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P.I.G. ReviewFinal Exam – January
Types of Government
Socialism – redistribution of wealth, resources in society, usually seen as an evolution rather than revolution (welfare programs, public programs, etc)
Communism – in practice, normally a small group of people in control of a large group of less educated industrial and agricultural workers, little or no private property, significant support and control by the state
Theocracy – government by religion
Representative Democracy – indirect democracy – people vote for their representatives who will vote for them
People vote to exercise/express their political power Republic (US)
Parliamentary (Britain)
Dictatorship – power held largely by an individual
US Constitution
Took effect March 4, 1789
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 defence, 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.
Article I – Legislative Branch, Congress (Senate and the House of Representatives)
Article II – Executive Branch - President
Article III – Judicial Branch
Article IV – Obligations of the States
Article V – Ability to amend the Constitution
Article VI – Assumption of Debt
US Constitution/Bill of Rights
Created to win votes of the Anti-federalists
First ten amendments
Focused on individual rights
Habeas Corpus – requirement that an individual cannot be imprisoned without following certain procedures (ie – must be charged and know the charges, brought before a grand jury, etc)
Additional legal procedures
Amendments you should know
In addition to the Bill of Rights (should know the first ten amendments pretty well)
14th – commonly known as the equal rights amendment and basically points out that all of the rights in the Constitution now apply to all (male) citizens regardless or race, color, or creed. Actually used to protect the rights of corporations more than individuals
15th – specifically grants voting rights to all male citizens regardless of race, religion or creed (or socioeconomic status)
19th – grants the right to vote to women
23rd – DC residents get to have electoral college votes
24th – cannot charge poll taxes or otherwise infringe (limit) voting rights
26th – voting age fixed at 18
Elastic Clause
a/k/a “the necessary and proper clause” – the creation of powers needed for the federal government to discharge its constitutional duties
Battle over national bank
Paired with the commerce clause for the New Deal
Federal kidnapping law
Prohibition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsudHmV-B_Y
Habeas Corpus
Provides for due process
Cannot be put in jail without being charged (indicted) for a crime
Cannot be arrested and kept in jail for an unreasonable period of time (usually 24-72 hours)
Filibuster
One of those weird things you can do in the Senate
Cannot be done in the House
“Talking out a bill”
Can be stopped by cloture
Usually seen as a “cop-out”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENbhSyP49Ag
Federalism
Division/duplication of powers between federal (central/national) government and state governments
Separation of Powers Seen at both the federal and state level
Legislative
Federal
Congress
Senate
o 2 Senators per state House of Representatives
o Proportional representation – number of representatives decided by a states population
State
Senate – one per county -63 Senators
Assembly – one per district (124,000/district) – 150 Assemblymen
Executive Branch
Federal
President (elected – electoral college)
Commander in chief
Can veto a bill, proposes federal budget, negotiates treaties, appoints cabinet members and judges (confirmed by Congress)
Regulatory Agencies
State
Governor (elected by popular vote)
Can call out National Guard
Veto state legislation, proposes state budget
Regulatory Agencies
Checks and Balances
Progressive Income Tax
16th Amendment
Progressive Age
The more someone earns, the more taxes they pay (in theory)
Currently a hotly debated issue (Obama’s proposal that those making more than $250,000 per year would pay a significantly higher tax rate than those making less)
Pork Barrel Legislation
When Congressmen add an unrelated item to a spending (appropriations bill) to pay for a project or help a business in their own local district
Doesn’t have to relate to the main idea of the bill
Often approved since to take it out would require starting from scratch on the main bill
Legal but generally viewed as unethical
Presidents have to veto or accept the entire bill
1990’s – Congress authorized the president to have a line item veto but the Supreme Court struck it down as unconstitutional (line item meant the president could cross out parts of a bill, but sign the rest into law)
Gerrymandering
Drawing/re-districting voting districts to enhance one group’s advantage and diminish another
Often used to dilute minority votes (whether a social/ethnic minority or a political one)
Amending the Constitution
Two main methods
Congress proposes and its ratified by state legislatures (used 26 times) or by special state conventions (done once)
A national convention can be convened (called together) to propose an amendment which would than be ratified by the states (we have never used this method – or least not so far)
Voting in the United States
You must be 18
Citizen
Not a felon (with some exceptions)
You must register to vote Meaning you have proven you meet the legal qualifications
For anyone who is 18 before you graduate, we will provide you this option in school
Special Interest Groups
Lobbyists – work to promote the interests of their group/employer/client in government
Anything from big companies, civil rights groups, environmental groups, etc
Tries to influence how politicians vote
PAC’s – political action committee’s – lobbying groups, can provide finances for candidates that are under different (and usually looser) rules than for the candidates own funds