By Mr. Sutton

Basics of Democracy:  The Enlightenment Thinkers:  influence American democracy  Key: John Locke, Montesquieu  Federalist Papers:  support the constitution!  Dictatorship/Totalitarianism  Rule by one!  The people do not influence  Oligarchy:  Rule by few!  Some public influence

Basics of Democracy:  Direct Democracy:  Government directly from the people.  Representative Democracy:  People vote for representatives  Checks and Balances:  Separation of powers

Basics of Democracy  Multiple political parties.  More than one party.  Our country has two major, but can have more.  Third Party:  Non major political party (ex: Green Party)

Local Government:  Mayor of El Cajon:  Mark Lewis  Senator:  Barbara Boxer (D)  Diane Feinstein (D)  Representative:  Duncan Hunter (R)

Local Government:  Bicameral legislative (2 halves):  Assembly (lower)  State Senate (upper)  Schools:  Funded by property tax  District school board in charge.

Local Government:  County:  Largest political subdivision in a state  Governed by County Board of supervisors.  Jury duty:  Pool selected from voter registers.  Don’t register, no duty.

The Constitution:  The Bill of Rights:  First Ten Amendments  The First Amendment  Free Speech  Freedom of Religion  Freedom of Press  Freedom of Assembly  Freedom of petition

The Constitution  The 5 th Amendment:  Have right to due process  Can not incriminate yourself. (I plead the fifth)  9 th Amendment:  Some rights not listed reserved for citizens. I plead the Fifth!

 The 14 th Amendment:  Equal Protection Clause.  Every citizen, no matter race gender, deserves due process.  Establishment Clause:  Government cannot establish/endorse a religion.

The Constitution:  Free Exercise Clause:  Individual is free to believe what they will.  Part of 1 st amendment.

Federalism:  Federalism:  The relationship between state and national gov.  Extradition:  Transport citizen from one state to another because committed crime in other state.

Federalism  Concurrent powers:  Powers held by both state and national government  10 th Amendment:  Powers not given to national government, reserved for state.

Legislative branch:  Bicameral system:  Two halves (senate/house of representatives)  Concurrent powers:  Powers shared by state and federal gov.  Expressed powers:  Directly state in Constitution.  Implied powers:  Powers needed to do expressed powers.

Legislative Branch:  Confirmation:  Senate decides on presidential appointments.  Impeachment:  “Kick-out” elected official (president)  Senate’s job  Override:  Overrule a presidential veto

Legislative Branch:  War Powers Resolution:  Weakens powers (military mainly) of president.  Increase power of the legislative branch.

Presidential powers  Cabinet:  Picked by president and advise president. Secretary of state Department of education Homeland Security

Presidential Powers  Veto:  To “strike down” any bill.  Pocket Veto:  To simply not sign a bill and let it expire.  Appointment:  Pick heads of certain agencies/ parts of government

Presidential Powers  Commander and Chief:  Leader of the military and must be obeyed.  Line of Succession  Vice President  Speaker of the House

 Judicial Review:  The Supreme Court deciding if government action is constitutional.  Judicial Activism:  Creating law through court decision.  The Warren Court:  Court known for judicial activism.

 Precedent:  Previous supreme court decisions.  Marbury v. Madison:  Establishes Judicial review.  McCulloch v. Maryland:  Established implied powers

The Supreme Court  Plessy v. Ferguson:  Established separate is equal.  Brown v. Board of Education:  Separate is not equal at schools.  Roe v. Wade:  Abortion is legal

The Supreme Court:  Miranda v. Arizona:  Must be given your rights upon arrest.  Gideon v. Wainwrite:  Must be provided with lawyer by government if cannot afford one.

Elections:  How to vote:  Be 18  Caucus:  Party meeting to decide on candidates/issues.  Primary:  Election to decide on General Election candidates.

Elections:  Electoral College  President not directly elected by people.  Initiative:  When a group of citizens get enough signatures to force a vote on a particular issue.

Elections:  Recall:  a procedure to remove an elected official from office through a direct vote when sufficient voters sign a petition.

Elections  Referendum:  is a direct vote in which an entire electorate (the people) is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal.  Mandate:  Government must do action.

Special interest Groups/ Mass Media:  Mass Media:  Role is to inform the public.  Watchdog to Gov.  Print Media:  Books, newspapers  Electronic Media:  Television, Internet

Special interest Groups/ Mass Media:  1 st Amendment:  Freedom of press.  Protects media  Press Release:  Government information release to media  Press Conference:  Held by gov to give information.

Special interest Groups/ Mass Media:  Special Interest Groups:  Groups of like-minded people that want political change.  Lobbyist:  Special-interest group representative.

Special interest Groups/ Mass Media:  Political Action Committees:  P.A.C.s  Group created by Special Interest Group to donate campaign money.

Immigration:  Naturalization process:  The process to become an U.S citizen.