Missouri EOC Exam

1. Missouri EOC Exam Study Guide

2. Direct Democracy – will of the people is translated into public policy directly by the people themselves Representative Democracy – small group of person, chosen by the people to act as their representatives, and express the popular will Republic – sovereign power is held by those eligible to vote, while the political power is exercised by representatives chosen by and held responsible to those citizens Direct vs. Representative DemocracyRepublic

3. Forms of Government • Totalitarian – government which holds absolute power • Monarchy – government controlled by a King or Queen who received their position of power through royal blood (often claimed to receive their power from God – divine right theory) • Oligarchy – government in which power to rule is held by a small, usually self appointed elite • Theocracy – government in which a god or deity is the supreme ruler or the person in power rules by divine guidance

4. Separation of powers between the executive and the legislative branches of government Both are coequal and independent of one another Executive is made up of the prime minister or premiere, and that official’s cabinet Prime minister and cabinet are members of the legislative branch Prime minister leader of majority party, but subject to direct control of parliament Prime minster and cabinet only stay in office as long as they have the support of the majority of the parliament Presidential vs. parliamentary Government

5. Representation • Representative Democracy – small group of person, chosen by the people to act as their representatives, and express the popular will • Representation in US House of Representatives is based on population (minimum of 1 Representative for each State) • Representation in the US Senate equal – each state receives 2 Senators

6. Popular Sovereignty • The people are the source of government power (the people rule) • Established with the words “We the People” in the Preamble to the Constitution

7. Judicial Review • The power of the Supreme Court to rule an act of the Legislative or Executive branches to be unconstitutional • Power of Judicial Review first established with the Marbury v. Madison case

8. Civic Responsibilities of Citizens • Voting – citizens are eligible to vote and be active participants in elections • Participation in Jury – all citizens are eligible to called to served on a jury (must report, unless excused by the court)

9. Changing Roles of Government • "Government being an institution through which a society makes and enforces public policy, it is made up of people who exercise its powers, all those who have authority and control over people.  Earliest forms of government can be traced back to the Egyptians (method of regulating own and neighbor's behavior).  We have adapted forms of democracy from the Greeks and Representative Democracy from the Romans.  The English brought with them their ideas for limited and ordered government.   If people do not agree with the government they hold the power to abolish or change it."

10. Mayflower Compact • First governing document of the Plymouth Colony • Was a social contract created to ensure survival of these early colonist

11. Federalist papers • Series of Essays written attempting to convince the States to ratify the US Constitution

12. Federalism • Division of powers between National, State, and Local Governments

13. Purpose of Law • "The rule of law requires that people should be governed by accepted rules, rather than by the arbitrary decisions of rulers. These rules should be general and abstract, known and certain, and apply equally to all individuals.   • Including government officials

14. Laissez-Faire • In a true free market (capitalist)economic system, the government is completely hands off (no intervention) • Would include no taxation or regulation intended to restrict business in any way

15. Functions of the Three Branches of Government

16. Roles and Functions of political parties • The major function of a political party is to nominate candidates to win elections and control the government

17. Role and Function of interest Groups • To influence public policy • Use of propaganda • Influence outcome of elections through PAC donations • Lobbying – working within the government process to influence the public policy decisions of the government

18. Liberal Construction vs. Limited Government • Debate between the expanding powers of the federal government vs. the concept of limited government • Liberal Constructionists argue for increased powers of the federal government for the betterment of society • Examples include Medicare, Social Security, etc. • Increased use of implied powers • Limited Government – the government is power is not absolute • Example includes Reserved Powers (10th Amendment) which states that any power not delegated to the National Government, nor denied to the States are left to the States • Minimal use of implied powers

19. Monetary Policy • Federal Reserve Bank is the central bank of the United States (US government’s power to create a national bank was recognized as an implied power in the McCulloch v. Maryland case • Sets interest rates (how much it costs to borrow money) • Determines money supply (by printing more money or removing money from circulation) • Printing money decreases the value of the dollar (inflation) • Removing money from circulation would increase the value of the dollar

20. Fiscal Policy • Taxation • National, State, and Local governments all have the power to tax • May include Income Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Property Taxes, Sales Taxes, Sin Taxes, etc. • Spending • President proposes a Federal Budget • Congress approves the Federal Budget and controls spending

21. Roles of Government in Market Economy • Defining and protecting property rights – eminent domain • Maintaining competition – without competition, a free market economy does not exist • Sherman Anti-Trust Laws protect competition by banning monopolies • Promote goals such as full unemployment - welfare • Stable prices – government subsidizes certain industries such as agriculture by manipulating supply to keep prices up • Growth – promote a positive climate for businesses to grow • Justice -

22. New Jersey v. T.L.O. • T.L.O. was high school student accused of smoking at school – she denied she was smoking • Principal searches her purse – finds cigarettes, rolling papers, marijuana, large sum of money, and list of people who owed her money • She cited a violation of her 4th Amendment – illegal search and seizure • Supreme Court defended school’s action, stating the school only needs reasonable suspicion as opposed to probable cause or a warrant

23. Mapp v. Ohio • Dollree Mapp had here home illegally searched without a warrant – police suspected she was harboring a bombing suspect • Police found illegal pornographic materials in her home and arrested her • The Supreme Court ruled that anything seized during an illegal search could not be used in court

24. Declaration of Independence: Influence on US Constitution • Established natural rights (life, liberty, & pursuit of happiness) • Established the concept of popular sovereignty (people are the source of political power) • Need for limited government • Need for separation of powers • Need for checks and balances • Provided justification for revolution against an unjust government

25. Articles of Confederation: Influence on US Constitution • Influenced concepts of separation of powers & checks and balances • Articles of Confederation had no executive branch to enforce laws, nor a judicial branch to interpret the laws

26. Weaknesses of Articles of Confederation • Constitution Fixes • House of Reps determined by population • Establish power to tax • Power to regulate trade • Creates executive branch w/ one President • Creates judicial branch to interpret laws • Creates amendment process • Simple majority (51%) of Both Houses to pass laws

27. Magna Carta • English Document which established the following fundamental rights • Limited government (basis of US Constitution) • Rule of law (government officials are not above the law) • Right to trial by jury (found in Bill of Rights) • Due process of law (found in Bill of Rights) • Protected against arbitrary taking of life, liberty, and property

28. Significance of Enlightenment Writers: Thomas Hobbes • In state of nature, man is born free (people could take anything they want by force), as a result we must agree to give up certain rights in a social contract to ensure peace (SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY) • Such as the right to kill or steal

29. Significance of Enlightenment Writers: John Locke • Men are born free and equal, but as populations grew, laws were needed to keep order, men agreed to delegate this function to a government, a social contract, with limited powers can be modified by the people at any time (SOCIAL CONTRACT THEORY)

30. Significance of Enlightenment Writers: Jean Jacques Rousseau • Mutual contract (social contract) between the peoples and government • People agree to be ruled only so that their rights, property, and happiness be protected by their rulers • Once rulers break the contract, the people are free to choose another set of rulers (basis for the Declaration of Independence)

31. Significance of Enlightenment Writers: Baron de Montesquieu • Need for Separation of Powers (legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government) • Importance of a fair and objective judicial branch of government (to avoid despotism resulting from a feeling of lacking equality)

32. Social Contract Theory • The state arose out of a voluntary act of free people • The state exists to serve the will of the people • People are the sole source of political power (popular sovereignty) • People are free to give or to withhold the power as they choose

33. Limited Government • Basic principle of American system of government • Government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual is has rights that the government cannot take away • First established with the Magna Carta • Rule of Law – government officials are to be held accountable for their actions (not above the law)

34. Separation of Powers • Basic principle of American system of government • Executive, Legislative, and Judicial powers are divided among three independent and co-equal branches of government • Enhances concept of limited government by dividing up the power, to prevent concentration of power in one individual

35. Checks and Balances • Basic principle of the American system of government • System of overlapping powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the others

36. Federalism • System of government in which a written constitution divides the power between a central government and several local governments – divides power between National (Federal), State and Local governments

37. Principles of American Political Culture - Liberty • Freedom – each person shall be free to do as he or she chooses as long as it does not interfere with the rights of another • Freedom is NOT absolute • Can’t say fire in a movie theater (if there is no fire) • Can’t say bomb on an airplane (if there is no bomb)

38. Principles of American Political Culture - Equality • All people are entitled to equality of opportunity and equality before the law

39. Principles of American Political Culture – Majority Rule / Minority Rights • Although the majority has the right to rule or pass laws, they many not deny the rights of a minority group

40. Bill Of Rights • 1st Amendment: Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press, Assembly and Petition

41. Bill Of Rights • 2nd Amendment: right to bear arms

42. Bill of Rights • 3rd Amendment: No Quarter of Troops during times of peace.

43. Bill of Rights • 4th Amendment: The right of the people against unreasonable search and seizures (must have warrant or probable cause).

44. Bill of Rights • 5th Amendment: Criminal Proceedings (no self incrimination, no Double Jeopardy (can’t be tried for same crime twice), Due Process and Eminent Domain (gov’t can seize private property for public use – must pay market value)

45. Bill of Rights • 6th Amendment: Right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury.

46. Bill of Rights • 7th Amendment: Right to a jury trial in civil matters in excess of $20.00.

47. Bill of Rights • 8th Amendment: No Cruel and unusual punishment, nor excessive fines or bail.

48. Bill of Rights • 9th Amendment: Any rights that are not specifically stated in the Constitution are held by the people.

49. Bill of Rights • 10th Amendment: Powers not delegated to the U.S. by the Constitution, or are forbidden to the States, belong to the States or the People of the States (Reserved Powers).

50. Formal Amendment Process • Formal Amendments can be PROPOSED by: • A 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress • At a national convention when call by Congress when requested by 2/3 of the states • Formal Amendments can be RATIFIED (approved) by: • The State legislature of ¾ of the states • Conventions held in ¾ of the states • Formal Amendment Process provides for a way to accommodate a changing society