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King Jogn England sign the Magna Carta, moving Eniglish government from the rule of man to the rule of law. -
King Charles required to sign the Petition of Right
Required monarchs to obtain Parliamentary approval before new taxes
Government could not unlawfully imprison people or establish military rule during times of peace
Extended conflict between Charles and Parliament erupted into civil war in 1642.
Charles defeated, beheaded
1685: renewed conflicts and rebellion between the Crown and Parliament
1689: William and Mary chosen to rule, but had to govern according to statutes of Parliament -
French and Indian War left Britain with a lot of debt.
Parliament taxed the American colonies to offset debt\
Taxation led to the cry “No Taxation without Representation.”
Sugar Act (1764)
Stamp Act (1765)
First direct tax on paper goods and legal documents
Stamp Act Congress met to protest the tax and it was repealed -
Established a plan for settling the Northwest Territory
Included disputed lands
Created system for admitting states to the Union
Banned slavery in the territory
Guided nation’s western expansion -
Judiciary Act of 1789
Established a Three-tiered Judicial Structure
1. District courts
2. Circuit courts
3. Supreme Court -
17 anemdment passed since Bill or Rights, Constitution have provided a stable, flexible government. -
Power of Judicial review -
Presides over Senate
Serves as president if the President is removed
In early 1800s, the VP was the person who came in 2nd
12th amendment allows the President to choose V.P. (1804)
VP’s have their own staff and an office close to the Oval Office -
Right od a state legislature to awared a monopoly to operate a steamship line between NY and NJ Court said only Congress has the right to regulate commerce between states. -
Power of Fed. Govt. To regulate interstate commerce
Strong Federalist
Believed in the "Necessary and Proper" Clause
Strong Congress -
Federalist and Democratic-Republican Parties were the first
After 1824, Democratic-Republican party split into today’s two major parties—Democrats, Republicans
Third party: any political party in a two-party system besides the two major ones
Independent candidate: one not associated with any party -
Chief Justice John Marshall (1801-1835)
Began to expand the power of the Supreme Court -
First national woman's rights convention in the US
Called for equal rights in voting, education, and property -
Dred Scott
Slave who sued for his and his family's freedom after being taken to a free state
Court said that Scott, as an African-American and previously property, was not a citizen
Gave him no legal standing to sue
Called the “greatest disaster” of the Supreme Court -
Granted large tracts of land to states; states sold land and used money for colleges -
Was the first to grant women the right to vote. -
Ruled segregation was legal as long as the facilities were equal
“Separate but equal” doctrine -
(1865-1899)
Supreme Court during this time narrowly interpreted the 13th-15th amendments -
gave Congress authority to set a federal income tax
Main source of US income -
Two from each state
100 total members
17th amendment -1913
Direct election of Senators
Six-year terms that are staggered on even years
Approx. 1/3 of Senate up for election every other year
Prevents major changes in representation -
Direct election of Senators
Six-year terms that are staggered on even years
Approx. 1/3 of Senate up for election every other year
Prevents major changes in representation -
Changing roles
Railroads, telegraph, and new machinery changed the US
Population of US doubled between 1870 and 1916
Government passed legislation to reform social conditions and business practices
The Sherman Antitrust Act prevented monopolies.
FDR’s New Deal expanded the government’s power. -
Fed govt. can regulate commerce with tribes
Most treaties resulted in loss of land and rights from N. Americans
N. Americans granted citizenship in 1924 -
Number of Reps per state based on population
Total number of Reps fixed by law at 435 (since 1929)
Two-year terms
Entire H.O.R. elected every two years
Nonvoting members from DC, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa -
1789-1930s
Both state and national governments were equal authorities operating within their own spheres of influence
Strict reading
National government only had powers listed in Constitution
(Enumerated Powers) -
Ruled 2nd Amendment does not protect the right to have all types of weapons -
The Supreme Court ruled that a child could be expelled for refusing to salute the American flag or recite the pledge (these actions violated the child’s religious beliefs) -
The court reversed itself and decided unity was not a sufficient reason to overrule religious beliefs.
Freedom of Speech and of the Press -
Court ruled the public’s safety was more important than right of Japanese Americans. -
Print media remains the most enduring form of mass media
1789: Federalist paper Gazette of the United States published
1791: Whigs countered with National Gazette.
1920s: Radio became the first form of electronic media
1950s: Television replaced radio as most influential electronic media
Modern Day: Internet has changed mass media: 1 in 3 people regularly get news online. -
Ruled segregation was illegal
"Separate is inherently unequal"
Whites resisted this and defied federal law -
Civil Rights Act of 1960
Empowered the federal government to actively engage in voter registration in places where voting discrimination had been found -
Give minority interests voice in the political process, such as civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s
Rural landowners might unite to oppose plan to build state highway -
Civil rights movement-mass movement in the 1950s and 1960s to guarantee the civil rights of African-Americans
Often used civil disobedience to protest
Nonviolent refusals to obey the law
Protesters were often attacked and brutalized.
March on Washington—peaceful protest with more than 200,000 people
March from Selma to Montgomery, AL resulted in peaceful protesters being attacked by police—Bloody Sunday -
States and national governments worked together to deal with the Great Depression
Many cases about FDR's New Deal reached the Supreme Court. -
Exteding Civil Rights
Equal Pay Act of 1963: Established equal pay for men and women
Title IX banned discrimination against women in education (schools/colleges) -
Edwards v. South Carolina (1963)
187 African-American students gathered at the state capitol to protest racial injustice
Students did not end the protest when police told them to and were arrested.
Court said the state had no authority to disperse the students, as they were protesting legally. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. -
Banned discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, or national origin in voting, employment, and public accommodations
Passed under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, so businesses had to follow the law as well -
Restricted immigration by country and established a specific number of immigrants allowed
More allowed from Northwestern Europe
(1965) Eliminated country-based quotas; preferred immigrants with certain job skills and relatives of US citizens
(1990) Allowed 675,000 immigrants -
Protects applicants and employees of 40+ years old from discrimination based on age in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation, privileges, etc. of employment. -
Segregation by order of law
De Facto Segregation remained through the end of the 20th century and is still an issue today -
Diplomatic Powers:
President represents the US in interactions with foreign governments
Treaty-making power is limited by Senate
Can make executive agreements with the head of a foreign government
Military powers
Commander-in-Chief of the military
Power to deploy military
War Powers Resolution (1973)
President must consult with Congress before sending troops
Congress can force the president to end use of military with a concurrent resolution -
1975 prohibited banks, stores, and other businesses from preventing women from getting loans or credit.
Equal protection clause applies to Hispanics -
allowed Native American Groups to control federally funded programs in their communities
Native Americans given same freedom of religion rights as other Americans
Americans with Disabilities Act-prohibits discrimination against peo -
ciety (LBJ, 1963-1980s)
Government program to eliminate poverty and social inequality
Johnson created creative federalism, which released national funds to achieve national goals.
If states didn’t cooperate, they would lose federal funding. -
Returned some authority to state governments
Began in 1980s
Ronald Reagan believed state governments could better provide services to the people
Cut national grant money and relaxed national requirements -
In 1980, the average cost of a four-year college was $30,800 (adjusted for inflation) -
The cost of college as increased twice as much as inflation since 1980. -
Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. -
Less than 65% of eligible voters have voted in each presidential election since 1996. -
Increased border control; easier to deport undocumented aliens, increased penalties for smuggling people into the country. -
nd Security:
Added in 2003
Reorganization of agencies already in place
Law enforcement
Border security
Transportation -
Added in 2003
Reorganization of agencies already in place
Law enforcement
Border security
Transportation -
Ruled 2nd Amendment right to bear arms includes the right to self defense -
Ruled 2nd Amendment applies to federal, state, and local governments; upheld 2nd Amendment -
more than one member of the same political party seek same office, a direct primary election is held.
Allows a party candidate to be chose directly by voters
Two types of direct primary
Closed primary: only voters registered as party members can vote
any registered voter may in either partys primary
Most states hold primary elections.
Each state has own rules for selecting delegates
Each party’s presidential candidate is chosen after all states have held primary elections. -
Someone living in a country without authorization from the government
Estimated undocumented population in 2017: 10.5 million -
Court ruled a ban on immigration from majority-Muslim countries did not violate the Establishment Clause -
By 2019, the average cost had risen to $85,480.