PISD Government Credit by Exam (CBE) Test Preparation

William Blackstone

English jurist who explained the common law and who defined the rights of individuals under English law.

John Locke

English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property.

Charles de Montesquieu

Believed in the separation of powers and having three branches of government; he inspired J. Madison

John Adams

America's first Vice-President and second President. Sponsor of the American Revolution in Massachusetts, and wrote the Massachusetts guarantee that freedom of press "ought not to be restrained."

Alexander Hamilton

First Secretary of the Treasury. He advocated creation of a national bank, assumption of state debts by the federal government, and a tariff system to pay off the national debt.

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence &

3rd President of the United States

James Madison

"Father of the Constitution," Federalist leader, and fourth President of the United States.

John Jay

1st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, negotiated with British for Washington

George Manson

Was an Anti-Federalist who strongly opposed the ratification of the Constitution.

Roger Sherman

He helped draft the Great Compromise that determined how states would be represented in Congress

James Wilson

Delegate from Pennsylvania who argued in favor of election of the legislature

George Washington

1st President of the United States; commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution (1732-1799)

John Marshall

American jurist and politician who served as the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1801-1835) and helped establish the practice of judicial review.

Andrew Jackson

7th President, General in army, Signed Indian Removal Act

Abraham Lincoln

16th President of the United States saved the Union during the Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)

Theodore Roosevelt

26th President. Increased size of Navy, "Great White Fleet". Added Roosevelt Corollary to Monroe Doctrine. "Big Stick" policy. Received Nobel Peace Prize for mediation of end of Russo-Japanese war. Later arbitrated split of Morocco between Germany and France.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

32nd US President - He began New Deal programs to help the nation out of the Great Depression, and he was the nation's leader during most of WWII

Ronald Regan

The 40th president of the US was in office at the time of the collapse of the USSR, bringing about the end of the cold war. While in office, he encouraged Americans to mistrust communists.

Thomas Hobbes

English materialist and political philosopher who advocated absolute sovereignty as the only kind of government that could resolve problems caused by the selfishness of human beings (1588-1679)

Harry S. Truman

The 33rd U.S. president, who succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt upon Roosevelt's death in April 1945. ______, who led the country through the last few months of World War II, is best known for making the controversial decision to use two atomic bombs against Japan in August 1945. After the war, Truman was crucial in the implementation of the Marshall Plan, which greatly accelerated Western Europe's economic recovery.

Bill Clinton

42nd President advocated economic and healthcare reform; the second president to be impeached

Richard Nixon

Vice President under Eisenhower and 37th President of the United States. Advocated Vietnamization, and helped U.S. get off gold standard

Barack Obama

2008; Democrat; first African American president of the US, health care bill; Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster; economy: huge stimulus package to combat the great recession, is removing troops from Iraq, strengthened numbers in Afghanistan; repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell; New Start treaty with Russia

Baker v. Carr

The 1962 case that established one man one vote. This decision created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state

Engel v. Vitale

The 1962 Supreme Court decision holding that state officials violated the First Amendment when they wrote a prayer to be recited by New York's schoolchildren.

Schneck v. United States

A 1919 decision upholding the conviction of a socialist who had urged young men to resist the draft during World War I. Justice Holmes declared that government can limit speech if the speech provokes a "clear and present danger" of substantive evils.

Texas v. Johnson

A 1989 case in which the Supreme Court struck down a law banning the burning of the American flag on the grounds that such action was symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.

Miranda v. Arizona

In 1966 the Supreme Court held that criminal suspects must be informed of their right to consult with an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police.

Gideon v. Wainwright

(1963) A person who cannot afford an attorney may have one appointed by the government

Mapp v. Ohio

(1961) Established the exclusionary rule was applicable to the states (evidence seized illegally cannot be used in court)

Roe v. Wade

(1973) legalized abortion on the basis of a woman's right to privacy

Hernandez v. Texas

A 1954 Supreme Court decision that extended protection against discrimination to Hispanics.

Grutter v. Bollinger

(2003) Allowed the use of race as a general factor in law school admissions at the University of Michigan

Brown v. Board of Education

1954 case that overturned Separate but Equal standard of discrimination in education.

Unalienable Rights

rights that cannot be taken away: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness

Divine Rights of Monarchs

Kings' authority cannot be questioned; it is derived from God.

Social Contract Theory

A voluntary agreement between the government and the governed

Rights of resistance to illegitimate government

principle that states that authority is derived from the consent of the governed and that the sole purpose of the government is to protect individual liberties. If the government can no longer do so than the people should change or abolish it. This principle is laid out in the Declaration of Independence.

Enlightenment

A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions.

Republicanism

A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on consent of the governed.

Compromise

to settle differences

Political Parties

groups that help elect people and shape policies

Interest groups

Groups of people who work together for similar interests or goals

Written constitution

A written plan of government that sets forth the structures and powers of government.

Limited Government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

Separation of Powers

The constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Individual Rights

Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights.

Amendment Process

step 1: amendment proposed by 2/3 vote of both houses of congress OR a constitutional convention called by congress on petition of 2/3 out of 50 states. THEN amendment ratified by 3/4 of the 50 state legislatures OR 3/4 of special constitutional conventions called by 50 states THEN the new amendment!

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

1st Amendment

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

No quartering of soldiers

4th Amendment

Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures

5th Amendment

The Right to Remain Silent/Double Jeopardy, right to due process

6th Amendment

Right to a speedy trial

7th Amendment

Right to jury in civil trials.

8th Amendment

No cruel or unusual punishment

9th Amendment

Citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

bicameral legislature

a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts

committees

groups of people chosen to do certain work

Judicial Review

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws

judicial activism

An interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)

judicial restraint

A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures

Foreign Policy

A nation's overall plan for dealing with other nations

Monarchy

A government ruled by a king or queen

Classical Republic

Limited individuals rights to privacy, belief, expression, opportunities to read, think and earn money. If people had freedom to do such things, they might stop being reliable and fully dedicated to the common good.

Authoritarianism

A political system in which a small group of individuals exercises power over the state without being constitutionally responsible to the public.

Socialism

A system in which society, usually in the form of the government, owns and controls the means of production.

Direct Democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives

Theocracy

A government controlled by religious leaders

Autocracy

a system of government by one person with absolute power.

Oligarchy

A government ruled by a few powerful people

Tribal Government

The elected officials who make and enforce laws for Indian tribes.

federal governments

divide power between nation and states

Confederate Government

an alliance of independent states

Unitary Government

A centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single, central agency.

Parliamentary System

A system of government in which the chief executive is the leader whose party holds the most seats in the legislature after an election or whose party forms a major part of the ruling coalition.

Due Process

fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.

11th Amendment

Prohibits citizens of one state or foreign country from suing another state.

12th Amendment

separation of votes for President and Vice President

13th Amendment

abolished slavery

14th Amendment

Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws

15th Amendment

Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude

16th Amendment

income tax

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators

18th Amendment

Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages

19th Amendment

Gave women the right to vote

20th Amendment

Congress begins on January 30th; President starts on January 20th

"Lame-duck" Amendment

21st Amendment

Repeal of Prohibition

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

23rd Amendment

Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still has no representation in Congress)

24th Amendment

Abolishes poll taxes

25th Amendment

Presidential succession

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

27th Amendment

Limits the power of Congress to increase its own salaries

NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration