CCV Notes Unit 1.

Essay Question: What does the term government mean and what
are the three main components of a government

Government: A system or an organization that

manages/controls/decides laws, policies and procedures on behalf of the
people.

To be part of government, one is:

- Elected
- Appointed
- Born into
- Put in my force/Or by use of the military

Three main components of a government:

1. People
- Elected or appointed officials
- Public servants (employees of the government, paid by
tax dollars)
- The “Constituents” (the people)

2. Power
- Authority + the ability to get things done

1. Legislative Power -- The power to write new

laws
 2. Judicial Power -- Settle disputes and interpreting
laws (Supreme Court)
3. Executive Power -- Enforces existing laws

3. Policies
- The government carries out “policies”

Policies: a written decision made by the government that the

people have to follow (can take the form of laws, government
program, acts or actions)

States

Today, most governments exercise their power in the context of a

state. A state is a political unit with power to make and enforce laws
over a group of people living within a clearly defined territory.

A state has:
- A population
- A territory
- A government
- “Sovereignty” ~ (Self Governing) (Independent from other states,
free to establish own form of government)

Are the 50 states in America sovereign states??

Is Vermont independent from the other states

- Vermont is NOT a sovereign state

 - The US IS a sovereign state

Find on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6wrBbgsj34
Explain principles of eminent domain :)

CCV Notes 1.1

The 4 theories as to how the “states” originated:

● The Divine Right Theory

● The Evolution Theory
● The Social Contract Theory
● The Force Theory

The Divine Right Theory

States are founded by god or by the gods and the ruler has a “Divine
Right” (or god given right) to rule.

The Evolution Theory

States form gradually over time. Growing from family and extended
family or “Kinship” groups. (ie. Monarchy)
The Social Contract Theory
States form when people reach a “contract” to surrender some power to
a common authority in return for security.
The Force Theory
 States form when an individual or group uses force to make enough
people submit to a central authority.

Functions of Government
- Ensure Security
- Maintain Order
- Resolve Conflict
- Provide Services ~ Public education, police, public library
- Provide Provide for Public Good

Essay Question: The Power of Eminent Domain

The law gives state or national government the ability to take private
property from the owner as long as it is for public good.

In exchange, eminent domain compels the government to pay property

owners a fair price for their property.

Loopholes:
1. Who decides what amounts to “the greater public good”?
2. Whose rights are more important? (The public’s or private
citizen’s?)
3. Who determines a “fair price”?

CCV Notes 1.3

Democracy: A system of government that is
made up of the people, by the people, for the
people

*Citizens have the ultimate control

- Where elected officials are responsible to their

constituents

Direct Democracy:
- Small groups of people get to make all governmental
decisions

Indirect/Representative:
- Large population
- Elect people to represent on our behalf

The US is an Indirect Democracy (too big to be run

by everyone)
 Parliament = Congress
Governing Power: Prime Minister = Chief Executive (Mostly appointed
by Parliament)

Thursday’s Test:

Explain the relationship between politics, political science and

politicians

Politics: the political beliefs of different people

Politician: a professional involved in politics
Political Science: the study of trying to make sense of different
political ideologies

Rational: Facts,
Irrational: Emotion, Propaganda, Fear

The majority of Democrats believe that immigration is a

pathway to citizenship if they have been a resident for 5 years

Political Ideologies

Ideology = Belief that society can be improved following certain

practices/thinking

How does it all go together?

Government is the organization
>
Politicians are elected by the constituents to govern on our
behalf
>
Political Parties support and build support for their ideologies
>
Political Scientists study the politics and the politicians to help
the constituents understand what is happening

For Quiz, Study:

- Rational vs. Irrational
- Political Party
- Democrats vs. Republicans
- Study Bank of Presidents!!
- Political Ideologies
- Politics, Political Parties and Political Science

(Matching (12))
(Democrat vs. Republican (12))

Current Event Due Tuesday!!

Political Spectrum
Left (Middle) Right

Liberalism Moderate Conservatism

Community/ - Looks at both sides - Individual
- Interpret the constitution
depending on the situation
Public Good
- Change is good - Opposed to change
- Loose interpretation - Strict interpretation
Of the constitution of the constitution
- What you do in private - They believe in
Is only your own tradition
business , as long as it
Isn’t hurting anybody

- Karl Marx = Founder of Communism

Possible Essay Questions:

1. Politics, Political Science and Politicians

- Politics: Ideas and beliefs of a certain group
of people
- Political science: the polite study of political
beliefs, parties and politicians, using rational
thinking to try to grasp a sense of reasoning
 - Politicians: people who participate in a
party, run and elect people to represent their
beliefs and ideals. Represent a set of
principles relating to their party.

2. “Government” - Discuss 3 Major Components

- Power
Elected, appointed, born into

- People
The constituents, who elect, followers,
public servants

- Policies
Laws put in place to manage a government
3. Political Spectrum - Diagram out left, right and
middle - Describe characteristics

- Liberal, Left (Community)

- Conservative, Right (Individual)
- Moderate, Middle
- Libertarianism, Far sides, usually left
- Neo-Conservative Mid-Right

CCV Notes Unit 2.0

Separation of Powers:
- Legislative Branch
- Write the laws
- Congress (Bicameral: two groups)
- Senate (100) and House of Representatives (435)

- Executive Branch
- Carries out and enforces the laws
- Top executive: President
- Cabinet
- Headed by a secretary

- Judicial Branch
- Interprets the laws (Constitution) and settles disputes (Supreme Court)

“Checks and Balances”

Watchdog - one branch watches/monitors the other branches

Executive powers over the Legislative Branch:

- President can sign the bill into law, veto or pocket veto
- Suggest new laws
- Call a special session of congress

Judicial powers over the Legislative Branch:

- The power of judicial review (to make sure all laws follow the
constitution)

Legislative powers
- Override a Presidential veto with a ⅔ majority vote in both houses
- Impeach/Remove a president from office
- Approve the federal budget
- Judges/Justices - some for life
The Legislative Branch

The Executive Branch

- Appoints federal and supreme court judges
Can grant:
- Pardon
- Reprieve: delay a sentence (most commonly the death penalty)
- Commute: lesson a jail sentence

Thursday 10/11 Quiz:

- Federalism & Checks and Balances
- 2 pages
- (Federalism 12 pt. each)
Vocabulary 6 terms & define:
Define:
- Delegated powers
- Concurrent powers
- Reserved powers
- Pardoning - Getting rid of a sentence
- Reprieve - Delay
- Commute - Lessen
Short Essay Question:
- Triangle Chart
 How are Amendments Proposed?
- An amendment to the U.S. Constitution may be proposed
by the Congress with a ⅔ majority vote by both the House
of Representatives and by a ⅔ majority vote of the Senate

- An amendment may be proposed through a Constitutional

Convention that is called by the Congress at the request of
at least ⅔ of the state legislatures (the state lawmaking
bodies of government) to vote to propose the amendment. (34/50
States)

How are Amendments to the U.S.

Constitution Approved (Ratified)?

- The proposed amendment is voted on by the state

legislative branches. The Constitution requires that ¾ of the
states (38/50) vote in favor of the proposed amendment.

- A Constitutional Convention is ordered by the U.S.

Congress. Citizens of each state elect delegates to attend
the convention. The number of delegates per state is based
upon the state’s population. To be approved, ¾ of the
delegates must vote in favor of the proposed amendment.
 Thursday’s Unit II Test
- Matching Vocab (12 @ 1pt each)
- Federalism (delegated, reserved, concurrent) (12 @ 1pt each)
- Bill of Rights (10 @ 1pt each)
- Amendments 11-27 (12 @ 1pt each)
- Short Essays/Answers (3/4 @ 10pts each)
1. Checks and Balances
2. Two ways to propose an amendment & Two ways to ratify an amendment
3. Presidential Line of Succession
4. Introduction of the Preamble
Two ways to propose: ⅔ vote by house and senate and by a constitutional convention ⅔ vote
through legislators

Two ways to ratify: ¾ states vote in favor of the amendment and ¾ delegates in a constitutional
convention

CCV Notes Unit III

The Legislative Branch of our Government

Article I:

U.S. Constitution - outlines the powers and duties of the

Legislative Branch
 Congress
Bicameral
House of Representatives Senate
(State population - Apportionment)
1 : 500,000 people
= Census every 10yrs
Systems of Government

Voters elect members of Parliament (lawmaking body) - elect and remove Prime
Minister, Members of the Cabinet appoint Ministries (major Departments)
The Senate approves Cabinet Members

The U.S. House of Representatives

- 435 members
- Fixed by law in 1929
- 1:500,000 residents
- Every 10yrs, the population is counted (the census)
- Apportionment - taking the census data and determining the number of
representatives
- # of Representatives is determined by the state’s population
- A state must have at least ONE representative
- Members of the House serve a term of 2 yrs
- There is no limit to the number of years that a member of the House can
change
- Must be at least 25 yrs old
- Must be a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years
- Must live in the state
- Salary (Member of Congress): $174,000 per year
- Leader: Speaker of the House (elected by the members of the House)
- Reapportionment - based on the census numbers, we may readjust the
number of representatives available for the state

Paul Ryan - Wisconsin Speaker of the House (Republican)

- $223,000 per year

Peter Welch - VT Representative (Democrat)

 - Gets tax reduction (owns two houses)
- Travel Benefits
- Retirement Benefits
- Free Printing
- The “Franking Privilege” - free mail to constituents
- Use of gym, restaurants and other amenities at the Capital
- Legal immunity for statements made while Congress is in session

Leadership in the House:

Majority Floor Leader - The person representing the majority party

Minority Floor Leader - The person representing the minority party

Current Majority Floor Leader: Kevin McCarthy (Republican from California)

Current Minority Floor Leader: Nancy Pelosi (Democrat from California)

Each party elects a “Whip”

The Majority Whip and The Minority Whip: Assists the Floor Leader and
encourage party members to vote on issues supporting the party’s
beliefs/philosophies.

The Current Majority Whip: Steve Scalise (Republican from Louisiana)

The Current Minority Whip: Steny Hamilton Hoyer (Democrat from Maryland)

Committees (most of the House work gets done through them)

- The House has 20 committees
- Standing Committees - permanent committees
- Members of the House serve on 1 or 2 Standing Committees
- Each Standing Committee has a “Chair” who is elected by the majority party
and recommended to the Speaker of the House.
Examples of Standing Committees:
- Armed Service Budget
- Education and Labor Judiciary
- Veterans Affairs
- Foreign Affairs

Other House Committees:

- Sub-Committees - when a Standing Committee breaks into smaller groups
for a specific task
- Referred to as Select Committees
- Most commonly select committees are formed to conduct investigations and
gather information
- Joint Committee: Formed between equal numbers of members of the House
and Senate Created to compromise on bills/issues

Powers of the Congress

Article I Section 8 of the Constitution delegates three categories

of powers to the U.S. Legislative Branch

- Expressed Powers (specific restrictions for what Congress

can do)
- Implied Powers (come from expressed powers)
- Inherent Powers
 Expressed Powers
Specific Powers given to the Congress by the Constitution:

★ Coining money
★ Collecting Taxes
★ Regulating International Commerce
★ Regulating Commerce between the States
★ Raising and maintaining the Armed Forces
★ Declaring War
★ Approve and Oversee the Federal Budget
★ Establish and maintain the National Postal System
★ Copyrights and Patents
★ Standardizing Weights and Measurements
★ The Naturalization Process

Implied Powers

➢ Suggested by the Constitution

➢ Article I, Section 8, Clause 18
➢ Known as the “Necessary and Proper Clause”
➢ “Make all laws which all shall be necessary and proper for
carrying into execution by the Expressed Powers and all
 other powers vested by this Constitution in the government
of the United States.”

Inherent Powers

❖ Powers that all governments of independent nations have

that do not have to be spelled out
❖ Inherent Power of the U.S. House of Representatives:
Choose a President if no candidate gets a majority vote in
the Electoral College
❖ Inherent Powers of the U.S. Senate: Choose a Vice
President if no candidate gets a majority vote in the
Electoral College

Powers Denied to the Congress

Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. constitution prohibits Congress

from:
1. Suspending the Writ of Habeas Corpus
- Literal Translation: “Produce the Body”
 - A court order that forces the police to present a
person in court to face charges based upon valid
reason and evidence
- Exception: Cases involving rebellion or invasion

2. Passing a Bill of Attainder

- A law that restricts punishing a person without a
trial

3. Pass an Ex Post Facto Law

- A law which criminalized an action that took
place in the past and allows the police/authorities
to arrest and charge someone for completing the
action when it was legal to do

The Process of How a Bill Becomes a Law

Step 1: The bill is introduced

- Anyone can suggest a bill, but only a member of Congress can introduce the
bill by placing it in the Hopper. (For a Revenue bill, it must be introduced in
the House)

Step 2:
- The clerk of the House of Representatives takes the bill out of the hopper
and assigns it a number
- In the House: HR
- In the Senate: S

Step 3:
- The Presiding Officer (for a Revenue Bill - the Speaker of the House)
assigns the bill to the proper Standing Committee.

Step 4:
- The Chair of the Standing Committee assigns the bill to a sub committee for
study, public hearings, research, revisions, and for approval.
- Riders can be added to this bill at any time

Most bills never make it to this point. Committee members can not
agree on the bill and/or revisions. The bill can die in committee.

Step 5:
- The approved and revised bill is sent back to the House Standing Committee
for additional debate, hearings, and revisions.
- Riders can be added to the bill at any time

Step 6:
- The revised bill is passed by the House Standing Committee and now goes
to the Rules Committee
- The Rules Committee sets conditions for debate and amendments before
the proposed bill goes onto the next step. Most common condition is to limit
the amount of time Representatives can debate the bill on the floor.

Step 7:
- From the Rules Committee the proposed bill goes to the House of Rep.
which acts as a Committee of the Whole
- As a Committee of the Whole, the proposed bill will be debated, amended,
(added to, if allowed to by the Rules Committee) and then the vote is called.

Step 8:
- The HOR conducts a vote. The vote is either electronic or a Roll-Call Vote.
- Per the Constitution, a Roll Call Vote MUST take place when ⅕ or more of
the members of the House request one
- If the bill passes the House it goes on to the Senate
- If the bill does not pass the House, it dies in committee.

Step 9:
- The bill has passed through the HOR and is passed to the Senate
- The Clerk of the Senate receives the bill and gives it a new number (with an S)
- The original House # is kept as a reference

Step 10:
- The Presiding Officer of the Senate (The Vice President of the U.S.) refers
to the bill to a Senate Standing Committee

Step 11:
- The Chair of the Senate Standing Committee assigns the bill to a sub-
committee for study, debate, revisions, public hearings, and approval.
- Additional riders can be added to the bill, they can agree on the bill, or it can
die in committee
Step 12:
- The revised bill returns to the Senate Standing Committee for additional
research, revisions, debate and public hearings
- Addition riders can be added
- Bill can be revised, approved or it can die in committee
 Step 13:
- The revised bill passes the Senate Standing Committee. It is now sent to the
Senate, which acts as a Committee of the Whole
- In the second House, in this case the Senate, there is no rules committee, the
rules from the first house are used (in this case, the HOR)
- The Senate, acting as Committee of the Whole will debate, change, add
additional riders and vote to approve the bill
- The bill is not passed, goes to a Joint-Conference Committee
- If approved, the bill goes to the President

- Joint Conference Committee: equal parts from house and senate

Step 14:
- President's actions:
1. The president signs the bill into law
2. The president can VETO a bill
3. The president leaves the bill on their desk for 10 days and ignores it
4. At the end of the ten days, if Congress is in session -- the bill becomes
a law
5. At the end of 10 days, if Congress isn’t in session -- the bill dies
(Pocket Veto)

Step 15:
- Once the president signs the bill into Law or if Congress overrides a veto (or
a Pocket Veto)
- - The U.S Supreme Court conducts Judicial Review
- If the Supreme Court determines that the new law does not violate the
Constitution - the law goes into effect in 90 days

Step 16:
 Unit 3 Summative Assessment
What to study:

- All your notes

- 3 power points
- Parliamentary system v. Presidential System
- House of Rep.
- Powers of Congress
- Bill to Law Vocabulary

Part 1: Fill in the blank (15 - 2 pts each)

Part 2: Matching (who is who in Congress - ALL names 1 pt.)
Part 3: How a Revenue Bill becomes a Law (14 pts. each)
Part 4: 3 Essay Questions (10 pts. each)
- Compare and contrast the Constitutional qualifications and
terms of office for the House of Representatives and the
Senate
- Three categories of the U.S. Congress, give one example an
expressed power then explain its implied and inherent
power
- What is the difference between a bill, a resolution and a
joint resolution in Congress?
- In the process of how a bill becomes a law, when the bill
reaches the desk of the president, explain the presidents
option
 - What are the advantages and disadvantages to having a
Democratically controlled HOR and a Republican
controlled Senate? Explain at least two advantages and two
disadvantages as related to the powers/duties of the
Congress

Unit IV Notes
Vocab:

Amnesty: A change in exchange - granted protection from

prosecution in exchange for something

Civil Service: The permanent professional branches of a

government's administration, excluding military and
judicial branches and elected politicians

The Spoil System: When a politician would promise a

federal job to someone as long as they supported them

The Pendleton Civil Service Act: (1883) Hiring to all

federal jobs must be based on qualifications
(The Spoil System could still work under this act, as long as the
person is qualified!)
Civil Service Reform Act: (1978) Now, no officer can directly
hire an employee. This act added a middle step to oversee the
process of hiring of federal employees

Nepotism: The hiring of family members for an open position

over another candidate

The President’s Cabinet

1. The Department of State

- Created in 1789
- Deals with foreign policy, protects citizens living and
traveling abroad.
- Coordinates and provides support for the US International
activities
- Issues passports and VISAs

Current Secretary of State: Mike Pompeo

2. The Department of Defense

- Created in 1789
- Provides military forces and domestic security
- Delivers humanitarian aid and disaster relief outside of the
U.S.
- Provides peacekeeping forces
 Current Secretary of Defence: Jim Mattis

3. The Department of the Treasury

- Created in 1789
- Manages federal finances and supervises national banks
- Print and Coins US Currency
- Collects money due to the US and pays bills for the US
- Develops domestic and international financial policy.
- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is uner the D.O.T

Current Secretary of Treasury: Steven Mnuchin

4. The Department of the Interior

- Created in 1849
- Protects the nation’s natural resources - both natural and
cultural
- Manages resource use
- Provides recreational opportunities
- National Park Service

Current Secretary of Interior: Ryan Zinke

5. The Department of Agriculture

- Created in 1862
- Protects farmland by promoting sustainable development
- Works to end hunger and improve health in the US
- Keeps food safe for the consumer
 Current Secretary of Agriculture: Sonny Perdue

6. The Department of Justice

- Created in 1870
- Represents the US in the Supreme Court and in other courts
- Controls federal law enforcement (FBI and CIA)
- Manages the legal affairs of the United States

Current Attorney General of the United States: Matthew

Whitaker (acting)

7. The Department of Commerce

- Created in 1903
- Promotes international trade
- Ensures effective use of American technological and
scientific resources by US citizens
- Assists states, proups, and individuals through economic
progress

Current Secretary of Commerce: Wilbur Ross

8. The Department of Labor

- Created in 1913
- Works to improve working conditions, set standards for
wages and overtime pay
- Protect retirement and health care benefits
 - Protect employees from discrimination

Current Secretary of Labor: Alexander Acosta

9. The Department of Health and Human Services

- Created in 1953
- Conducts and funds health related research
- Responsible for food and drug safety
- Monitors and prevents disease outbreaks
- Provides health care to low-income (Medicaid) and senior
citizens (Medicare)
Current Secretary of Health and Human Services: Alex
M. Azar II

10. The Department of Housing and Urban Development

- Created in 1965
- Works to increase access to affordable housing
- Ensures fair housing laws are followed
- Assists in developing public-housing programs for low
income citizens

Current Secretary of Housing and Urban

Development: Ben Carson

11. The Department of Transportation

- Created in 1966
 - Forms national transportation policy and oversees safety of
air and rail travel
- Assists states in building new highway systems
- Develops programs for improvement to public
transportation systems

Current Secretary of Transportation: Anthony Foxx

12. The Department of Energy

- Created in 1977
- Promotes reliable, clean and affordable energy and assists
in environmental protection
- Develops nuclear weapons and energy technologies
- Ensures the safety of nuclear weapons and nuclear power
plants
- Promotes scientific discovery and improves the quality of
life through technological innovations

Current Secretary of Energy: Rick Perry

13. The Department of Education

- Created in 1980
- Establishes policies for federal financial aid for education
purposes
- Collects data and research on American schools
- Focus national attention on major educational issues
 - Enforces laws that ban discrimination in educational
programs that receive federal funding

Current Secretary of Education: Betsy DeVos

14. The Department of Veteran Affairs

- Created in 1989
- Assists disabled veterans
- Helps veteran returning from military services to transition
back into civilian life
- Honors veterans in life and memorializes them in death

Current Secretary of Veteran Affairs: Robert Wilkie

15. The Department of Homeland Security

- Created in 2003
- Identify and assess threats to the safety of the US
- Coordinates the national response to and leads recovery
efforts after acts of terrorism, natural disasters and other
emergencies within the United States
- Works to prevent possible attacks

Current Secretary of Homeland Security: Kirstjen Nielsen

Cabinet Year Created Purpose/Function Current

Department Secretary
 1789 - Deals with foreign policy, protects Mike Pompeo
The Department of citizens living and traveling abroad.
State - Coordinates and provides support
for the US International activities
- Issues passports and VISAs

1789 - Provides military forces and Jim Mattis

The Department of domestic security
Defense - Delivers humanitarian aid and
disaster relief outside of the U.S.
- Provides peacekeeping forces

1789 - Manages federal finances and Steven

The Department of the supervises national banks Mnuchin
Treasury - Print and Coins US Currency
- Collects money due to the US and
pays bills for the US
- Develops domestic and
international financial policy.
- The Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) is uner the D.O.T

1849 - Protects the nation’s natural Ryan Zinke

resources - both natural and
The Department of the cultural
Interior
- Manages resource use
- Provides recreational opportunities
- National Park Service

The Department of
Agriculture

Cabinet Year Created Purpose/Function Current

Department Secretary
The Department of
Justice

The Department of
Commerce

The Department of
Labor

The Department of
Health and Human
Services

The Department of
housing and Urban
Development

The Department of
Transportation

The Department of
Energy

The Department of
Education

The Department of
Veteran Affairs

The Department of
Homeland Security

Paying for the Government

The federal government relies on collecting revenue and borrowing
Sources of Revenue: Taxes (Income Tax, Estate Tax, Gift Taxes, etc.)
 - Fees, tariffs, interest collected on federal loans
- The Constitution allows the federal government to borrow money
- Historically, the US government has borrowed money during times of
emergency (ex. Times of war)
- The Constitution grants Congress the power to “lay and collect taxes”
- In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the US Constitution gave Congress the
power to levy an Income Tax on a person’s or corporation’s income
- Income Tax accounts for 47% of the federal revenue
- Income tax in a …
- Progressive Tax - A tax that increases as the amount that is subject
increases. (Ranges from 10% to 35%) (aka. As your salary goes up, your
taxes go up.)
- Another large source of federal revenue are Payroll Taxes, which are
collected to pay social security, Medicare, and other forms of “social
insurances”.
- A Payroll Tax is a tax that is withheld from a person’s paycheck by his or
her employer.
- FICA - (Federal Insurance Contribution Act
- Up to 34%
- A Payroll Tax is a ...
- Regressive Tax - a tax that has a greater impact on the lower income earners
than that on upper income earners
- Proportional Tax - A tax rate that is applied at the same rate against all
incomes (Medicare)

There are two types of government spending:

- Mandatory Spending: Spending required by laws and not subject to the
annual budget process
- Discretionary Spending: Spending that is subject to the annual budget
process
- Congress decides how to allocate these funds
- Examples: Federal $ to the schools, Defense spending
- A budget deficit is when the government spends more money than it brings
in as revenue in a year
 - The Federal Debt is the accumulation of budget deficits

Midterm Notes

- Joint, Concurrent, Resolutions

- Money bills start in the House
- U.S Alliances Map (Central and South America)
- Name that Amendment
- Delegated Reserved, Concurrent Powers
- President’s Cabinet
- How a revenue bill becomes a law
- Government Who’s Who??
- Essay Questions (study)

Semester II Notes

1/23: Step 1: Read through cases, take notes, be able to define

capital punishment, affirmative action and gender discrimination

1/25: Step 2: Will know your case, but not which side you have,
you will have 45 minutes to build your case after learning your
side and arguments, then present

1/31: Step 3: Individual (3-4 page) paper !!!

Commented [1]: TEST here down!!!

The Federal Court System
Courts Perform 3 Basic Tasks:
1. Courts determine whether a law has been broken and
what penalties can be applied

2. Courts decide how to provide relief for those who have

been harmed by the action(s) of another

3. Courts determine the meaning of laws and determine if

the laws/actions follow the Constitution

The U.S. Constitution Creates a Dual Court System

1. The National Court System

2. The State’s Court System
 Two Ways to change a Supreme Court
Decision:
- The Supreme Court can go back and amend their decision
- Congress can amend the Constitution or write a new law

Dual Court System

State Court’s System:
- Original Jurisdiction: The authority to hear and decide
cases over issues dealing with state and/or local laws
- Handle with the majority of court cases in the United States
 - Deal with infractions of state/local laws
- Power/Authority flows from the state Constitution and
state/local laws

National/Federal Court System:

- Exclusive Jurisdiction: The sole right to hear and decide
the case
- Deal with infractions of national and/or international laws
- Power flows from the U.S. Constitution and
National/International laws
- Deal with one state suing another
- Also deal with Admiralty & Maritime Laws: Laws
dealing with issues/actions at sea

Concurrent Jurisdiction: Cases that are heard or can be heard

under both federal and state courts. Usually involve cases
dealing with people from different states suing each other and
the amount of money is over $75.000

The only appeal of the State Court is to the U.S. Supreme Court
dealing with a constitutional issue.

Vocab to Know

Original Jurisdiction: a court's power to hear a case for the first time. The opposite power is called
appellate jurisdiction, which is when a higher court can review a lower court's decision.
Exclusive Jurisdiction: exists in a case where one court has the power to make a formal decision on a
disputed matter, excluding all other courts. This legal action is the opposite of concurrent jurisdiction.

Concurrent Jurisdiction: exists when two or more courts concurrent jurisdiction exists where two or
more courts from different judicial systems come to an agreement on a case.

Maritime Laws: Laws that pertain to any actions and disputes that happen nautically and in international
waters.

The Judiciary Act of 1789: is an "An Act to Establish the Judicial Courts of the United States”. Also
provided a 3 tiered structure for federal courts, the Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeal, and then District
Courts.
- Established three tiered court system and organized supreme court

Criminal Cases: Prosecutions either by the State, a person, or an organization. These cases occur when a
person is believed to have committed criminal actions or public wrongs that are considered to be offenses
against the State.

Civil Cases: is a lawsuit that usually deals with contracts and/or more private conflicts. A federal civil
case is a legal conflict between two or more parties.

The Appellant: the person or group of people that ask a higher court to reverse what the lower court had
previously decided.

A brief: a legal document that gets presented to the court. This document argues it’s reasoning or
evidence on which party in the case should win.

Court-Martial: a court case concerning the military. The court-martial determines the fate of people in
our armed forces using the military law.

Petition of a Writ of Certiorari: A legal document that is used by the losing party of a court case to ask
the Supreme Court to review the lower court’s previous decisions.

“Amicus Curiae”: typically a court volunteer that offers their unbiased opinion, experience and expertise
to the court, they usually present in the form of a brief.

Oral Arguments: spoken words from a lawyer (or parties that represent themselves) that are used to
persuade and assure the judge that their party should prevail in court.

The Court’s Opinion: the final decision of a court that is presented as a statement. This statement
includes a summary of the facts presented in court, a review of the laws being called into question and
how the facts pertain to the, the reasoning behind their final decision, and then the Court’s final opinion
and decision.
 Federal District Courts
- Spread throughout the country
- Each state by law must contain at least one federal district court. (89 in the
50 states)
- Serve as a trial court (Original Jurisdiction) for violations of
Federal/International laws.

Two major types of cases heard:

Criminal case: against a person
Civil cases: deals with money or damage to property

Civil vs. Criminal Law

 Quiz #1 on Unit 5
- Burden of Proof, Judgement, Ruling over the liability
- Reasonable Doubt
- The outcome of the case is either guilty or not guilty
- Plaintiff - Claims they were wronged
- Defendant - Accused of wrongful act
- Federal District Court will hear cases involving Constitution, etc.
 - Three types of jurisdiction

Format: 1 Page, 9 short answer questions, 25 pts.

Who’s Money?
- The federal funding goes straight to the college, and not the students.
It is not directly in possession of the students. Since the school
collects it and spends it, the money obviously belongs to them.

Title IV Compliance?
- The school should file their compliance because they use federal
funding by grants for students.

Does the Department of Ed. have the right to withhold funding?

- Yes, because if the school will not file a compliance on Title IV, they
should not be able to receive the federal funds. The government
should not and can not support a school with funds, that will not
comply with Equal Opportunity and Title IV.

Commented [2]: Appeals Court + other federal courts

Federal Appeals Courts Quiz-- Thursday

part 1. short answer (7 questions 1pt)

part 2. other federal courts (8 questions 1pt)
 Referred to as “Circuit
Courts”

Called this because originally

they had no fixed locations.

The U.S. is currently divided

into 12 different circuits

Hear “appeals” from federal

district courts and federal
agencies with rulemaking or
rule enforcing powers.

In Criminal Cases, the appeal must be filed by the defendant that was found
guilty.

The federal government cannot hear an appeal on a verdict of “Not Guilty”.

In Civil Cases, either side can file an appeal.

Who hears the appeal?

- Appeals are heard by a panel of 3 judges
- Appeals judges do NOT retry the case
- Appeals judges do NOT permit new evidence
- Appeals judges do NOT hear testimony from witnesses

Reviews the trial court recorded and the brief - a written argument from both sides
in the case (why the trial court decision was based on a legal error and why not)

The decision of the appeals court is the final word.

In some cases, the appeals court may send the case back to the district court for
retrial. Only appeal is to the U.S. Supreme Court

The United States Supreme Court

- The 9 Justices sit on the U.S. Supreme Court (1 Chief Justice + 8 Associate
Justices)
- Appointed by the President of the United States
- Approved by the U.S. Senate
- Serve a term of life
- Cannot be fired, must go through the impeachment process (impeached by
Congress)
- Salary: $203,000/year - 212,100/year
- The U.S. Constitution gives no formal requirements for the position of U.S.
Supreme Court Justice
- William Howard Taft: the only person to become both president and
Supreme Court Justice
- Sandra Day-O’Connor - 1st woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court
(Appointed by President Ronald Reagan)

- The U.S. Supreme Court holds 2 major responsibilities:

1. Judicial Review
2. Hears Final Appeals
- Begins session the first Monday in October
- Remains in session until June or July
- Two Blocks, (approx. 2 weeks)
- Block 1: Sit on the bench and listen to cases/appeals
- Block 2: Work behind closed doors to decide which cases to hear, make
final decisions, write opinions, and decide on Judicial review.
- Each justice has around 4 clerks to assist them (research)

John Roberts Jr. - Chief Justice

5-4 Split (Conservative)

How the Supreme Court Hears a Case

- The US Supreme Court receives approx. 8,000 requests to hear a
case/year
- On average, the Supreme Court selects 100 cases/year to hear
Step 1: Selecting a Case

- The process starts with one party to a dispute requesting a review of a ruling
made by either a federal appeals court OR a state supreme court
- The “petitioner” files a Petition of a Writ of Certiorari: a formal request to
have the Supreme Court review a lower court’s decision
- The justices review the petition. If 4 out of 9 justices agree to review a case,
Certiorari is granted.
 Step 2: Briefs & Arguments

- Once the case is placed on the docket, parties file a brief: written legal
arguments and history of the case, Explaining each side of the case. Must
include a violation of the US Constitution and/or federal law(s).
- In addition to the brief, justices may consider “Amicus Curiae” (Friend of
the Court). Legal briefs prepared by outside parties that have an interest in
the case.
- After studying the brief, justices hear the Oral Arguments

Oral Arguments before the Supreme Court

➢ Takes place in the Supreme Court
➢ Open to the public
➢ The 9 robed justices are seated
➢ Each side has 30 minutes to present their case
➢ Justices will ask questions during the 30 minutes

Step 3: Opinions

- After reading the briefs and hearing the oral arguments, the justices meet
privately in conference to discuss the case.
- The Chief Justice leads the discussion
- All justices are required to participate. Majority rules
- The court decision is issued in writing. This is the court’s formal judgement
(the court’s Opinion)
- Contains an exploration of the issue, legal precedents and legal reasoning to
explain their decision

The Three Types of Opinions:

- The Majority Opinion
- The Concurring Opinion
 - The Dissenting Opinion

The Majority Opinion: the Court’s actual ruling. Must be signed by at least 5 of
the 9 justices

The Concurring Opinion: sometimes accompanies the Majority Opinion, written

by individual justices or collective justices that agree with the Majority Opinion
but stresses different or additional legal reasoning

The Dissenting Opinion: held by the justices who disagree with the ruling in the
case, does not have a direct legal impact on the case, can however influence future
judgements

Quiz #3
- Into to Supreme Court
- Steps to hear a court case
- List of Supreme Court Justices; chief justice? Cons. v. Liberal?
- 9 Historic Cases

- Major Responsibilities of the Court??

- Different Sessions of the Supreme Court??
- Three Different Opinions of the Supreme Court??
- Compare/Contrast historic cases??
- Judiciary Act of 1789 gave us two things…?
 - A brief is ??
- The petition of the Writ of Sentiare?
- Amicus Curiae??

-- QUIZ BEGINS --

Commented [3]: TEST STARTS HERE!!

Unit VI Notes Commented [4]: Vocab and Applications!!

International Relations and Foreign Policy FORMAT:

- four pages; 152 pts
1. 22 Fill in blanks (vocab; isms diplomacies, names)
2. 10 United Nations (a-p from part 4 of packet)
3. Application of knowledge
Key Terms:
Commented [5]: Thank you omg
- Foreign Policy - a nation’s set of written plans and procedures for dealing with foreign
countries
- Diplomacy - the activities used for carrying out and managing foreign policy

5 goals for U.S. Foreign Policy

1. National Security
2. Establishing free & open trade
3. Promoting world peace and a healthy environment
4. Promote democracy
5. Provide aid to people in need

5 Types of Diplomacy used by the United States

1. Big Stick Diplomacy

- Started with Teddy Roosevelt
- International negotiations backed by the threat of military force

2. Dollar Diplomacy
- Started with Howard Taft
- Using financial power/resources to extend international influence/relations
- Financial power/resources in the form of financial aide or economic
sanctions: withholding money or banning trade with a country and allies
3. Economic Diplomacy
- Started with Ronald Reagan
- Open international markets to U.S. products
- Make sure that U.S. companies have access to bidding on international
contracts

4. Moral Diplomacy
- Started with president Woodrow Wilson
- Support is only given to countries whose moral beliefs are similar to that
of the United States (freedom for all people, democracy, etc)

5. Public Diplomacy
- Started in the 1960s (under Kennedy admin.)
- Appealing directly to the people of another country promoting the
philosophies/beliefs of the United States
- Pro United States Propaganda

The Geneva Conventions

 -

A series of treaties designed to protect:

- Sick and wounded of the armed forces on the field
- Wounded, sick and shipwrecked members of the armed forces at sea
- Prisoners of War
- Civilians

- Originally created in 1864, then revised after WW1

- Has been ratified in 1949 and 2005
- A total of 53 countries have not signed the Conventions, not all have ratified the
Conventions, not all follow the Conventions.

“-isms” of Foreign Policy

Nationalism
 - Pride in one’s country
- Practice limited foreign policy

Internationalism
- Advocating for relationships with other countries
- Broad form of foreign policy

Isolationism
- Remaining apart from other countries; separate
- No foreign policy

Interventionism
- The use of the military to promote relations (interventions)

Non Interventionism
- Supports foreign policy, supports intervention, but will NOT use military forces

Unilateralism -
- Doing things OUR way, regardless of what our allies are doing or advise

The United States relies on 3 categories of Foreign Policy

“Tools”
Diplomatic Tools: Help build peaceful relations with other nations and promote
national security

Economic Tools: Can be used to bring social and political change in other
countries through the use of money

Military Tools: Used when force (or the threat of force) is called for

Diplomatic Tools By..

Embassies: The US maintains roughly 160 embassies around the world, they are US
Government buildings
 Ambassadors: US employees ambassadors through the state department who represent
the US in other countries. Ambassadors and their families live and work out of the US
embassies

3 Major US Alliances
NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

- Established in 1949
- 26 member nations
- Formal alliance between the US North American and European Nations
- Main Purpose: to defend each other from the possibility of the Soviet Union taking over

OAS: Organization of the American States

- Established: 1948
- 35 member nations of the Americas
- Promote and strengthen democratic governments of the Western Hemisphere
- Prevent and resolve conflicts between member nations

The Rio Pact:

- Established: 1947
- Predecessor to the OAS
- 23 of the 35 nations of the OAS
- Knows as the Hemispheric Defense “An attack against one of us is an attack against all of
us.”

-- QUIZ ENDS --

Military Tools

- Only the Congress has constitutional ability to declare war!

- President has the Constitutional authority to place US military troops around the world as
peacekeepers
 - US government will provide military aid and military supplies to countries who request

The “Just War Theory”

Deals with the justification of how and why wars are fought. There are 4 principles which
define the decision to declare war.

1. A “state” must openly declare war for it to be just. Must have a just cause for declaring
war.
2. A “state” must have just intentions. Justice rather than self-interest must be the purpose
of war.
3. A “state” must consider the following:
- Is there a reasonable chance of winning the war?
- Do the expected benefits of the war outweigh the cost?
- Have all other means of resolution been tried?

4. Principle of “jus ad bellum” (Justice of War) The war’s outcome has to be an outcome of a
peace.

Conflict vs. War

Conflict:
- Can be fighting, military action (usually peace-keeping)
- Using limited military resources
- No official declaration of War passed by Congress
- Only shoot if shot at first
War:
- Fighting done with full deployment or use of all of resources
- Official declaration of war passed by the US Congress

Types of War

1. Revolutionary War

A war fought over a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and
political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government,
typically due to perceived oppression

2. Civil War

A war between citizens of the same country (inner-state), usually for political or economic
reasons

3. Limited War

A war in which the weapons used, the nations or territory involved, or the objectives pursued are
restricted in some way, in particular one in which the use of nuclear weapons is avoided.

A war fought for specific goals vs. destroying the enemy

Possibly limited to a certain location

Limited use of military

4. World War

A war involving many large nations or countries in all different parts of the world.

In each nation, ALL resources are used; total war

5. Religious War

A war primarily caused or justified by differences in religion.

6. Preemptive War

Commenced in an attempt to repel or defeat a perceived imminent offensive or invasion, or to

gain a strategic advantage in an impending war shortly before that attack
Materializes.

Short war, militarily intense, specific target, trying to prevent a larger action, main target;
civilians, followed by crippling military, crippling industry, crippling transportation, crippling
communication.

(serving or intended to preempt or forestall something, especially to prevent attack by disabling

the enemy.)

7. Cold War

A state of political hostility between countries characterized by threats, propaganda, and other
measures short of open warfare. Not actual conflict.. Yet.

NO declaration of war

Other, usually smaller countries do the fighting on our behalf

Warsaw Pact
- Created in 1949
- Response to NATO
- Soviet Union + 10 members nations
- Protect against the United States & Allies
US Preemptive Strike Doctrine

- Passed by Congress in 2002

- President George Bush
- Result of the 9-11 attacks against the US
- Shift in Foreign Policy → Aggressive
- Gives the President the authority to use force against ANY enemy to prevent
an attack
- Must have “Reliable Intel”
 Unit VII Notes

Economics - The study of how people produce, distribute and consume goods and
services

The study of economics can be broken into two categories:

Macroeconomics and Microeconomics

Macroeconomics: the study of national economy as a whole system The larger

view

Microeconomics: the study of economics of an individual group or company, the

smaller view.

The basic resources that make up an economy: Factor of Production

4 major Factors of Production:

1. Land and Natural Resources
2. Labor (skilled and unskilled)
3. Capital (assets)
4. Entrepreneurship

Labor: Skilled vs. Unskilled

“White Collar” - Refers to workers who are highly trained and usually hold a
college degree. A professional and earns a salary, instead of an hourly wage.
“Blue Collar” - Refers to someone who is described as Unskilled laborer. Does
not have a college degree or not highly trained. Typically receives an hourly wage
instead of a salary.

Entrepreneurship - The willingness to take risks to earn a profit

Assets - Things of value will help you generate a profit

Liability - Opposite of assets, costs you money

3 Basic Economic Questions:

1. What should be produced? - should be based upon some type of market

research
2. How should it be produced? - should be based on the resources readily
available (materials and labor)
3. For whom should it be produced? - will need to determine target group
(demographics) for advertising and the type of advertising to be used.

3 Major Economic Systems:

Traditional Economy - individuals make economic decisions based upon custom

or habit

Market Economy - make decisions based upon their understandings of the needs
and wants of others

Command Economy - when the government makes the economic decision

Mixed Economy - when elements of all economic methods are combined ^^

3 Main Types of Mixed Economies

Capitalist ~ closest to a market economy

- Market Economy
Socialist ~ falls between a market and command economy
- Between Market and Command Economies
Communist ~ closest to a command economy
- Command Economy

Capitalism
 - The basis for the economic system of the US
- The manufacturing and distribution of goods and services are privately
owned
- Business owners and workers have free will to spend their money
- Little to no government interference
- The ultimate goal of Capitalism: to turn a profit !!
- The production of goods and services can be done through vertical
integration or horizontal integration
- A company is still Capitalist if it cares about “publicity and perception”
- “You have to spend money to make money”

Vertical Integration: ALL aspects of the production and distribution of a product

or a service are owned and controlled by the company.

Horizontal Integration: Some aspects of the production and distribution of a

product or service are owned and controlled by other companies. Commented [6]: compare

lais·sez-faire
/ˌlesāˈfer/
noun
 1. a policy or attitude of letting things take their own course, without interfering.
○ ECONOMICS
○ abstention by governments from interfering in the workings of the free market.
“Hands-off” approach to the economy
***an economic system in which transactions between private parties are free from government
intervention such as regulation, privileges, tariffs and subsidies.

The Food and Drug Administration

Founded: 1906

Oversees the safety of our nation's food supply,cosmetics, and the medications
(prescriptive and over the counter)

Federal Reserve System

Created by Congress: 1913

Oversees all banking in the United States. Created the national banking system.

Sets interest rates for all loans.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Created: 1933

Created by Franklin D. Roosevelt as a direct results of the collapse of the stock

market and to the Great Depression

Insures deposits in banks and “banking institutions” for at least $250,000.00

Consumer Product Safety Commision

Created: 1972

Develops standards for productions of products in the United States

Reduces the risk of death from products sold in the United States

The Law of Supply and Demand

- The basis for running a successful business

- When starting a business, identify the problem
- Rate and demand vs. the rate of supply

When supply is high and demand is low: lower prices, lower profit
When supply is low and demand is high: higher prices, higher profit

Rate of Inflation: Purchasing power of $$

High: Increase in prices but value of $$ goes down (cannot buy as much)
Low: Decrease in prices and value of $$ goes up (allows us to buy more)

Recession vs Depression

Recession: Lasts a short period of time

Purchasing power goes down, but the economy still grows
Depression: A very long period of time
No economic growth, takes major issue or event to pull out of a depression

Deficit Surplus Commented [7]: compare

Business/Personal life Spending more money than Making more money than you
you are bringing in - expenses are spending - revenue is
are greater than revenue greater than expenses

Government (federal, state, Spend more than is allocated: Spend less than allocated,
local, school district, etc.) approved having money left over

Trade Imports > Exports Exports > Imports

Purchasing more foreign Sending out more goods than
made goods than what is we are purchasing
being sent out

Revenue: the money that you earn/is brought in

Expenses: the money that is spent on basic needs

Socialism
 - Basis for economic system in: The UK, Canada, and Mexico
- The means of economic production and distribution are owned and
controlled by the community as a whole. Allows for individual profit but
with more government regulation.
- The distribution of a nation's wealth throughout society for the benefit of the
majority of its citizens. Provides for the citizen’s basic needs.

Father of modern socialism: German political and

Economic Theorist, Karl Marx

➢ Marx believed capitalism placed too strong an

emphasis on profit
➢ Marx believed capitalism favored profit over
the well-being of the workers or over workers
rights

Communism
- Developed by Karl Marx
- An economic system which emphasizes a “classless” society
- All means of economic production, manufacturing and distribution are
owned and controlled by the government.
- The government collects all income and distributes what it feels people need
to live on
- Favors an authoritarian government: small, elite group in power with total
control over people’s lives (totalitarian)
- Ultimate goal: Government control of its people
- The former Soviet Union was the first Communist nation
- China became Communist in 1949
- Today, China’s economy is moving away from Communism.

Pros and cons if Socialism and communism

Capitalism
 3 Types of Business

Single Proprietorship:
- One person owns or operates a business
- One person is responsible for debts, expenses and profits
- HIstorically the oldest form of business in the US (traditional economy)
- “Mom and Pop” business
- Private

Partnership:
- Two or more people owning it operating a business
- Must have a legal document/agreement to distribute the partnership
(explains the percentage of ownership by individual)
- “distribution of partnership” will determine distribution of liability and profit
- Unlimited partners
- Private
Corporation:
- Group of people or businesses, incorporated by state governments and law
- Act as a single entity
- Operate publicly (public can invest money and buy stock)
- Organization
- Public can buy stock in any corporation (Dividend: profit made from stalks.
Hostile Takeover: ) Commented [8]: Whaaaaa

- CEO: chief executive officer *public face, visionary, head of... Commented [9]: whaa

- COO: chief operations officer *deals with internal and operational

issues
- CFO: chief financial officer *$$$
- Board of directors: elected body that oversees the operations
Franchise Business:
- Chains of corporation with patent
- Not public, not on stock market.
- Rights to a business: name logo profit; percent of monthly profit goes back
to corporation
- Easier than starting your own business— less risky but more expensive

Propaganda

- Information especially of a bias or misleading nature used to promote

or publicize ...
- All business use propaganda to influence consumers to purchase their
goods and/or services

Propaganda Techniques
Bandwagon
Testimonial
Loaded Word
Misuse on Statistics
Name Calling or Stereotyping
Plain Folks
Snob Appeal
 Transfer

Bait and switch - a certain product is advertised but not in stock/sold last one/
shipment didn’t come in; Used to bait consumers to coming to store, however they
have similar more expensive products. *Disclaimers: “while supplies last, not all
locations/available at all store”

Bandwagon - “Everybody is doing it - you should too!” (social influence) - trick Commented [10]: I started notes here - you may want
to edit, IDK
us into buying something because others are doing it
Commented [11]: Thank You!
Commented [12]: bless up
Testimonial - Quotations or endorsements which connect a famous or respectable
person with a product or item (Rihanna on Covergirl)

Loaded Word - Use “loaded” words such as new, improved, the best, etc.

Misuse of Statistics - When the statistics are based on a falsehood (four out of five
dentists recommend!)

Name Calling or Stereotyping - smears or damages an opponent, often used by

politicians (tree-hugger, stupid-****, ect.)

Snob Appeal - aims to flatter, makes insinuation that this product is better than the
others (avant garde -ahead of the times)

Plain Folks - opposite of snob appeal - makes the leaders look like plain folks
(mom and pop style - sit and have lunch with you, seem friendly, appeals to middle
class)

Transfer - feelings (good or bad) are transferred to something else (tries to make
somebody look like something else, eg. Donald Trump looking like a carrot -
usually not flattering)

UNIT 6: QUIZ #2
 *what to study*
-socialism + communism
- 3 types of businesses
-CEO, CFO, Board of Directors
-Franchise
-Propaganda Techniques
2 pages, 2 parts, 42 points - heavy on vocab!
Part 1 - matching (12, 1 pt. each)
Part 2 - short answer questions (3, 10 pts. each)
!NO RETAKES!

The Poverty Line

Poverty formula: “A family of four spends roughly ⅓ of their income on food

therefore the poverty line is anything below 3 time the minimum food budget for a
non farm family”

- The United States Government defines Poverty as:

Comparing a person’s family income to a set poverty threshold or minimum
amount of income needed to cover basic needs. People whose income falls
under their threshold are considered poor.

- The official poverty rate in the United States is 12.3%, based on the Us
Census Bureau’s 2017 estimates. That year, an estimated 39.7 million
Americans lived in poverty according to the official measure.
- (1: $12,140)

Poverty cycle (propaganda)

 The Causes of Poverty

1. Labor Market Issues

- Most poor families contain unskilled workers.
- Wages are low
- Availability of jobs
- Less job security - “at will employees” Commented [13]: What does this actually mean
Commented [14]: _Marked as resolved_

2. Education Commented [15]: _Re-opened_

I think it means that they are at risk for getting hurt, etc.
but idk
 - Stress from housing conditions, poor nutrition, and other factors can
affect a child’s physical and cognitive development. This can lead to
mental conditions that impact a students motivation and desire to do
well in school
- Vocabulary Development
- Children between the ages of 2-4 living in poverty learn: 100-
400 words/year
- Children between the ages of 2-4 not living in poverty learn:
750-3000 words/year
- Affordability of higher education is also an issue

3. Demographic Characteristics: Age and Family Structure

- Single parent households vs. 2 parent households
- The population is living longer and (in some cases) outliving their
retirement funds
- Number of children vs. income
-
4. Race/Ethnic Groups
Current Poverty Statistics Commented [16]: Know percents

- Single Mothers 26%

- Adults with Disabilities 25%
- African-Americans 21%
- Hispanic-Americans 19%
- Foreign-Born Non-Citizens 18%
- Single Dads 12%

5. Poverty-Related Policies
- Minimum Wage is not a livable wage
- The cost of health care
- Subsidized housing
- Cost of child care
- Free/Reduced lunches
- Welfare Programs
- Tax cuts for wealthy vs. the working class
 6. Cultural Factors
- Generational Poverty
- Some cultures/families do not see a value in higher education
- Gender inequity in pay - men on average are paid more than women

Unit VII Test Format

4 pages, 3 parts
1. 12 Multiple choice questions(one point)
- propaganda
- Vocabulary
- 3 types of business
2. Fill in the blank (no word bank)
3. Essay question 10 points each
- Three major types of business. Compare and discuss
- Four factors of production & discuss
- Three different types of systems. Compare and discuss
- Poverty cycles
- Adv//Dis of capitalism socialism and communism (compare and contrast all)

Unit VIII: State And Local Governments

Federalism: the sharing of powers between the national state, and local
governments.

The US Constitution contains provisions for….

Delegated Powers: belong at the national level

Reserve Powers: belong at the state level

Concurrent Powers: shared powers

The Supremacy Clause: declares that Federal laws are the “supreme law of the
land”

The Full Faith and Credit Clause: requires that each state recognize the laws and
acts of other states. Each state must honor the decisions of the courts of other states

The Guarantee Clause: guarantees every state in the US a republican and

democratic form of government based on a state Constitution

The US Constitution contains based on:

Fundamental laws ~ Broad and open interpretation

State constitution contains both fundamental law and Statutory laws are very
detailed and specific

In Vermont:

- 150 members are elected to the state House of Representatives

- 30 members are elected to the state senate
- Collectively referred to as General Assembly

Nebraska: only unicameral state, Senate only (created because of wishes to save
money during the Great Depression)
Sanders:
Leahy:
Welch:

Vermont’s Speaker of the House:

Mitzi Johnson (91st Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives)

- Lives in South Hero, Vermont
- She is a member of the Democratic Party

Vermont’s Presiding Officer of the Vermont State Senate is the Lt. Governor:

David Zuckerman
- Lives in Hinesburg, Vermont
- He is a member of Vermont’s Progressive Party

Final Exam:

Unit V - Federal Courts + U.S. Supreme Court

Unit VI - Foreign Relations/Foreign Policy
Unit VII - Economics
Unit VIII - State and Local Governments

2 Sections:

Section I: 328 pts

Section II: 50 pts (Essay)

378 Total Points

Part 1: Map of the US (30 @ 1 pt. ea.)

Part 2: Vermont Counties (14 @ 1 pt. ea.)
Part 3: States and Capitals (25 @ 1 pt. Ea. Matching)
Part 4: Fill in the Blank (56 @ 2 pts. ea.) (at least 15 are names!)
Part 5: Multiple Choice (22 @ 1 pt. ea.) (Study Unit 5 Quiz!)
Part 6: Short Answer Questions (25 @ 5 pts. ea.)

The State Judicial System/Organization

Statute/Statutory (State-related, State Law)

Hate Crimes in Vermont: Any crime committed in Vermont that is maliciously

motivated by the victim's actual or perceived

State Courts hear cases involving the violation of state laws

Criminal Cases: Cases involving crimes against a person (murder, kidnapping,

assault, etc.)

Civil Cases: Cases involving crimes against property and/or involving money

The typical Court System contains THREE types of courts:

The State Supreme Court → Appellate Courts → Trial Courts/District

Courts

As of July 1, 2010 - The Vermont State Supreme Court System was reorganized:

1. The Vermont State Supreme Court:

2. Vermont Superior Courts:
- 4 divisions
- 1 for each Vt. County
- Civil Division, Criminal Division, Family Division, Probate Division
3. Environmental Courts:
- Statewide Jurisdiction
 The Vermont State Supreme Court:

Highest judicial authority in the state of Vermont

Unlike most states, in Vermont, the Vt. Supreme Court hears appeals of cases
directly from trial courts.

VT Supreme Court:

There is 1 Chief Justice of the Vt. State Supreme Court

There are 4 Associate Justices of the Vt. State Supreme Court

Chief Justice Paul Reiber: Conservative (2003)

Marilyn Skoglund: Liberal
Beth Robinson: Conservative
Harold “Duke” Eaton, Jr.: Conservative
Karen Carroll: Conservative

- In Vermont, all justices come up for retention every 6 years

- Joint Retention Committee of the Vermont Legislature reviews the Justices’
performance and makes recommendations to the Vt. General Assembly

Vermont Environmental Courts

Statewide Jurisdiction

- Created to improve the enforcement of Vermont’s state environmental laws,

including the state land use law. Also hears appeals to Act 250 permitting
decisions

Civil Divisions:

(Must prove financial loss)

Hears state and local level cases involving “Civil” matters such as:
 - Breach of Contract
- Evictions
- Foreclosures
- Land Disputes
- Personal Injury
- Medical Malpractice
- Wrongful Death Cases
- Small Claims Courts

Criminal Divisions:

Hears state and local level cases involving criminal matters

Hears appeals cases over citations issued by state or local law enforcement officers

- Murder
- Rape
- Attempted Murder
- Kidnapping
- Fish and Wildlife Violations

Family Divisions:

Hears state and local level cases involving “family-related” matters such as:

- Divorce
- Annulment
- Desertion
- Separation
- Child Support
- Domestic Abuse
- Juvenile Abuse or Neglect
- Forced Commitment to the Vermont State Hospital

Probate Divisions:
 Hears state and local level cases involving probate matters such as:

- Wills and Estates

- People who die without a will
- Inheritance
- Temporary Guardianship

Local Governments
- 88,000 local governments
- The U.S. Constitution does NOT mention local governments
- Local governments are created under state constitutions
- Counties originated in colonial times as a way to govern areas in which
people lived far apart
- Except in parts of New England, counties are the most basic unit of local
governments
- In some southern states, counties are called Parishes
- In Alaska, counties are called Boroughs
- Some states subdivide counties into townships for smaller, more manageable
township
- In Vermont, local governments are established and authorized by the state
government
- In Vermont, a requirement for a town, city or village to be authorized by the
state government is to develop and have approved a local Constitution called
a Charter
- When a city, town or village has been approved by the state government is
safe to be incorporated by the state and is then referred to as a municipality
- Vermont contains 255 municipalities (cities, towns and villages)
- Based upon 2010 Census Data: Vermont has 9 cities (largest to smallest - by
population)

1. Burlington
 2. S. Burlington
3. Rutland
4. Barre
5. Montpelier
6. Winooski
7. St. Albans
8. Newport
9. Vergennes
- Vermont has 9 cities
- Vermont has 237 towns
- Vermont has 9 villages
- Population is NOT a determination in what makes a city or a town in
Vermont. Cities are formed when a town’s residents choose to switch from a
town meeting to form a city form (vote by ballot). There are a number of
towns that have larger populations than nearby cities.

UNIT VIII Test

Five pages, 3 parts, 120 total points

Part 1: Map of US
- States and capitals combined
Part 2: 25 Fill in the Blank
- Vocab, terminology and names
Part 3: 5 short essays
- Only have to do ⅘
Possible essay questions:
- Local government organizations
- Vermont department of labor chart (age/work restrictions)
- Difference between other state courts vs vermont court
organization(compare and contrast)
- Diagram of vermont court system
- Vermont state court compared to US supreme court

***Mandated reporters (who when what)

 Fill in the blanks:

- States are divided into counties, in southern states parishes, Alaska is

boroughs
- Subdivided counties are townships, which have charters. When a town
becomes authorized its name becomes municipality. Vermont has 255
municipalities and Burlington is our largest city. In vermont it is up to
the citizens to choose to be a city, most are determined by population.

3 Major Forms of Local Government:

- Mayor: Council System

- Council: Manager System
- Commission System

Mayor - Council System

- Citizens elect a mayor to serve as the local chief executive and
citizens elect a city council to serve as the local legislative branch. (In
VT: Board of Selectmen or Board of Aldermen - no difference
between the two. It just depends on what people would like to call
them.)

Council - Manager System

- Citizens elect members of the city council. The members of the city
council appoint a city town or manager to be the local Chief
executive.

Commission System
- Citizens elect “commissioners” who lead city or town departments
and set local policies.

Special Districts
- Created by local charters and/or state Constitutions to provide a single
service in a designated area. Special districts can be either part of the
 local government or be independent. A good example are School
Districts.

Types of Laws

● Laws at the state level are called Statutory Laws.

Ex. - statewide laws, regardless of town - no drunk driving, etc.

● Laws at the local level are called Ordinances.

Ex. - dogs must be leashed

● “Laws” at the special district level are called Policies.

Differences between Vermont State Police, local Police Departments and the
Sheriff

● Vermont State Police - the Vermont State Police is the state police
agency for the US State of Vermont. The force has jurisdiction
throughout the entire state. The commander is Colonel Matthew
Birmingham. There are 327 sworn Vermont state Troopers. State
troopers’ primary job is to patrol the state highways and roads.
Troopers have the authority to make arrests. They also help
investigate criminal cases that stretch across local jurisdictions
throughout the state.
● Local Police Departments - City or Town Local Police Departments
are authorized by local charters and funded through local municipal
budgets. Have jurisdiction within the boundaries of the municipality.
Headed by a “Chief of Police”.
● Sheriff - A Sheriff has the authority to enforce a law anywhere within
their county. The sheriff is an elected position within each Vermont
county.
● Constable - A Constable is a person holding a particular office, most
commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary
significantly in different jurisdictions. In most local communities, the
constable in an elected position.
Original Jurisdiction
“Admiralty & Maritime” x
Exclusive Jurisdiction
Concurrent Jurisdiction
The Judiciary Act of 1789
Criminal Cases v. Civil Cases
Appellant
A brief x
Uniform Code of Military Conduct x
Courts-Martial
“In Session” x
“Opinions” x
Petition of a Writ of Certiorari
“Hearing a Case” x
“Amicus Curiae”
Majority Opinion x
Concurring Opinion x
Dissenting Opinion x

Foreign Policy
Diplomacy
Big Stick Diplomacy
Dollar Diplomacy
Moral Diplomacy
Economic Diplomacy
Social Diplomacy
Sovereignty
Nationalism
Internationalism
Isolationism
Interventionism
Non Interventionism
Functionalism
Unilateralism
Neo Isolationism
Peace keeping
“Balance of Power” x
“Rules of Engagement” x
Embassies
Ambassadors
NATO
OAS
The Rio Pact
USAID x
Economic Sanctions
“Jus ad bellum”
“Executive Agreements” x
Diplomatic Recognition x
Presidential Doctrine x
The War Powers Resolution of 1973
“Power of the Purse”
The Joint Chiefs of Staff
Covert
W.H.O.
U.N.I.C.E.F.
Trust Territories x
The Monroe Doctrine x
The Roosevelt Corollary
The Warsaw Pact
The Cold War
Preemptive Strike Doctrine
Détente

Economics
Macroeconomic
Microeconomics
Entrepreneurship
Traditional Economy
Market Economy
Command Economy
Mixed Economy
Capitalism
Socialism
Communism
Laissez-faire
The Federal Reserve System
The Consumer Product Safety Commission
The Food and Drug Administration
Vertical Integration
Horizontal Integration
Single Proprietorship
Partnership
Corporation
Authoritarian Government x
Totalitarianism x
The Business Cycle x
Recession
Depression
Budget Deficit
Budget Surplus
Allocated
Trade Deficit
Trade Surplus
“Trickle Down Economics”
Poverty

Federalism
Delegated, Reserved, Concurrent Powers
The Supremacy Clause
“Supreme Law of the Land”
“Full Faith and Credit Clause”
“The Guarantee Clause”
Fundamental Law
Statutory Law
Bicameral
Unicameral
“The General Assembly”
The Governor
The Lt. Governor
Retention
Civil Division *
Criminal Division
Family Division
The Vt. Judicial Bureau
Counties
Townships
Parishes
A city
A town
A charter
Municipalities
Mayor-Council System
Council-Manager System
Mayor
City Council
City-Manager
Commission System
Special Districts