Civics: Lisa Pontoni
We have covered the following concepts in class this semester (chapter indicated next to it) and I would suggest you use this review outline to prepare for your final.
1. Political Beginnings, the Colonists: Chapter 4
2. The framers and the Convention: Chapter 5
3. The Constitution (its articles) the Bill of Rights and Amendments: Chapters 6 & 7
4. The Legislative Branch (Article I): Chapter 8
5. The Executive Branch (Article II): Chapter 9
C 4: Vocab C 5 Vocab C 6/7 Vocab
Heritage Impeach Poll Tax
Natural rights ratified Freedom of Speech
Compact concurrent Powers Equal Protection
Tyranny Anti-Federalists convention
Charter Great Compromised double jeopardy
Republic checks and balances Affirmative Action
Legislature amendments Case studies
Ratification bicameral segregation
Direct democracy Federalists suffrage
Separation of powers reserved powers eminent domain
3/5 compromise due process
Federalism bill of rights
Amendment process
Separation of church and state
Veto Louisiana Purchase judicial review
Pocket veto Steelworkers Strike original jurisdiction
Filibuster White house staff opinion
Speaker pro tempore cabinet appeal
Speaker of the house Presidential Judicial powers circuit courts
Constituent’s treaty judicial activism
Reporting the bill executive order precedent
Writ of Habeas corpus executive agreement appellant jurisdiction
Legislative power civil servants plaintiff
Necessary and proper clause defendant
Courts of appeals
Prosecution
Judicial restraint
C11 Vocab Public policy, unitary system, apportioned, initiative, referendum, recall, revenue,
Sales tax excise tax, income tax, bonds, item veto, Missouri Plan, judicial action commissions
C 22/23 Vocab canvas caucus closed primary open primary direct primary nominate
Platform planks political party precincts self-nomination split ticket
Straight ticket patronage independent voter write in bias direct mail
Electors general election incumbent campaign press secretary media
Propaganda registration campaign manager
Chapter 4: America’s Political Heritage
*Show an understanding of why the colonists wanted to be free of England’s rule.
*What impact did the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights have on the framing of the colonial government?
*Show examples of how England tried to keep the colonies under its control.
*Identify the weakness of the Articles of Confederation and why some felt the need to “fix, change or abolish” them.
*Describe the purpose of the Constitutional Convention and what it accomplished.
*What were some of the largest areas of disagreement that resulted in compromise within the new government
*Discuss Federalism and Anti-Federalism and the basic difference in opinion regarding the government.
*Describe the organization of the constitution (the 7 articles and what they basically contain)
*What is the Bill of Rights and why are they viewed as separate (kind of) from the rest of the amendments?
*Be familiar with the amendment process, what it entails and why it is so difficult to achieve.
*Describe what makes up “Congress”, emphasizing the role of our representatives and senators as well as the similarities and differences between their jobs and their qualifications.
*Be familiar with the checks and balances of the legislative branch and why that is do important to the democratic process.
*Describe the role of the President including his job description (his 4 main roles and his traditional roles).
*Be familiar with the positions and offices under him…who can he appoint without checks and who he needs approval for.
*How is his office checked and balanced by the other branches and why?
Chapter 10: The Judicial Branch
*Describe the purpose and function of the courts in our society. How detailed was Article 3 and what was the impact of the Judiciary Act on our court system?
*Describe our federal courts system…including both original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction, the distribution of our 94 federal district courts and the 12 federal courts of appeals.
*Discuss the role of the Supreme Court, its power, its judges and the impact of precedents.
*What powers do States hold alone? *Compare state courts to federal courts.
*How do States have an advantage in meeting citizen’s needs as compared to the federal government?
*Discuss the development of the 2 party-system and the role of political parties in our democracy.
*Compare voting in the US from past to present, focusing on suffrage as well as voter turnout.
*Evaluate the Electoral College by describing how it works as well as some of its problems
*Be familiar with the campaign process and how we go from nomination to Election Day.