Chapter 1

Civics and Government

Types of Government
Monarchy

 centered on the rule of kings and queens

 gained power by inheritance
 rule for life
 monarchs’ power was often absolute
 Monarchies can be constitutional where the monarch’s powers are limited by a
constitution or absolute, where the monarch has unrestricted authority.

Aristocracy

 Ruling upper class whose wealth was based on land ownership

 Power passed from one generation to next

Theocracy

 Rule by divine right

 religious authorities or institution hold the ultimate power
 laws and policies of the state are based on religious doctrine

Oligarchy

 A small group of individuals such as wealthy elites or members of a particular political

party, hold the power and control over the government.
 rulers act in their interests

Dictatorship
 Single leader with absolute power; controls political, social, and economic aspects
Republic
 Head of state elected by voters; a democracy without hereditary monarchy.

Democracy:
 Citizens exercise power directly or through representatives;
Types of Democracy:
 Direct Democracy
 Representative Democracy
Representative Democracy
 Parliamentary Democracy: Leaders chosen by majority party in parliament; prime
minister leads government.
 Presidential Democracy: Chief executive (president) elected by voters; separate from
legislature, limited by constitution.
Modern Examples:
 - Parliamentary Democracies: Australia, Great Britain, Canada.
 - Presidential Democracies: United States, France.
Historical Example:
Direct Democracy: Ancient Athens, where citizens participated in lawmaking and government
directly.

Basic Principles of American Constitutional Democracy:

Natural Rights:
 Individuals have inherent rights not granted by rulers or laws.
 Derived from nature, absolute, and not revocable.
 John Locke's philosophy influenced this concept.
 Rights include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Popular Sovereignty:
 Government's power comes from the consent of the governed.
 People subject to government decisions have the right to influence those
decisions.
 Basis of American government after the Revolutionary War.
Constitutionalism:
 Blends limited government and rule of law.
 Government's powers are spelled out and restricted to protect citizens' rights.
 Neither citizens nor government officials can break laws or violate the
Constitution.
Majority Rule:
 Decisions are made by a majority vote of participating individuals.
 Prevents abuse of power by the majority.
 Minority rights are safeguarded, often through the Bill of Rights.
Federalism:
 Divides powers between federal government and state governments.
 Federal government has supreme power over national matters.
 State governments control issues not assigned to the federal government.
 Tenth Amendment grants states powers not specifically given to the federal
government.
Structure and Design of the U.S. Federal Government:
Separation of Powers:
 Based on preventing concentration of power.
 Divides government into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
 Ensures no single branch becomes too powerful.
 Enables checks and balances among branches.
Executive Branch:
 Headed by the president.
 Responsible for enforcing laws.
 President elected separately from Congress.
 Has power to veto legislation, checking legislative power.
 Article II of the US constitution
Legislative Branch:
 Consists of Congress (House of Representatives and Senate).
 Primary role is to make laws.
 Separated from the executive branch (president).
 Creates a check on executive power.
 Article I of the US constitution
Judicial Branch:
 Comprises the court system.
 Responsible for interpreting laws.
  Ensures laws are applied fairly and constitutionally.
 Acts as a check on both the executive and legislative branches.
 Article III of the US constitution
System of Checks and Balances:
 Each branch checks the power of the other two.
 Prevents abuse of power by any single branch.
 Montesquieu's concept promotes liberty and is a core aspect of modern constitutional
government.
Example: The President can veto legislation passed by Congress, but Congress can override the
veto with a two-thirds majority.
The Legislative Branch (U.S. Congress):
Two Houses: House of Representatives and Senate.
 Congress - Senate and House of Representatives (Bicameral system)
 Equal in power but differ in membership and election.
House of Representatives:
 House (Lower house) - 435
 Members elected from districts with roughly equal voters.
 Districts redrawn every 10 years based on census.
 Proportional representation based on state population.
 Members serve two-year terms.
Senate:
 Senate (Upper House) - Senator 100 (state 50 = 100 senators)
 Each state represented by two senators.
 Equal representation regardless of state population.
 Senators elected by state voters.
 Six-year terms, one-third up for election every two years.
Speaker of the House:
 Presiding officer of the House.
 Elected by House members.
 Typically leader of the majority party.
Congressional Powers:
 Enumerated powers listed in Article I of the U.S. Constitution.
 Elastic clause allows Congress to adapt powers as needed.
 Powers include taxation, commerce regulation, introducing bills, declaring war,
maintaining military, admitting new states, approving treaties, and impeaching the
president.
 Shared by both houses, some assigned to Senate or House exclusively.
The Executive Branch:
Components:
 President, vice president, and enforcing agencies.
 President is head of government and elected for four-year terms (max. two terms).
President's Responsibilities:
 Commander-in-chief of armed forces.
 Appoints Supreme Court judges and executive officers.
 Enforces laws and executes laws passed by Congress.
 Veto power over bills from Congress (can be overridden by two-thirds vote).
 President negotiates and signs treaties with other countries.
 Senate ratifies treaties with a two-thirds vote.
 President reports on the state of the country to Congress annually in January.
Presidential Qualifications:
 Minimum age of 35.
 Natural-born U.S. citizen.
 Resided in the U.S. for at least 14 years.
Vice President's Roles:
 Assumes presidency if president is unable to complete term.
 President of the Senate, with tie-breaking vote.
 Supports president's duties and additional roles as assigned.
Presidential Succession:
 Speaker of the House is third in line to succeed president, after vice president.
The President’s Cabinet and Their Responsibilities:
Role of the Cabinet:
- Advises the president on respective areas of expertise.
Cabinet Members:
Vice President: Supports president and Senate tie-breaker.
Heads of Executive Departments:
Agriculture: Ensures food safety and regulates farming.
Commerce: Improves living standards, regulates trade and banking.
Defense: Protects national security through armed forces.
Education: Promotes student achievement and equal access to quality education.
Energy: Regulates utilities, conserves energy resources, funds research.
Health and Human Services: Ensures health, administers Medicare and Medicaid.
Homeland Security: Ensures U.S. security, border control, formed post-2001 attacks.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD): Promotes affordable homeownership, public
housing, aids the homeless.
Interior: Protects national resources, manages parks and wildlife.
Justice: Enforces laws, public safety, crime control, legal protection.
Labor: Enforces labor laws, protects worker rights, job training, minimum wage.
State: Manages diplomatic relations, implements foreign policies.
Transportation: Maintains and ensures transportation safety.
Treasury: Collects taxes, manages federal finances, oversees economic stability.
Veterans’ Affairs: Offers medical care, benefits for veterans and families.
Presidential Succession:
Vice President, Speaker of the House, cabinet members in the order their departments were
created.
Ranking of Government officials
1. President
2. Vice president
3. Speaker of the House
4. Senate president pro tempore
5. Secretary of State
6. Secretary of the Treasury
7. Secretary of Defense
8. Attorney General (Head of Justice)
9. Secretary of the interior
10. Secretary of Agriculture
11. Secretary of Commerce
12. Secretary of Labor
13. Secretary of Health and Human Services
14. Secretary of Housing and Urban
15. Secretary of Transportation
16. Secretary of Energy
17. Secretary of Education
18. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
19. Secretary of Homeland Security
The Judicial Branch:
Role of the Judicial Branch:
 Includes the Supreme Court, determines constitutionality and meaning of laws, enforces
judicial review.
 Responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring their proper enforcement.
Supreme Court:
 Composed of nine justices appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
 Serve for life.
 Chief Justice heads the court; others are associate justices.
 Number of justices determined by Congress (currently nine).
 Majority agreement of justices needed for decisions.
 Chief Justice administers presidential oaths and presides over impeachment hearings.
 Empowered by Article III to rule on interstate cases, state-citizen conflicts, and
patent/copyright issues.
 Interprets laws, doesn't hold trials; may accept legal briefs, hear arguments, ask
questions.
Other Components of the Judicial Branch:
 United States district courts: Try most federal cases.
 United States courts of appeal: Review appealed district court cases.
 Both must adhere to Supreme Court decisions and interpretations.
Role in Interpretation:
 Supreme Court's rulings and interpretations guide inferior courts' decisions.
 Once a law is interpreted by the Supreme Court that interpretation applies to other cases.
Articles of US Constitution
Article I: The Legislative Branch
 Establishes the powers and structure of Congress (Senate and the House of
Representatives)
 Outlines the legislative process, including how bills become laws.
 Give congress its power to make laws on various subjects, such as taxation and
commerce.
Article II: The Executive Branch
 Defines the powers and responsibilities of the President.
 Establishes the Electoral College for presidential elections.
 Details the President's role as Commander-in-Chief and the ability to make treaties and
appoint federal officials.
Article III: The Judicial Branch
 Creates the federal court system, with the Supreme Court as the highest authority.
 Grants the power of judicial review, allowing federal courts to assess the constitutionality
of laws.
 Protects federal judges from removal except through impeachment.
Article IV: The States
 Addresses the relationship between states and the federal government.
 Requires states to respect the laws and court decisions of other states (Full Faith and
Credit Clause).
Article V: The Amendment Process
 Outlines the methods for amending the Constitution: requiring a two-thirds vote in
Congress or a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the states.
 Emphasizes that certain provisions, such as equal state representation in the Senate, are
unamendable.
Article VI: The Supremacy Clause
 Declares the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties to be the supreme law of the land.
 Requires government officials, including judges, to take an oath to support the
Constitution.
Article VII: Ratification
 Describes the process for ratifying the Constitution, which required approval by nine of
the original thirteen states.
 Marks the official adoption of the Constitution in 1788.
Amending the Constitution
1. Amendment Process:
- Article V of the Constitution allows modifications.
- Changes are called amendments (27 so far).
- Adaptation to evolving country's needs.
2. How Amendments are proposed:
- Congress or group of state legislatures can propose changes.
- President not involved in the process.
- Proposed amendment presented as a joint resolution.
3. Ratification Process:
- Amendment proposed to states.
- Each state's governor submits it to state legislature.
- Three-fourths of state legislatures must ratify the change.
- Ratification means approval for the amendment to become law.
4. Unique Example:
- Twentieth Amendment ratified by all 50 states.
- Set terms' start and end dates for presidents and Congress.
 The Bill of Rights:
- First 10 amendments to the Constitution.
- Proposed by James Madison in 1789.
Purpose:
- Strengthen individual liberties and provide protections.
- Place restrictions on government's power.
- Guarantee citizens' rights and civil liberties.
Key Rights and Liberties:
 Amendment I: Freedom of religion, speech, the press, assembly, and petition
 Amendment II: Right to keep and bear arms in order to maintain a well-regulated militia
 Amendment III: No quartering of soldiers in private homes without the owner’s consent
 Amendment IV: Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures
 Amendment V: Right to due process of law; freedom from self-incrimination and double
jeopardy
 Amendment VI: Rights of accused persons, such as the right to a speedy and public trial
by jury
 Amendment VII: Right of trial by jury in civil cases
 Amendment VIII: Freedom from excessive bail and from cruel and unusual punishments
 Amendment IX: Rights in addition to those stated in the Constitution
 Amendment X: Powers reserved to the states
Amendments addressing Voting rights
a) Fifteenth Amendment (1870): This amendment aimed to enfranchise African American men
who were previously denied the right to vote due to their race.
b) Nineteenth Amendment (1920): The Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to
vote.
c) Twenty-Fourth Amendment (1964): The Twenty-Fourth Amendment eliminated poll taxes
as a requirement for voting in federal elections. Poll taxes were used in some states as a way to
disenfranchise minority and low-income voters.
d) Twenty-Sixth Amendment (1971): The Twenty-Sixth Amendment lowered the voting age
from 21 to 18. This amendment was a response to the Vietnam War and the argument that if
young people could be drafted to fight in the war, they should also have the right to vote.
 Reconstruction amendments
a) Thirteenth Amendment (1865): Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a
punishment for a crime.
b) Fourteenth Amendment (1868): define citizenship as all persons born or naturalized in the
United States, regardless of their race and guaranteed equal protection under the law, addressed
issues related to former Confederate officials and debts. It aimed to protect the civil rights of
African Americans and was a response to the discriminatory "Black Codes" enacted by Southern
states after the Civil War.
c) Fifteenth Amendment (1870): Purpose: Prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on
race, color, or previous condition of servitude. However, despite its passage, various
discriminatory practices such as poll taxes and literacy tests were used to disenfranchise African
American voters in the South.
Citizens’ Rights and Civic Responsibilities
Citizens' Rights
 Bill of Rights guarantees civil rights.
 Economic rights include property ownership and business ownership.
 Government protects against discrimination based on race, religion, age, gender.
Civic Responsibilities
 Paying taxes.
 Registering for military service.
 Performing jury service.
 Obeying federal, state, and local laws.
 Voting.
Importance of Civic Responsibilities:
 Taxes fund public goods and services.
 Jury service upholds trial by peers principle.
 Military service registration protects the country.
 Voting as a democratic participation and expression of opinions.
 Political Parties
 Organizations seeking power and influence in government.
 Members share similar opinions and ideas on issues.
 Choose candidates, seek public support, and gather votes.
Historical Context:
 Early U.S. political parties differed from modern ones.
 First parties, led by Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, had distinct visions for
America's future.
 Thomas Jefferson's vision: Limited federal government, close ties to France.
 Alexander Hamilton's vision: Strong federal government, strong president, close ties to
Great Britain.
Modern U.S. Political Parties:
 Main parties: Democrats and Republicans.
 Minor parties exist but face challenges in winning elections.
Democratic Party:
 More liberal or left-wing.
 Support active federal government role.
 Advocate for workers, government-run social programs.
Republican Party:
 More conservative or right-wing.
 Favor states' rights over the federal government.
 Support business interests, private solutions to social issues.
Both parties have diverse viewpoints but also core beliefs that guide their stances on various
issues.
Elections and Voting
Suffrage: The right to vote.
Constituents and Representatives
Types of Elections: presidential elections, midterm elections, and local elections. Presidential
elections occur every four years (on first Tuesday of November), while midterm elections are
held in the middle of a president's term.
Electoral College: 538 electoral votes (435 + 100 + 3). The candidate who wins the majority of
electoral votes becomes the president.
Primary Elections: Before the general election, political parties hold primary elections for party
members to choose their preferred candidate.
Absentee Voting: Absentee voting allows eligible voters who cannot vote in person on Election
Day to cast their ballots by mail or through other methods. It is commonly used by military
personnel, overseas citizens, and those unable to reach polling places.
Early Voting: Many states offer early voting options, allowing voters to cast their ballots in
advance of Election Day. This can help accommodate busy schedules or avoid long lines.
 Polling places typically open in the morning, often around 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM, and
close in the evening, typically around 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM, local time.
1. Primaries and Caucuses (Step 1 - Several months or a year before the election):
2. National Conventions (Step 2 - Late summer of election year):
3. General Election Campaign (Step 3 - Late summer to early November):
4. Electoral College (Step 4 - First Tuesday in November):
5. Inauguration (Step 5 - January 20 of the following year):
6. Electoral Certification (Step 6 - Shortly after the inauguration):
Contemporary Public Policy:
Definition and Implementation:
 Public policy is a government's adopted course of action on a specific issue.
 Implemented through laws, regulations, funding, and resources.
 Mostly executed by the executive branch of government.
Policy Considerations:
 Assessing benefits and costs of policies.
 Identifying beneficiaries and responsible parties.
Categories of Public Policy:
 Criminal justice
 Culture and society
 Economic affairs
 Education
 Environment
  Government operations
 Health
 Social welfare
 Foreign affairs and national security
Influence of Interest Groups:
 Interest groups are formed by people sharing common interests or concerns.
 Groups aim to influence government policy in their favor.
 Influence methods: providing information, advocacy in media and speeches,
organizing campaigns.
 Democratic governance allows interest groups to shape public policy.

Political Parties and Interest Groups Compared

Political Parties Interest Groups

Number Two important parties Hundreds of important interest

groups

Goal Get their candidates elected Advance their political agenda

Focus Elections Policy-making

Role in elections Select candidates and help their Endorse individual candidates
candidates win by raising money (usually
and from both parties) and raise money
providing other types of support for
their campaigns

Role in government None—once elected, officials act on Influence congressmen and federal
their own, not on behalf of the officials in making laws and
party formulating policies