Civics SOL Review

Consent of the Governed

People are the source of any and all governmental power

Rule of Law

Those who govern are bound by the law

Limited Government

The government *is not* all powerful and may only do what the people have given it permission to do

Democracy

The people rule

Representative Government

People elect public officeholders to make laws for them and *represent* them in the government

Charters of the Virginia Company of London

Rights of Englishmen guaranteed to colonists

The Virginia Declaration of Rights

Served as a model for the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States of America

Declaration of Independence

-Stated grievances against the king of Great Britain

-Declared the colonies' independence from Great Britain

-Affirmed "certain unalienable rights" (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)

-Established the idea that all people are equal under the law

Articles of Confederation

-Established the first form of national government for the independent states

-Maintained that major powers resided with individual states

-Weakness of central government (e.g., no power to tax and enforce laws)

-Led to the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

Freedom of religious beliefs and opinions

Constitution of the United States of America (Including the Bill of Rights)

-Establishes the structure of the United States government

-Guarantees equality under the law with majority rule and the rights of the minority protected

-Affirms individual worth and dignity of all people

-Protects the fundamental freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition (SPRAP)

Citizen

an individual with certain rights and duties under a government and who, by birth or by choice, owes allegiance to that government

Two ways to become a US Citizen

Birth

Naturalization

Two requirements to be naturalized

Demonstrate knowledge of American History and principles

Ability to speak and write English

Freedom of Speech

The right to engage in oral, written, and symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.

Freedom of the Press

right to publish newspapers, magazines, and other materials without government restriction

Freedom of Religion

people shall be free to have their religion, and government may not establish a religion

Freedom of Assembly

the right to gather with other people in public *peacfully*.

Freedom of Petition

the right to present requests to the government without punishment.

Duties

If you don't do them you will face *legal* consequences

Responsibilities

You should do them for the betterment of your community

4 Duties

-Obey laws

-Pay taxes

-Serve in the Armed Forces if called

-Serve on a jury or as a witness if called

7 Responsibilities

• Register and vote

• Hold elective office

• Influence government by communicating with government officials

• Serve in voluntary, appointed positions

• Participate in political campaigns

• Keep informed regarding current issues

• Respect others' rights to an equal voice in government

3 types of community service

• Volunteer to support democratic institutions (e.g., League of Women Voters).

• Express concern about the welfare of the community as a whole (e.g., environment, public health and safety, education).

• Help to make the community a good place to work and live (e.g., by becoming involved with public service organizations, tutoring, volunteering in nursing homes).

5 Traits of Good Citizens

• Trustworthiness and honesty

• Courtesy and respect for the rights of others

• Responsibility, accountability, and self-reliance

• Respect for the law

• Patriotism

Trustworthiness

The trait of deserving trust and confidence

Honesty

The quality of being honest

Courtesy

Politeness originating in kindness and exercised habitually.

Respect for the rights of others

The quality of acknowledging the Constitutional rights of others

Responsibility

The trait of using self control and acting rationally

Accountability

The trait of being willing to take responsibility for your actions

Self-Reliance

The quality of working hard to do things yourself instead of begging others to do things for you

Respect for the Law

The quality of acknowledging and following the law and those who enforce it

Patriotism

love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it

1st Amendment

Contains SPRAP (Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition)

5th Amendment

NATIONAL Due Process

14th Amendment

STATE Due Process

Definition of citizenship

16th Amendment

Power to tax

4 Functions of political parties

-Recruit and nominate candidates

-Appeal to the electorate

-Help candidates to win elections

-Monitor the actions of officeholders (Serve as watchdogs)

Two party system

Party system that the US has

Third parties

-Introduce new ideas

-Working for major causes

-Revolve around a popular person

-Rarely win elections, but play an important role in politics

4 Similarities of political parties

-Organize to win elections

-Influence public policy

-Reflect both liberal and conservative views

-Appeal to political center

Platform

Where a party's stand on the issues is found

4 Strategies for evaluating campaign info

-Separating fact from opinion

-Detecting bias

-Evaluating sources

-Identifying propaganda

5 Roles of the mass media in campaigns

-Identifying candidates

-Emphasizing selected issues

-Writing political cartoons and editorials

-Publishing op-ed pieces

-Presenting different points of view

Rising campaign costs

• Require candidates to conduct extensive fund-raising activities

• Limit opportunities to run for public office

• Give an advantage to wealthy individuals who run for office

• Encourage the development of political action committees (PACs)

• Give issue-oriented special interest groups increased influence

Campaign finance reform

• Rising campaign costs have led to efforts to reform campaign finance laws.

• Limits exist on the amount individuals may contribute to political candidates and campaigns

Qualifications to register to vote (in VA)

MUST BE:

-A US Citizen

-Resident of VA

-Will be 18 yrs. old by Election Day

29

The minimum number of days before Election Day that you can register