Legal process through which immigrants become U.S. citizens.

if at least one parent is an American citizen then you are an American citizen

If a child was born on U.S. land the child is a U.S. citizen

Something that you should do

something that each citizen must do

A system for calling up people for military service.

Protects five freedoms: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.

Protects the right to bear arms.

 No soldiers will be quartered (housed) without the consent

 Protects against unreasonable search and seizures without a warrant or probable cause.

1. Before being tried for a serious crime a grand jury must indict (formally accuse) the person of the crime, 2. Protects against being tried for the same criminal offense twice, 3. Protects against self-incrimination, 4. Cannot be deprived of rights without due process of the law, 5. Allows for eminent domain.

Right to a speedy trial

In cases involving money or property over $20, the right to a trial by jury is preserved.

Protects against excessive bail and fines. Protects against cruel and unusual punishments

There are other rights reserved to the people that are not listed in the Constitution.

Powers that are not reserved to the federal government belong to the states

The right of voting.

The act of putting a person through a second trial for an offense for which he or she has already been prosecuted or convicted.

The government has to follow rules and established procedures in everything it does. 

Government power to take private property for public use without the owner's consent.

 The process to have a higher court review the result of a trial court or lower court.

Prohibits laws made after an act is committed making it illegal although it was legal when done.

Court order that requires the government to bring a prisoner to court and explain why he or she is being held.

A justice system that is not influenced by either the legislative or executive branch.

A previous case or legal decision that may be or must be followed in future similar cases.

Used during civil cases to promptly dispose of a case without a trial.

Refusal to obey governmental demands or commands

The freedom to choose how to produce, sell, and use your own resources, while respecting others' rights to do the same.

The imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial.

Authority to determine how a resource is used

Prohibits discrimination (on the basis of race, religion, gender, or national origin) in public accommodations, facilities, and schools.

This act provided for equal housing opportunities regardless of race, religion, gender, or national origin.

Outlawed slavery

Granted full citizenship to African Americans. States, again, citizens cannot be deprived of rights without due process of the law. Guarantees equal protection under the law.

States that no one can be denied suffrage (right to vote) based on race or color.

Prohibits any United States citizen from being denied the right to vote on the basis of gender. Gave women the right to vote.

Bans the use of poll taxes

Lowered the voting age in all elections to 18.

A proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal rights for women.

Political powers reserved for the state governments and not the federal government.

Designed to enforce the voting rights guaranteed by Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Prohibits discrimination in voting.

Establishes the Supreme Court's power of judicial review (deciding whether laws passed by Congress are constitutional).

"Separate, but equal" was constitutional. Segregation was allowed.

Segregation in the public schools is unconstitutional. Reverses the Court's earlier position on segregation set by Plessy v. Ferguson.

Established free legal help for those who cannot otherwise afford representation in court.

Ruled that a person's Fifth Amendment (right to remain silent) rights begin at the time of arrest.

Establishes the extent of public school students' constitutional rights while at school. Specifically about black armbands worn to school to protest the war in Vietnam.

 Establishes that the 1st Amendment does not require schools to promote particular types of student speech (specifically about a school newspaper).

 Court ruling forced President to turn over secret tapes of White House conversation. Rule of Law.

Court decision that held that juveniles accused of crimes in a delinquency proceeding must be afforded many of the same due process rights as adults.

After issues with voters' ballots in Florida, the FL Supreme Court issued a recount. The US Supreme Court ruled that this was unconstitutional, since in essence the FL Supreme Court was creating a new election law (something they cannot do). The recount was stopped.

Minors in juvenile court delinquency proceedings do not have the same constitutional rights as those given to adults in regular criminal court cases.

The forced separation of different racial groups.

the  economic and political system in which the government owns the means of production and decides what will be produced.

Political party that believes each individual has the right to control his or her own body, action, speech, and property.

working people own and control the means of production and distribution 

conservative political party favoring decreased taxes & decreased spending by the government.

One of the two major political parties in the United States. Considered to be more liberal, the party supports a stronger role for the federal government in providing social programs.

 One of the two major political parties in the United States. Considered to be more conservative, the party supports reducing the power of the federal government in providing social programs.

having two main political parties

Organizations of people with common interests who try to influence government policies and decisions.

Seeking to influence a politician or public official on an issue.

The part of a special interest group that collects voluntary contributions from members to fund political candidates and political parties that the interest group favors.

A group of people who act as protectors of other citizens against illegal, inefficient and unethical practices in government. They closely monitor how things are done by politicians and draw attention to anything that is not done properly.

An attitude that always favors one way of feeling or acting over any other

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. Used often in political campaigns to sway voters.

 Ideas used to influence people's thinking or behavior.

  public policy which concerns laws, government programs, and administrative decisions which are directly related to all issues and activity within a nation's borders.

  A country's plan for dealing with other countries of the world.

Highest-ranking officials representing a government in a foreign country.

 The art of dealing with foreign governments.

A person appointed by a country to conduct diplomacy with another country or international organization.

Official of the federal government heading the U.S. Department of State, principally concerned with foreign affairs.

A formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries.

Private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development.

Designed to remove tariff barriers between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Security alliance to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.

Organization that acts before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people around the world.

Organization that promotes peaceful coexistence and worldwide cooperation. Currently has 192 permanent member countries.

 A United Nations program that provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.

Judicial branch of the UN. Its main functions are to settle legal disputes between member countries.

 International trade agreement - its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. 159 countries are members.

Unsuccessful military invasion of Cuba in 1961 by U.S. sponsored troops.

The invasion was a major embarrassment for U.S. foreign policy.

13 day confrontation over the Soviet Union building missile bases in Cuba. The United States decided on a military blockade - they would not permit offensive weapons to be delivered to Cuba. U.S. and Soviet Union (with UN's help) came to an agreement to avoid nuclear war.

A diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States when 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days (November 4, 1979, to January 20, 1981), after a group of Iranian students took over the US Embassy in Tehran.

In 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. The U.S. and 15 other members of the UN helped defend South Korea. In 1953, the conflict reached a stalemate. Tensions still remain high between the two countries.

Controversial war to stop the spread of communism in SE Asia. The U.S. sent economic and military aid to help the non-communist southern half.

The First Persian Gulf War, Jan.-Feb., 1991, was an armed conflict between Iraq and a coalition of 39 nations including the United States. It was a result of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990. The Second Persian Gulf War, also known as the Iraq War, Mar.-Apr., 2003, was a largely U.S.-British invasion of Iraq. It started in part because the Iraqi government failed to cooperate fully with UN weapons inspections in the years following the

first conflict.

U.S. takes a neutral position until the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. End of the war led to the formation of the United Nations. United States is finished trying to isolate (isolationism) itself from the rest of the world.

U.S. initially tried to remain neutral, but German submarines attacked U.S. merchant ships making this impossible. The U.S. entered the war as an "associated power", rather than a formal ally of France and the United Kingdom, in order to avoid "foreign entanglements".

Type of government in which the power to govern lies directly in the hands of the people rather than being exercised through their representatives.

Type of government in which the people elect representatives to carry on the work of the government for them. The United States is one. Also called a republic.

Type of government in which all power belongs to a small group of people.

Economic system where working people own and control the means of production and distribution

The economic and political system in which the government owns the means of production and decides what will be produced.

Type of government having a ruler who inherits the position

Type of government where one person has unlimited power. North Korea is an example.

Type of government in which the monarch has absolute power among his people.

Type of government in which the people elect representatives to carry on the work of the government for them. The United States is one. Also called a representative democracy.

Government in which the executive branch is held accountable to the legislature (parliament).

A system of government that divides the powers of government between the national (federal) government and state and local governments.

The United States is a federal government. 

 A system of government where the states have the power and the national government is weak.

 A system of government where power is almost entirely centralized in a national government.

The chief executive of a state government.

The chief executive of a nation.

 The most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system.

 Branch of the government, created by Article I in the Constitution, that makes the laws. 

 One part of the Legislative Branch. Has 435 elected members, number of representatives for each state depends on that state's population. 

 One part of the Legislative Branch. Has 100 elected members with each state having two senators.

Branch of the government, created by Article II in the Constitution, in charge with enforcing the laws.

 Branch of the government, created by Article III in the Constitution, in charge of interpreting the law.

The nation's highest court with 9 justices appointed by a President and approved by a majority of the Senate. 

Powers that are shared by a state and federal government.

 Powers that are clearly spelled out in the Constitution for the federal government.

 Formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity.

 Powers that Congress has exercised under the "necessary and proper" clause (also called the elastic clause) "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers..."

Powers granted to Congress by Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution. 

Powers granted to the states.

The U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

2 ways to propose a new amendment: 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress; 2/3 of states can ask Congress for a national convention to propose a new amendment 2 ways to ratify a new amendment: 3/4 of state legislatures; 3/4 of special state

conventions approve it

A meeting of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement.

Orders from the President usually to his own officials.

A president's constitutional right to reject a decision made by Congress.

The power of the courts to review the actions of the executive and legislative branches

 An order issued by a court of law requiring a person to do something or to refrain from doing something.

Order asking for judicial review.

A law or regulation made by a city or town government.

 A law enacted by the legislative branch (federal or state) of a government.

 Highest judicial officer. One of the Supreme Court justices

Permanent committees identified by chamber rules that exist in either the House of Representatives or Senate.

a committee of the Congress appointed by the House of Representatives and Senate to resolve disagreements on a particular bill.

a temporary or permanent committee

The chief spokesperson for the majority party in a legislative body.

The floor leader of the second largest group in a legislative body.

The action of forgiving an error or offense. Power of the executive branch at the federal and state level.

The second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives.

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives.

Any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower court.

Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, District Court

State Supreme Court, District Court of Appeals, Circuit Courts

County Courts

Apply to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.

A court that is authorized to hear any type of civil or criminal case.

The official power to make legal decisions and judgments; authority.

A list of the values & actions which are supported by a political party or individual candidate

 a political party organized as an alternative to the major parties in a two-party system

came up with the idea of separation of powers/3 branches of government

he thought that all people had natural rights of life, liberty, and property

came up with the idea of a social contract. Giving up some person freedom in exchange for protection from the government

First document to limit the powers of the king

List of rights. Established freedom from taxation without representation, outlawed cruel and unusual punishment, guaranteed the right to bear arms, and many other rights. 

First document to establish self-government in the Colonies.

Pamphlet encouraging colonists to become independent from Great Britain.

Government by its own members

Stated that the role of government is to protect their natural rights (life, liberty, pursuit of happiness),  listed grievances (complaints) against the king. 

 to approve

Cruel and oppressive government

Protests by Massachusetts farmers over tax collections and judgments for debt. 

First form of government for America that had many Weaknesses

Introduction to the U.S. Constitution

Any government that has a constitution

Powers of government are divided among three branches of government: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. Limits the power of government

Each governmental branch has powers to limit (check) the other branches. Keeps the balance of power relatively equal between the branches.t

Supporters of the Constitution who believe a strong national government is needed to keep the country united.

Feared a strong federal government as created by the Constitution. They pushed for a "Bill of Rights" to be added.

First 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Lists the specific freedoms that belong to each American citizen.

No one is above the law. Everyone must obey the law.

Group of laws that refer to disputes among people.

Group of laws that define what acts/activities are crimes.

Based on the Constitution and on Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Constitution

Laws that are passed by congress.

laws for people in the U.S. armed forces.

Type of law that develops from judges previous decisions.

An area of the law that deals with people who are not yet adults.