Studied by 4 people
Democracy
Any system of government in which rule is by the people
Oligarchy
Any system of government in which a small group of people hold all of the power
Autocracy
Any system of government in which the power and authority to rule are in the hands of a single individual
The Four Purposes of Government
Maintain social order, provide public services, provide national security and defense, and provide for and control the economic system
The four essential features of a state
Population, Territory, Sovereignty and Government
The type of Economic system in the US
No nation has a true capitalist system, but the US is the closest example to that. We would really consider it a mixed market economy
Connecticut Compromise
An agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention that defined the legislative structure and representation each state would receive under the Constitution.
Virginia Plan
A proposal to the United States Constitutional Convention for the creation of a Supreme national government with three branches and a bicameral legislature.
New Jersey Plan
Plan introduced by William Patterson that was designed to keep an equal vote in Congress for each state.
What were the Articles of Confederation?
Acted as the United States first Constitution, was ratified in 1781, and was officially replaced by the Constitution in 1789.
Three main sections of the Constitution
Preamble, Articles and Amendments
Three branches of the US Government
Executive, Legislative, Judicial
Six major principles of the Constitution
Federalism
Popular Sovereignty
Checks & Balances
Separation of Powers
Limited Government
Judicial Review
Current number of Amendments
27
First Amendment
Gives us five freedoms: Religion, Petition, Assembly, Press and Speech
Second Amendment
The right to bear arms (guns)
Third Amendment
No soldiers staying in citizens homes during times of peace
Fourth Amendment
Protection from unreasonable search and siezure
Fifth Amendment
Establishes “due process” and allows people to avoid self incrimination. Also prevents double jepardy and people can not be deprived of life, liberty or property.
Sixth Amendment
Speedy & Public trial with an impartial jury. You will also be provided a lawyer if you can not afford one
Seventh Amendment
Civil cases involving money, $500 or more, will be heard by a jury
Eighth Amendment
“Time must equal the crime”, No excessive bail, fines or cruel and unusual punishment
Greg v. Georgia, 1976 says death penalty is okay
Ninth Amendment
“People Power”, basically we have all other rights not listed
Tenth Amendment
“State Power” Created Concurrent & Reserved Powers
Federalism
When power is divided between national and state government
Extradition
The act of returning criminals or fugitives to their respective state after fleeing state lines to avoid persecution
Supremacy Clause
Clause in the Constitution, Article VI section 2, that makes the acts and treaties of the US supreme. It states: This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof, and all treaties made…. Under the Authority of the United states, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every state shall be bound thereby.
Bicameral Legislature
What the US Congress is: made up of two houses
Reapportionment
The process where the population of each state determines the new number of representatives to which each is entitled
Gerrymandering
Means that the political party controlling the state government draws a district’s bounderies to gain an advantage in elections
Michigan senators
Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters
Length of term for a Senator
six years
Length of a term for a representative
Two years
Qualifications to be a Senator
Must be at least 30 years old, citizens of the US for 9 years before election, and a legal resident of the state they represent
Qualifications to be a representative
At least 25 years old, a US citizen for at least seven years and an inhabitant of the state they represent
The Speaker of the House
The presiding officer of the House and its most powerful leader… Current SOTH is Kevin McCarthy
Constituents
The people in the districts Representatives represent
Current VP
Khamila Harris
Quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action
Purposes of Committees
Committees help ease the workload and are the key power centers in Congress
Four types of committees
Standing committees, subcommittees, select committees and joint committees
“The Members of Congress” run down
Congress has 535 voting members, 100 being senators and the rest are representatives. Nearly half the members in Congress are lawyers, and most are white middle-aged men. Most people who are elected into Congress once stay for the rest of their professional lives because members never lose reelection
Expressed Powers
The powers of the national government that are explicitly listed in the Constitution
Implied Powers
Political powers granted to the US government that aren’t explicitly stated in the Constitution
Inhereted Powers
The three powers are: the power of taxation, police power, and the power of eminent domain
Private Bills
Deal with individual people or places
Public Bills
Deal with general matters and apply to the entire nation
Joint resolutions
The president’s signature gives it the force of law, JR may correct an error in an earlier law
Concurrent resolutions
Cover matters requiring the action of the House and Senate, but on which a law is not needed
Veto
When a president refuses to sign and a bill and it returns to the house of Congress
Pocket Veto
A technique where the president kills a bill passed in the last ten days Congress is in session by refusing to act on it
How to Override a veto
Congress can override a veto by a 2/3 majority in both chambers
Why do so few bills get passed
Law making process is very long and conveluted!!
Twenty Second Amendment
No person shall be elected to the office of president more than twice
Twenty Fifth Amendment
If the president dies or is removed from office, the VP will become president. Then the new Prez chooses a VP
Current Prez and VP
Joseph Biden & Khamila Harris
Consitutional Requirements to be Prez
Must be natural born, at least 35 years old and must have resided in the US for at least 14 years
Unwritten Requirements for Prez
Government experience, importance of money, moderate political beliefs, personal characteristics (white cis male), and personal growth
Length of presidential term
Four years
Salary & Perks
400k a year, free medical and dental, free housing (the white house), free buisness related travel and spending, and vacation home
Line of Succession to the presidency
VP, Speaker of the house, President of the Senate, Secretary of State
Cabinet
The most senior appointed officers of the executive branch
Current US Secretary of State
Anthony J. Blinken
Current US Secretary of Defense
Lloyd Austin III
Current US Attorney General
Merrick Garland
Limits of the President
Prez cannot make laws, declare war, decide how federal money will be spent, interpret laws, and choose cabinet members or SC Justices without Senate approval
7 Roles of the President
Commander in Chief, Chief of state, Chief executive, chief administrator, Chief legislator, and Party chief
Treaty
Formal agreements between the governments of two or more countries
Electoral College
The body of people representing the US who formally cast votes for the election of the Prez and VP
Jurisdiction
The authority of a court to hear and determine cases
Marbury V. Madison, 1803 Importance
Established judicial review
Number of supreme court justices
Nine justices
Number of cases heard in the Supreme Court
Usually only 100-150 a year
Current chief justice
John G. Roberts Jr.
Article III
Establishes the judicial branch of the US government
Length of term for Justices
Life time, but they can retire
Brown v. BOE, Topeka KS, (1954) importance
Ended legalized racism in the schools of the US
Four types of opions that courts can have
Unanimous, majority, concurring, and dissenting
New Jersey vs. TLO, 1985 importance
Public School administrators can search a student’s belongings if they have reasonable suspicion.
How does the Supreme Court shape public policy?
When federal judges rule that laws or government actions violate the spirit of the Constitution they profoundly shape public policy
Jus Soli
Latin phrase that means “law of the soil”... This term is the basis that says citizenship is granted to almost all peoples born on US soil. Excludes children born to foreign diplomats.
Jus Sanguinis
Latin phrase meaning “law of blood”.. Basically says that citizenship is granted to children born to legal US citizens
Collective Naturalization
The process through which a nation acquires a portion of foreign territory and provides citizenship to all inhabitants of that territory
Resident Alien
A person from a foreign nation who has established permanent residences in the United States
Illegal Alien
A person who comes to the United States without a legal permit, such as a passport or visa.
14th Amendment
Grants citizenship and equal civil and legal rights to African Americans and enslaved pople wo had been emancipated after the civil war
Minor/Third Party
Any party other than one of the two major parties
Type of party system in the US
Two party system!
Six functions of Political Parties
Recruite candidates, educate the public, operating the gov (#1 goal), Dispensing patronage, loyal opposition/watchdog role, reduction of conflict
Requirements to vote in Michigan
In order to vote a citizen must be a legal resident of the United States, at least 18 years old, and not a convicted felon or legally insane. To register, you usually must do so 15 to 30 days before the election and fill out the legal forms asking for basic information. You must register to vote so your decision is legally binding! Many states have same day registration now, including Michigan
Suffrage
The right to vote
15th Amendment
Granted African American men the right to vote
19th Amendment
Granted women the right to vote
26th Amendment
Changed the voting age from 21 to 18
How to qualify for an absentee ballot
In Michigan all voters are eligible to vote via a mail in ballot without having to name a reason. You can request a ballot online or at the clerk's office. But in general you can vote by absentee ballot if: (1) you will be out of town on Election Day; (2) you will be hospitalized on Election Day; (3) you have a physical disability or special illness that makes it difficult to get to the polling place (in such cases a doctor’s certificate may be needed); (4) you cannot vote on Election Day because of religious observances; or (5) you will be in jail for a misdemeanor or are awaiting trial.
Public opinion
The ideas and attitudes a significant number of Americans hold about government and political issues
Main agent of political socialization
Family and the school environment
Ideology
A set of basic beliefs about life, culture, government, and society
When is election day?
The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
News release
A ready-made story officials prepare for members of the press
Note
Flashcard