Items for Review and Reteach

What type of government do we have in the United States? Two Party System, Republic, or Federal System (federalism), or Representative democracy

What were the influences on our government? The Magna Carta, English Common Law, and Parliament (legislature)

1215 The Magna Carta—protected the nobles privileges and upheld their authority, granted rights that included equal treatment under the law and trial by one’s peers, and it limited the power of the monarch by guaranteeing that no one would be above the law, not even the king or queen.

The French & Indian War left Great Britain in debt, therefore, they felt they had to raise taxes on their colonies in America to help pay for this debt. The colonist resented being taxed, especially since they had no representatives in the British Parliament. “No taxation without representation” –This led to the fight for independence. Thomas Jefferson is credited for writing the Declaration of Independence using the ideas of John Locke from his Second Treatise of Government in which he writes good gov’t is based on a social contract between the people and the rulers. (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)

The Articles of Confederation was the 1st Constitution—but its flaws, i.e. no power to tax, no power to regulate trade, no power to enforce laws….. (Shay’s Rebellion over state taxes) –led to the Constitutional Convention 1787 they went to Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation and then decided to write a whole new plan of gov’t

James Madison came up with the Virginia Plan—3 branches with a 2-house legislature based on population (he is also considered the father of the constitution—because he played a leading role in shaping the constitution and he supported it by writing many of the Federalist Papers)

William Paterson of New Jersey proposed The New Jersey Plan –3 branches with a one house legislature based on equal representation—each state receiving one vote

Roger Sherman of Connecticut proposed The Connecticut Plan later known as The Great Compromise –3 branches of gov’t with a 2-house legislature one based on equal representation and one based on population

Principles Underlying the Constitution—Popular Sovereignty, Rule of Law, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, & Federalism

What are considered to be the first political parties? The Federalist and the Antifederalist

Alexander Hamilton is seen as the 1st Federalist—he argues for a strong central gov’t

Thomas Jefferson is seen as the 1st Antifederalist—he argues against Hamilton and for states’ rights

(Antifederalist believed the Constitution gave the national gov’t too much power and they were concerned because it did not have a Bill of Rights at first)

Economics—the study of how individuals and nations make choices about ways to use scarce resources to fulfill their needs and wants.

In 1776 Adam Smith, a Scottish philosopher & economist, wrote his book The Wealth of Nations that says individuals left on their own would work for their own self-interest. In doing so, they would be guided as if by an “invisible hand” to use resources efficiently and thus achieve the maximum good for society. From Smith’s writings also came the idea of laissez-faire, a French term, means “to let alone.” (Meaning that the government should not interfere in the marketplace) Government’s role is strictly limited to ensure free competition in the marketplace.

Fiscal policy—the federal government’s use of spending & taxation policies to affect overall business activity

Monetary policy—policy that involves changing the rate of growth of the money supply in circulation in order to affect the cost and availability of credit.

If asked what type of economy we have n the U.S. there are different terms that describe our economy—it is a Market Economy, a free enterprise system, and a capitalist system or capitalism.

Market Economy—system in which individuals own the factors of production and make economic decisions through free interaction

4 Factors of Production –1) land, 2) labor, 3) capital, 4) entrepreneurs

Capital or Capital goods—anything used to produce –for example: any type of machinery, tools, and/or equipment

Labor is done by people

Entrepreneurs are individuals who start new businesses, introduce new products, and improve management techniques (involves being innovative and willing to take risks in order to reap profits)

Labor Union—is an association of workers organized to improve wages and working conditions

Fixed costs—costs that are the same no matter how many units of a good are produced---mortgage payments & property taxes are examples

Variable costs—expenses that change with the number of products produced—for example, wages & raw materials—expenses will increase as production grows

Trade-off is the alternative you face if you decide to do one thing rather than another

Opportunity cost—the cost of the next best alternative use of time and money when choosing to do one thing rather than another

Law of demand—quantity demanded and price move in opposite directions

Law of supply—principle that suppliers will normally offer more for sale at higher prices and less at lower prices

If a jury cannot decide a case –the judge will declare a hung jury and there will be a mistrial

Supreme Court Cases Mentioned—Korematsu v. United States –court said it was a necessary response to the attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor.

Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas—case decided that segregation or “separate but equal” was unconstitutional –overturning the previous case of Plessy vs. Ferguson that had established the “separate but equal” policy in 1896

Marbury v. Madison—established the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review

Miranda v. Arizona—held that a person in police custody cannot be questioned unless told his rights –1) to remain silent 2) to an attorney 3) anything said can be used against them—called the Miranda warning

Leandro v. State of North Carolina—1997 The North Carolina Constitution guarantees the right to an education. In 1994, parents from low wealth counties sued the state for assistance because they felt their counties did not provide adequate education.

Mapp v. Ohio—Evidence gained in violation of the 4th Amendment may not be used (exclusionary rule)

The Supreme Court is the highest level of courts

District courts have original jurisdiction –all cases start there first

3 levels—district, appeals, and supreme—the district court is the only one that has a jury

14th Amendment—passed because many Southern states after the civil war passed “black codes” that kept African Americans from holding certain jobs, limited their property rights, and restricted them in other ways. To remedy these problems the 14th Amendment was enacted in 1868 –stated that a U.S. citizen is anyone born or naturalized in the U.S.—also required every state to grant its citizens “equal protection of the laws” –this nationalized the Bill of Rights

26th Amendment gave voting rights to 18 year olds—as a result of the Vietnam War

The 18th Amendment outlawed the sale or distribution of alcohol, but the 21st Amendment cancelled out the 18th making the sell of alcohol legal again.

A Platform is a series of statements expressing the party’s principles, beliefs, and positions on election issues.

A filibuster is a tactic used for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bill’s sponsor withdraws it.

In the state of North Carolina the Governor is in charge of the National Guard which would be our state troops/soldiers