Civics & Economics

Top 100

What every student should know to

pass the Civics & Economics EOC

Goal 2

Goal 2: The learner will analyze how

the government established by the

United States Constitution embodies

the purposes, values, and principles of

American democracy.

Principles of the Constitution

• Popular sovereignty

• Federalism

• Separation of Powers

• Checks & Balances

• Limited Government

• Flexibility

3 Branches of Government

• Legislative – makes laws

• Executive – executes or enforces laws

• Judicial – interprets laws

Bill of Rights, 1791

• The first ten amendments to the

Constitution, which guarantee basic

individual rights.

Suffrage Amendments

• 15th gave African Americans the right

to vote.

• 19th gave women the right to vote.

• 23rd gave residents of the District of

Columbia the right to vote in

presidential elections.

• 24th abolished poll taxes.

• 26th gave citizens 18 years and older

the right to vote.

Civil War Amendments • 13th abolished slavery.

• 14th defined citizenship and guaranteed all

citizens “equal protection under the law.”

• 15th gave African Americans the right to

vote.

Impeachment

• A majority of the members of the House of

Representatives accuse the President or

other high government officials of serious

wrongdoing.

Judicial Review

• The Supreme Court’s

power to overturn any law

that it decides is in conflict

with the Constitution.

• Judicial Review was

established by the decision

in Marbury v. Madison.

Landmark Supreme Court Cases

• Marbury v. Madison – judicial review

• Plessy v. Ferguson – “separate but equal”

• Brown v. Board of Education – “separate is not equal”

• Gideon v. Wainwright – court-appointed attorney

• Miranda v. Arizona – rights of the accused

States’ Rights

• The states' rights concept is usually used to

defend a state law that the federal

government seeks to override, or to oppose

a perceived violation by the federal

government of the bounds of federal

authority.

Government Revenue

• Money the government collects, such as

taxes, fines, bonds, or user fees.

Contemporary Issues

• Strict versus loose

construction of the

Constitution

• States’ rights

• Electoral College and

process

• Civil and personal

liberties

Government Agencies • Conservation of natural resources

• Immigration and naturalization

• Crime control and drug prevention

• Information gathering and policy formation

• Health and human services

• National security

• Transportation