1. Civics & Economics Civics Main Ideas
What every student should know to pass the Civics & Economics MSL
Essential Standard 1-5

2. CE.C&G.1: Analyze the foundations and development of American government in terms of principles and values.

3. Colonial Regional Differences
New England – Puritans, farming, lumber, fishing, ship building and trading
Middle – religious toleration, economy based on exporting wheat
Southern – large plantations, rice, cattle, farming, slavery

4. Magna Carta, 1215
An English document draw up by nobles under King John which limited the power of the king. It has influenced later constitutional documents in Britain and America.

5. Enlightenment Philosophers
John Locke – Natural rights, rights people are born with, government can’t take away.
Montesquieu – Separation of powers, dividing government power among legislative, executive, & judicial branches.
Rousseau – Social contract, people give up some rights in order to receive social order.

6. House of Burgesses, 1619
The Virginia House of Burgesses formed the first legislative body in colonial America. Later other colonies would adopt houses of burgesses.

7. 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.

8. Mercantilism
Possession of colonies provided countries both with sources of raw materials and markets for their manufactured goods. Great Britain exported goods and forced the colonies to buy them.

9. Long-term causes of Revolution
Discontent with foreign rule
Mercantilism
Tradition of self- government
Preservation of civil liberties
No taxation without representation

10. Short-term causes of Revolution
Shots fired at Lexington and Concord
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense
Declaration of Independence

11. PSA

12. Declaration of Independence, 1776
The Declaration of Independence was signed by the Second Continental Congress on July 4. It dissolved the colonies' ties with Britain, listed grievances against King George III, and declared the colonies to be an independent nation.

13. Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation delegated most powers to individual states.
The Articles' weakness was they gave the federal government so little power it couldn't keep the country united.
The Articles' only major success was they settled western land claims with the Northwest Ordinance.
The Articles were abandoned for the Constitution.

14. Constitutional Compromises
The Great Compromise settled the differences between the Virginia and the New Jersey plans by creating a bicameral legislature. The Senate would equally represent every state and the House of Representatives would be based on population.
The Three-fifths (3/5) Clause counted each enslaved person as three fifths of a person, which boosted the number of the South’s seats in Congress.

15. Federalist vs. Anti-federalists
Supported the Constitution
Wanted a strong central government
Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote the Federalist Papers
Anti-federalists
Opposed the Constitution
Wanted strong state governments and a Bill of Rights
Patrick Henry was an Anti- federalist

16. PSA

21. CE.C&G.2.3
Evaluate the U.S. Constitution as a “living Constitution” in terms of how the words in the Constitution and Bill of Rights have been interpreted and applied throughout their existence (e.g., precedents, rule of law, stare decisis, judicial review, supremacy, equal protections, “establishment clause”, symbolic speech, due process, right to privacy, etc.).

22. Principles of the Constitution
Popular sovereignty
Federalism
Separation of Powers
Checks & Balances
Limited Government
Flexibility

23. 3 Branches of Government
Legislative – makes laws
Executive – executes or enforces laws
Judicial – interprets laws

24. Bill of Rights, 1791
The first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guarantee basic individual rights.

25. Suffrage Amendments 15th gave African Americans the right to vote.
19th gave women the right to vote.
23rd gave residents of the District of Columbia the right to vote in presidential elections.
24th abolished poll taxes.
26th gave citizens 18 years and older the right to vote.

26. Civil War Amendments 13th abolished slavery.
14th defined citizenship and guaranteed all citizens “equal protection under the law.”
15th gave African Americans the right to vote.

27. Impeachment
A majority of the members of the House of Representatives accuse the President or other high government officials of serious wrongdoing.

28. States’ Rights
The states' rights concept is usually used to defend a state law that the federal government seeks to override, or to oppose a perceived violation by the federal government of the bounds of federal authority.

29. Contemporary Issues
Strict versus loose construction of the Constitution
States’ rights
Electoral College and process
Civil and personal liberties

30. CE.C&G.2
Analyze government systems within the United States in terms of their structure, function and relationships.

31. Legislative Process
Legislation is Introduced - Any member can introduce a piece of legislation.
Committee Action - The bill is referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate.
Debate - In the House, debate time is divided equally. In the Senate, members can speak as long as they want unless cloture is invoked. Senators can use a filibuster to defeat a measure.

32. Committee System
Due to the high volume and complexity of its work, Congress divides its tasks standing committees, subcommittees, select committees and joint committees.
Standing committees generally have legislative jurisdiction.  
Subcommittees handle specific areas of the committee’s work.  
Select and joint committees generally handle oversight or housekeeping responsibilities.

33. Legislative Process
Vote - If the House and Senate pass different bills they are sent to Conference Committee. Most major legislation goes to a Conference Committee.
Conference Committee - Members from each house form a conference committee to work out the differences. If the Conference Committee reaches a compromise, it prepares a written conference report, which is submitted to each chamber.

34. Legislative Process
The President – The President can sign or veto the bill. A bill becomes law if signed by the President. Congress can attempt to override the veto by a vote of two-thirds of those present. If the veto of the bill is overridden in both chambers then it becomes law.
The Bill Becomes A Law - Once a bill is signed by the President or his veto is overridden by both houses it becomes a law and is assigned an official number.

35. Lobbying Procedures
Interest groups work to convince senators and representatives to support bills that help their members and to oppose bill that hurt them. This is done by hiring lobbyists, people who represent interest groups.

36. Government Agencies Conservation of natural resources
Immigration and naturalization
Crime control and drug prevention
Information gathering and policy formation
Health and human services
National security
Transportation

37. Independent Agencies There are three types of independent agencies:
Executive Agencies are under the direct control of the President. (NASA, EPA)
Regulatory Commissions make and carry out rules for certain business or economic activities. (FCC, CPSC)
Government Corporations are like private businesses, but provide public services. (US Postal Service)

38. Regulatory Commissions
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) makes rules for radio and television stations.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sets safety standards for products.

39. Levels of Courts Federal courts State Courts District Courts
U.S. Court of Appeal
U.S. Supreme Court
Special Court
State Courts
Lower Courts
General Trial Courts
Intermediate Appellate Courts
State Supreme Court

40. Types of Jurisdiction
Original – a court’s authority to hear a case first
Appellate – a court’s authority to hear an appeal of a decision by another court
Concurrent – a court’s authority to hear a case is shared with another court
Exclusive – a court’s authority to head a case is not shared with another court

41. Judicial Process
Judicial Independence - permits judges to make decisions that they believe are correct, fair and just even though their decisions may sometimes be unpopular.
Open Proceedings - Not only must the court system work and be fair, but it is important that people see that it works and is fair. When people have confidence in the legal system, they will support it and respect for the law will grow. For this reason, most court proceedings, including trials, are open to the public.
Equal Treatment - For our courts to be fair, judges must be impartial -- that is, they may not favor either side in a case. The goal of our courts is to provide equal treatment to all people, regardless of their wealth, position, race, gender, religion, ethnic background or physical disability.

42. Selection of Federal Judges
All federal judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
They serve life terms and can be removed from office only by the impeachment process.

43. Judicial Review
The Supreme Court’s power to overturn any law that it decides is in conflict with the Constitution.
Judicial Review was established by the decision in Marbury v. Madison.

44. Landmark Supreme Court Cases
Marbury v. Madison – judicial review
Plessy v. Ferguson – “separate but equal”
Brown v. Board of Education – “separate is not equal”
Gideon v. Wainwright – court-appointed attorney
Miranda v. Arizona – rights of the accused

45. 3 Branches of State & Local Government
Executive – Governor
Legislative – NC General Assembly
Judicial – NC State Supreme Court

46. Incorporation and Charters
A document giving permission to create a government and providing a plan as to how that government should work.

47. Types of Local Government
County
City
Special districts
Townships
Metropolis

48. Town meetings
Found especially in New England, a legislative assembly of the qualified voters of a town.

49. Public hearings
The main purpose of most public hearings is to obtain public testimony or comment.
A public hearing may occur as part of a regular or special meeting, or it may be the sole purpose of a special meeting, with no other matters addressed.

50. Annexation and Zoning Annexation -
Zoning – local rules that divide a community into areas and tell how the land in each area can be used

51. The Leandro Case
Leandro determined that every North Carolina child has a Constitutional right to sound, basic education.

52. 14th Amendment
The amendment provides a definition of citizenship, overturning the Dred Scott case, which excluded African Americans.
It requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all persons within their jurisdictions, and was used in the mid-20th century to dismantle legal segregation, as in Brown v. Board of Education.
Its Due Process Clause has driven many cases around privacy rights, abortion (Roe v. Wade), and other issues.

53. State and Local Revenue
State income tax
Sales tax
Excise taxes
Licenses
Property tax
Permits
User fees
Federal grants in aid

54. State and Local Spending
Public schools and colleges
Jails and youth detention centers
Public Health services
Social services
Libraries
Public housing
Parks and recreation
Elections

55. Political Party Systems
One-party system – one political party controls the government
Two-party system – two political parties compete for government positions
Multi-party system – three or more political parties compete for government positions

56. Types of Elections
Primary election – members from the same party select candidates to run in general elections
General election – voters make a final decision about candidates or issues
Recall election – voters can remove elected officials from office

57. Voting Procedures and Qualifications
18 years or older
U.S. citizen
Resident of the state where he or she wants to vote
Completed voter registration

58. Election Campaign Process
Public and Private Funding – money is raised to pay for the campaign
Canvassing – going door-to-door asking people to vote for a candidate
Endorsements – the action of publicly declaring one's personal or group's support of a candidate for elected office
Propaganda – messages that are meant to influence people’s votes

59. Interest Groups/PACS
Interest groups – people who work together for similar interests or goals
PACS (political action committees) –promotes its members’ interests in state and national politics and are regulated by the federal government

60. Electoral College
A group made up of electors from each state who vote for presidential candidates.
Based on a “all or nothing” system.

61. Mass Media
Newspapers, motion pictures, radio, television, and magazines, all of which have the technical capacity to deliver information to millions of people.

62. Informed Citizenry
“Ignorance of the law is no excuse.”

63. Mass Media and Public Opinion
Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet influence pubic opinion.

64. Rights/Duties/Responsibilities
Rights – what you are allowed to do (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition)
Duties – what you are required to do (pay taxes, obey laws, serve on juries)
Responsibilities – what you should do (vote, recycle, get an education)

65. Civic Responsibilities
It is comprised of actions and attitudes associated with democratic governance and social participation.
Civic responsibility can include participation in government, church, volunteers and memberships of voluntary associations.

66. Discrimination
Unfair treatment based on prejudice against a certain group

67. Freedom
Freedom emphasizes the opportunity given for the exercise of one's rights, powers, desires, or the like: freedom of speech or conscience; freedom of movement.

68. Public Problems Under employment Education needs Graft and corruption
Citizen apathy
Disease
Poverty
Substance abuse
Discrimination
Waste Disposal
Homelessness
Crime
Pollution

69. Choices
The power, right, or liberty to choose

70. Mediation and Arbitration
Mediation is a process by which people agree to use a third party to help them settle a conflict.
Arbitration is the use of a third party to make a legal decision that is binding on all parties.

71. Criminal Law
The group of laws that tell which acts are crimes, how accused persons should be tried in court, and how crimes should be punished.

72. Civil Law
The group of laws that help settle disagreements between people.

73. Goal 6: The learner will explain why laws are needed and how they are enacted, implemented, and enforced at the national, state, and local levels.

74. Foundations of Law
Code of Hammurabi - the earliest legal code known in its entirety
Ten Commandments - ten injunctions given to Moses, serving as the basis of Mosaic Law
Justinian Codes - the collections of laws and legal interpretations developed under the sponsorship of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I

75. Types of Laws Common law – a body of law based on judges’ decisions
Criminal law – the group of laws that tell which acts are crimes, how accused persons should be tried in court, and how crimes should be punished
Civil law – the group of laws that help settle disagreements between people

76. Types of Laws
Constitutional law - a body of statutory and case law based on, concerns, or interprets a constitution
Administrative law - the body of rules, regulations, orders, and decisions created by administrative agencies of government 
Statutory law - the body of laws created by legislative statutes
International law - the body of rules that nations generally recognize as binding in their conduct toward one another.

77. Creation of Laws
The early leaders of our nation knew that it was important to establish a set of laws for the nation.
Law must be fair, reasonable, and understandable.

78. Consequences of Breaking the Law
A major purpose of laws is to keep the peace and prevent violent acts.
Laws set punishments that are meant to discourage potential criminals from such acts as murder, assault, or robbery.

79. Types of Punishments Probation Juvenile detention Community service
House arrest
Prison
Boot camp

80. Criminal Trial Process
Arrest – Police arrest and book suspect
Preliminary Hearing – Suspect appears before a judge, bail is set
Indictment – Grand jury hears evidence and formally charges the suspect with a crime
Arraignment – Defendant pleads not guilty, trial date is set. OR Defendant pleads guilty and accepts a plea bargain.
Trial – Prosecution and defense present cases to jury. Jury reaches verdict.
Acquittal – Defendant found not guilty and goes free. OR Sentencing – Defendant found guilty, judge sentences defendant.

81. Civil Trial Plaintiff’s attorney files a complaint
Court sends a summons to defendant
Defendant’s attorney files a written answer
Attorneys for both sides exchange pleadings documents
Attorneys for plaintiff and defendant argue case in court
Court gives a verdict

82. Law Enforcement Agencies
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)
Municipal or county law enforcement

83. Courtroom Roles
Judge - Presides Over the Trial, Controls the Courtroom, and Decides the Evidence and All Questions of Law.
Courtroom Deputy - Calls Court to Order, Swears in Witnesses, Manages the Exhibits, and Keeps the Minutes to Be Posted to the Court Docket.
Court Reporter - Takes Down the Record of Proceedings and Provides Transcripts in a Later Stage of the Proceedings if Needed.
Court Security Officer - Is Responsible for Overall Security in the Courtroom.

84. Jury System
A body of persons sworn to judge and give a verdict on a given matter, especially a body of persons summoned by law and sworn to hear and hand down a verdict upon a case presented in court.