Sources of American Law

English Colonies

EXTENDING VOTING RIGHTS WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE DC GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE POLL TAX ELIMINATED LOWERS VOTING AGE TO TH AFRICAN-AMERICAN SUFFRAGE

LANDMARK CIVIL RIGHTS ACTS

RIGHTS, DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES

FEDERAL EXPENDITURES

FEDERAL REVENUE

COMMITTEE SYSTEM  MOST OF THE WORK IN CONGRESS IS DONE IN COMMITTEES  COMMITTEES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATING  THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE IS MOST IMPORTANT IN RESOLVING DIFFERENCES IN BILLS PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.  MEMBERSHIP BASED ON THE SENIORITY SYSTEM

CONGRESSIONAL POWERS

PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION WHO FOLLOWS THE PRESIDENT?

THE PRESIDENT’S CABINET

FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM STRUCTURE DON’T BE SAD

SUPREME COURT DECISIONS MAJORITY OPIONION THE DECISION WE STUDY AND FOLLOW DISSENTING OPINION DECISION IN OPPOSITION TO THE MAJORITY CONCURRING OPINION: DECISION IN AGREEMENT WITH MAJORITY BUT FOR DIFFERENT REASONS

ROLES OF POLITICAL PARTIES SELECT AND SUPPORT CANDIDATES INFORM THE PUBLIC CARRY THE PEOPLE’S MESSAGE SERVE AS A LINK BTW LEVELS OF GOV’T ACT AS A WATCHDOG

TRACING OUR LEGAL SYSTEM Our American Legal System has been influenced by previous systems(precedents) –Word of mouth laws –Code of Hammurabi –Ten Commandments –Roman Law –Justinian Code –English Law –American system –Napoleanic Code

TYPES OF LAWS CIVIL CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNATIONAL CONSTITUTIONAL

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD LAW ENFORCEABLE EQUITABLE FAIR UNDERSTANDABLE REASONABLE

5 THINGS LAWS DO PROVIDE ORDER PROVIDE PENALTIES SETTLE DISPUTES PROMOTE WELFARE PROTECT RIGHTS OF CITIZENS

NORTH CAROLINA UNITED STATES PreambleBEGINNINGPreamble Representative Democracy- Republic FORM OF GOVERNMENT CREATED Representative Democracy- Republic only requirement of states in U.S. constitution Declaration of Rights LIST OF PEOPLE’S RIGHTS Bill of Rights 3-legislative, executive, judicial BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT 3-legislative, executive, judicial Local governments created by state LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MENTIONED No mention of local governments StateSUPREME LAW OVER Nation 3/5 of state legislature propose, voters ratify by election Amendment Process2/3 congress propose, 3/4 state legislatures ratify

North CarolinaEXECUTIVE BRANCHUnited States GovernorLeaderPresident 30 years old, 5 year citizen, 2 year resident Qualifications35 years old, natural born citizen, 14 year resident 4 year terms- can serve 2 consecutive terms Term4 year terms- can serve only 2 terms or 10 years Same as president except no chief diplomat Roles of LeaderHELP JED C Head of state, chief Executive, Legislative leader, Party leader, Judicial leader, Economic leader, chief Diplomat, Commander-in-Chief Appointed by the Governor, more of an advisory role CabinetAppointed by the President, approved by the Senate, runs executive departments Elected officials running key executive departments, do not answer to the governor(pg. 668 Council of StateNone. The executive department secretaries report to the President RecallRemoval processimpeachment

North CarolinaLEGISLATIVE BRANCHUnited States General AssemblyCalledCongress Bicameral- House of Representatives and Senate 2 housesBicameral- House of Representatives and Senate  120 members  21 years old, resident for 1 year, citizen  2 year term House of Represent. Qualifications Term  435 members  25 years old, citizen for 7 years, resident of state  2 year term  50 members  25 years old, resident for 1 year, citizen of N.C. for 2 years  2 year term Senate Qualifications Term  100 members  30 years old, citizen for 9 years, resident of state  6 year terms Long session and short session each term Sessions2 sessions per 2 year term  make statutes  create voting districts- apportionment  budget  create local governments  education  oversight Responsibilities  make laws  budget  declare war  approve presidential appointments and treaties  impeachment

North Carolina JUDICIAL United States  Supreme Court  Appellate Courts  General Trial Courts Levels of:  Supreme Court  Appellate Courts  District Courts Supreme Court 7 members  Decide cases dealing with state constitution and appeals of capital punishment  8 year terms  elected by people Highest level: Responsibilies Number of Terms for How get job Supreme Court 9 members  Determine if laws are constitutional  Life terms  Appointed by president, approved by the senate. Appellate Courts  Hear cases on appeal from lower trial courts Second Highest level Characteristics No juries here, just panels of judges, concern is due process of law Appellate Courts  Hear cases on appeal from district courts and independent agencies 1)Superior courts  Handles felonies and cases over $10,000 1)District Courts  Handles misdemeanors, juvenile cases, civil cases under $10,000 Lowest Levels Both state and federal lower levels have juries District Courts  Has juries  Handles original jurisdiction cases for federal offenses