(1) Pass the Florida Civic Literacy Exam (FCLE): Principles and Practices of Democracy

Overview of principles and practices of democracy.
Focus on terminology and definitions related to the Florida Civics Literacy Exam.
Session covers Competency One: Understanding American democracy in a republican government.
Importance of understanding key terms for succeeding in the exam.

Definition: Citizens willingly give up certain freedoms for community safety and governance.
Conceptual basis for societal modeling ("we live in a society").

Definition: Legitimate government derives power from the citizens.
Influenced by John Locke, an Enlightenment thinker, who emphasized natural law, social contract, and the right to revolution.

Separation of Powers: Government divided into distinct branches (executive, legislative, judicial) to prevent any one branch from overpowering the others and ensure that each branch has its own responsibilities and powers, promoting accountability and preventing tyranny.
Checks and Balances: Ensures that each governmental part can influence and limit the powers of others to maintain balance.

Definition: Government with restricted powers to protect individual rights.
Influenced by James Madison (father of the Constitution) and Montesquieu's works on governance, him being influenced by natural rights.

Definition: Legal matters must follow established rules and principles ensuring fair treatment.
Applies to both civil and criminal matters.
Defined in the Fifth (no one person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law) and Fourteenth Amendments (Due Process Clause) of the U.S. Constitution; rooted in the Magna Carta.

Definition: All individuals and entities are accountable to the law, which is publicly known, equally enforced, and made official by judicial branch.
Prevents arbitrary exercise of power; emphasizes that no one is above the law.

Government must treat everyone equally, with exceptions justified by legitimate objectives (e.g., age differences).
Principles outlined in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Important to understand that equal treatment does not guarantee equal outcomes.

Definition: Government power is derived from the people's consent.
Foundational concept expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble of the Constitution.

Natural Rights: Inalienable rights believed to belong to all individuals (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness).
Natural Law: Laws derived from inherent human values and beliefs; acknowledges universally recognized wrongs (e.g., murder).

Definition: Division of governmental powers between national and state levels.
Founding principles expressed in the Tenth Amendment of the Bill of Rights, limiting government.

Covers political and religious liberties.
Emphasizes the Constitution's protections for free exercise of religion (no established church and no religious test) and participation in government (individual right to vote, hold political party, and run for office)

Autocracy: Government by a single individual with absolute power (e.g., dictatorships).
Monarchy: Rule by one person, often passed through heredity (distinction made with constitutional monarchies).
Democracy: Rule by majority.
Oligarchy: Control by a small group.
Republic: Power held by elected representatives and members.
Theocracy: Governance based on religious authority.

Capitalism: Private ownership controls trade and industry.
Socialism: Collective ownership and administration of production and resources, some private property still exists.
Communism: State controls all property and resources.
Mixed Economy: Combines aspects of both capitalism and socialism, allowing for government intervention in the market.

Importance of understanding small "r" republicanism vs. large "D" Democracy.
Founding principles guaranteed a representative form of government.
Origins of democracy rooted in historical models from Greece and Rome.
- Greece = Democracy
- Rome = Republic
Direct/Pure Democracy: Form of democracy where electorates decide on political initiatives without elected representatives (humans cannot have a direct/pure democracy due to human nature of being too ambitious)

Electoral Competitiveness: Incumbents and race closeness impact turnout.
Candidate Influence: Candidates' charisma affects voter enthusiasm.
Election Type: Voter turnout varies by election type; presidential races typically have highest engagement.
Voting Laws: Changes can facilitate or hinder voting.
Demographics and Social Issues: Major issues can mobilize voters.

Suffrage Movements:
- 15th Amendment: Voting rights for men regardless of race.
- 19th Amendment: Women's suffrage.
- 26th Amendment: Voting age lowered to 18.
Discouragement measures: Jim Crow laws, literacy tests, and poll taxes.

Elections managed locally, guided by federal laws on voting rights.
Closed Primaries: Specific to parties; Florida practices this.
Electoral College: Body of electors appointed to vote for president; Florida uses an all-or-nothing approach.

Importance of voting as a civic duty for American citizens.
Resources for further information on the Florida Civics Literacy Exam available online and at Learning Commons.