fcle notes

  • Minimum Age Requirements:

    • House of Representatives: Minimum age is 25 years.

    • Senate: Minimum age is 30 years.

    • President: Minimum age is 35 years.

  • Terms of Office:

    • House of Representatives: 2-year terms.

    • Senate: 6-year terms.

    • President: Limited to 2 terms due to the 22nd Amendment.

    • Supreme Court Justices: Have no term limit, serving for life unless removed.

  • Line of Succession:

    • If the president is incapacitated, the vice president assumes the presidency.

    • If the vice president is also incapacitated, the next in line is the Speaker of the House.

  • Key Historical Documents:

    • Magna Carta: The first governing document indicating no one is above the law.

    • Mayflower Compact: The first example of self-government in the New World.

    • Virginia Declaration of Rights: States inherent rights of individuals and the responsibility of government to protect those rights.

    • Treaty of Paris: Acknowledged U.S. independence from Great Britain and awarded lands not requested (Northwest Territories).

  • Northwest Ordinances:

    • Established guidelines for the admission of new states, abolished slavery in new territories, regulated land usage (rectangular grid system), and ensured new states would be equal.

  • Major American Amendments:

    • 15th Amendment: Prohibits voting discrimination based on race.

    • 19th Amendment: Grants women the right to vote.

    • 26th Amendment: Lowers voting age to 18.

    • 14th Amendment: Guarantees equal protection under the laws.

  • Democratic Principles:

    • Distinction between Constitutional Republic and Direct Democracy; constitutional republic respects minority rights while direct democracy may lead to majority rule.

  • Political Structures:

    • Federal System: Divides power between national and state governments.

    • Unitary System: Centralized government with authority concentrated at the national level.

    • Confederal System: Weak central government, with independent states having most power.

  • Voting Systems and Rights:

    • U.S. presidents are elected through the Electoral College.

    • Senate direct election was established by the 17th Amendment.

  • Rights and Amendments Related to Criminal Proceedings:

    • Miranda v. Arizona: Required informing accused persons of their rights.

    • Fourth Amendment: Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

    • Eighth Amendment: Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

  • Landmark Supreme Court Cases:

    • Brown v. Board of Education: Overturned "separate but equal" doctrine.

    • Roe v. Wade: Established right to abortion based on right to privacy.

    • D.C. v. Heller: Affirmed individual rights to bear arms.

  • Political Philosophy and Legacy:

    • Social Contract Theory: Indicates that citizens conform to rules for the collective benefit.

    • The pursuit of a government that serves the common good, as stated in documents like the Mayflower Compact.

  • Current Debate Topics:

    • Discussions surrounding amendments relating to suffrage, civil rights, and the interpretation of the Constitution in light of contemporary issues.