Bellwork. Government: A Refresher Course. Unit 1. Name Date Period. Learning Targets (What I need to know): Unit 1 Grading Rubric: Date Answer(s)

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1 Unit 1 Government: A Refresher Course Name Date Period Learning Targets (What I need to know): I can understand the structure of the Constitution, translate the Preamble to understand its importance. I am able to recognize and distinguish the principles (Popular Sovereignty, republicanism, Federalism, Limited Government, Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Individual Rights) on which the Constitution is based. I can describe the three levels (federal, state, local) identifying their locations, leaders, and powers. Recall names of important leaders in Executive branch, Legislative branch, and Judicial Branch. I am able to identify and understand the structure, function, requirements, electoral procedures, and check and balance powers of the branches of the US government established the Constitution. I can identify and evaluate how Amendments protect the rights of citizens. I can discuss the Constitution as a living document with the ability to change. I am able to explain what citizenship means in a democratic society, how citizenship is defined in the Constitution and other laws of the land, and how the definition of citizenship has changed in the United States over time. I can explain the process for electing the President of the United States. Bellwork Date Answer(s) Unit 1 Grading Rubric: BKWL Chart (pg 2) /7 Vocabulary (pg 3 7) /28 Notes I (pg 8) /10 Notes II (pg 9) /5 Notes III (pg 10) /5 Preamble (pg 11) /30 Constitution /Which Part? HW (pg 12-13) /5 What did he mean? (pg 14) /5 Notes IV (pg 15) /5 Legislative branch - HW (pg 16-17) /5 Executive Branch - HW (pg 18-19) /5 Judicial Branch (pg 20-21) /5 C&B/Bill becomes a Law HW (pg 22-23) /5 Flipbook (pg 24) /50 Notes IV, 5 & 6 (pg 25) /5 Federalism Chart (pg 26) /15 Notes IV, 7 (pg 27) /5 Bill of Rights HW (pg 28-29) /5 Liberty vs. Order (pg 30) /6 Article Response (pg 31) /10 Notes V (pg 32) /5 Make the Call - HW (pg 33-34) /5 The Census Counts (pg 35-36) /14 Quiz/Notes VI (pg 37-38) /5 Electoral College (pg 39-40) /15 Notes VII (pg 41) /5 Notes VIII (pg 42) /5 Chart (pg 43) /10 Score for Unit 1 /280 = % 1

2 Smart Chart Unit 1: Government: A Refresher Course B Background K What We Know W What We Want to Know L What We Learned After the Revolutionary War separated the US from Britain, a new government was created. The first government was called the Articles of Confederation. The AoC gave too much power to the states and created a weak federal/central government. A new government, called the Constitution of the United States of America, was created to solve the problems of the AoC. 2 /7

3 Unit 1: Vocabulary 1. Democratic-republic: Details/Examples: Picture 2. constitution: Details/Examples: Picture 3. separation of powers: Details/Examples: Picture 4. legislative branch: Details/Examples: Picture 5. executive branch: Details/Examples: Picture 3

4 6. judicial branch: Details/Examples: Picture 7. bicameral legislature: Details/Examples: Picture 8. checks and balances: Details/Examples: Picture 9. bill: Details/Examples: Picture 10. veto: Details/Examples: Picture 4

5 11. override: Details/Examples: Picture 12. judicial review: Details/Examples: Picture 13. impeach: Details/Examples: Picture 14. federalism: Details/Examples: Picture 15. amendment: Details/Examples: Picture 5

6 16. suffrage: Details/Examples: 17. electoral college: Details/Examples: Picture 18. elastic clause: Details/Examples: Picture 19. cabinet: Details/Examples: Picture 20. popular sovereignty: Details/Examples: Picture 6 Picture

7 Other words to define and learn: 21. appeal: Use appeal in a sentence: 22. represent: Use represent in a sentence: 23. enact: Use enact in a sentence: 24. reject: Use reject in a sentence: 25. appoint: Use appoint in a sentence: 26. levy: Use levy in a sentence: 27. propose: Use propose in a sentence: 28. declare: Use declare in a sentence: 7 /28

8 Unit 1: Our Government (A Refresher Course) Stars and Bars Notes Name Date Period I Why do we need a government? Brainstorm: Why do we need one? Government What does it do? 1. In what ways does the federal government affect your life? 2. Identify one or more areas of your life that you don t think are affected by the federal government? 3. Why do you think it may be important for you to know what the federal government does? 4. Why do you think it may be important to know how the federal government operates and make decisions? 8 /10

9 II Levels of Government National (Federal) Government Makes laws for the country. Maintains relationships with other countries. Solves problems between the states. Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch Called: Called: Called: Our Representatives: Our Representatives: Our Representatives: State Level Government Makes laws for one state. Resolves disputes between the citizens of the states. Each state has its own laws but they cannot go against federal laws. Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch Called: Called: Called: Our Representatives: Our Representatives: Does what?: Local Level Government (County, Town/City/Village, School District, etc.) Makes laws for small area inside a state. Enforces local laws and codes. Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch Called: Called: Called: Our Representatives: Our Representatives: Does what? 9

10 III Purpose and Structure of the Constitution of the United States of America 1. The US Constitution was written to correct the problems that had arisen under the first government, the. 2. Delegates from all 13 states met in to write the new Constitution. Known as a Bundle of, delegates worked to solve many disagreement, especially concerning federal power and representation of large and small states in Congress. 3. The Constitution is divided into THREE main parts: : explains why the document was written. Articles: ( of them) Make up the bulk of the Constitution. Explains the powers of the federal government. Articles 1-3: Describe role of each branch (Legislative, Executive, Judicial). Article 4: Deals with the states. Article 5: Describes how to add amendments Article 6: Laws of the national government will always overrule contradicting state laws. Article 7: Describes how to ratify the Constitution. Amendments:,, or to the original document. Includes the (first 10 amendments) which protects citizens individual freedoms. James Madison Father of the Constitution Hey! What s the BIG IDEA? The Constitution was written to correct the problems of the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution has three main parts: The Preamble, the Articles, and the Amendments (including the Bill of 10

11 The Preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America We the People of the United States, In order to 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 to ourselves and our posterity Do ordain and establish this constitution for the United States of America. 11 /30

12 Purpose of the Constitution In 1789, the Constitution was ratified without any amendments. Initially, the Constitution created the office of the President, established the Supreme Court, and allowed Congress to create laws, levy taxes on the people, and defend the country. The Constitution also gave all citizens equal rights in every state and allowed trade throughout the country. Overall, the Constitution created a stronger central government than allowed by out first constitution, the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution was also written to give power to the people. The Preamble to the United States Constitution begins with three words: We the People. These words may seem insignificant, but they are very meaningful! They indicate that the government s power comes from people who vote and contribute to the political process. THe idea that people rule the government, and not the other way around, is called popular sovereinty. When the Constitution was written, the colonies had only recently won their independence from Great Britain to become independent states. They did not want to create a government that would take away their rights like King George III had done. By giving power to the people, the Constitution helped create a limited government. The Constitution protects the rights of the people and limits the power of the government to control the people. These limitations on government were important to many Constitutional delegates who were afraid of a powerful central government. Some states only ratified the Constitution on the condition a bill of rights would be added later to protect individual and state freedoms. In December of 1791, the first ten amendments to the Constitution (The Bill of Rights) were ratified by all 13 states and became law. Today the U.S. Constitution is made up of 7 articles and 27 amendiments. Part A: Write T for True and F for false. 1. The Constitution was ratified without a bill of rights. 2. The Constitution gave the Supreme Court the power to create laws and taxes. 3. The Preamble to the Constitution gives government unlimited power over the people. 4. The Bill of Rights protects the freedoms of states and individuals from the central government. Part B: Use context clues to define the following words and phrases. 5. popular sovereignty: 6. levy: 7. limited government: Part C: Use information from the text to answer the following question. 8. Explain the relationship between popular sovereignty and limited government. Cite evidence from the text to support your answer. 12

13 Which Part is Which? Name Date Period Directions: Each of these boxes describes one of the parts of the Constitution. Read each description, and then write the part of the Constitution that matches the description. Choices: Preamble Articles Amendments Bill of Rights These change the Constitution More can be added to the Constitution Made up of the first ten amendments to the Constitution Describes the powers and duties of the three branches of government Explains the reasons for writing the Constitution Describes the powers of the states and the procedure for amending the Constitution The final section of the Constitution In the beginning, some states insisted this be added to the Constitution if they were to ratify it The main body of the Constitution Only 52 words long We the people of the United States, in order to 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 to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. Provide protection for citizens basic rights and freedoms The introduction to the Constitution Presently there are /5

14 What Did He Mean? Lord John Acton was an English politician and historian who studied and taught about government in 19 th century Europe. When he died in 1902, he was considered one of the most learned people of his age. Acton is known to have said that: Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. 1. Which statement agrees with Acton s quotation? a. The more power a person has, the more evil (s)he is. b. People in power care most about those they rule. c. The most effective leaders are the most powerful. d. Power makes people do bad things to others. 2. Based on Acton s quotation, all the following are true, except a. Powerful politicians face many temptations. b. Power often leads to abuses of the less powerful. c. Divided power can help to protect the rights of citizens. d. Very strong rulers who care about people are the best. 3. Which of these acts would most likely be seen as corrupt? a. Helping a poor person by paying for food and clothing b. Giving a high government job to a loyal political supporter c. Tending to get along better with people of similar views d. Inviting a donor who gave the candidate money for a visit 4. Which synonym best fits the use of the word absolute in Acton s quotation? a. Perfect c. Unlimited b. Pure d. Unquestioned 5. Which leader s actions provide an example of Acton s ideas? a. Hitler s power was used to eliminate Jews and other undesirables. b. Mohandas Gandhi used his power to free India from British rule. c. Roosevelt s emergency powers helped the US out of the Great Depression. d. Martin Luther King, Jr. used his power to fight for the people s rights. 6. Do you agree with the Acton quote? Why or why not? 14 /5

15 IV Seven Principles of the Constitution A. When creating the Constitution of the U.S., the framers drew upon seven basic principles of government to shape and limit the power of the federal government. 1. Popular Sovereignty power comes from those who are governed As more people were granted the right to vote ( ), more people had a voice in government. 2. Republicanism People exercise their power by electing representatives to vote on issues on their behalf ( ). Framers wanted people to have a voice in government, but worried that they couldn t be trusted to make good decisions ( people vote on issues directly.) 3. Separation of Powers To prevent any one person or group from having too much power, power was divided between branches of government. They are explained in Articles I, II, and III of the Constitution. They are: Branch (Congress): the law Branch (President): the law Branch (Courts): the law 4. Checks and Balances President Barack Obama Each branch has certain jobs. The branches perform checks on each other to prevent any one branch from gaining too much. Checks and Balances is most often applied when new laws are introduced: 1. The legislative branch proposes an idea for a new law (called a ) which must be approved by both houses. 2. The bill then goes to the President. He can sign it and make it law, or, if he doesn t approve of it, he can it and it goes back to Congress. 3. Congress may review the law and vote on it again. If 2/3 s of Congress approve the bill, it becomes a law anyway. (called an ) 4. After the bill becomes a law the Supreme Court can declare a law (called Judicial Review, established by the case of ) Hey! What s the Big Idea? The US government balances power between three branches: executive, legislative and judicial. Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances prevent any one person or group of people from becoming too powerful. 15

16 T Legislative Branch Congress he legislative branch of the United States government, called Congress, is outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution. A bicameral Congress, having two houses, makes up the U.S. legislative branch. Citizens of the United States elect all members of Congress. Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Constitution gives Congress the exclusive power to make or change laws. Both houses are essential to the lawmaking process. To pass a law, both houses of Congress must pass a bill by a majority vote. THE SENATE The Senate has 100 members. Each state, regardless of population size, sends two senators to Washington D.C. Senators must be at least 30 years of age and are elected for six-year terms. There are 100 members of the Senate. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House has 435 members, who are elected for two year terms. The seats are apportioned (distributed) among the states according to each state s population. Representatives must be at least 25 years old. Chief Powers of Congress To make laws To impose and collect taxes To borrow and coin money To regulate commerce between the states and with foreign countries To declare war To raise and support and army and navy Impeach federal official (House) and put them on trial (Senate) To establish post offices To fix the standard of weights and measures To help individual constituents in dealing with the government In addition, the Senate has the power to: Approve or reject treaties Approve or reject appointments of Supreme Court justices by the President Approve or reject appointments of Cabinet members by the President 1. What is the TOTAL number of members of Congress? 2. Each state has two Senators. How is the number of House members for each state determined? 3. From where does Congress get its power? 4. In which house of Congress do the 50 states have equal representation? 5. Define bicameral as it is used in the text? 6. What powers does the Senate have that the House does not? 16

17 Legislative Branch: True or False? Record whether the following statements are true or false. If false, please CORRECT each statement. 1. The Legislative Branch is unicameral. 2. The main job of the Legislative Branch is to propose, make, and pass laws. 3. The Legislative Branch is commonly called the Supreme Court. 4. The Great Compromise divided our Legislative Branch in two houses. 5. Representation in the Senate is determined by a state s population. 6. Representation in the House of Representatives is determined by the state s population. 7. You must be at least 25 years old to be a member of the House of Representatives. 8. You must be at least 35 years old to be a member of the Senate. 9. There are no term limits for either the House of Representatives or the Senate. 10. The Legislative Branch has the power to veto a law. 17 /5

18 Executive Branch Powers of the Presidency The executive branch of the U.S. government is outlined in Article II of the U.S. Constitution. The executive branch is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the law. The head of the executive branch is the president. The President is elected by the Electoral College based upon the popular vote in each state and serves a four year term. The president appoints Cabinet leaders to assist with his duties. The cabinet consists of individuals who lead federal agencies, such as the Departments of Labor, Education, Energy, Agriculture, Justice and others. These men and women advise the president on issues concerning their agencies. Each agency is vitally important to running various areas of government. For example, the Department of Agriculture is in charge of food safety, protecting natural resources, and supporting farms. The president is faced with many challenging decisions every day. The Executive Office of the President (EOP) is made up of advisors who support the president. The president selects his advisory team and the White House chief of staff oversees those advisors. The vice president takes the place of the president when the president is no longer able to carry out his duties. The vice president serves as the president of the Senate and casts the deciding vote when there is a tie in the Senate. Let s take a closer look at some roles of the President: Chief of State: The President serves as a living symbol of the U.S. In this role, he performs many ceremonial duties, such as presenting medals of honor to outstanding citizens. Commander in Chief: The U.S. Constitution makes the President the commander in chief of the armed forces. He heads the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Only Congress can declare war. In recent years, however, Presidents have sent troops into combat in other countries. Head of Government: The president is the leader of the executive branch of the federal government. He appoints and fires officials, develops policies, makes all important government decisions, and enforces the laws of the U.S. without asking Congress to give its approval. Legislative Leader: The Constitution gives the President power to sign an act of Congress into law, or to veto (reject) any law. Congress can override the veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate. Only Congress has the power to pass laws, but Presidents can and do propose or push for legislation that they want. Chief Diplomat: The Constitution makes the President the country s chief diplomat by giving the President the power to make treaties with other nations with the approval of the Senate. The President decides U.S. foreign policy, with the help of the Secretary of State. Economic Chief: As economic chief, the President is expected to keep the economy running smoothly. He plans the federal budget, and suggests ways to keep prices from rising too fast. What a President Can and Cannot Do Because we have a three-branch system of government with separation of powers, there are many things that the President cannot do. At various times, U.S. Presidents have been frustrated by certain limitations of their power. 18

19 You Decide: Can a President do the following? Write Yes or No. 1. Impose taxes: 2. Declare war: 3. Decide foreign policy: 4. Veto a law passed by Congress: 5. Command the U.S. armed forces: Graphic Organizer: Use the information in the reading to complete the graphic organizer below identifying the responsibilities of the President. The first one is done for you. Ceremonial head of the country; living symbol of the U.S. Chief of State President 19

20 Judicial Branch The Court System The judicial branch of the United States government is outlined in Article III of the U.S. Constitution. The judicial branch contains the Supreme Court and lower courts. Those lower courts include 94 U.S. district courts, which try most federal cases, and the 13 U.S. courts of appeals, which handle appeals of district court cases. An appeal is a legal proceeding where a decision is made by a lower court is brought before a higher court for review. There are two systems of courts in the United States. The federal court system deals with disputes about laws that apply to the entire United States. The highest court in the Judicial Branch is the Supreme Court, in Washington, D.C. It does not actually try cases. It hears appeals from lower courts and decides whether or not their rulings are permitted under the Constitution. The Supreme Court is made up of nine justices, including one chief justice and eight associate justices. These justices are appointed by the president and approved by the Senate. Justices serve for life or until they choose to retire. Supreme Court decisions are final. State Court Systems mostly deal with disputes about state laws. Each state has its own court system created by its own state constitution. Whether people take their case to federal or state court depends on the laws involved in the case. State court systems usually work just like the federal court system. There are two basic types of trials. Criminal cases are cases in which a person is accused of a crime. However, there are also times when people have a disagreement they cannot resolve on their own. Often one side feels that the other side violated their rights in some way. This kind of case is called a civil case. The goal of a civil case is not to find out whether someone is innocent or guilty, but to decide which side s version of the story is correct. Trial Court First court to hear the case In the federal system, the trial court is called a District Court. Every state has at least one court. Lawyers use evidence to try to prove their client s side of the story is what really happened. It may be a jury trial, in which a group of 12 people decide the case, or a bench trial, in which there is no jury and the judge decides the case. Appellate Court Court of Appeals If a person loses a trial case, the losing side can ask a higher court to look at the verdict and replace it with a different decision. This court is usually referred to as the Court of Appeals. The case is heard and decided by a three-judge panel. They do not hear any new facts or look at evidence. Instead they check for legal mistakes made at previous district court trials. They can affirm the trial court s decision and let it stand, reverse the decision, or remand the case back to the trial court to start over. Supreme Court The last word! For the losing side in the Court of Appeals, there is one more chance: The Supreme Court, which is the highest court. A panel of 9 justices will review the case (fewer is state supreme courts). They get to chose what cases they want to hear and don t choose very many! Often, they choose to hear cases that involve disputes about whether a law goes against the Constitution. Once the Supreme Court has struck down a law as unconstitutional, that s it! This is called judicial review. 20

21 1. Why is the Supreme Court considered the highest court in the land? 2. The two court systems in the U.S. are 3. Two kinds of legal cases are. 4. The job of the Court of Appeals is 5. It s difficult to get a case to the Supreme Court because. 6. Judicial Review means. /5 21

22 Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances 1. What are two checks the legislative branch performs on the executive branch? 2. Who can veto legislation passed by Congress? 3. Which branch has the power to impeach the President and Supreme Court justices? 4. Who can declare laws unconstitutional? 5. Who negotiates treaties? How is this power limited by the system of checks and balances? 6. What is the purpose of checks and balances? 22

23 How a Bill Becomes a Law 1. The bill is introduced in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. Bills to raise money for the government must start in the House of Representatives. 2. The Bill is then sent to committee for discussion, changes, and vote. 3. If the bill is approved by committee, it is presented to all members of the first house. It is discussed, changed, and voted upon. If passed by a majority (more than half the members voting), the bill is sent to the other house. 4. The whole process then begins again in the other house committee and vote. If the majority of the second house favor the bill, it goes to the President. 5. If the two houses of Congress passed bills that are not exactly the same, the bill is sent to a special committee made up of members of both houses to work out the differences. Then the final bill goes back to both houses for vote. If the bill wins, it goes to the president. 6. The president has 10 days to study the bill. (a) if the president signs the bill, it becomes law. (b) If the president does nothing about the bill, it becomes law after 10 days. (c) The president can veto, or refuse to sign, the bill. If that is done, the president must send a message to Congress explaining why he vetoed the bill. 7. Congress may accept the veto. In that case the bill does not become law. But Congress may wish to pass the bill over the veto. Another vote may be taken. If 2/3 of members of each house vote for the bill, it becomes law regardless of the president s veto. This is called an override. Directions: Study the diagram of how a bill becomes a law above. Then answer the questions that follow. 1) Where is a bill first proposed? _ 2) After the house that first proposed the bill approves it, where does it go? _ 3) After both houses approve the bill where does it go? _ 4) What happens if the two houses do not agree? _ 5) What are the two ways the president can make a bill law? 6) What can Congress do is the President vetoes the bill? _ 23 /5

24 /50 Government Flipbook Attach Flipbook Here 24

25 5. Federalism and governments power. This system prevents the federal government from having too much and too many responsibilities to handle. Smaller things are more easily and more quickly, handled at a local level. powers belong to the federal (national) government powers belong to the state government powers are those that belong to both the federal state governments ( powers) For Example: Federal (delegated) Shared (concurrent) State (reserved) Declare War taxes schools Coin money courts marriage laws Foreign policy maintain law and order driver s licenses 6. Limited Government Limits the power of government/ government officials the federal government can only do what the Constitution allows must follow the law regular people AND government officials. Hey! What s the Big Idea? Under Federalism, the federal government and the state governments share power. NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo 25

26 Federalism (The Federal System) /15 Reserved Powers: Delegated Powers: State Governments Concurrent Powers: Shared by Federal Federal Government government and the State 26

27 7. Individual Rights Protection of personal rights, freedoms and privileges. Guaranteed by the to all citizens. The Bill of Rights is made up of the first to the Constitution Most cases that go before the Supreme Court deal with the protection of individual freedoms (particularly the Amendment). Bill of Rights: 1. Freedom of,,,, and. (The Five Freedoms) 2. Right to Bear Arms: 3. Housing of soldiers: No soldier will stay in a private home EVER without permission from the owner (response to ) 4. Search and Arrest Warrants: no official may search you or your property without a (issued by a judge) and/or just cause. This is really about your right to. 5. Rights of the Accused: grand jury indictment (a jury decides if there is even enough evident to place someone on trial), no (can t be tried twice for the same crime), can t be forced to be a witness against yourself ( I plead the 5 th ), can t be convicted of a crime without a (due process). 6. Criminal Trials (when someone is accused of a crime/ breaking the law): right to a, trial, an impartial ( ) jury, be told why you are on trial, be confronted by witnesses and obtain witnesses, have a lawyer/attorney. 7. Civil Trials (when one person sues another): Trial by in cases involving over $ Bail, Fines, and Punishment: No bail or fines, no or punishment. 9. Rights retained by the people. citizens have other rights that are not listed in the Bill of Rights. 10. Powers not given to the US government or prohibited to the states are retained by the states. (federalism) Hey! What s the Big Idea? The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution to clearly define and protect the rights of citizens of the US. 27 Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.

28 Reading Comprehension: First Amendment Pop-Up The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. They were added to guarantee the rights and freedoms of individual Americans The First Amendment is only one sentence long but it includes many of the basic rights the Framers considered essential. To help you understand what it says, we have popped-up some of the more challenging terms. Read the information below, then use what you have learned to answer the questions. prohibiting: forbidding by authority; preventing from doing something respecting: relating to; concerned with; involving establishment: the creation of a private or public group Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment exercise: the act or practice of something, as in religious worship abridging: depriving, reducing, diminishing, or shortening petition: make a request, especially a formal, written plea of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. press: the gathering, publishing, or broadcasting of news; journalism assemble: gather in a group, usually for a particular purpose redress: relief from distress; payment for a wrong, loss, or an injury grievance: suffering, injustices, or distress 1. How many basic rights does the First Amendment guarantee? 2. What two things does this amendment say about the government s role in religion? 3. Why are speech and press together? 4. Why is it important to be able to assemble? 5. What is meant by to petition the government for a redress of grievances? 28

29 Bill of Rights In your own words, summarize what rights are granted or protected by each Bill of Rights amendment. One amendment has been filled in for you as an example. I II The right to own weapons and for militias for protection III IV V VI VII VIII IX X 29

30 Analyzing Political Cartoons The Bill of Rights: Liberty vs. Order Lady Liberty holds a torch to represent the United States as a light of freedom in the world. Lady Justice wears a blindfold and holds a scale to show that justice should be impartial and balanced. Here, justice symbolizes the government s need to protect the public by enforcing law and order. 1. What does each character in the cartoon symbolize? [2] 2. Why is Uncle Sam struggling to balance the seesaw? [2] 3. Why does the United States need to balance liberty and order? [2] 30 /6

31 Bill of Rights Article Response Writing Response Assignment: Write a well-written paragraph in response to the following question. A few reminders: Your paragraph must be at least 5 sentences in length [1 pt] You must include a strong topic sentence [1 pts] You must use at least THREE specific supporting details from the article to support your response [6 pts] You must include a strong closing sentence [1 pt] Must be well-written [1 pt] **************************************************************************************** Check article choice: Cruel and Unusual? Writing topic: Does the death penalty violate the 8 th Amendment? The Gun Debate Writing topic: Do stricter gun laws violate the 2 nd Amendment? Watching You Writing topic: Does increased government surveillance after the 9/11 terrorist attacks violate the 4 th Amendment? /10 31

32 IV Changing Constitution 1. The framers knew they couldn t make a document that was inflexible and expect it to survive, so they built in ways to change or stretch the Constitution. 2. : Changes or additions to the Constitution. Must be approved by ¾ s of the states before they can be added to the Constitution. Important amendments include: 1-10: of 13. (1865) Made illegal. 14. (1868) Granted former slaves. 15. (1869) Gave African American men the right to vote ( ) 16. (1913) Allows for collection of federal 18. (1919) - production and sale of alcohol illegal. 19. (1920) Women s 20. (1933) Changes the date of Presidential to January 20 th. 21. (1933) Prohibition. 22. (1951) Limits the President to terms in office. 24. (1964) No tax to prevent people from voting. 26. (1971) Lowers the voting age to. 3. : Located in Article I of the Constitution, it allows Congress to stretch its powers to include things the founding fathers couldn t have foreseen. It states that Congress can make any laws and to the function of US government. Senate Chambers Hey! What s the Big Idea? The Elastic Clause and the Amendment Process allow us to change the Constitution to adapt to changing times. /5 32

33 YOU MAKE THE CALL!!!!!!! DIRECTIONS: The following scenarios may or may not be constitutional. As an attorney, it is your job to decide whether each scenario is legal based on what you have learned about the Amendments. Mark yes if it is constitutional and mark no if it is not. Under each scenario, please list the correct amendment that determines whether or not each scenario is constitution. YES NO 1. Your neighborhood meets at a local fire hall to discuss all of the problems and grievances they have concerning the local government. Amendment: 2. Your friend was caught stealing a candy bar from the store. As a result, he was arrested and sentenced to ten years in jail. Amendment: 3. The police believe Carl is hiding illegal fireworks in his basement in order to resell them. Based on this rumor the police heard from Carl s neighbors, the police break into Carl s house in order to investigate. Amendment: 4. Juan was born in Spain and moved to the US when he was 25. He has been living here for ten years and is a naturalized citizen. When he went to vote in the last presidential election, he was told he could not vote. Amendment: 5. In Niagara County, they want to change the voting age from 18 to 21. This is because the Niagara County legislature thinks that the extra three years will allow young adults to make better decisions. Amendment: 33

34 YES NO 6. Your grandfather owns 12 different types of guns in a collection he has been working on since World War II. Amendment: 7. President Barack Obama feels he is doing a great job in his two terms as president and would like to run again in the next election. Amendment: 8. A president is up for reelection and orders that no opponents signs can be placed in anyone s yard across the United States. Amendment: 9. John is found not guilty in a criminal trial of killing a federal judge. The verdict is unpopular and the next day John is arrested to face another trial for the same charge. Amendment: 10. Maria is accused of a serious crime and cannot afford a lawyer. The trial is held and she acts as her own lawyer. She loses the case and is sentenced to 25 years in prison. Amendment: 11. Suzanne is accused of selling drugs. During the trial, her lawyer is not permitted to question any of her accusers or see any of the evidence against her. Amendment: 12. In the space below, write your own (school appropriate) original scenario to test your classmates knowledge of the Amendments. /5 34

35 The Census Counts Starting with the first census is 1790, the United States has conducted a census every ten years. The census counts every person living in the United States on a certain date. It also includes American citizens, such as soldiers, living abroad. The census data gives useful statistics. It tells where Americans live and the size of their families. It tells how many people have come from other places. It shows the number of people in each age group and finds out what people do for a living, how much money they make, and what level of education they have attained. The Constitution requires a census once a decade to decide how many people each state should have in the House of Representatives. The states with the biggest population send the most people to Congress. States with fewer people do not send as many. After a census, some states may gain seats in the House of Representatives while others may lose seats. This is called apportionment. Based on the 2010 census data, New York State lost two seats in the House of Representatives. The government needs the census data for other reasons, too. They look to see if the population is growing. They can tell if it is increasing in some areas and decreasing in others. By looking at the age groups, they can tell if people are living longer and figure out the average life expectancy. By looking at the number of births, it is possible to predict the number or babies to expect in the near future. If the number of children is rising, there may be a need for more schools and teachers. Census data helps the government and businesses decide where to spend money. Census numbers determine how federal funds get spent on housing, schools, and welfare. Companies can use census data to choose where to build a new factory as they want to locate it in an area with many available workers. Stores want to be near plenty of shoppers. Today nearly 90 percent if the world s countries conduct a population census. The United States collects the most detailed data of all. The 2000 census resulted in over half a million pages of information. 35

36 Reading Comprehension Questions 1. The United States takes a census every A. year. C. decade. B. five years. D. century. 2. On a historical timeline, what happens last? A. Every person in the United States must respond to the census questions. B. The government takes a census. C. Businesses make informed decisions based on census data. D. The government publishes the census data it gathers. 3. Which part of the federal government does the census data impact the most? A. The Supreme Court C. The Presidency B. The Senate D. The House of Representatives 4. Based on your answer to question 3, why? [3] 5. Statistics are A. pieces of information, often numerical facts. B. government budgets. C. tips about the stock market. D. estimated information. 6. Picture the pages stored on the CD-ROM that the government creates to make the census results public. What do you see on the pages? A. Private information about each specific person in the U.S. B. Mostly photographs C. Mathematical formulas D. Graphs and charts showing data 7. When was the last census? When will the U.S. take the next census? 8. Based on the reading and your own knowledge, make a prediction about what may happen to New York State s population in the next census AND how it would impact New York s representation in Congress. Use at least ONE detail from the article to support your answer. _[4] 36 /14

37 Take the Presidential Quiz Directions: Being the President of the United States is one of the world s most important jobs. Maybe someday that job will be yours. Here s a chance to find out how much you already know about it. Decide is the following statements are true or false. TRUE FALSE 1. The president must be a man. 2. The President must obey the law, just like everyone else. 3. The President has to be married, and can NEVER have been divorced. 4. The President must be at least 35 years old. 5. Only a person who is a citizen at birth can be elected President of the United States. 6. You can be elected President even if you don t know how to read. 7. The president must have studied law in college. 8. The President cannot be deaf or blind, or have any physical handicap. 9. The President must have military experience. 10. A person can be elected President only twice. 11. The President must earn more money than anyone else in the country. 37 /5

38 V Electing a President 1. Each political party selects a candidate to run in the election. Members of each party vote in a election to choose ONE candidate to represent their party and run in the election. (Think elimination round ) 2. The candidates by traveling around the country, meeting people, giving speeches about their (position on different issues), and debating other candidates. 3. People vote ( vote) for the candidate that most closely shares their point of view (Election Day is held on the Tuesday after the 1 st Monday in November). 4. After the popular vote is counted, the meets and casts their votes for whoever won the popular vote in the state they represent. ( vote) Each state has the same number of electors as they have members of Congress. 5. The candidate who wins the vote wins the election. A candidate can lose the popular vote and still win the election if they get the magic number of electoral votes ( ) by winning states with large populations. *Remember Winner takes all! (ex: George W. Bush in 2000) 6. The President-elect is the (sworn in) as President. Mitt Romney and Pres. Barack Obama Hey! What s Hey! What s the Big the idea? Big Idea? The President is elected using both the popular vote and the electoral vote. /5 38

39 The Electoral College Voting is the most important responsibility a citizen has in a democracy. Through our vote, we exercise our power to choose representatives who will make decisions on our behalf. The candidates for many political offices (Senators, Representatives, Governors, etc) are directly elected in other words, the people vote and the person with the most votes wins. In presidential elections, however, there is an extra step: the Electoral College. The founding fathers created the Electoral College because they believed that people in the Unites States could not be trusted to make informed decisions about the candidates running for office. Without good information, they feared the people would choose a local hero or whoever they most recognized. When people cast their votes for president (called the popular vote), they are not actually voting for a candidate. Instead they are voting for a group of electors who will then vote for the president (the electoral vote). It is the electoral vote that actually determines the winner. Here s how it works: According to the Constitution, every state has as many electors, as they have members of Congress. Every state has two senators and at least one representative, so every state has at least three electoral votes. The larger the population of the state, the more representatives it has, and therefore, the more electoral votes it gets. For example, California gets 55 electoral votes, Montana only gets three. Today, there are 535 members of Congress (100 Senators Representatives). In addition, Washington DC gets three electoral votes. So, the total number of electors in the Electoral College is 538. A candidate needs a majority of those electoral votes, at least 270, to win the election. If no one receives the correct number, then it is up to the House of Representatives to decide on a winner. On Election Day, the first Tuesday in November, the people of the United States go to the polls and vote for their choice for President. The political party of the candidate that wins the popular vote in each state will then send a group of electors to the state capital. On the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, the electors cast their electoral votes for the candidate who won the popular vote in their state. This is the winner takes all rule. Whoever wins the popular vote in the state wins ALL of that state s electoral votes. The loser wins NO electoral votes even if they lose by only one popular vote. For example, in the 2000 election, candidate Al Gore lost the popular vote in the state of Florida by only about 1000 votes, but lost all of Florida s 25 electoral votes to George W. Bush. That gave Bush 271 electoral votes and he won the election, even though Gore had the majority of the popular vote (Gore had 50,996,116 votes to Bush s 50,456,169). Many people feel that the Electoral College is outdated, and that the American people are informed enough to be trusted to directly elect the President without the help of the Electoral College. Others say that the Electoral College makes citizens feel that their votes don t count. To change this system, however, a new amendment would need to be added to the Constitution. Something that, as of yet, has not happened. 39

40 Electoral College, Continued The Electoral Vote (Based on 2010 census) 1. Why was the Electoral College created? [2] 2. How many electors does each state have? [2] 3. What is the total number of electors? How many electoral votes does a candidate need to win? [2] 4. Why is the popular vote important? [2] 5. What happens if no one has the correct number of electoral votes? [2] 6. Using the map, color the smallest number of states a candidate would need to win to get 270 votes. [2] 7. If you were a candidate, in which states would you spend most of your time? Why? [3] 40 /15

41 VI Citizenship 1. You are a citizen if: You were born in the Your mother OR your father is a US You go through a process of or you are under 18 and your parent(s) is/are naturalized. 2. Citizens reach voting age at. 3. Being a citizen of the U.S. gives you important rights. But, in some ways, even more important are the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. The of citizenship include the things that the law requires of you as a citizen. The of citizenship are not required by law, but good citizens fulfill them anyway. My Duties as a Citizen My Responsibilities as a Citizen Hey! What s the Big idea? American citizenship involves great privileges and serious responsibilities. New Citizens Taking the Oath of Allegiance 41 /5

42 Secretary of State John Kerry VII The Unwritten Constitution 1. Political Parties developed during Washington s presidency, though he didn t belong to one people with similar ideas, beliefs and goals unite to try to get candidates from their party elected to office the US is a (many) system, however most people belong to one of the two major parties: & The following is a list IN GENERAL between the two political parties. Remember not all Republicans and Democrats are the same, or fight for the same causes. Democrats: Republicans (GOP): 1. Left on political line 1. Right on political line 2. Symbol Donkey 2. Symbol Elephant 3. Liberal 3. Conservative 4. Favor bigger gov t (more involved) 4. Favor smaller gov t (less involved) 2. The President s Cabinet Also developed during Washington s presidency Group of men and women who act as to the President The President cannot be an expert on everything, so he selects advisors and trusts them to help him make good decisions The cabinet includes the vice president and cabinet positions, including Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense and Attorney General. 3. Term Limit Washington was the first to set this for Presidents, stepping down after terms. All Presidents followed this until FDR who died during his fourth term. Following his Presidency, the amendment was added to the Constitution to legally limit a person to no more than terms as President. 4. Committees in Congress As states were added and Congress became larger, the committee system developed. are worked out in small committees before being brought before Congress Some are Committees that discuss reoccurring issues; others are called only when needed. Hey! What s the Big Idea? The Unwritten Constitution contains things the government does, but aren t in the written Constitution (like the cabinet and political parties.) 42 /5

43 Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch Who s in it? How did they get the job? Where do they work? What is the main job? Other powers or duties 43 /10

44 Review for Unit Test Vocabulary: Articles of Confederation Preamble Articles Amendments Popular sovereignty Republic Separation of powers Checks and balances Federalism Limited government Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch Veto Override Judicial review Bill of Rights First Amendment Elastic clause Popular vote Platform Campaign 44

45 Electoral college Primary Election Naturalization Cabinet Political parties Committees Concepts to Study: What are the reasons for writing the Constitution based on the Preamble? Who holds the power in the U.S.? The names of the three branched, who makes up each branch, main job of each branch How many years is a President s term? How many terms can the serve? Who takes over if a President dies or is removed? Powers of the President Purpose of separation of powers and checks and balances Number of Senators and House of Representatives members by state How a bill becomes a law Examples of delegated (federal), reserved (state), and concurrent (shared) powers The five freedoms in the first amendment and examples of other rights in the Bill of Rights Who is considered a citizen of the U.S.? At what age can people in the U.S. vote? What are some duties and responsibilities of citizens? 45