FLCE practice

Popular sovereignty

Government's power comes from the people

Republic

Citizens elect representatives to make laws for them

Federalism

Power divided between national and state governments

Separation of powers

Government split into legislative, executive, judicial branches

Checks and balances

Each branch can limit the power of the others

Article I

Establishes the Legislative branch (Congress)

Article II

Establishes the Executive branch (President)

Article III

Establishes the Judicial branch (Supreme Court)

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments protecting individual freedoms

14th Amendment

Guarantees equal protection under the law and citizenship

15th Amendment

Guarantees voting rights regardless of race

19th Amendment

Guarantees women's right to vote

26th Amendment

Sets voting age to 18

Amendment process

2/3 of Congress proposes, then 3/4 of states must ratify

Declaration of Independence

1776 document justifying separation from Britain; unalienable rights

Articles of Confederation

First U.S. government (1781); too weak, no taxing power

Federalist Papers

Essays by Hamilton, Madison, Jay arguing for ratifying the Constitution

Great Compromise

Created a bicameral Congress (House by population, Senate equal)

Marbury v. Madison

1803 case that established judicial review

Brown v. Board of Education

1954 case that ended school segregation

Plessy v. Ferguson

1896 case that upheld "separate but equal" (later overturned)

Miranda v. Arizona

1966 case that established Miranda rights

Gideon v. Wainwright

1963 case establishing right to a free attorney if needed

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, origin

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Banned discriminatory voting practices like literacy tests

Judicial review

Power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Bicameral

Legislature with two chambers (House + Senate)

1st Amendment

Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms

3rd Amendment

No quartering of soldiers in homes without consent

4th Amendment

No unreasonable search and seizure

5th Amendment

Due process, no self-incrimination, no double jeopardy

6th Amendment

Right to a speedy trial and an attorney

7th Amendment

Right to a jury trial in civil cases

8th Amendment

No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment

9th Amendment

Rights not listed still belong to the people

10th Amendment

Powers not given to federal government belong to the states

Magna Carta

1215 English document that limited the king's power and established rule of law

Constitutional Republic

Government limited by a constitution where citizens elect representatives

Representative Democracy

Citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf

Direct Democracy

Citizens vote directly on laws themselves

House of Representatives term length

2 years

Senator term length

6 years

President term length

4 years