SOL Review Guide
Civics and Economics 2015-2016
Principles of Government and
Citizenship
CE.2 a-d & CE.3 a-d
Foundations of American Constitutional Government
– Path to Citizenship
– An individual becomes a citizen of the United States by birth or naturalization. All naturalized citizens must pass a test of written and spoken language.
– Responsibilities
– Vote
– Hold elected office
– Communicate with officials
– Voluntarily serve in appointed positions
– Participate in political campaigns
– Keep informed
– Respect other’s voice in government
Foundations of American Constitutional Government
– Voter Registration
– Registration closes 22 days before elections
– In person at the registrar’s office
– At the Department of Motor Vehicles
– Other designated sites
– By mail application
Foundations of American Constitutional Government
– Fundamental Political Principles
– Consent of the Governed – people are the source of all government’s power
– Democracy – people rule in a democratic system
– Representative government – people elect public officeholders to conduct
government on their behalf
– Limited government – government is not all powerful. It may do only things people
have given it the power to do.
– Rule of Law – Government and those who are governed are bound by the same laws
Foundations of American Constitutional Government
– Founding Documents
– Articles of confederation – established the first form of national government in the
new USA. The central government was weak and it failed.
– Charters of the Virginia London Company – charter to create Jamestown,
guaranteed the rights of the English to colonize in Jamestown
– Virginia Declaration of Rights – written by George Mason was the model for the bill
of rights (June 12, 1776)
– Declaration of Independence – (Thomas Jefferson – July 4 1776) declared colonies
independence from the British
Foundations of American Constitutional Government
– Founding Documents
– Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom – (Thomas Jefferson 1786) basis for the first
amendment and gave freedom to religious beliefs and opinions
– Magna Carta – issued by King John 1215, right to justice and a free trial
Foundations of American Constitutional Government
– Purpose of the Constitution
– Written by James Madison in 1787, it is the charter for government in the United
States. It was written to replace the Articles of Confederation which was proven
ineffective by Shay's Rebellion. It is the oldest Constitution in use on the world.
Foundations of American Constitutional Government
– First Amendment Freedoms
– R – Religion – government cannot establish an official religion or tell you how to
worship.
– A – Assembly – individuals may gather peacefully
– P – Press – Right to gather and publish information even if it criticizes the
government
– P – Petition – individuals have the right to make their views known to public officials
– S – speech – individuals are free to express their beliefs and opinions.
Foundations of American Constitutional Government
– Amending the Constitution
– Nothing can be added to the Constitution without going through the formal
amendment process called ratification. Ratification is very difficult. Many proposed
amendments are never ratified. Since 1791, only 17 amendments have been added
to the US Constitution.
Political and Government Process
CE.5 a-f, 6-10
Political Parties
Political Process at the State Level
– The Virginia Constitution distributes power among the legislative, executive, and
judicial branches of the state government.
– legislative branch is the General Assembly, a bicameral legislature—the House of
Delegates and the Virginia Senate—that meets annually for a fixed number of
days.
– executive branch - governor, who is elected for a four-year term of office
– lieutenant governor and the attorney general are executive branch officers who are
elected for a four-year term of office.
– judicial power - a court system that consists of four levels of courts: • Supreme
Court • Court of appeals • Circuit courts • District courts (including small claims
courts and juvenile and domestic relations courts)
Political Process at the Local Level
– Counties, cities, and towns adopt and enforce ordinances to provide services for their
residents.
– All citizens can learn the importance of the individual’s participation in the
policymaking process through direct participation and simulations.
– How do localities enact ordinances?
– An elected board of supervisors is the local legislative body in counties and is
responsible for passing laws (ordinances) for the county.
– An elected council is the local legislative body in independent cities and incorporated
towns.
– Individuals can have the greatest influence on the decisions made by local
government officials
Voter Registration & Participation
Voter Registration
Electoral College
Electoral College
Law Making Process
Law Making Process
Functions of Political Parties
Roles of Media
Structure of American Government and
Structure of the Judicial BranchCE.6-10, CE.10a-f
U.S. Federal Courts
VA State Court
National
National
National
State
Local
Economic Principles and Decisions
CE.10-CE.11, CE.14 a-b
Civil vs. Criminal
Civil vs. Criminal
Due Process
Economic Principles
– Production – the goods and services produced by a company
– Scarcity – not having enough resources to produce all of the things we would
like to have
– Price – the particular amount, usually of money, that is offered or asked for
when something is bought or sold
– Consumption – the purchase and use of goods and services by consumers, or
the quantity of goods and services purchased
– Choice – a person, a thing, or course of action chosen by somebody from
among a range of possibilities
Economic Principles
– Supply – the amount of goods and services that producers are able and willing
to sell at various prices during a specified time period
– Demand – the desire, willingness, and ability to buy a good or service
– Resources – the money, people, and materials available to accomplish a
community’s goal
– Incentives – something that encourages or motivates somebody to do
something
– Opportunity cost – the cost of the next best alternative use of time and money
when choosing to do one thing rather than another
United States Economy
CE.14a-c, CE.11-13
Role of Government In Economy
Role of Government In Economy
Role of Government In Economy
Federal Reserve
Types of Businesses
Types of Business
Market Interaction
– The tendency for a change in the price of a product (or of a factor of
production) of one market to influence a corresponding price in another
because of the possibility of substitution between their products (or between
their factors of production).
Circular Flow
– Consumers – individuals and households who use products and services
– Creating currency – rule of the federal reserve, they maintain the amount of
money in the economy to keep inflation low and stable
– Global economy – world wide markets in which the buying and selling of goods
and services by all nations takes place
– Business (Producers) – three types of businesses: proprietorship, partnership, and
corporation
– Competition in the market place
– Enforcing antitrust legislation to discourage the development of monopolies
– Engaging in global trade
– Supporting business start-ups
Personal Finance and Career Opportunity
CE.14 a-c
Influence and Career Choice
– Career planning starts with self-assessment
– An awareness of personal talents, interests, and aspirations is needed to select
a career
Abilities and Skills
– Higher skill and/or education levels generally lead to higher incomes
– Supply and demand also influence job income
Technology and Borrowing
Maintaining Good Finance Habits
– Being fiscally responsible means maintaining a budget and spending within your
means.
– Being fiscally responsible includes:
– Making careful spending decisions
– Saving and investing for the future
– Having insurance
– Keeping to a budget
– Using credit wisely
– Understanding how contracts, warranties, and guarantees can protect the individual
Work Ethics & Career Success
– Employers seek employees who demonstrate the attitudes and behaviors of a
strong work ethic
– Attitudes and behaviors that support a strong work ethic enhance career
success