1.
Relate the events leading up to the Declaration of
Independence
2.
Outline the
Declaration of Independence
a.
Introduction
i. People have undeniable rights
ii. A right to change the government if it becomes
destructive/abusive towards the people
iii. Shouldn’t throw out a government lightly and provide
reasons for it
b.
Reasons
i. Refusing to make proper laws/rights for the colonies
different circumstances
ii. Immigration ie
workers ect. was stalled
iii. Taking judges from the courts, putting his own in,
trying them in England ie prohibiting proper trial
iv. Increased taxes
v. Soldiers everywhere – King is protecting them, forced
upon people
vi. Abolishing rightful laws and contracts already in
place
vii. Acusations of taking all the natural resources
available in the colonies unfairly
viii.
Using mercenaries
to wage war own his own people (the colonists)
c.
Conclusion
i. Petitioned peacefully many times against the new rules
in front of Jury/King/Parliament alike
ii. Now that you haven’t listened, we are going to
separate from you as independent
iii. Pledge lives to each other and countries
3.
What were the
Articles of Confederation
a.
An agreement between
the thirteen colonies to be unified under one government. Sort of. It failed
miserably.
4.
What was the Virginia
Plan?
a.
Compromise at the
making of the Constituion
b.
Presented the idea
for a legislature w/ two houses, a single national executive, national
judiciary promoted by the legislature
c.
Complete plan made
the Virginians more able to control how the session went
d.
Large sates favored
this
5.
Discuss the following
Compromises to the Constitution:
a.
The 3/5 Compromise
i. Southern states wanted the slaves to be counted as people
for numbers, but not for taxes
ii. Northern states wanted the opposite
iii. Compromise: a slave equals 3/5 of a person
b.
The Connecticut
Compromise
i. Suggested the two house legislature with one house based on
population and one with two members from each state
c.
The Slave Trade
Compromise
i. Southern states didn’t want Congress to control trade since
they were heavily invested in slaves and exports
ii. Compromise: Congress could limit/control interstate and
foreign trade; the Congress couldn’t ban slave trading until 1808
6.
How is the American
Government organized under the Constitution?
a.
The Executive Branch
contains the president, can veto laws and appoint Supreme Court Judges
b.
The Legislative
Branch holds the Congress and can make laws and declare war
c.
The Judicial Branch
has the power to declare laws invalid and can suggest impeaching a president
7.
What are the
Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances (list and describe them).
a.
The Executive Branch
contains the president, can veto laws and appoint Supreme Court Judges
b.
The Legislative
Branch holds the Congress and can make laws and declare war
c.
The Judicial Branch
has the power to declare laws invalid and can suggest impeaching a president
8.
How many Amendments
are there?
a.
27
9.
List and explain the
Civil War Amendments and the Bill of Rights.
a.
Civil War
Amendments – created at the conclusion of the civil war to prevent states from
not allowing African-Americans full rights as citizens
i. 13. Thirteenth – outlawed slavery
ii. Fourteenth – prohibits states from depriving any
person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law
iii. Fifteenth – prohibits the government from denying a
person’s right to vote
b.
Bill of Rights –
the bill of rights was assumed at first, but Patrick Henry encouraged the
writers to include them so there was no burry line
i. First Amendment – freedom of speech and press,
separation of church and state, right to worship as they please
ii. Second A – right for citizens to bear arms
iii. Third –
Prohibits the gov. from forcing citizen to quarter soldiers
iv. Fourth – requires authorities to have a specific
reason to search a premesis or seize evidence
v. Fifth – no one can be tried for a serious crime unless
a gran jury has decided there is enough evidence, no one may be forced to
testify against oneself, may not deprive any person of life liberty, or
property without due process of law
vi. Sixth- right of individuals to defend themselves in a court trial, a
speedy public trial by jury, right to know charges held against them
vii. Seventh – right to a jury trial to settle al disputes
about property worth more than $20
viii.
Eighth –
prohibits excessive bail price and cruel and unusual punishment
ix. Ninth - all rights
not spelled out in the Constitution are retained by the people
x. Tenth – powers not given to the federal government
belongs to the state or people
10. How can amendments be proposed and ratified?
a.
Proposed
i. By 2/3 vote of each house of Congress
ii. Congress calls national convention at the request of 2/3 of
states
b.
Ratified
i. Legislatures in ¾ of states to ratify the amendment
ii. Each state to call a special ratifying convention – ¾ of
conventions have approved it
11. Discuss Express, Implied Powers, and Inherent Powers.
a.
Express
i. Directly stated in Constitution
ii. Ex.. Power to levy taxes, to coin money, to make war,
to raise an army, regulate commerce between states
b.
Implied
i. Basis for Implied powers – ‘Necessary and Proper’
Clause – for unforeseen issues
ii. Ex. Power to draft people into armed forces, regulate
nuclear power plants, development of space program
c.
Inherent
i. Comes with being a country
ii. Regulate immigration
iii. Establish diplomatic relations
12. What are State Government Powers?
a.
AKA Reserved Powers
b.
All powers not
delegated by the Constitution to US or individuals
c.
Requirement of
licenses
d.
Regulate public
schools
e.
Establish local
governments
13. What is the Supremacy Clause?
a.
Makes US Fed
supreme over actions of states
b.
State
law/constitution cannot conflict w/ Federal law
14. What are the conditions for admissions of new States?
a.
Congress admits
new states
i. Enabling act – enables people of the territory to make
a constitution then Congress decides on it
b.
Conditions for
Admission
i. Can require changes to the constitution
ii. Can be circumvented by changing the states
constitution then after it is admitted, amending it immediately
c.
Equality of
States
i. All states are equal once admitted to the union
15. What are the qualifications of U.S. Citizenship?
a.
Born on US soil
b.
American citizens for
parents
c.
Have been naturalized
16. What are the steps to Citizenship?
a.
Can be Naturalized by
these steps:
i. A person must go through a series of steps to become a
citizen and have met certain requirements.
1.
Applicant must
file a petition requesting citizenship
ii. Investigation and preliminary hearing that the
Immigration & Naturalization Service conducts
1.
Test of
qualifications ie moral character
2.
Two people who
know this person must testify
3.
Maybe English
test
4.
Questioned about
US history/government
iii. Final hearing in Federal court & take oath
1.
Requires person
to renounce previous governments
17. How can a person lose Citizenship?
a.
Giving up one’s
citizenship by leaving one’s native country to live in foreign country
b.
Punishment for a
certain federal crime
c.
If there is a person
going through the naturalization process commits fraud/deception or if person
joins a totalitarian organization less than five years after citizenship is
awarded
18. What are the rights and responsibilities of American
citizens?
a.
Rights
i. Bill of Rights and the Amendments in the Constitution list
them
b.
Responsibilities
i. Know about their government – laws and rights
ii. Participation – can run for/help public office
iii. Voting – choosing leaders ect
19. What are some dilemmas to the protection of the 1st
Amendment (Religion, Speech, Assembly)
a.
Religion
i. School Prayer
ii. Oaths in the name of God
iii. Pledge of Allegiance
b.
Speech
i. Gag orders by judges
ii. Military Secrecy
iii. School speech
c.
Assembly
i. Protesting
d.
Press
i. Internet
ii. Radio - censored
20. What are four dilemmas in the Election Process?
a.
Media
b.
Non-voters
c.
Third Parties
d.
Funding for
candidates
21. List and describe two 3rd parties.
a. Libertarian Party
i. Their ideology is essentially classical
liberalism. This means greater personal freedom and less government
involvement. Many say they are more socially liberal than democrats and more
conservative with funding than republicans. For example, they currently want to
lower taxes and get rid of the prohibition on certain illegal drugs.
b. Constitutional Party
i. The constitutional party is a party
they claim is based on the constitution. It is a right-wing and very Christian
party, with its platform even stating Biblical intentions. They believe that
restoring biblical intentions and basic constitutional rights is paramount
22. What are some factors that influence voters?
a.
Personal background
of voters
b.
Loyalty to Political
Parties
c.
Issues in Election
Campaigns
d.
Candiadates Image
23. What are interest groups?
What are two reasons people join interest groups? Why do interest groups have more influence on
lawmakers than ordinary citizens?
a.
What is the
difference between special interest groups and political parties?
i. Interest groups try to influence public officials and
policy, they do not have candidates
ii. Political parties try and nominate/elect certain people for
public office
b.
List three reasons why
citizens join special interest groups?
i. They want their own economic interests promoted
ii. An individual may wish to have their beliefs/values promoted
and heard on a larger scale
iii. Interest groups can also be for social reasons and/or
opportunities
c.
Why are interest
groups more effective in influencing government officials than are individual
citizens?
i. By grouping together, citizens have a stronger bargaining
position because they have the weight of a lot of people
ii. They also have more financial reason resources to make their
collective opinion heard
24. What do lobbyists do?
a.
A lobbyist is a
person who represents special interest groups by directly contacting
representatives and senators with the group’s issues/wants/needs. They also try
and influence other members of the executive branch with their client’s issues.
25. Why is a committee system important?
a.
It enables the house
to move along at a reasonable speed
b.
It also allows for
specialized people to give their input.
26. What are Standing Committees? What do Standing Committees do?
a.
stay from
Congress to Congress
b.
4 types -
exclusive, major, non-major, select committee
c.
work on issue
that are permanent – Agriculture, Armed Services, Finance
27. Why are there so many subcommittees?
a.
It helps to have
specialists on different aspects of the committee (and its goals)
b.
Congress-people want
to increase their prestige or influence policy by becoming chair of sub
committees
28. What are Select Committees?
Joint Committees?
a.
Select
i. Study one specific issue and report back to Congress
ii. Including great public concern (hunger), overlooked problems
(organized crime), problems of interest
groups (senior citiznes)
iii. Last for usually less than one Congress term
b.
Joint
i. Act as study groups with responsibility for reporting
their findings back to the House and Senate
ii. Do not have the authority to deal directly with bills
or to propose legislation to Congress
iii. They have studied atomic energy, defense, and
taxations
29. Compare/Contrast the Senate and the House
|
|
House
|
Senate
|
|
Qualifications
|
-25+ years old
-Citizens of US for 7+ years
-Legal resident of state that elects them
-Based on population
|
-30+ years old
-Citizens of US for 9+ years
-Legal resident of state that elects them
-2 per state
|
|
Organization Rules
|
-435 members
-5 minute talk per rep. for each topic
|
-100 senators
-Unlimited talk time
|
|
Handling of Bills/Process
|
-Create New Law: Representative drop it into a box at the
front of chamber
-Introduces Bills
-Uses committees due to size
-6 Calendars
|
-2 Calendars
-Any senator may introduce a new bill
-Filibuster: long talking session to persuade senate; can
be countered by 3/5 voting for cloture (cutting them off)
|
|
Leadership
|
-The Rules Committee
-The Speaker of the House
-The Majority Leader
-The Minority Leader
|
-Vice President
|
|
Length of Term
|
-2 year term
-Unlimited terms possible
|
-6 year term
-Unlimited terms possible
|
|
Perks
|
-174,000+
|
-174,000+
|
30. Why does congress need so much staff support?
a.
Because there is a
heavy workload
31. What are the roles of Legislative Assistants? Administrative
Assistants? Committee Staff?
a.
Admin Assistant
i. Runs the lawmakers office, supervises the schedule, and
gives advice on political matters
b.
Legislative Assistant
i. Makes certain that the lawmaker is well informed about many
bills with which they must deal
c.
Committee Staff
i. Draft bills, study issues, collect info, plan committee hearings
write memos and prepare committee reports
32. Why do some people argue that congressional staffers have
too much power?
a.
Staff can influence
the Congress people because they answer their questions and can influence the
decision by the answers they give
33. What is the role of the Library of Congress?
a.
To provide research
and information to Congress (usually Committees or Senators)
b.
Now houses pretty
much all copywrited info.
34. What is the line of succession of the Presidency?
a.
Vice-President
b.
Speaker of the House
c.
President pro tempore
of Senate
d.
Secretary of State
e.
Secretary of Treasury
35. Who wrote the 1st manual of rules for the Senate?
a.
Thomas Jefferson,
when he was V-P
36. What is a filibuster?
a.
Filibuster: long talking session to persuade
senate
b.
can be countered by 3/5 voting for cloture
(cutting them off)
37. Why did congress limit the number of representatives in
1929?
There was fear that the House would grow too lar
