MIDTERM REVIEW

Covers everything from the beginning of the year!!!

Midterm Schedule:

Monday, Jan 14, 2013 – Periods 2 and 6

Tuesday, Jan 15, 2013 – Periods 3 and 7

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2013 – Periods 1 and 4

Thursday, Jan 17, 2013 – Early Release – Period 5

WEEK 1 AND 2 REVIEW Citizenship:

Refer to your Citizenship HANDOUT!Definition of Citizenship

a member of a nation or country with full rights and responsibilities under the law.

Three Ways to become a Citizen Born Parents born Naturalization

What two countries are also considered part of the U.S.? Guam and Puerto Rico

Aliens = Non citizens Immigrants = Aliens that plan on moving here

permanently Legal Immigration Act 1990 – gave special

consideration and priority to immigrants with special job skills but specifically to relatives of U.S. citizens.

4 steps of Naturalization 1. Declaration of Intent 2. Apply 3. Take the test 4. Oath of Allegiance

Before you apply you have to: Must be 18 years old or older Have lived in the U.S. for 5 years – OR – serve in

the military for 1 year Need to study basic English, history and civics.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES & CIVIC VIRTUE Rights – things you are ALLOWED to do Responsibilities – thing you are EXPECTED to do

Personal – pertain to yourself with little of no government implications Speech, Religion, Obey the laws

Political – usually have some government related repercussion Petition, vote, Jury duty

Civic Virtue – a moral habit; helps maintain order and peace in those times that the government is giving you freedom Self-Restraint Civic Knowledge Self-Assertion Self-Reliance

WHAT YOU NEEDED TO KNOW FOR QUIZ 1! - REVIEW Citizenship Means? Situations that still make you a US Citizen Naturalization Aliens v. Immigrants Legal Immigration Revision Act How can you lose your Citizenship? “My right to swing” ends when? Limited Government Civic Virtue: Why is it important? What are

the categories? Levels of Citizenship

WEEK 3 & 4 REVIEW Bill of Rights – the first 10 amendments in the

U.S. Constitution; grants citizens rights. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

ANSWERS:

1. Freedom of Speech, Petition, Assembly, Religion, and Press

2. Right to bear arms 3. No quartering troops 4. Freedom from UNREASONABLE search and seizure;

Privacy 5. Rights of the accused

no double jeopardy Cannot be compelled to be a witness against himself No private property can be taken without

compensation 6. Right to a Speedy Trial 7. Right to a Jury Trial – any controversy over $20 8. No Cruel and Unusual Punishments or excessive bail 9. Unenumerated rights 10. Rights reserved to the States

FROM THE TEST YOU HAD! Cruel and unusual…. Or is it!? A judge sentences a person to death for

committing a murder. A state law does not allow the judge to consider any special or individual circumstances when deciding whether to give the prisoner the death penalty. Is the state law cruel and unusual? Why or why not?

If the person getting accused is 17, is it cruel and unusual for him to get tried like an adult and be given the death penalty? Use information from the PowerPoint presentation we did in class to justify your answer.

Compelled or not…? A drug addict is arrested for robbery and murder. After being in police custody for several hours, he begins to have severe withdrawal symptoms. The police call a doctor who gives him the necessary medication. Nobody knows that this particular medication has the effect of a “truth serum” on the prisoner. The police proceed with the questioning process and within a short time, the prisoner confesses to the crime. Was the prisoner compelled to be a witness against himself? Why or

why not?

What amendment to this situation address?

ANSWERS

Cruel and unusual…. Or is it!? A judge sentences a person to death for committing a murder. A state law does not allow the judge to consider any special or individual circumstances when deciding whether to give the prisoner the death penalty. Is the state law cruel and unusual? Why or why not?

YES IT IS CRUEL! Especially when the punishment at stake is so high, judges need to consider special, and possibly psychological, circumstances that might have affected the crime.

If the person getting accused is 17, is it cruel and unusual for him to get tried like an adult and be given the death penalty? Use information from the PowerPoint presentation we did in class to justify your answer.

YES IT IS CRUEL! Even though he is almost an adult, he is still underage and the proper punishment should be fit for a minor. Teenagers are less disciplined and more vulnerable to peer pressure than adults.

Compelled or not…? A drug addict is arrested for robbery and murder. After being in police custody for several hours, he begins to have severe withdrawal symptoms. The police call a doctor who gives him the necessary medication. Nobody knows that this particular medication has the effect of a “truth serum” on the prisoner. The police proceed with the questioning process and within a short time, the prisoner confesses to the crime. Was the prisoner compelled to be a witness against himself? Why or

why not?

YES HE WAS COMPELLED! He was compelled by the medicine even though it was unintentional, he could not practice his free will!

What amendment to this situation address? 5 – Rights of the Accused

Other important amendments you need to know!

13. 14. 15.

19.

26.

ANSWERS - Other important amendments you need to know!

13. Abolished Slavery 14. Equal Protection Under the Law and

Citizenship – all persons born in the U.S. or Naturalized

15. Right to Vote (Suffrage) Regardless of Race or Color

19. Right to Vote (Suffrage) for Women – regardless of gender

26. Established the voting age to be 18 years old – “Old enough to fight, old enough to vote”

WEEK 5 REVIEW – OUR ENGLISH HERITAGE

From the 1600s – English traditions of limited and representative government Monarchy – King or Queen

Relatives and noble families had power and were given land in exchange for loyalty, taxes, etc.

 Magna Carta – 1215 King John treated nobles harshly Rebelled and forced king to sign the Magna Carta protecting their privileges and

authority Granted certain rights such as equal treatment under the law and trial by one’s peers

(WHAT AMENDMENTS DOES THAT SOUND LIKE?) First form of limiting government

 Parliament – England’s law making body – legislature Common law – no written laws, judges determining right from wrong would look at

precedents – ruling in earlier cases  1600-1700s England established colonies in America.

Colony-group of people in one place who are ruled by a parent country elsewhere Set up through Charter- written document granting land and authority to set up

colonial governments First permanent settlement was Jamestown in Virginia in 1607

Colonists chose 2 representatives and 22 of the governors council – House of burgesses. Little power but FIRST form of self governance.

1620 – Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth in Massachusetts Came in the Mayflower so their compact (Agreement among the people to govern) was

called the Mayflower Compact – 1620 Set up a direct democracy

1733- all of the13 colonies established

BIRTH OF A DEMOCRATIC NATION 1760 – King George III took the throne and established a system

called mercantilism (selling more than you buy) to try to make as much money from the colonies as possible using the colonies as a source for cheap and raw materials.

“No taxation without representation” – Colonists were upset because they had no representatives in English Parliament Led to a boycott – refuse to buy English products.

Stamp Act: Tax on legal documents Tea Act – made tea from Britain the cheapest – British East India

Company Colonists blocked the ships from the colonial ports, dressed as

Native Americans and dumped 342 chests of tea into the ocean = BOSTON TEA PARTY

English response = Intolerable Acts AKA Coercive Acts restricting colonists rights and allowing soldiers to search and move into colonists homes

1774 – FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESS Colonists sent 12 delegates (Representatives) to Philadelphia to

discuss their concerns. They wanted to establish a sort of government in America to stand up to Britain

Sent a document complaining to King George III and demanding to get their rights back

King George III responded violently

May 1775 – SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS Some people didn’t think Colonists could win a battle against Britain.

Debated long for the best option. During this time Thomas Paine came out with the “Common Sense” Pamphlet where he argued breaking from England was common sense.

Second Continental Congress = First form of Government in the Colonies

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of independence saying the English Crown was not looking out for the colonists’ best interests. In it they say the purpose of government is to protect the rights of the people and that they had the right to overthrow the government for not doing so. Influenced by John Locke’s “Second Treatise of Government” - It said

that a good government is based on a social contract where people agree to give up some of their rights to establish a government and they can overthrow it if it misuses its power.

WEEK 6 REVIEW Confederation: group of individuals united together for

a purpose  Articles of Confederation Good

States kept power and independence = sovereign No government telling states what to do Congress can create military to protect the states

Bad No way to enforce laws States could ignore laws No power to collect taxes to pay government funded

occupations Could only be changed with consent from ALL states

 

The Virginia Plan: Established our 3 branches of government two houses and each state would be represented based on

populations. The New Jersey Plan:

One house with equal representation The Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise

2 Houses: the Senate and the House of Representative The Senate would have 2 members per state which meant all

states had an equal representation The House of Representatives would represent their states based

on population.

The Three-Fifths Compromise: every 5 ensalved persons would count as 3 free persons. This way, slaves would count toward the population total to

gain more representation in the House for the southern states.

CREATING AND RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION

Constitution was drafted to implement a Federalisma form of government in which power is

divided between the federal, or national, government and the states.

Federalists: supported the document Anti-federalists: felt it gave too much

power to the national government; wanted a bill of rights.The promise of a bill of rights turned the

tide and Anti-federalists agreed to the proposed Constitution

Needed 9/13 states approval – In 1788, New Hampshire was the 9th State

WEEK 7 - REVIEW Article I: Legislative Branch

Composed of the Senate and House Requirements:

House of Reps: Senate:2 year terms 6 year terms25 years old 30 years old7 years citizens 9 years citizens

All bills regarding money start in the House of Representatives Legislative Powers = taxing, Naturalization, Money related bills, Postal Service

Article II: Executive Branch Composed of the President, VP and Cabinet Members Requirements:

Serve 4 year terms Must be 35 years old Natural Born Citizen Live in US for 14 years

Article III: Judicial BranchComposed of the Supreme CourtFederal Judges are appointed by the

PresidentServes as the referee between the branches

and can overturn laws it deems unconstitutional. 

Article IV: Relations between the StatesState problems should be addressed by the

state governmentsStates must treat citizens of other states as

if they were citizens of that state.Explains how new states are accepted into

the U.S.

Article V: Amendment ProcessExplains how to amend the

Constitution.

Article VI: National Supremacy“Supreme Law of the Land”The laws in the Constitution are above

all government; everyone must follow it

Article VII: RatificationApproval of the ConstitutionExplains Constitution will be in effect

after 9 out of the 13 States ratify it.

WEEK 12 CHAPTER 6 -

CONGRESS

Week 8 – ReviewedWeek 9 – TestingWeek 10 and 11 – States, Capitals, Countries in Western Hemisphere

HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED

The House435 members, 2

year terms of office. Initiates all revenue

bills, more influential on budget.

House Rules Committee

Limited debates.

The Senate100 members, 6

year terms of office.Gives “advice &

consent”, more influential on foreign affairs.

Unlimited debates. (filibuster)

Bicameralism– Bicameral: Legislature divided into two houses.– Resulted from WHAT COMPROMISE?

Connecticut

Compromise!

Census – population count every 10 yearsGerrymandering – oddly shaped districted designed to increase votes

How Congress is Organized

The House– Lead by Speaker of the

House - elected by House members.

– Presides over House.– Major role in committee

assignments and legislation.

– Assisted by majority leader and whips.

The Senate– Formally lead by Vice

President.– President pro tempore –

“for the time being”– Really lead by Majority

Leader- chosen by party members.

– Assisted by whips.– Must work with Minority

leader.

Congressional Leadership

Majority party – the party to which more than half of the members belong toMinority party – other party

HOW CONGRESS IS ORGANIZED The Committees and Subcommittees

Four types of committees: Standing committees: permanent committees and continue their work

form session to session Joint committees: includes members of both Houses Conference committees: resolve differences in House and Senate bills. Select committees: created for a specific purpose for a limited time.

Getting on a Committee Members want committee assignments that will help them get reelected,

gain influence, and make policy. New members express their committee preferences to the party leaders.

Getting Ahead on the Committee: Chairs and the Seniority System. The chair is the most important position for controlling legislation. Chairs were once chosen strictly by the seniority system. Now seniority is a general rule, and members may choose the chair of

their committee.

LEGISLATIVE POWERS Expressed powers – “Congress shall have the Power…” Implied powers – Necessary and Proper Clause gives

Congress the power to do anything it deems “Necessary and Proper” to carryout its expressed powers Not stated explicitly Clause is also known as the Elastic Clause

EXAMPLES OF LEGISLATIVE POWERS Taxing and Spending

Authorization bills – $ allowed (how much money is authorized for that program to spend)

Appropriation bills - $ actually given to that program Regulating Commerce - trade Foreign Relations and Treaties – only Congress can

declare war.

NONLEGISLATIVE POWERS Powers that do not relate to “law-making”

Approving presidential appointees into high positions

House has the sole authority to impeachOversight and Investigation: important to

ensure Executive branch is carrying out the laws appropriately.Limits on Power

Things Congress may NOT do:Writ of habeas corpus - cannot stop prisoner form going

to court to know why he or she is being heldBills of attainders – cannot pass laws that punish a person

without jury trial. WHAT AMENDMENT!?Ex post facto laws – cannot make something a crime after

it is committed.

7 th Amendment – Jury Trial

TYPES OF BILLS Two Types of Bills

Private Bills: concern individual people or places

Public bills: apply to the entire nation and general matters like taxation, etc.

Congress considers many resolutions (formal statements of opinions from lawmakers) Joint resolution – come from both the

House and the Senate, and usually do become laws if the president signs it.

FROM A BILL TO A LAWSTEP 1 – INTRODUCE THE BILL

Usually start as an idea, presented either by a person or by special interest groups (organizations made up of people with a common interest that are trying to influence government decisions)

Bills are given a number Bill #231 in the Senate would be S.231 and in the House would be H.R.

231

STEP 2 - Committee Action The Committee Chair decides whether to consider the bill or ignore it Usually controlled by Standing Committees... They can:

1. they can pass it without changes 2. mark it up with suggestions 3. replace it with an alternative 4. ignore it and let it die out 5. kill it by a majority vote

STEP 3 – Floor Debate After the Committee action they are ready to be considered by the full House and

Senate. Senate usually goes in the order they are submitted In the House, the RULES COMMITTEE is like the “traffic cop” and determines the order

The Senate allows riders (amendments that are unrelated to the bill) to be attached to it

Senate can also filibuster A filibuster can be ended f ¾ of the members vote for cloture. After this no one can speak

for more than an hour.

STEP 4 – Voting on a Bill Three types of votes

Voice vote: “yea” or “no” Standing vote: those in favor stand to be counted Roll-call vote: a voice vote but in order as they are called

Both the Senate and the House must pass a bill in identical form before it becomes a law if not it is sent to a Conference Committee and gets voted on again.

STEP 5 – Presidential Action The president can do any of 4 things:

Sign the bill and make it a law Veto it (refusing to sign it) Ignore it for 10 days and then it automatically becomes a law If the bill is getting passed close to the end of the Congressional Session, if the president

ignores it during the last 10 days of the session it is called a pocket veto and does not get passed.

WEEK 13 - CHAPTER 7 SECTION1

Qualifications for President The Constitution only lists 3: 1. at least 35 years old 2. native born American citizen 3. resident of the United States for at least 14 years Most presidents have had politcal experience or have been

lawyers but that is not a formal requirement Electing a President Every 4 years Not directly elected *Electoral College *Each State shall appoint "electors" and those then vote for the

major candidates *Although the ballot will show the name of the Presidential

candidate, when you vote you are actually voting for the elector assigned to that candidate.

*Same number of electors as Senators and representatives

Terms of Office Presidents serve 4 year terms *Originally no term limits *No president ran for more than 2 terms = TRADITION *Franklin D. Roosevelt ran and won a third term *22 amendment (ratified in 1951) limits to 2-terms and a max

of 10 years Salary and Benefits: $400,000 plus money for expenses and travel White House Staff = 80+ people Air Force One Vice President Same qualifications as the president and elected the same way. Presidential Succession If president dies or leaves office the VP takes over his

responsibilities and duties. After this would be the Speaker of the House, then the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, then the Secretary of State, etc. (As of 1947 Presidential Succession Act)

*25th Amendment - VP takes over and appoints another VP to be approved by both House and Senate

CHAPTER 7 – SECTION 2 Constitutional Powers - *veto *call Congress to special session

*Commander in chief * receive leaders of other countries * make treaties (with senate approval) * appoint head of executive agencies and courts *grant pardons

"state of the union" address - yearly; discusses important issues and possible solutions

ROLES OF THE PRESIDENT! 1. Chief Executive: carrying out the laws *can issue Executive orders which are rules or commands that

have the force of laws. Pardons, Repreive, Amnesty 2. Chief Diplomat: directs foreign policy 3. Commander in Chief: leader of the armed forces; helps back up

his foreign policies if necessary. *Checks and Balances: the president is responsible for sending the

soldiers to battle but only CONGRESS can declare war. *War Powers Resolution: president must notify congress that he

sent troops within 48 hrs. If congress doesnt approve troops must return home within 60 days.

4. Legislative Leader: Most bills considered by Congress come from the executive branch.

*Presidents have a legislative program (laws they want to pass)

*Disagreements = President represents the whole country while members of Congress represent their states/districts.

5. Head of State: Living symbol of the Nation; represents the country by visiting other countries and participating in ceremonies.

6. Economic Leader: voters expect presient to deal with such problems as unemployment, raising prices or high taxes.

*Plans federal government budget 7. Party Leader: party members work hard to get the

president in their party elected.  

CHAPTER 7 SECTION 3 THE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN POLICY *Foreign policy - the nations plan for dealing with other

nations It has 4 essential goals! 1. National security - the ability to keep the country safe from

attack or harm AND it is the basic goal of foreign policy 2. International trade (vital to economic prosperity) 3. Promoting World peace 4. Promote democracy around the world Constitution divides foreign and military affairs between the

president and Congress. President = Commander in chief and Chief Diplomat Congress = power to declare war, prohibit certain military

actions, can spend or withhold money for defense. Tools of Foreign Policy Strategies and methods to aid foreign policy making:

*Creating Treaties and Executive Agreements -formal agreements between the governments of two or more

countries -the Senate must approve by a 2/3 vote -President can bypass the Senate by making an Executive

Agreement *Apponting Ambassadors -an official representative of a country's government -must be approved by the Senate *Foreign Aid -can be money, food, military assistance, or other supplies given

to help other countries *International Trade -president can make agreement with other nations regarding

trade -trade sanctions: efforts to punish another nation by imposing

trade barriers. -embargo: another punishment tool which is an agreement among

a group of nations that prohibits them from trading with a target nation.

*Military Force -As Commander in Chief president may use the military to

carryout some foreign policy decisions.

CHAPTER 7 – SECTION 4 Executive Office of the President -about 2,000 employees -budget of over $100 million -Prepare reports, help write bills - Divided into 5 Parts: *White House Office - about 500 people - Chief of Staff is the most powerful. - Other members are a lawyer and a press secretary *Office of Management and Budget (OMB) - Prepares the federal

budget and monitor spending *National Security Council (NSC) - helps coordinate the military

and foreign policy. - Includes, Secretary of State and Defense *Office of Administration - provides administrative services to all

executive offices and provides info for people seeking records under the Freedom of Information Act.

*Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) - helps president carry out the role of economic leader. Deals with employment, tax policies, and foreign trade.

Cabinet - a group of presidential advisers that includes the heads of the 15 top-

level executive departments. -Called Secretaries (except the head of the Department of Justice who

is called the Attorney General) *Department of Homeland Security - federal department to

consolidate the nation's defenses against terrorist attack and better coordinate counterterrorism intelligence.

*Cabinet Responsibilities - not mentioned in the Constitution; they spend most of their time coordinating their cabinet activities.

The Vice President and the First Lady -usually do not have important roles -recently more power has been given to the VP -Today, First ladies have an office in the White House and a press

spokesperson since they so help serve our country The Federal Bureaucracy -the agencies and employees of the executive branch -carry out the many programs that Congress has created to serve the

people. *turn laws into action by applying it and deciding how to do so *administer the day to day operations of the federal government (mail,

collect taxes, Social Security Checks) *regulate various activities like broadcasting, banks, airlines, etc. 

Independent Agencies -not part of the Cabinet *Executive Agencies - specialized things within the governemnt -NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) *Government Corporations - like private businesses but ran and

owned by the government. -US Postal Service *Regulatory Boards and Commissions - do not have to report to

the president -made to protect the public -make and enforce rules for certain industries -Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - broadcasting rules,

etc Government Workers Political appointees - chosen by the president; usually president

supporters. 90 % are Civil service workers and usually have permanent

employment -range from lawyers to doctors -many fall under the Spoils System (jobs given as a reward for

political support) -Now the civil service system is based on merit system (people

who have passed the tests or other standards)

….CONTINUED Week 14 – Thanksgiving Week 15 – Judicial Branch Week 16 – Supreme Court Case

Attached Week 17 and 18 – History fair