us constitution

state

body of people that live in a defined territory

4 characteristics of a state

sovereignity, territory, population, government

democracy

form of government rule by the people

autocracy

form of government where one person has unlimited power

monarchy

power is held by one person (usuallly related to bloodlines and royalty)

oligarchy

rule of the few (people who are richer and more powerful than others)

socialism

government takes an active role in economy and responsible for long-term economic planning

communism

a society with no social classes, all property is owned by the community

What is the purpose of government?

Creating and enforcing laws, protecting citizens, collecting taxes, making decisions for the state

Why do citizens agree to follow laws?

They help maintain order to the state and create tranquility

What responsiblities do citizens have?

Paying taxes, bills, voting, following law, expressing their opinions

natural rights

rights that belong to us by nature

social contract

Citizens agree to obey laws and pay taxes, and in return, the government protects their rights, safety, and property.

magna carta

doc signed by King John of England in 1215 after english nobles demanded limits on the king’s power

english bill of rights

limited power as the monarcy and increased rights of citizens and parliament

mayflower compact

agreement signed by pilgrims on the mayflower before they landed, established basic form of self government

common sense

pamphlet written by thomas paine , encouraged american colonists to support independence from britain

declaration of independence

thomas jefferson, july 4 1776, america declared independence from britain

Why are natural rights important to the idea of government?

social contract - governemnts have to protect natural rights of citizens

main purposes of declaration of independence

explain colonists right to revolution, annoucing US independnce from britain, why they should be allowd to fight

common theme between docs

limited monarchies power, basic citizen rights, self gov

articles of confederation

first doc that established the functions of the new government of the US

shays’ rebellion

colonists in massachusetts were angry over high taxes

constitutional convention

philly, May to september 1787, delegates met to create a new system of government

great compromise

bicameral congress, house of reps each represented according to population, sentar with each state 2 senators

three fifths compromise

for every 5 enslaved ppl, 3 would be counted towards overall state population

federalism

system in which power is shared between national (federal) government and state government

weakness of articles of confedeeratoin

congress didnt have power to tax, couldnt regulate trade, no executive branch, states could print own currency, couldnt make the state follow it

virginia plan

bicameral legsilature, # of reps in each house wiuld depend population of state

nj plan

unicameral legislatture, every state recieves one vote

legislative

Article 1 of Constituion, makes laws for country

congress

divided into 2 chambers: house of reps (435 members) and senate (100 members)- bicameral

house of reps

represents the people, based on population, 435 total members, term length 2 years, qualifications (25 years, 7 yrs us citizen, live in state they rep), starts revenue and tax bills, power of impeachment, led by speaker of house and elected by house members

senate

2 senators per state, 100 total, represenetation based on states, 6 yr terms, qualificiations (30 yrs, 9 yrs us citizen, live in state they rep), holds impeachent trials, approve treaties and presidnetial appointments, led by vice president of US

bill

a proposed law

impeachment

way to remove government officials from office, house of reps brings upon impeachment charages with a simple majoirty, senate holds impeachment trials if there is a simple majority in HOR

powers of congress

collect taxes, borrow money, coin money, regulate trade, declare war, raise and support army, create post offices

how does a bill become a law

pass both HOR and Senate both houses must approve same version, bill is sent to president, sign bill or veto it, congress can override veto with 2/3 vote

limits on congress

cannot pass ex post facto laws (punish ppl for breaking law before it ws illegal), granting titles of nobility, tax exports from states, abolish habeas corpus

states cannot

make treaties with foreign countries, coin own money, declare war, grant titles of nobility

executive branch

enforcing and adminstering laws passed by congress, created by article 2, head is president of US

president

chosen by electoral college, veto bills, appoint judges, impeach them

vice president

ranked below president, stand in for president during vacancy

cabinet

lead executive deparments, known as federal burucreacy, advises president and hleps carry out laws

commander in chief

president, lead armed forces, respond to emergencies, direct military operations

requirements to be president

35 yrs old, 14 years living in us, born here

presidential term

4 years, 22nd amendment establishes term limits

powers of president

enforce laws, sign/veto bills, act as commander in chief, make treates, appoint judges .grand pardons, give state union of adress

cabinet department examples

department of safety, defense, education

how are treaties made

president can make it with foreign countries, senate neds to vote/approve it, 2/3 senate votes are required to ratify a treaty

judicial branch

includes supreme court, lower federal, appeals, district courts

supreme court

highest court in the country, final say on many constitutional issues, article 3, main jobs is to interpret laws and see if it follows constittuion

judiical review

power to declare laws unconstitutional

jurisidction

authority of a court to hear a case

original jurisdiction

court hears case first

appelate jurisdction

court reviews decisions from lower courts

federal courts

hear cases related to federal laws, constitution, disputes between states, power of interpreting laws, disputes, protecting constitutional rights, determine fairness of laws

how many justices on supreme court

9,

responsibilities of supreme court

interpreting constituion, review lower court decisions, set legal precednets

which supreme court case established judicial review

marbury v madison, it is important because it allows courts to check both congress and president

how are federal judges appointed

president chooses them, senate approves them, serve for life

political party

group of people who seek to control government by winning elections and holding office

democrat

left win, liberal, progressive, “donkey”

republican

right wing, conservative, “elephant”

third party

minor party, not directly in agreement to 2 primary parties

bipartisan

supported by both parties

polarization

divide (between liberal and conservational ideas)

what do political parties do

nominate candidates, inform supporters, agents, governing

why does the US have a 2 party system

federalists and democratic republicans were the first 2 parties, we have it because its tradition

advantages of one party system

laws pass quickly without debates, elimiantes social division/polarization, saves $

disadv of one party system

voters cannot choose alternative leader, absolute power lacks independent oversignt

adv of multi party system

provides broarder rep of the ppl, more responsive to the will of the ppl, gives them choices

disadv of multiparty system

more influence of extremists, failues of calition can cause government instability

factors influencing party membership

age, family, religion, occupation, economic status, etc

primary election

held for members of political parties to nominate candidates for the general election

caucus

private meeting of local bigwigs

national convention

large meeting held by political party, usually ever 4 yrs

general election

final election in which votes choose among the candidates

popular vote

voters cast directly by voters

electoral college

process involving selectino of electors and casting electoral votes indirectly to choose pres and v presm created bc it was a compromise between choosing congressional selection and direct popular collection, refelcts federalism

FEC

enforces federal campaign laws and adminteresting them, independednt agency

PAC

raises and spends $ to elect or defeat candidates

election process

nomination = field of candidates is narrowed, general election = choosing final choice

dif ways of candidate being nominated

self announcement, petition, caucus

purpose of national convention

nominating candidates to choose candidates for prs and v pres

electoral votes determiend by…

house of reps + # of senators = # of electoral votes

number of electoral votes

538, 270 needed to win

amendment

change or addition to constituion

ratify

approve

bill of rights

first 10 amendments of constituion

how can an amendment be proposed by Congress

2/3 vote in both houses

how can an amendment be proposed by a convention

called by congress when requested by 2/3 of the state legislature

how can an amendment be ratified by state legislatures

by ¾ vote of state legislatre

informal amendments

without changing words in doc

1st

freedom of speech petition press assembly religion

2nd

right to bear arms

3rd

citizens cant be forced to quarter soldiers in their home

4th

no unreasonable search/seizure

5th

right against self incrimination and double jeopardy

6th

speedy and public trial