9.3: Citizenship & Voting Follow along in the student packet: “Content students MUST KNOW to be successful on the GHSGT” (p. 165-166) The Declaration of Independence Based on the ideas of John Locke: Gov’t power comes from the consent of the people (“social contract”). People the right to abolish an oppressive gov’t & create a new one. All people are born free and equal, with natural rights to life, liberty, and property. Allows each Written law restricts the Foundational Principles branch of gov’t government’s power of the Constitution power over the Balance of local, state, other Key principles of American gov’t: 2 branches & national government Rule of Law Power is in the hands of the people (voting) Federalism Prevents the Popular Sovereignty concentration & abuse of power Separation of Powers by creating 3 Checks and Balances equal branches of gov’t Ratification of the Constitution Debate centered on the need for a strong national gov’t (Federalists) vs. state & individual rights (Anti-Feds) James Madison, Alexander Hamilton & John Jay argued for a stronger central government in The Federalist Papers Anti-Federalists agreed to ratify the Constitution when a Bill of Rights was added that protected individual rights The Legislative Branch Article I of the Constitution describes the powers, roles, and responsibilities of the legislative branch Law-making powers of Congress (Senate & House of Representatives) How a bill becomes a law Describe the checks and balances by involved in passing a bill (presidential veto & judicial review) How a Bill Becomes a Law Legislative Branch-Congress Membership in the House of Reps 1. Based on state population 2. 435 total members 3. Reps elected every 2 years Membership of the Senate 1. Each state elects 2 senators 2. 100 total members 3. Senators elected for 6 year terms Legislative Branch Powers of Congress: Expressed (Enumerated) Powers are specifically written in the Constitution Making Laws, taxes, regulating trade, declaring war, impeachment Implied Powers are not written in the Constitution (Elastic Clause gives Congress power to pass laws it deems “necessary & proper” for doing its job) Buy Louisiana, create Bank of the US Checks & Balances Legislative Branch Powers Checks on Powers Pass bills into law President’s power to veto laws Over-ride passed by presidential veto Congress by 2/3 vote Supreme Court’s Approve cabinet power to rule laws positions unconstitutional “Power of the Purse” (taxes & spending) The Executive Branch Article II gives the power to enforce federal law to the Executive Branch Led by the president: Chief executive & agenda setter Commander in chief of the military Chief of state: negotiates foreign policy agreements with other nations Chief party leader Checks and Balances Executive Branch Powers Approves or vetoes laws Carries out laws Appoints federal judges & officials Negotiates treaties Checks on Powers Congress can override veto Congress approves taxes, & federal appointments Congress can impeach Judicial review Impeachment Process Any person in the executive or judicial branch—including the President--can be removed from office by Congress: 1st step is impeachment—accusation of charges by the House of Reps 2nd step involves a trial in the Senate—requires 2/3 majority to remove a person from office The Cabinet Advisors to the president; heads of departments: Secretary of State (foreign policy) Secretary of Treasury (monetary & fiscal policy) Attorney General (Justice Dep’t) Secretary of Defense (military) Homeland Security (coordinates FBI, CIA, INS, NSC) U.S. Cabinet Presidential Election Process 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Candidates announce their candidacy Presidential primaries in each state to choose delegates to party convention Party conventions elect their nominee General election campaign between the 2 major party candidates General election—Each state’s popular vote is converted to an electoral vote Electoral College votes for president The Judicial Branch Article III establishes the Supreme Court Main role is to interpret the law Judicial Review Federal court system (three levels) Supreme Court (1- 9 justices) 13 Circuit Courts of Appeals 94 U.S. District Courts Checks and Balances - Judicial Branch Powers Checks on Powers Interprets the Congress and meaning of laws & States have the the Constitution power to amend Reviews laws the Constitution passed by Congress Senate can refuse & actions of the appointments to president (Judicial the federal courts Review) Congress can impeach a judge Powers of the Federal Government Powers Shared by Federal and State Powers of the State Governments Responsibilities of Citizenship Participate in the community Respect the property & views of others Pay taxes Obey the law Vote Serve on a jury Register for military duty Keep informed on current issues The Bill of Rights 1. Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition 2. Right to bear arms 3. No quartering of troops 4. No search and seizure without a warrant 5. Rights of the accused to remain silent; Right to due process of law 6. Right to a speedy trial 7. Right to a jury trial in civil cases 8. Rights to reasonable bail, fines and punishments 9. Powers reserved to the people 10. Powers reserved to the states Other Key Amendments 14th—Equal protection under the law for all citizens 15th—Gave black men voting rights 17th—Direct election of Senators 19th—Gave women the right to vote 24th—Abolished poll taxes 26th—lowered voting age to 18 years Political Parties Democratic Party (est in 1828) promote strong central gov’t that protects the rights of the poor & minorities more taxes for the wealthy Republican Party (est in 1854) support smaller central gov’t with more state & local control less taxes for the businesses & the wealthy In what important way are political parties different from interest groups? 5 They try to influence Congress. They raise money for candidates. They have a set of beliefs they want to pursue. Their central goal is to win political office. 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 1 2 3 1 3 1 4 . on ey a se to fb ce el nt ... ra lg oa li s t.. . 6 1 5 1 6 Th ei r 5 ha ve 4 Th ey 3 fo r.. .. 02 Th ey 1 Th ey try ra is e to 4. 0% 0% 0% 0% m 3. en ce . 2. 10 in flu 1. 1 7 1 8 1 9 2 0 How does the granting or denial of bail maintain the balance between individual liberties and the public interest? 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 1 3 ng 1 5 1 6 a. .. al lo a ba il to ba il ho w 1 4 w s pe r. . . de ni .. is pr e. .. 1 2 gr an tin g 02 de ny i 1 pe rs on 4. 0% 0% 0% 0% ca n 3. a 2. 10 ba il granting bail can prevent a person from getting harmed in jail a person who is denied bail can better oversee his or her defense denying bail to a person considered dangerous protects the public granting bail allows a person to convince others of his or her innocence 1. gr an tin g 5 1 7 1 8 1 9 2 0 Which of the following positions is generally held by organizations committed to civil liberties? 5 The rights of society and the rights of individuals are equal, regardless of the case. The protection of the state is more important than the liberties of the individual. The rights of the state are the work of law enforcement, while the courts protect the individual. The rights of individuals are to be protected, even if the work of law enforcement becomes more difficult. 2. 3. 0% 0% 0% 0% 20 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 1 2 1 3 Th e 1 Th e rig ht s 4. 10 of so ci pr et ot y. ec .. tio n Th of e th rig e ht ... s of th Th e e st rig at ht ... s of in di vi du ... 1. 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 8 1 9 2 0 The 5th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to bear arms. 5 True False 0% 2 03 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 13 Tr ue 1 14 0% 15 16 17 18 se 2. 10 Fa l 1. 19 20 Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letters from a Birmingham Jail addressed the fears white religious leaders had about moving too quickly toward desegregation. 5 True False 0% 2 03 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 13 Tr ue 1 14 0% 15 16 17 18 se 2. 10 Fa l 1. 19 20 The Voting Rights Act of 1965 gave the U.S. Justice Department the right to oversee voting laws in districts that had used discriminatory practices against AfricanAmericans in the past. 5 True False 0% 2 03 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 13 Tr ue 1 14 0% 15 16 17 18 se 2. 10 Fa l 1. 19 20 The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution clearly identified African Americans as full citizens in an attempt to counteract the Black Codes established in the American South during Reconstruction. 5 True False 0% 2 03 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 13 Tr ue 1 14 0% 15 16 17 18 se 2. 10 Fa l 1. 19 20 The 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of free speech, petition, assembly, press, and religion. 5 True False 0% 2 03 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 13 Tr ue 1 14 0% 15 16 17 18 se 2. 10 Fa l 1. 19 20