11th Grade US Government Common Assessment Study Guide

The Declaration of Independence
- Date and Location: The document was formalised in $1776$ in the city of Philadelphia.
- Authorship: The primary writers of the Declaration were Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, and John Adams.
- Purpose: It served to formally declare a list of grievances against King George of England. Its fundamental function was to separate the United States from Britain moving forward.
The Articles of Confederation
- Context: This document served as America’s first established government.
- Failure: The government under the Articles of Confederation failed because it did not grant the national government sufficient power.
- Demonstration of Weakness: This lack of power was demonstrated through Shays’ Rebellion, which showed the national government's inability to maintain order.
- Outcome: The Articles of Confederation were eventually thrown out during the Constitutional Convention.

The Constitutional Convention
- Timeline: The convention took place in $1787$ in Philadelphia. The final state ratified the document in $1788$ .
- Authorship: The main writer of the Constitution was James Madison.
The Antifederalists
- Definition: These were individuals who opposed the ratification of the Constitution as it was originally written.
- Demands: They insisted on the addition of a Bill of Rights to ensure the protection of individual freedoms.
Compromises
- The Constitution was built upon a series of compromises between differing factions, including large states versus small states, and slave-holding states versus non-slave-holding states.
- $3/5$ ths Compromise: This specific compromise addressed the issue of representation regarding enslaved persons, counting them as three-fifths of a person for total population purposes.
Foundational Principles
- Federalism: A system of government established by the Constitution where power and authority over a territory are shared between the state and the national government.
- Popular Sovereignty: The principle that the American government derives its power and authority directly from the people.
- Indirect Democracy: The United States operates as an indirect democracy because the people do not govern directly; instead, they vote for representatives who then participate in the government on their behalf.

The House of Representatives
- Basis of Representation: Representation in the House is determined by the specific population of each state.
- Term Length: Representatives serve a term of $2$ years.
- Pennsylvania Representation: Currently, the state of Pennsylvania has $17$ Representatives in the House.
The Senate
- Basis of Representation: Representation is equal for every state, regardless of size; each state is allocated exactly $2$ Senators.
- Term Length: Senators serve a term of $6$ years.
The Legislative Process
- For a bill to become a law, it must pass through both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
- Once passed by both houses, the bill is sent to the President for a signature.
Impeachment and Separation of Powers
- Legislative and judicial branches can impeach officials. This process is likened to a trial:
  - Judge: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
  - Jury: The United States Senate.
- This process serves as a primary example of the "Separation of Powers."

The Presidency
- First President: George Washington was unanimously elected as the first President of the United States in $1789$ .
- Term Length: The President serves a term of $4$ years.
- Primary Roles:
  - Commander & Chief of the Military.
  - Chief Diplomat.
Presidential Action on Bills
- When the President receives a bill passed by Congress, they have three options:
  1. Sign: The bill immediately becomes law.
  2. Veto: The bill is rejected and sent back to Congress.
  3. Ignore: The result of ignoring a bill depends on whether Congress is currently meeting:
    - If Congress is in session, the bill becomes law automatically.
    - If Congress is not in session, the bill is considered vetoed (a "pocket veto").

The Supreme Court
- Composition: The court is currently comprised of $9$ members.
- Term Limits: Supreme Court Justices have lifetime appointments, meaning there are no term limits on their service.
- Function: The branch analyzes and interprets laws created by the legislative branch.
Judicial Review
- The Supreme Court holds the final authority on any cases involving questions regarding the Constitution.
- The court can check the power of the legislative branch by declaring a Congressional law unconstitutional.

1st Amendment: Freedom of Expression
- Core Freedoms: Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Petition, and Freedom of the Press.
- Legal Precedent: In New York Times vs. United States, the court ruled that the New York Times was permitted to publish secret government documents.
- Limitations: The amendment does not protect expression that constitutes a "clear and present danger."
  - Example: Yelling "fire" in a crowded movie theater is not protected because it creates a dangerous situation for others in the theater.
2nd Amendment: The Right to Bear Arms.
3rd Amendment: Protection from the quartering of soldiers.
4th Amendment: Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
5th Amendment: Protection Against Self-Incrimination
- Individuals cannot be forced to testify or provide evidence against themselves.
- Miranda vs. Arizona: This case established that police are required to inform individuals of their right to remain silent and their right to have a lawyer present during detention and questioning.
8th Amendment: Protection against excessive bail and fines, as well as protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

Voting Requirements
- An individual must be at least $18$ years old to vote in the United States.
Political Party Platforms
- Republican Party: Focused on protecting individual rights under the Second Amendment, higher defense spending, lower taxes, and a smaller general government.
- Democratic Party: Focused on urgent concerns regarding climate change and support for universal healthcare.
Voting Demographics and Trends
- African American Women: Data shows they mostly vote for Democratic (liberal) candidates.
- Rural Areas: Residents of rural areas mostly vote for Republican (conservative) candidates.
- Democratic "Safe States": Examples include California and Massachusetts.
- Republican "Safe States": Examples include Texas and Alabama.
The Electoral College
- The President is elected via the Electoral College, rather than the popular vote.
- Victory Threshold: A candidate must secure at least $270$ electoral college votes to win the presidency.
- Current Leadership: The current President of the United States is Donald Trump, and the Vice President is JD Vance.