American Government Review

American Government Review

Let's get ready for the Exam!

Articles of Confederation

• Very weak Federal Government

• States were too autonomous (self-governed)

• Everyone had their own currency

• Everyone could declare war

• No Federal Courts - squabbles between states

Constitution

• Sets up the structure of our Federal Government

• Enumerates powers to the Federal government

• Reserves powers to states

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Multiple Choice

What is an example of The Articles of Confederation being weak?

• Very strong Federal government.

• Each state and federal government could coin money.

• They blockaded Naboo

• Had a bicameral legislation

Bill of Rights

• Recognition of Natural Rights aka Unalienable Rights

• Lists citizens Civil Liberties

• 8th Amendment - Cruel and unusual punishment

• 14th Amendment - Defined Citizen for the first time

Civil Rights and Liberties

• Due Process - Fair legal treatment

• Pretrial process

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Federal, State, and Local Governments

• Senate vs. House

• Senate has exclusive power to approve international treaties

Multiple Select

Which of these powers does the House of Representatives hold?

• Propose legislation

• Form committees

• Approving international treaties

• Impeach government officials

Branches of Government

• Executive - Office of President (signs and approves laws) + Cabinet

• Legislative - Bicameral; House of Reps and Senate (creates laws, controls money)

• Judicial - Supreme Court (deems laws constitutional or not)

Local Government

• County - in charge of elections and education, ect.

• Municipalities - in charge of garbage, roads, sewers, etc.

Multiple Choice

Chatham County is in charge of setting when trash is picked up from your house.

• True

• False

Supreme Court

• Jurisdiction: Constitutional Cases

• Judicial Review: power to determine if something is constitutional

Multiple Select

Which cases could be brought before the Supreme Court?

• A state law that increases the difficulty to vote for a minority group.

• a criminal trial for someone who tried to steal the Declaration of Independence.

• A Federal law that infringes on our right to free speech.

• A State law that allows for a drinking age of 26.

Supreme Court

Briefs

Gibbons v. Ogden

Aaron Ogden required steamboat operators to have NY license to use river. Ogden sued by Gibbons for steamboat monopoly on Hudson River. Supreme court decided that interstate commerce power extended to navigation. Federal license had precedent over state.

Plessy v. Ferguson

Supreme Court decision on "Separate but Equal" . Justice John Harlan dissented the ruling, saying "The Constitution is color-blind" . Meaning law does not see differences in citizens such as skin color. (Good or bad?)

Griswold v. Connecticut

June 7, 1965: found in favor of the constitutional right of married persons to use birth control. Justice Goldberg based opinion on intention of founders.

Multiple Choice

A case is brought to the Supreme Court in which the defendant was arrested for driving his truck in New York with only a Federal license. Who will the Justices most likely side with?

• The accuser; state law takes precedent over Federal.

• The defendant; Federal law takes precedent over State.

Poll

Should the law be "color-blind"?

• yes

• no

• sometimes

Essay Structure

• Introduction to Essay - includes topic

• Topic - the subject of the essay

• Body - includes points to expound upon the topic

• Conclusion - Reviews the points and confirms the topic