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Government in the English colonies began with the establishment of the first permanent settlement, Jamestown, in 1607, and the formation of the House of Burgesses in 1619, the first representative assembly in the colonies. Early colonial governments varied, with some founded by joint-stock companies and later becoming royal colonies -
Colonial governments sometimes prioritize the interests of the colonizing power leading to the exploitation of the colonys resources and people. -
The act hampered the colonial economy especially the rum industry in New England by increasing the cost of molasses and disrupting trade with foreign markets. -
The principles of popular sovereignty, republicanism, limited government, and the rule of law originated in ancient Greece and were developed over centuries through Enlightenment-era thinkers like Locke and Rousseau, with a significant role played by the American Founders in their application and establishment of a modern constitutional republic -
They felt like since they were paying taxes to a government where they had no representation they were angry because the colonists was forced to let British soldiers sleep and eat in their houses . -
Growing feelings of colonial unity stemmed from opposition to British tax policies the formation of political organizations like the Stamp Act Congress cooperative efforts such as the Committees of Correspondence and the Continental Congresses . -
The American Rebellion and Independence began in 1775 with the Battles of Lexington and Concord and culminated on July 4, when the colonies formally declared their independence from Great Britain. The initial conflict was a political struggle that escalated into the American Revolutionary War and led to the formation of the United States -
All men are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights including life , liberty the pursuit of happiness. By declaring independence , the colonies aimed to form a new nation and secure alliances , particularly with France , to aid in their war against Great Britain. -
Government body with two separate chambers, typically called an upper and lower house. This structure provides a system of checks and balances to ensure laws are debated thoroughly before being passed. with its House of Representatives and Senate, is a well-known example, and every U.S. state except Nebraska has a bicameral legislature -
interpret the law, resolve legal disputes, and uphold the Constitution. They provide a forum for settling private disputes, determine guilt or innocence in criminal cases, and protect individual rights, especially those of minority groups -
Criticisms of the Electoral College include its potential to undermine the popular vote by allowing the popular vote loser to win the presidency, giving disproportionate power to smaller states, and causing candidates to focus on "swing states" rather than the nation as a whole -
American political philosophy includes liberalism and conservatism, which center on modern ideals like equality and social justice, versus the classical ideals of individual liberty and limited government. While liberalism emphasizes government's role in promoting social welfare, conservatism typically advocates for smaller government, individual responsibility -
These leaders are chosen by their party caucuses and then elected by the full House, while traditions and party rules shape their roles in managing the legislative agenda, setting floor strategy, and influencing committee assignments. -
functions that are not directly related to creating laws, but instead involve checks and balances on the other branches of government. These powers include the impeachment process (House impeaches, Senate holds trial) -
9 justices: 8 associate justices + 1 chief justice.
All justices nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
Trial jurisdiction -
House: 2-year terms
Senate: 6-year terms
Elections in November
Congressional term = 2 years the length of time an elected official serves in a specific role, like a President, Senator, or Representative. U.S. Presidents serve four-year terms and are limited to two terms by the 22nd Amendment -
Formed first party competition Early leaders such as Hamilton and Jefferson disagreed on scope of federal power / Party rivalry shaped public debate, elections, and policy-making -
American representative democracy is a system where citizens elect officials to make laws and govern on their behalf. This is a form of government where ultimate authority rests with the people, who exercise this power by voting for representatives at federal, state, and local levels, such as for a U.S. congressman, governor, or mayor -
Lobbying techniques are methods used by interest groups to influence policy through direct and indirect strategies -
People must be able to “freely exercise” their religion
Beliefs are always protected; practices can be limited
Example: Parents can’t medically neglect children for religious reasons
Religious expression at work is protected unless it causes issues -
To amend the Constitution, a proposal must be passed by two-thirds of both the House and the Senate, or by a national convention called for by two-thirds of the states. -
The freedoms of assembly and petition are protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing people the right to gather peacefully and to petition the government for a redress of grievances -
The bill of rights is the Sixth Amendment ensures a person accused of a crime has the right to a speedy and public trial -
Oversight = check on executive branch
Committees hold hearings, investigate officials (even the president)
May issue subpoenas -
: the biological process of human evolution over millions of years or the historical and cultural evolution of the United States. The biological topic discusses human origins from ape-like ancestors, supported by evidence such as fossils and genetics. -
letter by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association who were concerned about government favoritism of one religion. In his letter, Jefferson used the phrase "a wall of separation between church and state" to assure them that the government would not interfere with their religious practices. -
Manipulating district lines for political gain
Partisan gerrymandering → majority party draws lines to maximize power -
After introduction → sent to relevant standing committee
Complex bills may be divided among committees
Committee chair options:
Send to subcommittee
Pigeonhole (ignore)
Can be forced out: discharge petition (House) or discharge resolution (Senate) -
Organized individuals with common goals; actively influence gov’t policy and common goals who actively influence government policy are known as interest groups, also referred to as advocacy groups, special interest groups, pressure groups, or lobbies. The act of trying to influence policymakers is called lobbying -
legal status of an individual as a member of a sovereign state, granting them specific rights and duties. Civil rights are guarantees of equal social opportunities and protection under the law, protecting all individuals within a jurisdiction from discrimination, regardless of their citizenship status -
formal or informal guidelines that dictate behavior, while traditions are beliefs and practices passed down through generations with symbolic meaning. Rules are often about formal expectations and consequences, such as laws or company policies, and they "speak to the head" by being rational and easy to communicate. Traditions are more informal and emotional -
Governs duties owed between individuals organizations, The injured party (plaintiff) files a lawsuit seeking compensation and the Defendants couldn't be jailed for losing a civil case. -
Midterm elections: Rarely above 40%.
Presidential elections: Typically 50–60% turnout.
U.S. demonstrates clear and persistent patterns related to election type, demographics (age, race, education, income), and institutional factors. While recent elections have seen historic highs in participation, disparities across different groups remain significant. -
stimulate growth through increased spending and tax cuts or slow it down with decreased spending and higher taxes. Budgeting is the process of creating government spending and revenue plans. -
Economic policy uses tools like government spending and taxation to influence the economy, with budgeting as the process of allocating those funds. Taxes fund government services and can be adjusted to stimulate or slow down economic activity, while budgets determine how that money is spent to achieve goals like growth and stability. -
Taxes are a primary source of government revenue, collected from individuals and corporations through various mechanisms such as income, payroll, and excise taxes, and are a key component of fiscal policy. -
Griswold v. Connecticut
Privacy is established in the U.S. through a series of legal precedents, beginning with the Supreme Court's 1965 decision in Griswold v. Connecticut, which found a right to privacy in the "penumbras" of other constitutional amendments. -
Congress alone has power to declare war
War Powers Resolution: Requires president to tell Congress when they send troops into conflict without declaration
Result of Vietnam War Conflict -
Advantages for incumbents: Established fundraising, large staffs, lawmaking record, media access, name recognition
Criticisms: reduces competition, entrenches power, weakens democracy
Term limits vs. value of experience -
Requires federal agencies to release records to the public upon request, with some exceptions and Mandates that many government meetings be open to the public -
established that the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches extends to any area where a person has a "reasonable expectation of privacy" inferred from the Bill of Rights (creating "Zones of Privacy"). -
refer to a political classification of U.S. states based on their voting patterns, where "red" states lean Republican, "blue" states lean Democratic, and "purple" states are politically divided. The terms originated from how television networks colored states on election maps, with red for Republican wins and blue for Democratic wins. -
Regional identity, race, religion, and education affect party alignment
Party loyalty weakened, but partisan polarization intensified
Media and technology amplify party messaging
Ideological divide increasingly reflects social and cultural identities -
Fiscal policy uses government spending and taxes to manage the economy, but persistent deficits can lead to a large national debt that threatens long-term growth by increasing interest payments and crowding out private investment. Spending challenges arise from the difficulty in adjusting expenditures, balancing competing priorities like social programs and debt servicing, and the need to fund services even when revenue is low. -
seeking to change law enforcement systems through measures like increased accountability, updated use-of-force policies, and community-based alternatives -
constitutional principle in the U.S. that prevents the government from establishing or favoring any religion, while also protecting the right of individuals to practice their own beliefs freely. This principle comes from the First Amendment's two religion clauses: the Establishment Clause -
U.S. reliance on foreign oil = diplomatic and economic problems for policymakers and Many exporting nations are not friendly with the U.S -
Formation refers to the process of building something, like a group or a habit, while challenges are the obstacles that test one's resolve, creativity, and resilience -
Expansion is a period of growth where the economy experiences increasing output, employment, and incomes, while contraction is a period of decline where activity slows, production falls, and unemployment rises. These cycles also include a peak (the highest point before a contraction) and a trough (the lowest point before an expansion begins) -
manage resources, provide for common defense, and settle disputes. These initial functions, seen in the first city-states, focused on stability and organization in larger, denser populations. The Enlightenment and the U.S.