Civics
CIVICS
Civics & Government Midterm Exam Study Guide
Unit One: Foundations and Early Government
What is civics and why is it important?
Civics: The study of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. It helps people be active members of their communities.
Differences Between Types of Government:
Monarchy: Ruled by one person (like a king or queen).
Dictatorship: One person has total control.
Democracy: Citizens have power through voting.
Republic: Citizens elect representatives to make decisions; this is how the U.S. works.
Direct Democracy: Citizens vote directly on issues.
Key Ideas from Enlightenment Thinkers:
Hobbes: Life without government is chaotic; people give up rights for safety.
Locke: People trade some rights for protection; if a government fails, citizens can change it.
Rousseau: People are good, but government can corrupt them; direct democracy is best.
Montesquieu: Government should have separate powers to prevent any one group from getting too strong.
Government under the Articles of Confederation
Confederation: A weak alliance of states with minimal central control.
Each state had one vote; there was no president or national court system.
Changes required all states to agree, making it hard to govern effectively.
Significance of Shays' Rebellion:
Showed that the Articles were failing, leading to calls for a new government.
Key Plans from the Constitutional Convention:
New Jersey Plan: Equal representation in a single-house legislature.
Virginia Plan: Representation based on population in a two-house legislature.
Connecticut Compromise: A mix of both plans with two houses: the Senate has equal representation, while the House is based on population.
3/5 Compromise: Count slaves as 3/5 of a person for representation.
Electoral College: System established for electing the president of the U.S.
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists:
Federalists: Wanted a strong national government and felt a bill of rights wasn’t needed because states had their own.
Anti-Federalists: Wanted more power for states and a bill of rights to protect individual freedoms.
Key Founding Figures:
George Washington: First president and leader during the Revolution.
Thomas Jefferson: Wrote the Declaration of Independence; third president.
James Madison: Helped write the Constitution and the Bill of Rights; fourth president.
Unit Two: The United States Constitution
Five Limits on Government:
Rule of Law: Everyone must follow the law.
Constitution: Defines government powers.
Minority Rights: Protects the rights of smaller groups.
Consent of the Governed: Government gets power from the people.
Separation of Powers: Different parts of government have separate powers.
Checks and Balances:
Keeps one branch of government from becoming too powerful and encourages cooperation among them.
Six Goals of the Preamble:
Create a better union.
Ensure justice.
Maintain peace.
Provide safety.
Promote general well-being.
Protect freedoms for future generations.
Government Structure by Article:
Article 1: Legislative branch makes laws.
Article 2: Executive branch enforces laws.
Article 3: Judicial branch interprets laws.
Articles 4-6: Discuss state relationships and the amendment process.
Article 7: Explains how the Constitution is ratified.
Constitution as a Living Document:
It can be interpreted and changed through amendments, needing agreement from Congress and states.
Important Amendments and Their Impact:
13th: Ended slavery.
14th: Granted citizenship to former slaves and promised equal protection.
15th: Gave African American men the right to vote.
17th: Allowed for the direct election of senators.
18th: Banned alcohol (later repealed by the 21st Amendment).
19th: Gave women the right to vote.
21st: Allowed alcohol again.
22nd: Limited presidents to two terms.
23rd: Gave D.C. residents the right to vote in presidential elections.
24th: Ended poll taxes so financial barriers don’t stop people from voting.
26th: Lowered voting age to 18.
Unit Three: State and Local Government
Types of Government:
Federal: Power divided between national and state governments.
Unitary: Power is held by a single national government.
Confederal: Power rests mostly with individual states.
Pros and Cons of Federalism:
An examination of the benefits and drawbacks of sharing power between levels of government
State Officials and Responsibilities
Governor Ned Lamont: Chief executive of the state; enforces laws and can veto legislation.
Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz: Presides over the state senate and breaks tie votes.
Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas: Oversees election laws, maintains state records, and licenses businesses.
Attorney General William Tong: Top legal official managing state legal matters.
Treasurer Erick Russell: Manages state finances, including taxes and investments.
State Senator Norm Needlemen: Passes state laws and represents constituents.
State Representative Irene Haines: Similar role as a senator.
Devolution and Progressive Reforms
Devolution: Shifting power back to states and citizens.
Progressive Reforms: Efforts to eliminate corruption and unfair practices by empowering citizens.
Key Amendments and Processes
17th Amendment: Allows direct election of senators by the people.
Initiative: Citizens can propose and vote on laws directly.
Referendum: Entire electorate votes on policy proposals.
Recall: Voters can petition to remove elected officials.
Forms of Local Government
Council Manager: Elected council runs administration; professional city manager handles daily operations; less political influence but may not suit smaller communities.
Mayor-Council: Two types: Strong (elected mayor with significant powers) and Weak (mayor selected by council with limited powers); clarity in roles but can mismatch city size needs.
Town Meeting: All voters decide policies; promotes direct democracy but requires high participation.
Commission: Elected commissioners manage specific functions; allows direct elections but lacks a single accountable leader