Studied by 10 people
Limited Government
the government can only exercise the powers granted to it. Government must be conducted according to the rule of law and those working in government are bound by the same laws everyone else is.
Popular Sovereignty
the idea that the power of the government comes from the people.
Federalism
an institutional arrangement that creates two relatively autonomous levels of government or a system of government where powers are divided between national, state, and local governments. Each system has the capacity to act directly on behalf of the people with the authority granted to it by the national constitution.
Checks and Balances
the powers specifically given to each branch to restrain the powers of the other two branches.
Separation of Powers
makes sure that no one branch has too much power by dividing it amongst the 3 branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.
Compromise
the process of making concessions to settle differences.
Persuasion
the process of inducing others into accepting your point of view.
Consensus Building
working toward achieving a general agreement within a group.
Negotiation
the process of trying to settle differences through the discussion of issues.
Rule of Law
no one is above the law, regardless of social or political standing. The fate of one cannot fall into the hands of one individual.
Law of Nature
the idea that man-made law was only valid if it followed the moral ideals put out by natural law.
Consent of the Governed
the reason for a government is to protect the rights of its people and it is only legitimate if it is based on the popular consent of the people.
Republicanism
the belief that the citizens of a state have political authority.
Organized Membership
The pursuit of policy goals that stems from its members’ shared interests.
What are 2 characteristics of interest groups
Staying informed, writing or emailing political representatives, voting, donating money to campaigns, helping people register to vote, joining interest groups, signing petitions, and volunteering in your community.
How can individuals actively participate within government?
Interest Groups
a group of people who wish to influence public policy on behalf of members’s interests
Public Policy
the principles on which social laws are based.
Constituents
the people that representatives are representing
claims to protection from government intrusion in certain aspects of their lives
what are rights?
Military service, community service, and serving in public office
examples of civic responsibilities
Economic groups are the most common and effective. They are usually corporations, labor unions, ect. that exist for economic purposes. Citizens groups are noneconomic and are joined together by a purposive incentive.
What is the difference between economic groups and citizens groups?
Respecting the rule of law, paying taxes and fees, and accepting responsibility for one’s actions.
Examples of responsibilities that come with rights
Slander
the media cannot speak false information with the intent to harm a person or entity.
Libel
print false information with the intent to harm a person or entity.
Political parties
people with similar interests who work together to create and implement policies.
Political ideologies
belief systems on how people think the government should be run, such as liberal or conservative.
mayor-council system and a council-manager system
2 different systems used for city/municipal governments
commission system, council administrator system, and council-elected executive system
3 different systems used for county governments
handled by the Department of Justice and White House staffers, and must get senatorial confirmation.
How district court justices are choosen and approved
must get senatorial confirmation, but are looked at more carefully. These judges are likely to serve on the Supreme Court later.
How Court of Appeals justices are choosen and approved.
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - making laws
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - providing annual budgets
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - levy taxes and tariffs
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - authorizing borrowing
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - mandating spending on specific items
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - ratifying treaties
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - confirming appointments
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - declaring war
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - holding hearings
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - investigating powers
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - impeaching federal officials
legislative branch
Which branch has this power? - electing president in electorial tie
270
How many votes does it take to win the presidency
natural born citizen
at least 35 years old
been US citizen for 14 years
President Qualifications
executive
Which branch has this power? - executing laws
executive
Which branch has this power? - appointing officials
executive
Which branch has this power? - executive privilege
executive
Which branch has this power? - making treaties
executive
Which branch has this power? - making executive agreements
executive
Which branch has this power? - recognizing governments
executive
Which branch has this power? - committing troops
executive
Which branch has this power? - appointing supreme court justices
executive
Which branch has this power? - appointing federal judges
executive
Which branch has this power? - granting pardons
executive
Which branch has this power? - recommending legislation
executive
Which branch has this power? - vetoing legislation
executive
Which branch has this power? - lobbying
creating said functions and powers of the different branches of government, how people are elected, the relationship between federal and state governments, and our rights as citizens.
how does the US constitution control how our government functions?
major executive officials were chosen by pop vote, powers of government were not significantly increased, veto power granted later, only white men could vote, all powers were given to the legislative branch, the supreme court had to meet once a year in every county, and no debt limit.
Differences between current Ohio Constitution and 1803 Ohio Constitution.
judicial
Which branch has this power? - writs of certiorari (review a case)
judicial
Which branch has this power? - establish judicial procedures
judicial
Which branch has this power? - sentence offenders
judicial
Which branch has this power? - interpret and apply laws
executive
Which branch is this check done to? - override presidential veto
executive
Which branch does this check pertain to? - impeachment of civil officers
executive
Which branch does this check pertain to? - senate approval of appointments and treaties
executive
Which branch does this check pertain to? - raise and govern military forces
judicial
Which branch does this check pertain to? - creation of lower courts
judicial
Which branch does this check pertain to? - determination of appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
appellate jurisdiction
the power to reverse or modify the the lower court's decision
judicial
Which branch does this check pertain to? - impeachment of judges
legislative
Which branch does this check pertain to? - president vetos bill
legislative
Which branch does this check pertain to? - Supreme Court declares law unconstitutional
14th, 15th, 19th, 24th, Civil Rights Act of 1964
Actions the government has taken to extend protections of rights to marginalized groups.
They are assigned to a specific geographic area and have original jurisdiction over federal cases that arise there. They make a decision in a dispute. Any trial decision is based on the facts of the case as well as the law. Cases are tried before a district court judge and a jury.
Details on District Courts (how set up, etc.)
Hear the appeals cases from the U.S. District Courts. There are 13 court of appeals. There are no juries, cases are held by the judge along. Make decisions based on written record from the district court trial briefs, written legal arguments, and rarely allow oral arguments.
Details on Court of Appeals (how set up, etc).
introduce to congress
Referred to a committee
Hearings are held
Markup
Bill left for floor consideration
Bill goes to other chamber
Other chamber makes changes
Conference committee held to make compromises
Comes back to floor consideration
Presidential action is taken
The lawmaking process (1-10)
An agreement made over legislature. Compromised on how states would be represented and how those people would be elected. There would be a bicameral legislature with each chamber having different types of representation. They also compromised on what powers the federal government did and did not have.
The Great Compromise and what some compromises were.
The federalists argued against a bill of rights because they felt that it wasn’t necessary. They said that state constitutions already protected those rights, everyone already had those rights because they were natural rights, and they didn’t want to leave anything out. The antifederalists argued for the bill of rights because they feared a tyrannical government would not give them their rights because they were not listed.
Why did one side argue for a bill of rights and one against it?
The AOC is what created our first government. It was created after the Second Continental Congress called upon delegates to create a new government strong enough to win the country’s independence. It allowed for strong state governments, and a very weak central government. The legislative branch was set up by the AOC. It was a unicameral congress that allowed each state multiple representatives, limited to a 3 year term, but each state only got one vote.
What are the Articles of Confederation, and details?
Federalists argued for the new constitution. They wanted a strong central government with weaker state governments. They felt that it was good defense and economic growth. The federalists argued with a series of papers called the federalist papers, explaining their argument to the country. There were a total of 85 essays written. The antifederalists opposed the new constitution, as they were fearful that it granted the federal government too much power. They distrusted the elite members of society and felt that a strong central government would favor the rich. The antifederalists argued with some essays, but they were nothing to the extend of the federalist papers.
Difference between Federalists and Anti-Federalists and how they argued their sides.
National government could not impose taxes, and then couldn’t pay off debt or do foreign business
Issues with currency. The states could coin currency, people didn’t use the federal currency, and banks made their own.
Central government could not impose tariffs or foreign imports or regulate interstate commerce, allowing state interference with trade.
Could not raise an army, had to rely on states to provide soldiers.
What were some issues with the AOC.
In federalists papers 44 and 45, Madison is explaining what everything in the Constitution does and why it is necessary for the government. He also explains why the federal government has the strength the constitution gives it and how it won’t change anything.
The antifederalists papers argued that under the constitution the country will become an aristocracy, with the president having too much power and the states no longer having a role.
Understand arguments in Fed 44&45 and the two Anti-Fed papers.
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