CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR CH



CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 1.0

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 2.0

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 2.0 CONTINUED

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 3.0

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 4.0

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 6.0

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 5.0

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 5 CONTINUED

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 7.0

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 9.0

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS CONTINUED FOR OBJECTIVE 9.1

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 9.1 CONTINUED

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 10.0

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 10 .0 CONTINUED

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 11.0

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 11.1

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 11.1 CONTINUED

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 12.0

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR Objective 13.0

American Government

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR

American Government

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Vocabulary

census, redistricting, lobbyists

The purpose of the census is to determine representation in Congress. Redistricting is the process called for when setting up new congressional districts after reapportionment. Lobbyists are representatives of interest groups who work to influence Congress.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

bill, quorum, Article I, session

The main task of Congress is to make laws. A bill is name given to a proposed law. A quorum is the minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action. Article I of the U.S. Constitution establishes the legislative branch of government. Session describes a period of time during which a legislature meets to conduct business.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

standing committee, majority party, incumbent,

A standing committee is a permanent committee of Congress. The majority party controls the standing committee of each house. Incumbents are elected officials who are already in office.

Core Concept

Core Concept

Vocabulary

caucuses, nominating conventions, primary elections, petitions

To be successful a political party needs strong leadership and good organization at the local, state, and national levels. A caucus is a private meeting of party leaders. The national party organization has two main components: the national convention- the official public meeting of a party to choose candidate for office and the national committee-composed mainly of representatives from the state organizations that run the party.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

patronage

Functions of political parties include recruiting candidates for public office, educating the public about issues, running and staffing the government, rewarding party loyalists with favors, watching over the party in power, and encouraging compromise and moderate government policies. Patronage or favors are given to reward party loyalty to their members. People who belong to a political party generally do so because they support most of its ideas and candidates.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

political party, third party

A political party is a group of people with broad common interests who organize to win elections, control government, and thereby influence government policies. By the Civil War’s end, two major parties dominated the national political scene. Despite the dominance of the two major parties, third parties have been part of American political scene since the early days of the Republic. A third party is any party other than one of the two major parties.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

Connection to NOW

Connection to the PAST

Objective 8.0: Identify roles political parties play in the functioning of the political system of the United States. (NOT TESTED)

• Describing the role of third-party candidates in political elections in the United States

• Explaining major characteristics of contemporary political parties in the United States, including the role of conventions, party leadership, formal and informal memberships, and regional strongholds. * Describing the changing influence of political parties on individuals and elected officials

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KEY IDEA

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

sunshine laws

Sunshine laws require government meeting to be open to the public

Core Concept

Vocabulary

extradition, interstate commerce Supremacy Clause,

The Constitution set legal ground rules for relations among the states. These rules help to ensure cooperation between and among the states. Extradition is the legal procedure that affects criminals who flee a state to avoid punishment. Interstate commerce is trade among the states. The Supremacy Clause makes the acts and treaties of the United States the highest law of the land.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

expressed powers, implied powers, inherent powers, concurrent powers,. 16th Amendment

The Constitution divided government authority by giving the national government certain specified powers and reserving other powers to the state or the people. Inherent powers are those powers that the national government may exercise simply because it is a government. An example of an inherent power is the control of immigration. Examples of expressed powers include the ability to coin money and make war. An example of a concurrent power is income tax. Concurrent powers are those powers that both the national government and the states have. An example of an implied power is the power to draft people into the armed forces. The 16th amendment gives the federal government the right to tax your income.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

Connection to NOW

Connection to the PAST

Objective 3.0: Explain how the federal system of the United States divides powers between nation & state government, including areas of taxation, revenue distribution, federal grants, distribution of entitlements, regulation of interstate commerce, and enforcement of contracts. (4 questions)

KEY IDEA

Vocabulary

Federalist Papers, anti-federalist

The Federalist argued for a strong central government, while the Anti-Federalists supported adding a Bill of Rights to a Constitution. As a compromise to get the Constitution ratified, a Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

The framers created a system of checks and balances that gave each branch a check on the other two so that one branch could not become too powerful.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

ratification

The most common method of amending our Constitution is by two-third vote of both houses of congress and ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Articles of Confederation, commerce

The Articles of Confederation creates a unicameral government with very limited power. The government did not have an executive branch to carry out laws or a judicial branch to interpret laws. It could not tax or regulate commerce. The framers of the constitution created a government with three branches and gave the government much greater powers that included the power to tax and regulate commerce.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

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Connection to NOW

Vocabulary

representative democracy, oligarchy, totalitarian dictatorship

All governments belong to one of three major types of government: autocracy, oligarchy, democracy. Democracy can take one of two forms. In a direct democracy the people vote on issues individually. The U. S. has a representative democracy, the people elect representatives and give them the power to make laws and conduct government. In an oligarchy, a small group holds the power of the government. In an autocracy, a single person holds the power of the government. A totalitarian dictatorship is an example of an autocracy. A single leader seeks to control all aspects of social and economic life.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

federal system

Governments are organized in a variety of ways. The relationship between national government and the smaller government divisions can be described as unitary or federal. A federal system divides the powers of government between the national government and state governments. The United States has a federal government.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

social contract theory, John Locke

Thomas Hobbes and John Locke developed the social contract theory. This theory states that people surrender to the state the power needed to maintain order and the state, in turn, agrees to protect its citizen. Locke’s writings influenced the American revolutionaries. Today governments serve four major purposes: maintaining social order, providing public services, providing national security, and making economic decisions. One way governments provide services is to make and enforce laws that promote public health and safety. For example, governments post signs to warn people of safety hazards.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Sovereignty, Aristotle

States share four essential features; population, territory, sovereignty, & government. The feature that signifies a state has supreme and absolute authority within its boundaries is sovereignty. Aristotle was the first student of government and stated that in a democracy most power is held by the majority.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

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Connection to the PAST

Vocabulary

Amendment, Articles, First Amendment, due process of law

The formal method that we use to adapt our Constitution for a changing society is constitutional amendment. The U. S. Constitution is divided into three parts, preamble, articles and amendments. The first amendment freedoms include speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition. Due process of law guarantees that government must follow proper procedures and may not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

judicial review

When the Supreme Court rules a law unconstitutional it is exercising its authority under the concept of judicial review.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

popular sovereignty, checks and balances, veto

The system of checks and balances was necessary to keep any one branch from becoming too powerful. Ex. the principle of checks and balances grants the president the authority to appoint federal judges and the Senate confirms federal judges. The president has the power to enforce court orders, and the judicial branch has the power to declare presidential actions unconstitutional. A veto is a rejection of a bill.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

preamble, constitution

The Constitution provides the rules for government. The basic concept of popular sovereignty is what the Constitution is based on. The Constitution corrected the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation with the creation of three separate branches of government. The preamble lists the goals and purposes of our government and states why it was written.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

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Connection to the PAST

Objective 2.0: Analyze purposes, organizations, functions, and principles of the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. (6 questions)

KEY IDEA

*The Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment nationalized the Bill of Rights, thus giving citizens in every part of the United States the same basic rights.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

strict constructionist

loose constructionist

*Strict constructionist believe the national government only has the powers listed in the Constitution while loose constructionist believe the national government has more powers than those actually listed in the Constitution.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

justices

* The President appoints Supreme Court Justices and the Senate confirms the appointee. The President usually appoints someone

from his own party or with similar views to his own party.

*The political balance of the courts will change as judges who leave the bench are replaced.

*Justices are influenced by the values and beliefs of society; their decisions usually reflect important societal changes.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

dual court system, jurisdiction

appeal, Wallace v Jaffree

*The United States has a dual court system of state and federal courts. State courts have jurisdiction over cases involving state

laws and federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving U. S. laws, foreign treaties, and the interpretation of the Constitution.

* The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in two types of cases: those involving representatives of foreign governments, and

those in which a state is a party. The vast majority of cases it hears arise from appeals from lower courts.

* Wallace v Jaffree, Powell v Alabama and others

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

Connection to NOW

Connection to the PAST

11.1 Continued: *Describing the structure of the court system of the United States *Tracing the process by which a case goes to the Supreme Court

*Identifying landmark decisions arising from Supreme Court cases originating in Alabama *Explaining the politics involved in the appointment process

*Describing the shifting political balance of the court system *Identifying influences on court decisions *Contrast strict and loose constructionist views of the Constitution

*Tracing the nationalization of the Bill of Rights from Gitlow v New York to the (NOT TESTED)

KEY IDEA

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR Objective 8.0

American Government

N

Not Tested on CRT

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Today, voting is the most common form of political participation in the United States.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Connection to the PAST

• Compare government structure under the Articles of Confederation with that under the Constitution of the United States

• Comparing arguments for establishing a government with three separate branches, including views presented in the Federalists Papers

• Explaining the necessity for and inclusion of a system of checks and balances and the necessity for including a Bill of rights in the Constitution of the United States

• Outlining the process of amending the Constitution (NOT TESTED)

)

Objective 1.0: Identify origins and functions of government. (4 questions)

KEY IDEA

15th amendment, 19th amendment, 24th amendment, poll tax, 26th amendment

Our Constitution was amended to expand suffrage rights. The 15th amendment extended voting rights to African Americans. The 19th amendment gave women the right to vote. The 24th amendment banned poll taxes. Poll taxes had particularly hurt low-income citizens because they did not have the money to pay to vote. The Vietnam War brought about the movement to lower the voting age in the United States. The argument was that if individuals were old enough to fight for their country, they were old enough to vote. The 26th amendment was passed, lowering the voting age to eighteen.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

suffrage

The term suffrage refers to the right to vote. Early colonists placed many restrictions on the right to vote. People who did own property or pay taxes were restricted from voting. Later, legislation was passed to expand suffrage rights.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

Connection to NOW

Connection to the PAST

Objective 5: Trace the expansion of suffrage and its effect on the political system of the United States (4 questions)

KEY IDEA

KEY IDEA: 2.0 continued

Vocabulary

constituents, whips, president pro tempore, seniority system

In the Vice-President’s absence, the president pro tempore is the leader. He is also a member of the majority party. The president pro-tempore of the Senate follows the Speaker of the House in succession for the presidency. Seniority system is a system that gives the member of the majority party with longest interrupted service on a particular committee the leadership of that committee. Both parties also select a minority leader from the party with the least members. A whip assists the majority and minority leaders in Congress. Constituents are people that are represented by members of Congress.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

Connection to NOW

Connection to the PAST

Objective 9.1 Comparing rules and operation and hierarchies of the House and Senate (5 questions)

KEY IDEA

Vocabulary

25th amendment

The duties of the Vice-President are to take over the presidency if the President dies or becomes disabled and to preside over the Senate and vote in case of a tie.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Electoral College,

winner -take-all system

The Electoral College is responsible for electing the President and Vice-President of the United States. Voters cast ballots for a slate of electors pledged to a particular presidential candidate. The electors in each state meet in their state capitols to cast their votes for President and Vice-President. In most states, the candidate receiving the largest popular vote gets all of that states’ electoral votes. The Electoral College is known as the winner- take- all system.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

state of the union, command in chief, presidential appointments, veto

congressional override

The President is the head of the executive branch. The cabinet members are the officials chosen by the President that help make decisions and policy. The primary responsibility of the President is to see that laws are faithfully executed. Additionally, the President is commander in chief to the armed forces, he or she makes appointments on which the Senate holds conformation hearings, and he gives a yearly speech to Congress called the State of the Union Address. The President has the power to veto bills, but the Constitution gives Congress the power of congressional override after a presidential veto.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

presidential succession,

22nd Amendment, 25th amendment, impeachment

The Constitution establishes qualifications for the President. He must be a natural born citizen of the United States, at least 35 years old, and a resident for at least 14 years before taking office. The 22nd amendment limits the President to two terms of four years each, while allowing a vice president who takes over and serves two years or less of the former president’s term to serve two additional terms. Thus, it is possible for a president to serve a maximum of 10 years. The 25th amendment established the order of succession for the presidency. The vice-president is first in line to take over the presidency followed by the Speaker of the House.

A formal accusation of misconduct in office is impeachment

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

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Connection to the PAST

Objective 10.0: Identify constitutional provisions of the executive branch of the government of the United States. (5 questions)

KEY IDEA

Vocabulary

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Core Concept

Vocabulary

moderate

Successful presidential candidates usually hold moderate political beliefs; have experience in government, and the ability to raise large amounts of campaign funds. Presidents generally have been white, married, Protestant, financially successful men.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

cabinet

press secretary

Cabinet members are responsible for the executive departments they head. The Cabinet is intended to serve as an advisory body to the President.

White House staff perform whatever duties the President assigns them: 1 gathering information and providing advice on key issues; 2 ensuring that the executive department and agencies carry out key directives; 3 presenting the President’s views; 4 deciding who and what information goes to the President.

Core Concept

Ca

Vocabulary

mandate

Presidents make sure that national laws are fully executed; serve as commander in chief; appoint top officials; meet with heads of foreign governments.

The informal powers of the president include economic planner and leader of his own political party.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

Connection to NOW

Connection to the PAST

• Identifying Constitutional provisions regarding the office of President of the United States.* Identifying informal powers of the President

• Identifying the influence of White House staff on the President * Identifying powers held by the President’s Cabinet

• Comparing the characteristics of the President of the U.S. with characteristics of the electorate

• Identifying factors that influence voters’ choices of presidential candidates. (NOT TESTED)

KEY IDEAS

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

precedent, constitutional law, jurisdiction

The majority of the Supreme Court cases originate from the lower courts as appeals. A precedent is a court ruling that becomes an example for decision in similar cases. All cases that are heard by the Supreme Court must deal with constitutional law. Jurisdiction is the authority to hear certain court cases.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

judicial review, Article III

The check the judicial branch has over the other branches of government is known as judicial review. Article III of the U. S. Constitution creates the judicial branch of government

Core Concept

Vocabulary

life appointments, pardon, opinion

According to the Constitution, the President has the power to appoint all federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, with the approval of the Senate. These appointments are life appointments. There are 9 justices that make up the Supreme Court. Congress determines the number of Supreme Court justices. Decisions of the Supreme Court are know as opinions. Richard Nixon resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal. President Gerald Ford granted Nixon a presidential pardon.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

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Connection to the PAST

Objective 11.0: Identify constitutional provisions of the judicial branch of the government of the United States. (5 questions)

KEY IDEA

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Bill of Rights, 5th Amendment,

6th Amendment, 7th amendment, 8th amendment

The Bill of Rights guarantees basic rights to all citizens. The 5th Amendment states that defendants are not required to testify on their own behalf. The 6th Amendment guarantees a jury trial in a criminal case and the 7th amendment guarantees the right to a jury trial in civil cases. The 8th amendment forbids cruel and unusual punishment.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

slander, libel, symbolic speech, double jeopardy, unanimous verdict, hung jury

Slander is false speech that damages a person’s reputation whereas; libel is written speech that damages a person’s reputation. Burning a draft card or the American flag are both examples of symbolic speech. Double jeopardy prohibits a person from being tried twice for the same crime once they have been found not guilty. A verdict must be unanimous in jury trials. If a jury cannot decide on a verdict, then it is considered to be a hung jury.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

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Connection to the PAST

Objective 12.0: Contrast the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a representative democracy. (4 questions)

KEY IDEA

Member of interest groups share common goals and organize to influence state government. Interest groups lobby to promote their members’ economic self-interest, beliefs, values, or attitudes. Groups provide campaign funds to candidates and work to pass laws that benefit their members. Types of interest groups include business and labor, agriculture, environmental, professional associations and public interests that seek policy goals that they believe will benefit all citizens.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Alabama 1901 Constitution See outside source

Core Concept

Vocabulary

county, municipality

Local governments have no legal independence; each is dependent on its state government. State constitutions set forth the powers and duties of local governments. The four basic types of local government are 1) the county, 2) the township, 3) the municipality, and 4) the special district. Services provided by local governments include police and fire protection, water service, sanitation services, mass transit, zoning laws and social services.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

governor, lieutenant governor,

extradition

State governments provide for separation of powers among three branches of government- legislative, executive and judicial. They establish local governments and define their powers and duties. They specify the kinds of taxes that may be levied. They provide health, education, and welfare programs. These areas account for more than sixty percent of all state spending. State governments regulate many business activities within the state and work to attract new business. State criminal codes define felonies and punishments, but local governments are mainly responsible for enforcing those laws. They establish boards and commissions that directly affect citizen’s lives.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

Connection to NOW

Connection to the PAST

Objective 4.0 describe the specific functions, organization, and purposes of state and local governments. (0 questions)

• Analyzing the Alabama Constitution of 1901 to determine its impact on local funding and campaign reform

• Describing the influence of special interest groups on state government

KEY IDEA

Vocabulary

Bill of Rights

Gitlow v New York

Vocabulary

Engel v Vitale

U. S. v Nixon

Engel v Vitale affected prayer and Bible reading in public schools. It held public schools starting each day with a prayer violated the establishment clause. The landmark case of U. S. v Nixon questioned executive privilege. This case resulted from the Watergate break in and made it clear the president is not above the law.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Gideon v Wainwright

Miranda v Arizona

Tinker v Des Moines

Roe v Wade

The landmark case of Gideon v Wainwright guarantees a court appointed attorney in criminal cases. In Miranda v Arizona the court guaranteed that the accused must be clearly informed of their rights. The Tinker v Des Moines School District dealt with the use of symbolic speech in public schools. Roe v Wade legalized abortion in the United States.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Plessy v Ferguson

Brown v Board of Education

The landmark case of Plessy v Ferguson established the doctrine of “separate but equal.” This led to the perpetuation of segregation. The case of Brown v Board of Education overturned the ruling in Plessy v Ferguson. It brought about the integration of the public school system in the United States.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Marbury v Madison

Landmark cases decided by the U. S. Supreme Court have had a major impact on citizens through the years. Marbury v Madison established one of the most significant principles of American constitutional law. It established the principle of judicial review. This gave the U. S. Supreme Court the final say on interpreting the constitution.

Core Concept

Implications on Future

Connection to NOW

Connection to the PAST

Objective 11.1: Identify the impact of landmark Supreme Court cases on constitutional interpretation (4 questions)

KEY IDEA

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Voting Rights Act 1965

The use of outside materials is suggested to study the impact of the Selma-to-Montgomery march on the passage of the Voting Right Act of 1965.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

suffrage

The number of women and minorities participating in government decision making increased dramatically as amendments were passed for suffrage rights of women and minorities. Women and minority members also began to represent us in various public offices.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

Connection to NOW

Connection to the PAST

Objective 5.0 continued (NOT TESTED)

• Describing implications of participation of large numbers of minorities and women in parties and campaigns

• Describing the impact of the Selma-to-Montgomery march on the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

KEY IDEA

KEY IDEA

Objective 13.0: Explain the foreign policy of the United States and national security interests as they pertain to the role of the United States in the world community

• Discuss the changing role of the foreign policy of the United States

• Identify positive and/or negative consequences of foreign policy decision

• Identify traditional foreign policy allies of the United States and potential areas of current and future intervention (NOT TESTED)

Connection to the PAST

Connection to NOW

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Implications on FUTURE

Core Concept

Foreign policy consists of the strategies and goals that guide a nation’s relations with other countries and groups in the world. Preserving national security is the main goal of foreign policy. National security is the protection of a nation’s borders against invasion or control by foreign powers. American foreign policy was based on isolationism-avoiding involvement in world affairs. As an industrialized nation in the 1890s the United States shifted toward internationalism-involvement in world affairs.

foreign policy, national security, isolationism,

Vocabulary

Core Concept

The president has the final responsibility for establishing foreign policy. He serves as head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces. Congress has the power to declare war and appropriate money.

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Alliances and pacts, such as NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) all the United States with Eastern European nations. Foreign aid programs establish friendly relations with developing nations and help them emerge as economic partners. Military force helps settle disputes with other nations.

NATO

Vocabulary

Core Concept

The state department keeps the president informed about international issues, maintains diplomatic relations and negotiates treaties with foreign governments and protects the interests of Americans traveling or conducting business abroad. The Department of Defense supervises the armed forces of the United States and assists the president in carrying out the duties of commander in chief.

Department of Defense

Vocabulary

KEY IDEA

Connection to the PAST

Connection to NOW

Implications on FUTURE

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

impeachment

Impeachment is a power that Congress has over the executive branch.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Speaker of the House, Vice-President,

The presiding officer of the House is known as the Speaker of the House. According to the Constitution the Vice-President is the president of the Senate.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

bicameral, legislature, censure,

The United States Congress is a bicameral legislature. It is made up of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representative. The House has 435 members elected for a two-year term. Representation is based on state population. Constitutional requirements for representatives are a minimum age of 25, citizen of the U. S. for at least 7 years, and a legal resident of the state they represent. Senate representation is based on equal representation. There are 100 members, two from each state. Senators are elected for a term of six years. Constitutional requirements for Senators are a minimum age of 30, citizen of the U. S. for at least 9 years and a legal resident of the state they represent.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

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Connection to the PAST

Objective 9.0: Identify constitutional provisions of the legislative branch of the government of the United States. (5 questions)

KEY IDEAS

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

unlimited government, totalitarian government

A totalitarian dictatorship is an example of an unlimited government. The government seeks to control all aspects of social and economic life.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

limited government

A limited government is a system in which the power of the government is limited, not absolute. The United States is an example of a limited type of government

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

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Connection to the PAST

Objective 1.0 CONTINUED

• Comparing essential characteristics of limited and unlimited governments throughout the world, including constitutional, authoritarian, and totalitarian governments (0 questions)

KEY IDEA

CORE CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS FOR OBJECTIVE 1.0 CONTINUED

American Government

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

census, reapportionment, redistricting, gerrymandering

*In order to assign representation by population in the House of Representatives there is a national census taken every ten years.

Based on this census there is a process called reapportionment where the population of each state determines the number of representatives they are entitled to in the House. The process of setting up new district lines in the states after reapportionment is known as redistricting. Some State legislatures have abused the redistricting power by creating Congressional districts of very unequal populations and by gerrymandering.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

standing committee

joint committee

conference committee

Veto the bill, forcing Congress to override his veto by a two-thirds vote of each chamber.

*A joint committee is made up of members from both the House and the Senate. A conference committee works out the details of any compromises that must be made by the two houses so they can pass an identical bill. A standing committee is one that deals with an issue that continues from one Congress to the next. For example, the budget and agriculture.

Core Concept

forcing Congress to override his veto by a

Vocabulary

hopper, rider, constituents

*Representatives can introduce a bill by dropping it into the hopper, a box near the Clerk’s desk. Senators must formally present a bill after being recognized by the presiding officer. In both chambers, bills are first sent to committees where most die from inaction. If they decide to act on a bill, the committee holds hearings, makes revisions as needed, and decides by majority vote whether it should be killed or sent to the floor with a recommendation. Then there is floor debate, lawmakers often attach riders (unrelated benefits for their constituents) to the bills, make revisions as needed, and vote by majority rule to see if the bill passes. Both chambers must pass a bill in identical form before it can be sent to the President. The President can sign the bill, making it law, or

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

Connection to NOW

Connection to the PAST

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Regional differences in public opinion exist. The public agenda is a list of the societal problems that both political leaders and citizens agree need government attention. The news media highlights some issues and ignores others. The news media’s greatest power is to define reality for the American people thus shaping public opinion.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

The media have a major impact on public opinion toward government and issues by influencing people’s attitudes and values.

The equal time doctrine requires stations to offer equal airtime to candidates running for the same political office.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

mass media

The mass media helps shape public policy. Print media was the public’s primary source of political information until the 1960’s. The electronic media has been the dominant force since the 1960s. The internet is a major source of information and discussion for individuals with computers. The president and the media have a mutually beneficial relationship. The President receives news coverage and the media allows presidents to communicate directly with the public. Congress and the federal courts receive less attention.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

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Objective 7.0 Trace the development and impact of the media on the political process and public opinion in the United States. (NOT TESTED)

• Explaining the effect of media consolidation on public opinion and access to various viewpoints.

• Describing regional differences in public opinion in the United Sates.

• Analyzing the impact of television on the election process and campaign spending ***Explaining the effect of attack advertising on voter selection of candidates

KEY IDEA

Vocabulary

Core Concept

Vocabulary

Buckley v. Valeo

Buckley v. Valeo (1976) clarified the bearing that campaign finance laws had on the First Amendment’s protection of free speech and association. The court ruled that limiting the dollar amount contributed by individuals was allowable

Core Concept

Vocabulary

political action committees

(PAC’s)

Interest groups hope to gain access to lawmaker they support by contributing to their campaigns through political action committees.

Core Concept

Vocabulary

interest groups, lobbying

Thousand of interest groups try to influence government actions through lobbying. These groups provide campaign funds to candidates by establishing political action committees (PACs). They also work to pass laws that benefit their members. They are concerned with a few problems; they unite people with common values or attitudes from various regions. Business groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers are among the oldest and largest.

Core Concept

Implications on FUTURE

Connection to NOW

Connection to the PAST

Objective 6.0: Describe the functions and development of special interest groups. (NOT TESTED)

• Identifying the impact of campaign contributions by political action committees on the election process at the state and national levels.

• Analyzing rulings by the US Supreme Court regarding campaign financing to determine their effect on election process.

KEY IDEA

Vocabulary

interest groups, lobbying, lobbyist

• Tracing the legislative process, including types of votes and committee action, from a bill’s presentation to presidential action

• Identifying committee structure and types of committees

• Discussing problems concerning redistricting as populations shift (NOT TESTED)

KEY IDEA

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