Midterm Review

Foundations and Principles of Government

Purposes of Government

• Maintain order: protect the rights and safety of the people– Example: make and enforce laws; police and fire protection

• Provide National Security: protect the United States from attack– Example: Military; Homeland Security; Border Patrol, etc.

• Provide Public Services: provide citizens with essential services that make community life possible– Example: roads; sewer systems; health regulations, education,

etc. • Make Economic Decisions: to provide economic

opportunities; eliminate the gap between rich and poor– Examples: Tax cuts; national budget

Democratic v. Authoritarian

• Democratic– Limited form of

government– Rights of the people

are protected– Rule of law is followed– Closed

elections/secret ballots

• Authoritarian – Unlimited form of

government– Rights of the people

are not protected– Rule of law is not

followed– Elections are not

secret

Unitary Government

• A government that gives all key powers to the national or central government

• This is what the colonies had under the rule of the king until July 4, 1776.

Confederate Government

• A loose union of independent states

• Existed from 1781 – 1788

• Also during the Civil War – The Confederate states of America

Federal Government• Government power is

divided between the national government and state or provincial governments

• Called Federalism – Separation of Powers- Federal, State (10th amendment) and Concurrent powers.

Democracy • Two types

• Direct – all people vote – works on small scale

• Representative – elect Representatives to vote for you - large scale– Found in the United

States

Majority Rule

• The wishes of the majority are followed by the minority.

• Also – the majority can’t establish a tyranny over the minority (that would not follow the principles of Democracy).

Limited Government• The power of the

government is limited by a written constitution.

• Our government is particularly limited by the Bill of Rights!

Popular Sovereignty

• People are the source of government power

Federalism• In this government system, power is divided

between national and state governments

Separation of Powers

• Each of the three branches of government has its own responsibilities

Checks and Balances

• Each branch of government limits the power of the other two.

Judicial Review

• Courts have power to declare laws and actions of Congress and the president unconstitutional

• The Supreme Court in the case of Marbury v. Madison in 1803 established the precedent for federal courts to rule on the actions of the government

Marbury VS. Madison

Declaration of Independence

• List of colonist’s grievances against the King of England.

• Used to persuade colonists to support the Revolution.

• Stated that there are personal freedoms that everyone is entitled to:– Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of

Happiness

A “Living Document”

• The Constitution is called a “living document” because it can be amended and is interpreted to suit the needs or the times.

The Bill of Rights

• First 10 Amendments to the Constitution

• Limits the power of the government

The Preamble

• We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare,, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Three Branches

• The Legislative Branch makes laws, while the Executive Branch enforces laws, and the Judicial Branch interprets laws.

Amendments

• Formal amendments to the Constitution must first be proposed by a 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress and then approved by of 3/4 of the 50 state legislatures.

• How does this support the idea of federalism?

Interstate Compact

• A written agreement between two or more states

Concurrent Powers

• Powers that both the national government and the states have, such as:– Power to tax– Maintain courts– Define crimes– Appropriate private

property for public use

How do citizens try to persuade lawmakers?

• Personal contacts: phone, email, letters

• Testifying at hearings and town council meetings

• Holding a protest or demonstration

• Initiatives and referendums

When may personal freedoms be limited?

• When national security is endangered.

• When it violates the law.

• When it infringes on the rights of others.

Rights Reserved to the People9th Amendment

Gerrymandering

• To draw a district’s boundaries to gain an advantage in elections

Continuous Body

• The idea that 1/3 of the Senate is reelected every 2 years.

House of Representatives

• The number of seats per state in the House of Representatives is recalculated every 10 years.

US Congress

• There are 435 Members in the House of Representatives and 100 Senators.

• Members of the House serve 2 year terms while Senators serve six year terms.

Congress Continued…

• The number of seats in the House is determined by proportional representation while the number of seats per state in the Senate is determined by equal representation.

Congress Continued…

• Members of the House must be at least 25 years old, a citizen of the US for at least 7 years, and a resident of the district they represent.

Congress Continued…

• Members of the Senate must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the US for 9 years, and a resident of the state they represent.

“Power of the Purse”

• Although the President submits the budget, Congress must approve his spending for Entitlements, War, Executive Agencies, Cabinet requests, etc.

• Therefore – He can’t spend unless they let him!

The Electoral College

• The total number of seats as state has in the Electoral College is determined by the total number of Representatives and Senators it has in Congress.

Roles of the President

• Chief Executive– Head of the executive

branch– Issues executive

orders, enforces laws, makes appointments, grants pardons, etc.

Chief Legislator

• Proposes a legislative agenda

• Signs or vetos bills

Chief of Party• President helps his party in

many ways :

• 1. Raises Money through fundraising dinners and events. Gives speeches or appears in commercials

• 2. Spoils system – after winning will give out jobs – Cabinet, Ambassadorships, Executive Agencies, etc.

Commander in Chief

• Oversees the military• Can send troops into

a foreign country• Can provide domestic

aid during natural disasters

• War Powers Act – 1973, can only send troops for 90 days with Congress approval

Economic Planner

• Creates the national budget

• Works for a prosperous economy

Head of State

• Symbol of our nation• Performs ceremonial

duties

Chief Diplomat

• Meets with foreign leaders

• Negotiates trade agreements and peace treaties

The Federal Bureaucracy

• Bureaucrat: a government worker

• Slow – moving – layers of government

Regulatory Agencies Continued

• Federal Communications Commission– Created in 1934– Purpose: Regulate

interstate and international communications (radio, tv, wire, satellite, and cable).

- Censorship

Regulatory Agencies Continued

• Federal Trade Commission– Created in 1914– Purpose: Protect

consumers from misleading advertising; prevent monopolies and ensure competition in business.

- Prevents cheating in the stock market

Regulatory Agencies Continued

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)– Created in 1931– Purpose: Protects the

public from poorly manufactured food and prescription drugs.

Federal Regulatory Agencies

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)– Created in 1970– Purpose: Protect

health, regulate air, water, and land pollution.

Regulatory Agencies Continued

• Federal Aviation Administration– Created in 1958– Purpose: Ensure

safety in air travel.

Executive Orders• President issues these to

enforce laws without having to go through Conress.

• Examples – FDR – Japanese internment, Harry Truman – Integration of troops, JFK – Affirmative ActionBarack Obama- Stem Cell research.

What is the role of political parties?

- Nominate candidates for office

- Win elections and gain control of government

- Help determine public policy

What is the goal of an interest group?

• Influence lawmakers• How?

– Lobbying elected officials

– Media campaigns– Lawsuits– Donations to political

candidates

• Lobbyist – representative of an interest group

Suffrage

• The right to vote– 15th Amendment, black

males– 19th Amendment,

females

Affirmative Action

• Government policies that award jobs, government contracts, promotions, admission to schools, and other benefits to minorities and women in order to make up for past discriminations

Voter Apathy

• People do not vote because they do not care or do not think their vote makes a difference

Propaganda

• Bandwagon – Urging voters to support a

candidate because everyone else is

• Name Calling (aka “labeling”)– using negative language

against another candidate to put them in a bad light

• Testimonial – A celebrity endorses a

candidate• Plain Folks

– candidate is just one of “the common people”

Register to Vote

• You must be-– 18 years old– a citizen of the US– Not a convicted felon

or legally insane

• Registering helps stop voting fraud

Characteristics of Democrats

• Liberal• Working class• Poor, minorities,

women, etc.• Believe the

government should have an active role in people’s lives.

Characteristics of Republicans

• Conservative• Upper-middle to

wealthy class.• “White Collar” jobs –

businessmen, lawyers, bankers, etc.

• Believe the government should play a limited role in people’s lives.

Why don’t people vote?

• Voter apathy• Distrust government• Do not like the

candidates or issues• Too busy• Feel that their vote

won’t make a difference