What should you know about American Government?

Principles of U.S. Government Popular Sovereignty Popular Sovereignty Separation of Powers Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Checks and Balances Limited Government Limited Government Flexibility Flexibility Federalism Federalism Inalienable Rights Inalienable Rights Due Process Due Process

Branches of the U.S. Government Executive Branch Executive Branch Legislative Branch Legislative Branch Judicial Branch Judicial Branch

Executive Branch President: leader of country & commander in chief of military President: leader of country & commander in chief of military Vice President: President of Senate, 2 nd in line Vice President: President of Senate, 2 nd in line Cabinet members: advise President on issues & help carry out policies Cabinet members: advise President on issues & help carry out policies Independent Agencies: help carry out policy & provide special services Independent Agencies: help carry out policy & provide special services

Presidential Powers Chief Executive Chief Executive Chief Diplomat Chief Diplomat Chief Legislator Chief Legislator Veto Veto Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Commander in Chief of Armed Forces Chief of State Chief of State Grant pardons Grant pardons Grant amnesty Grant amnesty

Legislative Branch Bi-cameral Congress Senate Senate House of Representatives House of Representatives Law-making branch of government Law-making branch of government

Main Roles of Congress To pass legislation (laws) To pass legislation (laws) Declare war Declare war Regulate trade Regulate trade Regulate money Regulate money Impeach federal officials Impeach federal officials Override presidential vetoes (2/3 vote in each house) Override presidential vetoes (2/3 vote in each house)

Senate Upper House Upper House 2 senators per state 2 senators per state 100 total 100 total 6-year terms 6-year terms Approve presidential nominations to the federal courts Approve presidential appointments to federal positions Approve treaties Serve as jury in impeachment trials Select VP if Electoral College fails to do so

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES Lower House Lower House Based on state population Based on state population 435 total 435 total 2-year terms 2-year terms Originate all spending ($$) bills Serve as prosecution in impeachment trial Select President if Electoral College fails to do so

Judicial Branch The Court System The Court System Supreme Court is highest in nation Supreme Court is highest in nation Interpret the law Interpret the law Exercise the power of judicial review Exercise the power of judicial review Chief Justice presides over trials of presidential impeachment Chief Justice presides over trials of presidential impeachment

Power of Judicial Review Determine if laws passed by Congress are allowable by the Constitution Determine if laws passed by Congress are allowable by the Constitution Determine if treaties negotiated by the President and approved by the Senate are allowable by the Constitution Determine if treaties negotiated by the President and approved by the Senate are allowable by the Constitution Determine if actions by the President in enforcing the law are allowable by the Constitution Determine if actions by the President in enforcing the law are allowable by the Constitution Determine if laws passed by states are allowable by the Constitution Determine if laws passed by states are allowable by the Constitution

Important Documents Magna Carta Magna Carta English Bill of Rights English Bill of Rights Declaration of Independence Declaration of Independence Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation U.S. Constitution U.S. Constitution Bill of Rights Bill of Rights Monroe Doctrine Monroe Doctrine Emancipation Proclamation Emancipation Proclamation Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Constitutional Amendments 1st protects freedom of expression 1st protects freedom of expression 4th,5th,6th,7th,8th protect rights of due process 4th,5th,6th,7th,8th protect rights of due process 13th,14th,15thCivil War amendments; protects slaves rights 13th,14th,15thCivil War amendments; protects slaves rights 15th,19th,26th protects voting rights 15th,19th,26th protects voting rights

Supreme Court Cases Marbury vs. Madison (1803) Marbury vs. Madison (1803) Dred Scott (1857) Dred Scott (1857) Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896) Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896) Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) Miranda vs. Arizona (1966) Miranda vs. Arizona (1966)

Economic Terminology Inflation Inflation Deflation Deflation Profit Profit Monopoly Monopoly Laissez-faire Laissez-faire Capitalism Capitalism Socialism Socialism Communism Communism

Supply & Demand Interact to determine prices in a market economy Interact to determine prices in a market economy Demand = how much consumers are willing and able to buy at different prices Demand = how much consumers are willing and able to buy at different prices As prices INCREASE, demand DECREASES As prices INCREASE, demand DECREASES Supply = how much producers are willing and able to sell at different prices Supply = how much producers are willing and able to sell at different prices As prices INCREASE, supply INCREASES As prices INCREASE, supply INCREASES

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