Final Cram

Federal Departments

  • Executive agencies with specific roles (e.g., Dept. of Education, Defense, State).

Cabinet Members ("President’s Crew")

  • Heads of federal departments; advise the President.

Selective Incorporation

  • Bill of Rights applied to states via the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Letter from Birmingham Jail (MLK)

  • Defends nonviolent protest; calls out white moderates; "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Civil Rights vs. Civil Liberties

  • Civil Rights: Protection from discrimination (e.g., race, gender).

  • Civil Liberties: Protection from government power (e.g., free speech, privacy).

Checks and Balances

  • Each branch limits the others (e.g., veto, judicial review).

Separation of Powers

  • Legislative (makes laws), Executive (enforces laws), Judicial (interprets laws).

Political Socialization

  • How individuals form political beliefs (influenced by family, school, media, religion)

5 Types of Polls

  1. Benchmark – Early campaign insight.

  2. Tracking – Measures trends over time.

  3. Exit – After voting, used to predict winners.

  4. Push – Biased, tries to sway voters.

  5. Opinion – Public views on issues/candidates.

Conservatives / Republicans

  • Favor free markets, limited government, strong defense, traditional values.

Liberals / Democrats

  • Support social programs, government intervention, civil rights, environmental protections.

Libertarians

  • Minimal government in both economic and personal life; strong individual freedom.

Federalist 10 – Large republic controls factions.
Federalist 51 – Checks and balances needed to prevent tyranny.
Federalist 70 – Strong executive = necessary for effective leadership.
Federalist 78 – Independent judiciary, life terms for judges.
Brutus 1 – Warns against a large central government; prefers stronger state power.

2nd Amendment

  • Right to keep and bear arms.

  • Linked Case: McDonald v. Chicago (applied 2A to states).

4th Amendment

  • No unreasonable searches/seizures. (exclusionary rule).

5th Amendment

  • Protects against self-incrimination, double jeopardy; guarantees due process.

6th Amendment

  • Right to speedy trial, lawyer, impartial jury, confront accuser.

  • Case: Gideon v. Wainwright (right to an attorney).

8th Amendment

  • No cruel and unusual punishment or excessive bail/fines.

10th Amendment

  • Reserves powers to states/people not delegated to federal govt.

13th Amendment

  • Abolished slavery.

14th Amendment

  • Citizenship, due process, equal protection.

  • Key for: Selective incorporation.

  • Cases: Brown v. Board, Roe v. Wade.

15th Amendment

  • Right to vote regardless of race/color.

17th Amendment

  • Direct election of U.S. Senators.

19th Amendment

  • Women’s suffrage (right to vote).

24th Amendment

  • Banned poll taxes.

26th Amendment

  • Lowered voting age to 18.