different‬‭reasons.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Dissenting‬‭Opinion‬‭:‬‭Written‬‭by‬‭justices‬‭who‬‭disagree‬‭with‬‭the‬‭majority's‬ ‭decision.‬ ‭3.‬ ‭Two‬‭kinds‬‭of‬‭jurisdiction‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭Original‬‭Jurisdiction‬‭:‬‭Cases‬‭that‬‭can‬‭be‬‭heard‬‭directly‬‭by‬‭the‬‭Supreme‬‭Court.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Appellate‬‭Jurisdiction‬‭:‬‭Cases‬‭that‬‭are‬‭appealed‬‭to‬‭the‬‭Supreme‬‭Court‬‭from‬ ‭lower‬‭courts.‬ ‭4.‬ ‭Different‬‭types‬‭of‬‭juries‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭Grand‬‭Jury‬‭:‬‭Decides‬‭whether‬‭there‬‭is‬‭enough‬‭evidence‬‭to‬‭charge‬‭someone‬‭with‬ ‭a‬‭crime.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Petit‬‭Jury‬‭:‬‭Decides‬‭the‬‭guilt‬‭or‬‭innocence‬‭in‬‭criminal‬‭and‬‭civil‬‭cases.‬ ‭5.‬ ‭The‬‭importance‬‭of‬‭John‬‭Marshall‬‭and‬‭Sandra‬‭Day‬‭O’Connor‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭John‬‭Marshall‬‭:‬‭Established‬‭the‬‭principle‬‭of‬‭judicial‬‭review‬‭(Marbury‬‭v.‬ ‭Madison).‬ ‭○‬ ‭Sandra‬‭Day‬‭O’Connor‬‭:‬‭The‬‭first‬‭female‬‭Supreme‬‭Court‬‭Justice,‬‭known‬‭for‬‭her‬ ‭swing‬‭vote‬‭in‬‭important‬‭cases.‬ ‭6.‬ ‭How‬‭the‬‭Supreme‬‭Court‬‭listens‬‭to‬‭arguments‬‭and‬‭makes‬‭decisions‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭Oral‬‭arguments‬‭are‬‭presented‬‭by‬‭attorneys.‬‭Justices‬‭then‬‭deliberate,‬‭and‬ ‭decisions‬‭are‬‭based‬‭on‬‭the‬‭majority‬‭opinion.‬ ‭7.‬ ‭The‬‭role‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Chief‬‭Justice‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭The‬‭Chief‬‭Justice‬‭leads‬‭the‬‭Supreme‬‭Court,‬‭oversees‬‭its‬‭administration,‬‭and‬ ‭assigns‬‭who‬‭writes‬‭the‬‭majority‬‭opinion.‬ ‭Supreme‬‭Court‬‭Decisions‬ ‭1.‬ M ‭ arbury‬‭v.‬‭Madison‬‭:‬‭Established‬‭judicial‬‭review‬‭,‬‭the‬‭power‬‭of‬‭the‬‭courts‬‭to‬‭declare‬ ‭laws‬‭unconstitutional.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭Plessy‬‭v.‬‭Ferguson‬‭:‬‭Upheld‬‭racial‬‭segregation‬‭under‬‭the‬‭doctrine‬‭of‬‭"separate‬‭but‬ ‭equal."‬  ‭3.‬ B ‭ rown‬‭v.‬‭Board‬‭of‬‭Education‬‭of‬‭Topeka‬‭:‬‭Overturned‬‭Plessy,‬‭declaring‬‭that‬‭separate‬ ‭educational‬‭facilities‬‭are‬‭inherently‬‭unequal.‬ ‭4.‬ ‭Miranda‬‭v.‬‭Arizona‬‭:‬‭Required‬‭law‬‭enforcement‬‭to‬‭inform‬‭suspects‬‭of‬‭their‬‭rights‬ ‭(Miranda‬‭rights)‬‭upon‬‭arrest.‬ ‭5.‬ ‭Roe‬‭v.‬‭Wade‬‭:‬‭Legalized‬‭abortion,‬‭establishing‬‭a‬‭woman’s‬‭right‬‭to‬‭choose.‬ ‭Rights‬‭of‬‭Americans‬ ‭1.‬ F ‭ irst‬‭Amendment‬‭freedoms‬‭:‬‭Freedom‬‭of‬‭speech,‬‭religion,‬‭press,‬‭assembly,‬‭and‬ ‭petition.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭Citizenship‬‭and‬‭naturalization‬‭:‬‭Citizenship‬‭can‬‭be‬‭obtained‬‭by‬‭birth‬‭(14th‬ ‭Amendment)‬‭or‬‭naturalization‬‭,‬‭which‬‭involves‬‭a‬‭legal‬‭process‬‭including‬‭residency‬‭and‬ ‭tests.‬ ‭3.‬ ‭Duties‬‭of‬‭citizens‬‭:‬‭Voting,‬‭obeying‬‭laws,‬‭paying‬‭taxes,‬‭serving‬‭on‬‭juries,‬‭and‬‭defending‬ ‭the‬‭nation.‬ ‭4.‬ ‭The‬‭American‬‭legal‬‭system‬‭:‬‭The‬‭system‬‭of‬‭courts‬‭that‬‭interpret‬‭and‬‭apply‬‭the‬‭law,‬ ‭ensuring‬‭justice‬‭is‬‭served.‬ ‭5.‬ ‭Civil‬‭and‬‭criminal‬‭law‬‭:‬‭Civil‬‭law‬‭deals‬‭with‬‭disputes‬‭between‬‭individuals,‬‭while‬‭criminal‬ ‭law‬‭deals‬‭with‬‭actions‬‭considered‬‭offenses‬‭against‬‭society.‬ ‭The‬‭Foundations‬‭of‬‭American‬‭Government‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Different‬‭forms‬‭of‬‭government‬‭:‬ ‭○‬ ‭Oligarchy‬‭:‬‭Rule‬‭by‬‭a‬‭small‬‭group.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Monarchy‬‭:‬‭Rule‬‭by‬‭a‬‭king‬‭or‬‭queen.‬ ‭○‬ ‭Totalitarian‬‭:‬‭Centralized‬‭control‬‭by‬‭the‬‭government,‬‭often‬‭under‬‭a‬‭dictator.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭The‬‭Constitution‬‭and‬‭the‬‭various‬‭powers‬‭it‬‭assigns‬‭:‬‭The‬‭Constitution‬‭sets‬‭out‬‭the‬ ‭framework‬‭for‬‭the‬‭federal‬‭government‬‭and‬‭enumerates‬‭powers‬‭for‬‭each‬‭branch.‬ ‭3.‬ ‭The‬‭Amendments‬‭to‬‭the‬‭Constitution‬‭:‬‭The‬‭first‬‭10‬‭amendments‬‭are‬‭the‬‭Bill‬‭of‬ ‭Rights‬‭,‬‭guaranteeing‬‭personal‬‭freedoms.‬‭Other‬‭key‬‭amendments‬‭include‬‭the‬‭13th‬ ‭(abolished‬‭slavery),‬‭15th‬‭(voting‬‭rights),‬‭and‬‭19th‬‭(women's‬‭suffrage).‬ ‭4.‬ ‭The‬‭layout‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Constitution‬‭:‬‭The‬‭Preamble,‬‭followed‬‭by‬‭7‬‭articles‬‭outlining‬‭the‬ ‭structure‬‭of‬‭the‬‭government‬‭and‬‭the‬‭powers‬‭of‬‭the‬‭branches.‬ ‭5.‬ ‭Early‬‭leaders‬‭who‬‭influenced‬‭our‬‭government‬‭:‬‭John‬‭Locke‬‭(social‬‭contract),‬‭Thomas‬ ‭Jefferson‬‭(Declaration‬‭of‬‭Independence),‬‭James‬‭Madison‬‭(Father‬‭of‬‭the‬‭Constitution).‬ ‭6.‬ ‭Early‬‭English‬‭documents‬‭:‬‭The‬‭Magna‬‭Carta‬‭(1215),‬‭English‬‭Bill‬‭of‬‭Rights‬‭(1689),‬ ‭and‬‭Petition‬‭of‬‭Right‬‭(1628)‬‭influenced‬‭American‬‭ideas‬‭of‬‭governance.‬ ‭7.‬ ‭Attempts‬‭by‬‭the‬‭colonists‬‭to‬‭work‬‭together‬‭:‬‭The‬‭First‬‭Continental‬‭Congress‬‭(1774)‬ ‭and‬‭the‬‭**Second‬‭Continental‬