Civic Literacy Review

Electoral College

The president is elected by a majority of electoral votes. After an election a group of electors chosen by each state officially cast the electoral votes for their state to choose the President.

Articles of Confederation

This document was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1781 during the Revolutionary War to create a national government. The new government was weak because states held most of the power, and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control the coining of money. It was later replaced with the U.S. Constitution.

Great Compromise

introduced by Roger Sherman; set up a bicameral Congress - upper house

called Senate with each state getting 2 votes & a lower house called the House of Representatives

with each state's representation based on its population--satisfied both the large and small states

3/5 Compromise

compromise made when writing the Constitution to sastify both free and slave states; said for every 5 slaves, 3 would count in a state's population for both representation and tax purposes

Federalism

is the breaking of the gov't into Federal and state levels, each having certain powers

Checks and Balances

system of each branch of gov't having a power to check the power of the other to make sure no one branch becomes too powerful

Executive Branch

headed by the President and carries out the laws; also includes the Vice President and the Cabinet members

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

separation between Church and State in schools. S.C. prayer in public schools is unconstitutional, violates separation of church and state and freedom of religion (First Amendment)

Miranda vs. Arizona, 1961

This case proves that the 5th Amendment requires that individuals arrested for a crime must be advised of their right to remain silent and to have counsel present.

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against "unreasonable searches and seizures," may not be used in criminal prosecutions in state courts, as well as federal courts.

In Re Gault (1967)

14th amendment Due Process Clause allows requirements for state delinquency proceedings. established the principle that young persons have constitutional rights

Bill

a statute in draft before it becomes law

Chief Justice

the judge who presides over the supreme court

Commander-in-Chief

The role of the president as the supreme commander of the armed forces of the United States.

Governor

highest ranking member of a state's executive branch

Reserved powers

powers reserved for the states; examples: creating and maintaining an education system, creating local governments

Veto power

presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by rejecting it

impeachment

a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

presidential succession

the order in which officials fill the office of president in case of a vacancy-1. Vice President, 2. Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3. President of the Senate Pro Tempore, ...

U.S. Supreme Court

9 justices nominated by President, confirmed by Senate; highest court in the nation; hears only appeals; interprets Constitutional law

Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts

A series of acts passed by the government in response to the Boston Tea Party. They caused outrage, as the colonists viewed the acts as a violation of their rights. This led to the creation of the First Continental Congress and the Revolutionary War.

Boston Tea Party

demonstration (1773) by citizens of Boston who raided three British ships in Boston harbor and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the harbor; organized as a protest against taxes on tea.

Amendment 9

People's rights are not limited to those in the Constitution.

Amendment 10

Amendment that states some powers reserved to the states

Amendment 11

Amendment that states cases in which a state was sued without the consent from jurisdiction of federal government must be removed

Amendment 12

Amendment that states presidential electors have to vote for president and vice president seperately

Amendment 13

No person under the jurisdiction of the US can be a slave and congress can pass legislation implementing the abolition of slavery

Amendment 14

Amendment that gives rights of citizens: 1)all persons born in the united states are granted citizenship, 2) no state can deny any person the equal protection of the laws, 3)no state can deny any person life, liberty, property without due process of law

Amendment 15

Amendment that doesn't allow you to deny a vote because of race, color, previous condition of servitude

Amendment 16

Amendment that states congress has the right to levy an income tax

Amendment 17

Amendment that gives the right to elect US senators by popular vote

Amendment 18

Congress has the right to prohibit the manufacture, sale and transportatin of liquor

Amendment 19

Amendment that states all women have the right to vote

Amendment 20

Presidential Inauguration Day is Jan. 20 and Jan. 3 is the date for the new congress opening. If the president dies before swearing in, the Vice President elect becomes president

Citizenship

Rights & responsibilities entitled to citizens belonging to a political state or country; only citizens can run for federal office (i.e. President, Congress)

Constitutional Convention

meeting of state delegates in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, which produced the new U.S. Constitution

Amendment 1

Amendment that represents freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition

Amendment 2

The right to bear arms

Amendment 3

Amendment that prohibits forced quartering of soldiers

Amendment 4

Amendment that prohibits unreasonable search & seizures

Amendment 5

Amendment that lists the rules for indictment by grand jury, and eminent domain. Protects the right to due process. Prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy

Amendment 6

Amendment that protects the right to a fair and speedy trial. Gives you the right to be notified of accusations, confront the accuser, and obtain a witness for or against you

Amendment 7

Amendment that provides the right to trial by jury in civil cases

Amendment 8

Amendment that prohibits cruel & unusual punishment

Two-Party System

An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections. Our two major parties are the Republicans and the Democrats.

Amendment 21

Amendment that repeals the 18th Amendment; empowered Congress to regulate liquior industries

Amendment 22

Amendment that limits the Presidnet to two full terms in office

Amendment 23

Granted voters in the District of Columbia the right to vote for president and vice president

Amendment 24

Amendment that forbade requiring the payment of a poll tax to vote in a federal election

Amendment 25

Amendment that provided for succession to the office of president in the event of death or incapicity and for filling vacancies in the office of the vice president

Amendment 26

Amendment that guaranteed the right to vote to 18 year olds

Amendment 27

Amendment that banned Congress form increasing its members' salaries until the next election

Plessy v. Ferguson 1896

Supreme Court case that ruled separate but equal public accommodations for the races was constitutional

Civic Duty

A belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs.

Civic Responsibility

the responsibilities of a citizen, examples include voting, serving on juries, holding public office

Supremacy Clause

clause of the Constitution that says the Constittution is the highest law of the land. Article 6, Clause 2

concurrent powers

powers shared by the state and federal government

Ex: power to tax citizens

delegated powers

powers specifically stated in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution as being granted to Congress

Ex: power to establish post offices, power to regulate commerce

Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

clause in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution that gives Congress the right to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out powers not expressly stated but necessary; cited in the Supreme Court landmark case McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

enumerated/expressed/delegated powers

powers Congress has that are specifically stated in the Constitution

Ex: power to coin money and set its value, power to declare war

implied powers

powers Congress has that are not specifically stated in the Constitution

Judicial Branch

the branch of government that interprets the law; made up the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts

Legislative Branch (Congress)

the branch that makes the laws; This is the branch the founders gave the most powers to because it is made up of many representatives elected directly by the people.

popular sovereignty

power lies with the people

Preamble to the Constitution

the opening section of the Constitution; brief introductory statement of the fundamental purposes and guiding principles that the Constitution is meant to serve

President pro tempore of the Senate

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the Vice President who is the President of the Senate

House of Representatives

the lower legislative house of Congress; number of representatives from each state is based on population and each representative is elected by a district in their state; members serve 2 year terms

Speaker of the House of Representatives

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Senate

the upper house of the United States Congress with 100 members-2 from each state; Senators serve 6 year terms and represent all of their state's citizens

Free Exercise Clause

part of the first amendment explaining that you have the freedom to practice any religion of your choice

democracy

type of government where power is derived from the people and the people elect representation

Gideon Vs .Wainwright (1963)

state courts are required under the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution to provide counsel in criminal cases for defendants who are unable to afford their own attorneys.

Tinker Vs.Des Moines

(1968)

the court decided that the First Amendment applied to public schools, and that administrators would have to demonstrate constitutionally valid reasons for any specific regulation of speech in the classroom.

English Bill of Rights

Document written by English Parliament in 1689, designed to prevent abuse of power by English monarchs; parts of the U.S. Bill of Rights have foundation in that document

Mayflower Compact

1620 - The first agreement for self-government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government for the Plymouth colony (Pilgrims).

natural rights

rights people have by the virture of being human beings; both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution address the government's role in protecting these rights

Declaration of Independence

This document was written by Thomas Jefferson and

adopted on July 4, 1776 establishing the 13 American colonies as independent states, free from rule by Great Britain. The preamble (first section) lists our unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

U.S. Constitution

"Supreme law of the land" Was written at a Constitutional Convention in Phillidelphia in 1787.

Rule of law

No one is above the law; Everyone must follow the laws, regardless of their position of power. This was established by the Magna Carta in 1215.

due process of law

fair treatment through the normal judicial system

Equal Protection Clause

Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person equal protection of the laws. This clause is the major constitutional restraint on the power of governments to discriminate against persons because of race, national origin, or sex.

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

pamphlet that advocated for the colonies declaring independence from Britain; supported the need for a democratic government where the people had representation

consent of the governed

The idea that our government derives its power from the people because we elect representatives to the legislative branch of government

Anti-Federalist Papers

a series of essays written to counter and defeat the proposed U.S. Constitution; argued against a strong central government and pushed for more protection of the people's rights

Social Contract Theory

The belief that people are free and equal by natural right, but will give up some freedom to give power to the government so that the government can protect their rights.

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution the supreme law of the land and states that states cannot pass laws that conflict with federal laws.

Judical Review (Marbury vs. Madison)

supreme court decides if laws passed by Congress or President are constitutional

mayor

head of a city's government elected by the people who are citizens of that city

Civil Rights Movement

movement in the United States beginning in the 1960s to establish civil rights

Selective Service Act

law requiring men to register for military service

American Revolution

war between Great Britain and its American colonies, by which the colonies won their independence

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people. The people rule.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated.