U.S.

GOVERNMENT
FINAL REVIEW
CGA 1-12-16 (A)
1-13-16 (B)

JOHN LOCKE
The Two Treatises of Government (1690)

offered political theories developed and refined

by Locke during his years at Shaftesburys side.
Rejecting the divine right of kings, Locke said

that societies form governments by mutual

(and, in later generations, tacit) agreement.
Thus, when a king loses the consent of the

governed, a society may remove himan approach

quoted almost verbatim in Thomas Jeffersons 1776
Declaration of Independence.

Locke also developed a definition of property as

the product of a persons labor that would be

foundational for both Adam Smiths capitalism
and Karl Marxs socialism.

THOMAS HOBBES

Hobbes is an Enlightenment era thinker whose masterpiece Leviathian included the

idea that government should exist solely to provide common security.

The power to provide such security is given through a social contract between the
governed and the government.

He also a big supporter of the natural equality of all men

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Completed and signed July 4, 1776
Declared independence from British rule
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men

are created equal, that they are endowed by their

Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.-That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers
from the consent of the governed, --That whenever
any Form of Government becomes destructive of
these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to
abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying
its foundation on such principles and organizing its
powers in such form, as to them shall seem most
likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

What is the purpose of government according to the Declaration?

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
The Articles of Confederation was the first written

constitution of the United States. Stemming from

wartime urgency, its progress was slowed by fears of
central authority and extensive land claims by states
before was it was ratified on March 1, 1781.
Under these articles, the states remained sovereign

and independent, with Congress serving as the last

resort on appeal of disputes.
Congress was also given the authority to make

treaties and alliances, maintain armed forces and

coin money.
However, the central government lacked the ability

to levy taxes and regulate commerce, issues that led

to the Constitutional Convention in 1787 for the
creation of new federal laws.

What were some weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

FEDERALISTS VS ANTI-FEDERALISTS

Federalists
Wealthy, Educated
Supported a powerful central government
Leaders included Washington and Franklin
Wanted an orderly, efficient government that

protected their economic status

Anti-Federalists

Generally farmers, debtors, and other lower

class people who were loyal to their state

governments
Leaders included Samuel Adams and Patrick

Henry
Objected to the lack of a Bill of Rights in the

constitution wanted to protect the rights of

individuals

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

The Virginia Plan

States with a large population (like Virginia)

wanted representation in the legislature

based upon a states population.
They wanted a weaker central government

and stronger state governments

The New Jersey Plan

Smaller states wanted a legislature with

equal representation for each state.

Called for a stronger central government and

weaker state governments

What did the convention decide?

The Albany Compromise

Rather than design a legislature with one

chamber they chose a bicameral approach and

included a House of Representatives (Virginia
Plan) and a Senate (New Jersey Plan)

Three-Fifths Compromise
The larger states wanted to find a way to

include slaves toward their population numbers.

Smaller states were against this so they
compromised saying that each slave would
count as 3/5 of a freeman.
For every 100 slaves a state could add 60 freemen

to its population.

THE CONSTITUTION
Preamble
We the Peopleof the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice,

insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and
secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
What is the purpose of the Preamble of the Constitution?

Articles
Article I Establishes a Legislative Branch
Article II Establishes an Executive Branch
Article III Establishes a Judicial Branch
Article IV State Relations (Full Faith and Credit Clause)
Article V Amending the Constitution
Article VI National Debts, Supremacy of National Law, Oaths of Office
Article VII Ratification of the Constitution

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION (27 TOTAL)

1-10: Bill of Rights
1: Freedom of Religion, speech, press,

assemble, petition the government

2: right to bear arms
3: no quarter required for soldiers
4: unlawful search and seizure
5: self incrimination not required
6: speedy and public trial, jury trial,
witnesses, and legal defense
7: trial by jury, double jeopardy
8: Cruel and unusual punishment
9: protects the rights of the People
10: Reserves powers to the states

11: Judicial power confined to the US

12: voting and elections

13: abolition of slavery

14: citizenship, repeal of the 3/5 compromise, voting rights/age limits

15: anti-discrimination based on race (voting rights)

16: creation of income taxes (1913)

17: 6 year term limit on Senators

18:Prohibition of Alcohol (1917)

19: Right to vote extended to women (1920)

 20: Start/End dates for the terms of Presidents, Vice Presidents, Senators, and

Representatives
21: Repeal of Prohibition (1933)
22: Term limits on Presidency (1951)
23: Creation of the Electoral College (1961)
24: Abolition of Poll Taxes (1964)
25: Presidential Chain of Succession (1967) JFK assassinated in 63
26: Voting age set at 18 (1971)
27: Congress determines their own pay raises or cuts (1992)

HOW CAN SOMEONE BECOME AN AMERICAN CITIZEN?

Born in America or in an American territory
Marry an American citizen (has to be for legit reasons)
Naturalize (Immigrate, apply for citizenship, pass the test, pledge the oath)
Jus soli a childs citizenship is determined by the place of their birth
Mexican mother comes across the border to have child making the child an American citizen

(anchor babies)

How can you lose citizenship?

Give it up freely by moving to another country and naturalizing (renounce your American

citizenship)
Commit treason

LANDMARK SUPREME COURT CASES

Madison v. Marbury judicial review established
Brown v. Board of Education desegregated schools (1954)
Roe v. Wade protected a womans right to abort a pregnancy
Mapp v. Ohio evidence acquired in violation of the 4 th amendment is not admissible in court
McCullough v. Maryland first case regarding the Necessary and Proper Clause
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857) the Court held that African Americans, whether enslaved or free,

could not be American citizens and therefore had no standing to sue in federal court
Plessy v. Fergueson (1896) upheld separate but equal laws in the states
Gideon v. Wainwright - unanimously ruled that states are required under theFourteenth

Amendmentto theU.S. Constitutionto provide counsel in criminal cases to represent defendants

who are unable to afford to pay their own attorneys.
Schenck v. U.S. - A unanimous Supreme Court, in a famous opinion by JusticeOliver Wendell

Holmes, Jr., concluded that defendants who distributed leaflets todraft-agemen, urging resistance
to induction, could be convicted of an attempt to obstruct the draft, a criminal offense. This was
considered by the court to be a clear and present danger.
Engel v. Vitale - it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an officialschool prayerand

encourage its recitation inpublic schools.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND GOVERNMENT

How did the civil rights movement impact government?

Equal rights were a big issue and over time they were extended to all citizens regardless of race,

gender, religion, etc

Rights included citizenship, voting, access to public areas, treatment under the law, etc

Martin Luther King Jr. was a key leader in the civil rights movement
Believed that people truly had the power to change their station in life and encouraged peaceful

demonstrations and protests to advance his cause

MASS MEDIA AND GOVERNMENT

The media has always influenced

government
Newspapers have used freedom of the

press to publish articles used to sway

popular opinion on a variety of topics and
issues, including candidates up for
election.
The invention of television and the

internet have allowed information to

become readily available 24/7.

There are now entire channels and websites dedicated to coverage of news,
business, and political issues. Many are geared to appease the political right/left.

The rise of social media also plays a role.

What role does social media play in politics?

Citizens are more aware of the candidates and

issues
Candidates now have constant contact with

their constituents
As a result there has been an increase in

political polarization

PAC AND SUPER PAC

Political Action Committees
a type of organization that pools campaign contributions

from members and donates those funds tocampaignfor

or against candidates,ballot initiatives, orlegislation
Contributions from corporate or labor union treasuries

are illegal, though they may sponsor a PAC and provide

financial support for its administration and fundraising;
Union-affiliated PACs may only solicit contributions from

members;
Independent PACs may solicit contributions from the

general public and must pay their own costs from those
funds.
Federal multi-candidate PACs may contribute to

candidates as follows:
$5,000 to a candidate or candidate committee for each

election (primary and general elections count as

separate elections);
$15,000 to a political party per year; and
$5,000 to another PAC per year.
PACs may make unlimited expenditures independently of

a candidate or political party

Super PAC

officially known as "independent-

expenditureonly committees," may not

make contributions to candidate campaigns
or parties, but may engage in unlimited
political spending independently of the
campaigns. Unlike traditional PACs, they can
raise funds from individuals, corporations,
unions, and other groups without any legal
limit on donation size
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