Civics & Economics Civics Main Ideas

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

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

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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. Federal 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 Levels of Courts

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