Civic Literacy Review
Civic Duty
A belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs.
Popular Sovereignty
A belief that ultimate power resides in the people. The people rule.
Intolerable Acts/Coercive Acts
A series of acts passed by the government in response to the Boston Tea Party. They caused outrage, as the colonists viewed the acts as a violation of their rights. This led to the creation of the First Continental Congress and the Revolutionary War.
Amendment 27
Amendment that banned Congress form increasing its members' salaries until the next election
Amendment 15
Amendment that doesn't allow you to deny a vote because of race, color, previous condition of servitude
Amendment 24
Amendment that forbade requiring the payment of a poll tax to vote in a federal election
Amendment 14
Amendment that gives rights of citizens: 1)all persons born in the united states are granted citizenship, 2) no state can deny any person the equal protection of the laws, 3)no state can deny any person life, liberty, property without due process of law
Amendment 17
Amendment that gives the right to elect US senators by popular vote
Amendment 26
Amendment that guaranteed the right to vote to 18 year olds
Amendment 22
Amendment that limits the Presidnet to two full terms in office
Amendment 5
Amendment that lists the rules for indictment by grand jury, and eminent domain. Protects the right to due process. Prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy
Amendment 8
Amendment that prohibits cruel & unusual punishment
Amendment 3
Amendment that prohibits forced quartering of soldiers
Amendment 4
Amendment that prohibits unreasonable search & seizures
Amendment 6
Amendment that protects the right to a fair and speedy trial. Gives you the right to be notified of accusations, confront the accuser, and obtain a witness for or against you
Amendment 25
Amendment that provided for succession to the office of president in the event of death or incapicity and for filling vacancies in the office of the vice president
Amendment 7
Amendment that provides the right to trial by jury in civil cases
Amendment 21
Amendment that repeals the 18th Amendment; empowered Congress to regulate liquior industries
Amendment 1
Amendment that represents freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition
Amendment 19
Amendment that states all women have the right to vote
Amendment 11
Amendment that states cases in which a state was sued without the consent from jurisdiction of federal government must be removed
Amendment 16
Amendment that states congress has the right to levy an income tax
Amendment 12
Amendment that states presidential electors have to vote for president and vice president seperately
Amendment 10
Amendment that states some powers reserved to the states
Two-Party System
An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections. Our two major parties are the Republicans and the Democrats.
Supremacy Clause
Article VI of the Constitution, which makes the Constitution the supreme law of the land and states that states cannot pass laws that conflict with federal laws.
Equal Protection Clause
Clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that forbids any state to deny to any person equal protection of the laws. This clause is the major constitutional restraint on the power of governments to discriminate against persons because of race, national origin, or sex.
Amendment 18
Congress has the right to prohibit the manufacture, sale and transportatin of liquor
English Bill of Rights
Document written by English Parliament in 1689, designed to prevent abuse of power by English monarchs; parts of the U.S. Bill of Rights have foundation in that document
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against "unreasonable searches and seizures," may not be used in criminal prosecutions in state courts, as well as federal courts.
Plessy v. Ferguson 1896
Supreme Court case that ruled separate but equal public accommodations for the races was constitutional
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated.
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988)
The U.S Supreme Court held for the first time that public schools can limit what appears in school-sponsored student publications.
Social Contract Theory
The belief that people are free and equal by natural right, but will give up some freedom to give power to the government so that the government can protect their rights.
Bush v. Gore (2000)
The court ruled that manual recounts of presidential ballots in the Nov. 2000 election could not proceed because inconsistent evaluation
consent of the governed
The idea that our government derives its power from the people because we elect representatives to the legislative branch of government
Electoral College
The president is elected by a majority of electoral votes. After an election a group of electors chosen by each state officially cast the electoral votes for their state to choose the President.
Amendment 2
The right to bear arms
Commander-in-Chief
The role of the president as the supreme commander of the armed forces of the United States.
Miranda vs. Arizona, 1961
This case proves that the 5th Amendment requires that individuals arrested for a crime must be advised of their right to remain silent and to have counsel present.
Articles of Confederation
This document was adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1781 during the Revolutionary War to create a national government. The new government was weak because states held most of the power, and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control the coining of money. It was later replaced with the U.S. Constitution.
Declaration of Independence
This document was written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted on July 4, 1776 establishing the 13 American colonies as independent states, free from rule by Great Britain. The preamble (first section) lists our unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
impeachment
a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office
Anti-Federalist Papers
a series of essays written to counter and defeat the proposed U.S. Constitution; argued against a strong central government and pushed for more protection of the people's rights
Bill
a statute in draft before it becomes law
Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)
clause in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution that gives Congress the right to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out powers not expressly stated but necessary; cited in the Supreme Court landmark case McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Supremacy Clause
clause of the Constitution that says the Constittution is the highest law of the land. Article 6, Clause 2
3/5 Compromise
compromise made when writing the Constitution to sastify both free and slave states; said for every 5 slaves, 3 would count in a state's population for both representation and tax purposes
Boston Tea Party
demonstration (1773) by citizens of Boston who raided three British ships in Boston harbor and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the harbor; organized as a protest against taxes on tea.
due process of law
fair treatment through the normal judicial system
mayor
head of a city's government elected by the people who are citizens of that city
President
head of the executive branch; powers: enforces laws, signs/vetoes bills, negotiates treaties, nominates Supreme Court justices
Executive Branch
headed by the President and carries out the laws; also includes the Vice President and the Cabinet members
Governor
highest ranking member of a state's executive branch
Great Compromise
introduced by Roger Sherman; set up a bicameral Congress - upper house called Senate with each state getting 2 votes & a lower house called the House of Representatives with each state's representation based on its population--satisfied both the large and small states
Federalism
is the breaking of the gov't into Federal and state levels, each having certain powers
Selective Service Act
law requiring men to register for military service
Constitutional Convention
meeting of state delegates in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation, which produced the new U.S. Constitution
Civil Rights Movement
movement in the United States beginning in the 1960s to establish civil rights
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
pamphlet that advocated for the colonies declaring independence from Britain; supported the need for a democratic government where the people had representation
Free Exercise Clause
part of the first amendment explaining that you have the freedom to practice any religion of your choice
popular sovereignty
power lies with the people
implied powers
powers Congress has that are not specifically stated in the Constitution
enumerated/expressed/delegated powers
powers Congress has that are specifically stated in the Constitution Ex: power to coin money and set its value, power to declare war
Reserved powers
powers reserved for the states; examples: creating and maintaining an education system, creating local governments
concurrent powers
powers shared by the state and federal government Ex: power to tax citizens
delegated powers
powers specifically stated in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution as being granted to Congress Ex: power to establish post offices, power to regulate commerce
Veto power
presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by rejecting it
Judical Review (Marbury vs. Madison)
supreme court decides if laws passed by Congress or President are constitutional
Checks and Balances
system of each branch of gov't having a power to check the power of the other to make sure no one branch becomes too powerful
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
the Supreme Court upheld the power of the national government and denied the right of a state to tax the federal bank using the Constitution's supremacy clause. The Court's broad interpretation of the necessary and proper clause paved the way for later rulings upholding expansive federal powers
Judicial Branch
the branch of government that interprets the law; made up the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts
Legislative Branch (Congress)
the branch that makes the laws; This is the branch the founders gave the most powers to because it is made up of many representatives elected directly by the people.
Gideon Vs .Wainwright (1963)
state courts are required under the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution to provide counsel in criminal cases for defendants who are unable to afford their own attorneys.
U.S. Constitution
"Supreme law of the land" Was written at a Constitutional Convention in Phillidelphia in 1787.
In Re Gault (1967)
14th amendment Due Process Clause allows requirements for state delinquency proceedings. established the principle that young persons have constitutional rights
Mayflower Compact
1620 - The first agreement for self-government in America. It was signed by the 41 men on the Mayflower and set up a government for the Plymouth colony (Pilgrims).
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
1857 Supreme Court decision that stated that slaves were not citizens; that living in a free state or territory, did not free slaves
U.S. Supreme Court
9 justices nominated by President, confirmed by Senate; highest court in the nation; hears only appeals; interprets Constitutional law
Amendment 23
Granted voters in the District of Columbia the right to vote for president and vice president
Rule of law
No one is above the law; Everyone must follow the laws, regardless of their position of power. This was established by the Magna Carta in 1215.
Amendment 13
No person under the jurisdiction of the US can be a slave and congress can pass legislation implementing the abolition of slavery
President pro tempore of the Senate
Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the Vice President who is the President of the Senate
Amendment 9
People's rights are not limited to those in the Constitution.
Amendment 20
Presidential Inauguration Day is Jan. 20 and Jan. 3 is the date for the new congress opening. If the president dies before swearing in, the Vice President elect becomes president
Citizenship
Rights & responsibilities entitled to citizens belonging to a political state or country; only citizens can run for federal office (i.e. President, Congress)
natural rights
rights people have by the virture of being human beings; both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution address the government's role in protecting these rights
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
separation between Church and State in schools. S.C. prayer in public schools is unconstitutional, violates separation of church and state and freedom of religion (First Amendment)
Tinker Vs.Des Moines (1968)
the court decided that the First Amendment applied to public schools, and that administrators would have to demonstrate constitutionally valid reasons for any specific regulation of speech in the classroom.
Chief Justice
the judge who presides over the supreme court
Speaker of the House of Representatives
the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives
House of Representatives
the lower legislative house of Congress; number of representatives from each state is based on population and each representative is elected by a district in their state; members serve 2 year terms
Preamble to the Constitution
the opening section of the Constitution; brief introductory statement of the fundamental purposes and guiding principles that the Constitution is meant to serve
presidential succession
the order in which officials fill the office of president in case of a vacancy-1. Vice President, 2. Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3. President of the Senate Pro Tempore, ...
Civic Responsibility
the responsibilities of a citizen, examples include voting, serving on juries, holding public office
Senate
the upper house of the United States Congress with 100 members-2 from each state; Senators serve 6 year terms and represent all of their state's citizens
democracy
type of government where power is derived from the people and the people elect representation
American Revolution
war between Great Britain and its American colonies, by which the colonies won their independence