CIVICS – SEMESTER REVIEW

Declaration of Independence

Why? Declare freedom from Britain Defend natural rights Explain grievances (issues) against King

Purpose of Government? Protect people’s rights

Main grievances Britain limiting people’s rights

Foundations Social Contract

Idea that people give consent to the government in exchange for protection.

But if the government doesn’t do its duty citizens have the right to abolish the government

Federalists – Strong, central government Anti-Federalists – Weaker central

government with more power in the states Bill of Rights – key issue to ratifying the

Constitution to ensure people’s rights Pushed by Anti-federalists

Forms of Government Direct Democracy – everybody votes

for everything Dictatorship – total control Monarchy – hereditary royalty with

symbolic responsibilities Absolute Monarchy – hereditary

royalty with total control Theocracy – religious and political

leadership combined

Presidential vs. Parliamentary Presidential

Executive and legislative branches elected by voters

Parliamentary Legislative branch

elected by voters Executive

appointed by Legislature

Economies

Command economy – government makes all decisions (goal of equality)

Market economy – free enterprise, supply and demand controlled by consumers and producers

Traditional economy – no government influence – based on exchange of goods

Active Citizenship

• Using civic participation to address problems facing their communities, their country, and the world. • Examples: voting, running for office,

working on a political campaign, sponsoring food drives, etc.

Liberal Ideology

Favoring an active role for government in solving society’s problems Examples: Support Health care, same-

sex marriage, social programs

Conservative Ideology

Favoring a limited role of government in economic affairs and a greater role in regulating social affairs Examples: reduce taxes and regulations,

ban same-sex marriage, limit immigration

Political Socialization

How individuals form political ideas and beliefs – comes from family, school, religion, peer groups, gender and ethnicity, and news media.

Nomination by Petition

Candidates who are not from major parties but have gotten enough signatures to be placed on a ballot

Interest Groups

Focus on specific issues or topics and encourage political parties to maintain and promote their beliefs and values

Electoral College

Group that elects the President – composed of the number of representatives and senators per state

Powers of Congress

Create federal laws Declare War Coin money Regulate commerce (trade)

All of these are called expressed powers and are described in Article I of the Constitution

Checks and Balances

Each branch holds some power over the other two branches Examples:

Impeaching the President President vetoing a bill Congress overriding a veto Senate ratifying a treaty

Bill Making Process

House or Senate creates and passes a bill

President signs or vetoes the bill (this role is called Chief Legislator)

Veto Powers

President Can veto the entire bill only Pocket veto – less than 10 days before

Congress adjourns Wait 10 days, not signing the bill and

allowing the bill to become law Congressional Overrides

2/3 majority of Congress can override

Federalism

Shared powers between the federal and state governments

Illinois Constitution

Legislative body = General Assembly Chief Executive = Governor

Home Rule = process in which a county or municipal government may provide the citizens its own services

2nd Quarter Learning Target Review

Qualifications

House of Representatives 25 years old 7 year citizen 2 year term

Senate 30 years old 9 year citizen 6 year term

Qualifications President

35 years old 14 year citizen 4 year term

Supreme Court Justice or Federal Judge No age Citizen Life term

Filibuster

The ability to give a long speech or series of speeches in an attempt to delay the work of the Senate

Structure

Article I – Legislative (Congress) makes laws

Article II – Executive – enforces laws Article III – Judicial – reviews laws Bill of Rights – 1st Ten Amendments

Rights of Citizens

Executive Privileges

Pardon – the excuse of an offense without exacting a penalty; a release from the legal penalties of an offense

Executive agreement - Presidents make deals with other nations or leaders, they are avoiding the treaty ratification power of the Senate

Powers Approve treaties - Senate Start revenue bills - House Manage respective departments - Cabinet Declare laws unconstitutional – Supreme Court Vetoes Laws - President Impeachment power – House Impeaches /

Senate Tries Approves appointments - Senate Commander in Chief - President Presides over the House of Representatives -

Speaker Writes opinions on law – Supreme Court

Amendment Process

Congress proposes amendments with a 2/3 majority vote

State legislatures ratify amendments with a ¾ vote

1971 Changes to Illinois Constitution

Protection against discrimination for the handicapped

Protection against discrimination for women

Comparison Illinois Government

Executive Line Item Veto

Judges Elected

Representatives Minimum age =

21 118 + 59

US Government Executive

No line item veto Judges

Appointed Representatives

Minimum age = 25

435 + 100