U.S. Government Cheat Sheet

Separation of Powers

FederalismNational Government

(Delegated Powers) Coin money Maintain armed forces Declare war Regulate interstate & foreign commerce Make all laws “necessary & proper” for carrying out delegated

powers

State Government(Reserved Powers)

Conduct elections Establish schools Regulate businesses within a state Establish local governments Make marriage laws Assume other powers not given to the national government

or denied to the states

Joint Government(Concurrent Powers)

Enforce laws Establish courts Borrow money Protect public safety Punish criminals Build roads Collect taxes

Executive Branch(Carries out the laws)

Membership President—George W. Bush Vice President—Dick Cheney Cabinet

Requirements for President & VP At least 35 years old Natural-born US citizen US resident for 14 years prior

Term for President 4 years, 2 term maximum

Powers & Duties of President Appoint officials (Requires approval) Sign or veto bills Wage war (Requires approval) Negotiate treaties (Requires approval) Grant pardons Call Special Sessions of Congress

Judicial Branch(Interprets the laws)

Membership Supreme Court—9 members Chief Justice—John Roberts

Term Life

Powers & Duties Exercise Judicial Review

Landmark Decisions Marbury v. Madison—Judicial Review McCulloch v. Maryland—National Supremacy Dred Scott . Sandford--Citizenship Plessy v. Ferguson—Separate but Equal Korematsu v. US—Wartime Powers Brown v. Board of Education—Desegregation Mapp v. Ohio—Search Warrants Gideon v. Wainwright—Right to Counsel Miranda v. Arizona—Self-Incrimination Reynolds v. Sim—One man, One Vote Tinker v. Des Moines—Student Speech US v. Nixon—Executive Privilege New Jersey v. T.L.O.—Student Searches Bethel School District v. Fraser—Student Speech Texas v. Johnson—Flag Burning

Legislative Branch(Makes the laws)

CongressWrite bills, Tax, Declare war, Override vetoes, Propose amendments

SenateMembership 100 members, 2 per state KY—Mitch McConnell & Jim Bunning

Requirements At least 30 years old

Term 6 years, unlimited

Powers & Duties Approve presidential appointments Approve treaties Try impeachments

Leadership President pro Tempore—Robert C. Byrd

House of RepresentativesMembership 435 members, based on state population KY—6, Ron Lewis

Requirements At least 25 years old

Term 2 years, unlimited

Powers & Duties Make impeachments

Leadership Speaker of the House—Nancy Pelosi

Amendments 3. Freedom of Religion,

Speech, Press, Assembly, & Petition

4. Right to Bear Arms5. Quartering of Troops6. Searches & Seizures7. Criminal Proceedings; Due

Process; Eminent Domain8. Criminal Proceedings9. Civil Trials10. Cruel & Unusual Punishment

1. Rights Retained by the People2. Powers Reserved to the States13. Abolition of Slavery14. Citizenship15. Suffrage—Race17. Direct Election of Senators19. Suffrage—Gender22. Presidential Term Limits24. Poll Taxes25. Presidential Succession26. Suffrage—Age

Constitutional PrinciplesLimited Government

Separation of PowersChecks & BalancesPopular Sovereignty

Individual Rights

Presidential Elections

Political Parties & Ideologies Democrats—Liberals Republicans—Conservatives Third Parties

o Green Partyo Libertarian Partyo Reform Party

Primaries & Caucuses—January to May 1st Primary—New Hampshire 1st Caucus—Iowa

National Convention—Summer Nominate candidate Approve party platform

General Campaign—Summer to November Raise money Conduct opinion polls Make appearances Produce commercials Debate opponents

Election Day—November

Electoral College—December 538 total electoral votes 270 needed to win presidency KY—8 Winner-Take-All & Minority Presidents

o 1824—John Q Adams v. Andrew Jacksono 1876—Rutherford Hayes v. Samuel Tildeno 1888—Benjamin Harrison v. Grover Clevelando 2000—George W. Bush v. Al Gore

What If No One Wins? House of Representatives chooses President Senate chooses Vice President

o 1800—Thomas Jefferson v. John Adamso 1824—John Q. Adams v. Andrew Jackson

Inauguration Day—January 20

Key TermsAmendmentBill of RightsCensusChecks & BalancesCitizenCivil LibertiesCivil RightsCommon GoodConservativeConstitutionalismDeclaration of IndependenceDelegated PowersDemocracyDictatorshipDouble JeopardyDue ProcessEqual RepresentationExecutive BranchFederalismIdeologyImplied PowersJudicial BranchJudicial ReviewJurisdictionLegislative BranchLegitimacy LiberalLimited GovernmentMagna CartaMonarchyNatural RightsNaturalizationPolitical ParticipationPowerPopular SovereigntyProportional RepresentationPublic PolicyRepublicRule of LawSeparation of PowersSovereigntySuffrageTyrannyUS ConstitutionWrit of Habeas Corpus

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Presidential Roles

Chief DiplomatParty LeaderChief of State

Commander-in-ChiefChief ExecutiveLegislative Leader

Learning Targets1. I can compare & contrast various forms of government in the world & evaluate how effective they have been in establishing order,

providing security & accomplishing common goals. 2. I can explain & give examples of how democratic governments preserve & protect the rights & liberties of their constituents through

different sources.3. I can analyze how powers of government are distributed & shared among levels & branches & evaluate how this distribution of powers

protects the "common good". 4. I can interpret the principles of limited government & evaluate how these principles protect individual rights & promote the "common good.” 5. I can explain & give examples of how the rights of one individual may, at times, be in conflict with the rights of another. 6. I can explain how the rights of an individual may, at times, be in conflict with the responsibility of the government to protect the "common

good".7. I can evaluate the impact citizens have on the functioning of a democratic government by assuming responsibilities and duties.

Key Individuals

John LockeBaron de MontesquieuThomas JeffersonJames MadisonAbraham LincolnAndrew Johnson

Franklin RooseveltRichard NixonJohn MarshallEarl WarrenSusan B. AnthonyMartin Luther King, Jr.