Government
"The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all."
JFK
Democracy: Where two wolves and sheep, sit down and decide what to eat for dinner.
socialism, capitalism, secular, mixed economy, totalitarian, direct democracy, representative democracy, oligarchy, autocracy, theocracy, popular sovereignty, divine right, force theory, evolutionary theory
Iroquois league, John Locke, William Blackstone, Magna Carta, representative government
(r)epublican form of government, Code of Hammurabi, separation of powers, Montesquieu, English Bill of Rights, Hobbes, Rousseau, Voltaire
limited government, rule of law
unitary, federal, confederal
Practice Test: The Enlightenment, Constitution, Capitalism, Socialism and Communism, Federalism
Month 2
common good, serving on juries, civic virtue, paying taxes, Federalist Papers, Numbers 5 and 49, selective service, obeying the law, military service
specific powers, roles and differences, checks and balances, Speaker of the House, lawmaking process, duties of Vice President, leadership within Congress, bills become law, federalist and antifederalist positions, roles of committees, constitutional requirements
specific powers, “head of state”, U.S. v Nixon, checks and balances, “head of a political party;”, powers - limits, cabinet, qualifications, federal bureaucracy, 22nd and 26th Amendments, duties of the presidency, Executive Privilege
nomination process, national conventions, electoral college
Month 3
specific powers, McCulloch v. Maryland, writ of certiorari, federalist papers Numbers 78-83, dual court system, precedent (stare decisis), checks and balances, organization and jurisdiction, due process, judicial review, nomination and confirmation, Miranda v. Arizona, Marbury v. Madison, role of the lower courts
Mass Media Gov 9
habeas corpus, 14th Amendment, expansion of voting rights, bill of attainder, right to a fair trial, limitation of presidential, terms, ex post facto laws, majority rule and individual rights, rights of the accused, freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition, Miranda, 4th, 5th and 6th Amendments, Bill of Rights, right to a jury, 15th, 19th, 24th and 26th
Month 4
civic life, PACs, interest groups, 527 groups, single-issue groups, Super PACs, lobbyists
A#6 NM Govt , NM Govt
direct democracy, Powers of the President vs Powers of the Governor, referendum and recall process, judicial appointment process, voter registration, role of federalism, role of primary elections, line-item veto power of the Governor, retainment processes for judges, state judges, organization of county and municipal governments
Series:
Introduction: Crash Course U.S. Government and Politics
How America became a superpower
How The Elite Stay In Power
What Is the Legislative Branch of the U.S. Government? | History
What Is the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government? | History
What Is the Judicial Branch of the U.S. Government? | History
Griffin on equal rights in America!
US Citizenship Naturalization Test 2019 (OFFICIAL 100 TEST QUESTIONS & ANSWERS)
Standards:
Strand: Civics and Government
Content Standard III: Students understand the ideals, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship and understand the content and history of the founding documents of the United States with particular emphasis on the United States and New Mexico constitutions and how governments function at local, state, tribal, and national levels. Students will:
9-12 Benchmark 3-A: compare and analyze the structure, power and purpose of government at the local, state, tribal and national levels as set forth in their respective constitutions or governance documents:
Performance Standards
1. Analyze the structure, powers and role of the legislative branch of the United States government, to include: specific powers delegated in Article I of the constitution; checks and balances described in the federalist papers, Number 51; lawmaking process; role of leadership within congress; federalist and antifederalist positions;
2. Analyze the structure, powers and role of the executive branch of the United States government, to include: specific powers delegated in Article II of the constitution; checks and balances; development of the cabinet and federal bureaucracy; roles and duties of the presidency, including those acquired over time such as “head of state” and “head of a political party;”
3. Examine the election of the president through the nomination process, national conventions and electoral college;
4. Analyze the structure, powers and role of the judicial branch of the United States government, including landmark United States supreme court decisions, to include: specific powers delegated by the Constitution in Article III and described in the federalist papers, Numbers 78-83; checks and balances; judicial review as developed in Marbury v. Madison; issues raised in McCulloch v. Maryland; dual court system of state and federal governments, including their organization and jurisdiction;
5. Analyze the rights, protections, limits and freedoms included within the United States constitution and bill of rights, to include: constitutional mandates such as the right of habeas corpus, no bill of attainder and the prohibition of the ex post facto laws; 1st Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition; 4th, 5th and 6th Amendments address search and seizure, rights of the accused, right to a fair and speedy trial, and other legal protections; 14th Amendment protection of due process and equal protection under the law; conflicts which occur between rights, including tensions between the right to a fair trial and freedom of the press and between majority rule and individual rights; expansion of voting rights, limitation of presidential terms, etc;
6. Compare and contrast the structure and powers of New Mexico’s government as expressed in the New Mexico constitution with that of the United States constitution, to include: direct democracy in the initiative, referendum and recall process; impeachment process; process of voter registration and voting; role of primary elections to nominate candidates; how a bill becomes a law; executive officers and their respective powers; New Mexico courts, appointment of judges, and election and retainment processes for judges; organization of county and municipal governments; and
7. Describe and analyze the powers and responsibilities (including the concept of legitimate power) of local, state, tribal and national governments.
9-12 Benchmark 3-B: analyze how the symbols, icons, songs, traditions and leaders of New Mexico and the United States exemplify ideals and provide continuity and a sense of unity:
Performance Standards
1. Analyze the qualities of effective leadership;
2. Evaluate the impact of United States political, tribal and social leaders on New Mexico and the nation;
3. Analyze the contributions of symbols, songs and traditions toward promoting a sense of unity at the state and national levels; and
4. Evaluate the role of New Mexico and United States symbols, icons, songs and traditions in providing continuity over time.
9-12 Benchmark 3-C: compare and contrast the philosophical foundations of the United States’ political system in terms of the purpose of government, including its historical sources and ideals, with those of other governments in the world:
Performance Standards
1. Analyze the structure, function and powers of the federal government (e.g., legislative, executive, and judicial branches);
2. Analyze and explain the philosophical foundations of the American political system in terms of the inalienable rights of people and the purpose of government, to include: Iroquois league and its organizational structure for effective governance; basic philosophical principles of John Locke expressed in the second treatise of government (nature, equality, and dissolution of government); foundation principles of laws by William Blackstone (laws in general and absolute rights of individuals); importance of the founders of the rights of Englishmen, the Magna Carta and representative government in England;
3. Analyze the fundamental principles in the declaration of independence;
4. Analyze the historical sources and ideals of the structure of the United States government, to include: principles of democracy; essential principles of a republican form of government; code of law put forth in the Code of Hammurabi; separation of powers as expressed by the Baron of Montesquieu; checks and balances as expressed by Thomas Hobbs; ideas of individual rights developed in the English bill of rights; role of philosophers in supporting changes in governments in the 18th and 19th centuries (e.g., Locke, Rousseau, Voltaire);
5. Compare and contrast the concepts of courts and justice from Henry II of England to the court system of today;
6. Compare and contrast the unitary, confederal and federal systems;
7. Analyze the ways powers are distributed and shared in a parliamentary system;
8. Compare and contrast the different philosophies, structures and institutions of democratic versus totalitarian systems of government;
9. Analyze and evaluate the concept of limited government and the rule of law;
10. Compare and contrast the characteristics of representative governments;
11. Compare and contrast characteristics of Native American governments with early United States government;
12. Compare and contrast the philosophical foundations of forms of government to understand the purpose of the corresponding political systems (e.g., socialism, capitalism, secular, theocratic, totalitarian); and
13 Analyze the role that the United States has played as a constitutional republic government for nations around the world. 1 2
9-12 Benchmark 3-D: understand how to exercise rights and responsibilities as citizens by participating in civic life and using skills that include interacting, monitoring and influencing
Performance Standards
1. Describe and analyze the influence of the non-elected (e.g., staff, lobbyists, interest groups);
2. Analyze the rights and obligations of citizens in the United States, to include: connections between self-interest, the common good and the essential element of civic virtue, as described in the federalist papers, Numbers 5 and 49; obeying the law, serving on juries, paying taxes, voting, registering for selective service and military service.;
3. Demonstrate the skills needed to participate in government at all levels, including: analyze public issues and the political system; evaluate candidates and their positions; debate current issues;
4. Analyze factors that influence the formation of public opinion (e.g., media, print, advertising, news broadcasts, magazines, radio); and
5. Evaluate standards, conflicts and issues related to universal human rights and their impact on public policy.
American Government: Class Guide
Principles and Origins to the Three Branches
Gov 3 Principles of Government
a. Essential question: What is government? Why do we need government? What are the different types of government? What roles do these different types of government play in the daily lives of their citizens?
b. John Locke, “State of Nature,” Authoritarianism, Totalitarianism, democracy and democratic values, “Lord of the Flies” 2
Gov 3 The Origins of American Government
a. Essential question: How did the United States system of government come to be? What role did the Founding Fathers play in creating our country’s government? What are our country’s political beginnings? How was the United States Constitution created?
b. Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Constitutional Convention, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, 13 original Colonies and the “Bill of Rights”
Gov 3 The United States Constitution
a. Essential question: What is the role of the U.S. Constitution throughout the country? What are the basic principles found in the Constitution?
b. Basic principles of the Constitution, important clauses, the “Bill of Rights,” 27 Amendments, the amendment process and articles of the Constitution
Gov 4 Federalism in the United States
a. Essential question: What is the relationship between the different levels of government and how do they interact? How is the power of governance divided between the states and the Federal government?
b. Division of powers, expressed, implied, and inherent powers; exclusive, delegated, and concurrent powers; Articles 4 and 5 of the U.S. Constitution, FEMA and other Federal Executive Agencies and their relationship with the State governments, Legislating morality and Federalism, Interstate relations
Gov 6 Voting in the United States
a. Essential question: How does voting work in the United States?
b. Voter qualifications in the Constitution and at the state level, Reapportionment, Redistricting and Gerrymandering; Voter turnout, the ballot and elections, voting amendments, suffrage and civil rights, voting requirements and restrictions
Gov 6 Elections in the United States
a. Essential question: How do elections in the United States work and fit into the American system of government? How does the nomination process fit into the American political system? What role does money play in elections throughout the United States?
b. The nomination process and political parties, primaries, midterm and general elections, campaign finance and the FEC, PACs and Super PACs
Gov 7 American Political Parties
a. Essential question: What role do Democrats, Republicans and third parties play in the American system of government? What do political parties do? How does the two party system work? How are political parties organized?
b. Democrats, Republicans, Third Parties, Third Party politics, the Two party system, Liberals vs. Conservatives, the political compass, different political philosophies and their roles in the American political system
Gov 10 The Congress
a. Essential question: What role does the United States Congress play in the American system of government? What is the United States Congress composed of and how do those entities interact? What is the scope of Congressional power throughout the country? How does Congress function in the American system of government?
b. House of Representatives, the Senate, Delegated powers, “Power of the Purse,” powers of money and commerce, implied powers, non-legislative powers, “How a Bill Becomes a Law,” Congressional Committees, the organization of Congress, the Speaker of the House, President pro tempore and other officers and important figures in the United States Congress
Gov 11 The President of the United States
a. Essential question: What role does the President of the United States play in the American system of government? How does the President fulfill his or her constitutional duties to the United States? How is the President elected? What are the President’s powers? How have the President’s powers expanded throughout American history?
b. Constitutional qualifications, constitutional roles, the Vice-President, presidential succession, presidential selection, electing the President, the Electoral College, Presidential Primaries, nominating the President, Article II of the Constitution, the “Commander in Chief” and other roles the President plays on a day-to-day basis
Gov 13 The American Court System
a. Essential question: How does the American court system function throughout the country? How are the different judicial levels related? What is the Supreme Court and what role does it play throughout the United States?
b. Article III of the Constitution, district courts, courts of appeals, “special courts,” “inferior courts,” 12 Angry Men, Criminal law, Civil law
V for Vendetta: The Revolutionary Speech (HD)
V for Vendetta - Ideas are bulletproof
JayWalking Citizenship Test