Modern U.S. History

 Popular Sovereignty  Republicanism  Federalism  Separation of Powers  Checks and Balances  Limited Government  Individual Rights

 This concept means that the “people” rule in our country  We are the source of the government’s power  This has taken on new people throughout history (like who?)  African American men (1865)  Women (1920)  18 year olds (1971)

 Our government works by people choosing our leaders – who then make the decisions for us

 Federalism is a system of “shared” powers between the national government and the state governments 1. Maintain Military 2. Declare War 3. Post Offices 4. Weights and Measures 5. Protect Copyrights 1. Establish local Governments 2. Schools 3. Regulate state Commerce 4. Marriage Regulations 5. Drivers Licenses

 Power in our government is split, or separated among 3 branches  Executive  Legislative  Judicial

 Each branch of government exercises control, or a check on the other branches.  This ensures that one branch doesn’t become too powerful

 Limited Government: Constitution lists things that the government cannot do. It also explain how all citizens, weak or strong, must obey the law  Individual Rights: People get certain individual privileges – protections from powerful government

 Congress is granted the power “to make all laws necessary and proper” for carrying out all of the powers given to it by the Constitution  This allows future generations to expand the meaning of the Constitution to apply to new situations as they come up  What kinds of things would that Framers of the Constitution not be able to anticipate?

 Voters don’t choose President directly  Each state has “electors” that make up the Electoral College  Number of electors per state determined by the number of Senators and members of the House of Reps. that the state has  Winner take all – meaning that if a candidate wins a state – they get all of that state’s ‘electors’ (with some exceptions)

 Commander-in-Chief  Chief Executive  Chief Diplomat  Legislative Leader  Head of Political Party

 Judicial Review is one of the most important powers the Judicial Branch has  The Supreme Court (and other federal courts) have the power to examine laws and government activity and decide whether it violates the Constitution

1. Maintain Military 2. Declare War 3. Post Offices 4. Weights and Measures 5. Protect Copyrights 1. Establish local Governments 2. Schools 3. Regulate state Commerce 4. Marriage Regulations 5. Driver’s Licenses Taxes Courts Laws Roads

 Constitution can be amended – or changed  Has been amended 27 times in history  Amendment must be passed by 2/3 of BOTH houses of Congress – or application by 2/3 of the states  To be passed: Amendment must be ratified by ¾ of state legislatures or ¾ of state conventions

 If a U.S. law and a state law contradict, which one takes precedence (is more important to follow)?  The U.S. Constitution and the laws of the U.S. shall be supreme over state constitutions and state laws

 The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution  Guarantees basic freedoms and liberties for all U.S. citizens

 The 1 st Amendment guarantees  Freedom of Religion  Freedom of Speech  Freedom of the Press  Freedom of Assembly  Freedom to Petition the Government

 The 2 nd Amendment: Citizens have the right to keep and bear arms  The 3 rd Amendment: The government cannot quarter troops in your home  The 4 th Amendment: Citizens have protection against illegal searches and seizures (gov’t must obtain a warrant & have probable cause to conduct a search)

 People accused of crimes have the right to not “incriminate” themselves  The “right” to remain silent (Miranda rights)  No person is ever forced to testify against themselves  No “double jeopardy”

 6 th Amendment: Right to a Speedy and Public Trial (also the right to hear the charges, right to call witnesses in your favor, and right to an attorney)  7 th Amendment: Trial by Jury in Civil cases  8 th Amendment: Limits of Fines and Punishments (no ‘excessive’ bail, or ‘cruel and unusual’ punishment)  9 th Amendment: Addresses the rights of people that aren’t specifically stated in the Constitution  10 th Amendment: Says that anything the Constitution doesn’t mention is left up to the states

 13 th : Slavery is outlawed (1865)  16 th : Income tax is allowed (1913)  18 th : Prohibition of alcohol (1919)  19 th : Women’s Suffrage (right to vote) (1920)  21 st : Prohibition repealed (1933)  22 nd : Limits President to 2 terms (1951)  25th: Presidential Disability/Succession (1967)  26 th : 18 year olds can vote (1971)  27 th : Congressional pay raises (1992)

 1. Vice-President  2. Speaker of the House  3. President Pro-Tempore of the Senate  4. Secretary of State  5. Secretary of Treasury

 Leaders of all the Executive Departments serve in the President’s Cabinet – or closest group of advisors

 The Secretary of… (they all serve as Presidential advisors and heads of their gov’t department)  Agriculture  Commerce  Defense  Education  Energy  Health & Human Services  Homeland Security  Housing and Urban Development  Interior  Justice (Attorney General)  Labor  State  Transportation  Treasury  Veteran’s Affairs

 President  Vice President  Speaker of the House of Representatives  President Pro-Tempore of the Senate  Secretary of State  2 U.S. Senators from Wisconsin  U.S. Representative whose district includes Waterford  Governor of Wisconsin

 Barack Obama

 Joe Biden

 John Boehner

 Daniel Inouye

 Hillary Clinton

 John Roberts

 Herb Kohl  Ron Johnson

 Paul Ryan

 Scott Walker