U.S. Civics & Government (Middle School)
Foundations of U.S. government for grades 7-8: the Constitution, Bill of Rights, three branches, federalism, elections, citizenship, landmark Supreme Court cases, and how Americans participate in civic life.
Ämne: Samhällskunskap · Nivå: Högstadium (13–15) · 423 kort
Innehåll
- A democracy is a system of government in which power comes from the people, either directly or through elected representatives.
- The United States is a representative democracy, also called a republic: citizens elect officials to make laws and decisions on their behalf.
- In a monarchy, a king or queen holds power, often inherited. In an absolute monarchy the ruler has nearly unlimited power; in a constitutional monarchy, written rules limit it.
- An oligarchy is rule by a small group of people, often the wealthy or powerful. A theocracy is rule by religious leaders.
- A totalitarian government tries to control nearly every part of public and private life. An anarchy is the absence of any organized government.
- The rule of law means that everyone, including government officials, is subject to the same laws applied fairly and equally.
- The Constitution opens with the words "We the People," signaling that the document's authority comes from the citizens themselves, not from a king.
- Social contract theory holds that people agree to give up some freedoms in exchange for protection of their remaining rights by government.
- The Magna Carta, signed in England in 1215, limited the power of the king and is often called an early step toward constitutional government.
- The English Bill of Rights of 1689 established limits on the monarchy and protections such as no cruel and unusual punishment and the right to petition.
- The Mayflower Compact of 1620 was a written agreement among Pilgrims to make "just and equal laws" for their colony. It is an early example of self-government in America.
- English philosopher John Locke argued that people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and that governments exist to protect those rights.
- The French thinker Baron de Montesquieu argued for dividing government into separate branches so that no one part could become too powerful.
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote about the social contract and the idea that legitimate political power comes from the general will of the people.
- Thomas Hobbes described life without government as a "state of nature" that would be harsh and dangerous, leading people to form a social contract for safety.
- The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, announcing that the 13 colonies were free and independent of Great Britain.
- Thomas Jefferson was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. He was assisted by a committee including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.
- The Declaration of Independence states that "all men are created equal" and are endowed with rights to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
- The Articles of Confederation, ratified in 1781, were the first national constitution of the United States.
- Under the Articles of Confederation, the national government could not collect taxes, regulate trade, or raise an army on its own; it could only ask the states.
- The Articles of Confederation had no executive branch and no national judiciary, and amendments required the unanimous agreement of all 13 states.
- Shays' Rebellion (1786-1787), an armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers, convinced many leaders that a stronger national government was needed.
- The Constitutional Convention met in Philadelphia in 1787 with 55 delegates from 12 states (Rhode Island did not send any).
- George Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention. James Madison kept detailed notes and is often called the "Father of the Constitution."
- The Great Compromise, also called the Connecticut Compromise, created a Congress with two houses: the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate with equal state representation.
- The Three-Fifths Compromise counted three out of every five enslaved people for purposes of representation and taxation. It was later nullified by the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments.
- The Federalist Papers were 85 essays by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay (writing as "Publius") urging ratification of the Constitution.
- Anti-Federalists such as Patrick Henry and George Mason opposed the Constitution without a bill of rights, fearing the federal government would be too strong. The Constitution went into effect in 1788 when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify it.
- The Constitution, signed on September 17, 1787, is the supreme law of the United States. Its Preamble lists six purposes: form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty.
- The Constitution has seven Articles. Article I creates Congress, Article II the presidency, and Article III the federal courts.
- Article IV addresses relations among the states. Article V explains how the Constitution can be amended.
- Article VI contains the Supremacy Clause, declaring federal law and treaties "the supreme Law of the Land." Article VII set the rules for ratifying the Constitution.
- The Constitution has been amended 27 times. The first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights.
- The Necessary and Proper Clause in Article I, Section 8 lets Congress make laws needed to carry out its listed powers. It is also called the "elastic clause."
- The Supremacy Clause means that when state law conflicts with valid federal law or treaties, federal law prevails.
- An amendment may be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress or by a convention requested by two-thirds of the states.
- To become part of the Constitution, an amendment must be ratified by three-fourths of the states, either by their legislatures or by special conventions.
- Popular sovereignty is the principle that the government's power comes from the people.
- Limited government means that government has only those powers given to it by the Constitution and cannot violate the rights of the people.
- Separation of powers divides the federal government into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
- Checks and balances let each branch limit the others. For example, the president can veto laws and the Senate confirms judges.
- Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.
- Congress can impeach and remove federal officials, including the president and federal judges, for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
- Federalism is the sharing of power between the national government and the states.
- Judicial review is the power of courts to decide whether laws or government actions violate the Constitution.
- The Supreme Court established the power of judicial review in Marbury v. Madison (1803).
- Republicanism, as the Founders used the word, refers to government in which citizens elect representatives to make laws on their behalf.
- The Bill of Rights is the name for the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791.
- The First Amendment protects five freedoms: religion, speech, the press, peaceable assembly, and the right to petition the government.
- The First Amendment's Establishment Clause forbids Congress from establishing an official religion. Its Free Exercise Clause protects the right to practice one's religion.