Cram Course Civics and U.S. History

Cram Course Civics and U.S. History
The information presented below is a cram course on Civics, Government, and American History.  
(Skip the reading and take the  
CRAM COURSE QUIZ)

 During the Revolutionary War (American War for Independence) 1775 - 1783 
Common Sense Pamphlet (Document)- A Pamphlet written by Thomas Paine, who like many colonials were influenced by writers of the European enlightenment, it questioned the rationality of a small British Island being able to rule the large American Colonies. The pamphlet encourages the colonies to break away from Great Britain in order to establish a representative democratic government. Paine's writing is anti-monarchy

Declaration of Independence (Document)- Written by Thomas Jefferson and famously signed by John Hancock, this document represents the colonial view that Britain is responsible for many injuries against their colonies, including, illegal quartering (allowing soldiers to move into private citizens home without permission), taxation without representation, and unfair legal procedures (lack of due process of the law) to name a few. The Declaration of Independence was effectively a "break up notice" sent to the King of England by the 13 colonies. Although there were battles between the colonist and British before 1776, the Declaration of Independence officially started the war for Independence by declaring that the colonies were free to create their own government on July 4th, 1776. 

Hint: Many of the ideas and topics overlap concerning Civics and American History.

Continental Congress- Ruling body of government during and after the Revolutionary war that coordinated the military and financial effort against England. It was a one house legislative comprised of a small group of representatives from the 13 colonies. The purpose of this organization was to provide leadership with the power to establish a government that upheld the ideas associated in a Democracy. The word democracy literally means “rule by the people.” In a Democracy:

  • Government is vested with power by the people
  • Leaders are elected by the people either directly or indirectly in a representative manner
  • There are essentially two different types of Democracies: Direct (Ancient Greece. Athens), Representative (Parliamentary, England)
  • The people have the right to remove the government and establish a new government


Articles of Confederation (ratified in 1781-1787) (Document) - Was the first written form of Government that was adopted by the colonist during the tail end of the Revolutionary War.
  • Contained a one-house lawmaking body
  • They could declare war 
  • Make peace 
  • Conduct foreign affairs
  • Assumed State superiority to the Confederation government
  • Did not have the power to raise taxes or collect money without State approval.
It failed as a government model due to its lack of financial powers and obvious limitations placed upon its framework by the states. 

Establishing A New Government: The Constitution of the United States


 Federalist Papers (A series of documents)- A group of numbered anonymous essays (later known to be written  by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay) explaining why a Federal government is beneficial and that the new federal government created by the Constitution should be ratified (accepted) by the 13  states.

Federalism - a government structure with a centralized national government having enumerated powers that belong exclusively to the national government. Federalism also provides for concurrent (shared powers) between the national Federal government and states. There are also reserved powers that belong exclusively to the states and its people.



Structure of the U.S. Government Under the Constitution of the United States

The Constitution (1787-Present)- Second written form Government adopted by the States after the Articles of Confederation fail. The Constitution itself is finished in 1787, but the Bill of Rights (First Ten Amendments) officially completes the Constitution in 1791. The Constitution is based on a federal model (federal superiority over state governments) that works by having three branches of government with separation of powers, the ability to Check and Balance one another and a Bicameral (2 branch) legislature. This document stresses Federal superiority over states in certain matters (enumerated powers). 

Three Branches of Government:

Separation of Powers: Is established by the first three articles or sections of the Constitution.


Checks and Balances: Each branch has governmental powers that allows for checks that can restrict and therefore balance the power of another branch. No one branch has unlimited power.


·         Judicial Branch - Interpretation of the law and Constitution. Checks the President or Executive by ruling laws passed Constitutional or Unconstitutional.

·         Executive Branch- Checks Legislative with the Veto power. The Veto is the right of the president to not approve a Bill put forward by the Legislative to become a law. Finalizes laws by signing Bills. Appoints members for the Judicial branch and other government posts (CIA, FBI, TSA).

·         Bicameral Legislative (Congress) Branch – Congress checks each other since both houses have to be in agreement of a particular Bill.  They check the Executive branch and Judicial by confirming or rejecting Federal judges to serve. They can overturn a presidential Veto if the Legislative has a 2/3rd's majority vote in both the House and Senate. 
1.      The House of Representatives is the larger portion of Congress with 485 members. Members are distributed based on population of a particular state. The House has the power to create Bills that deal with financial matters. They have the power of the purse. They are elected every two years in order to represent the ever changing will of the U.S. population.
2.      The Senate is the smaller yet more senior and some would argue the more influential portion of congress with 100 members or 2 per state regardless of size. The Senate has the power of review or committee. That is how to run particular agencies and to confirm members of the Executive and Judicial. Members of the Senate serve for 6 years in order to provide more time for the development of plans and proposals to better administer government.

  • Supremacy Clause- States that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land."

  • Elastic Clause – Allows Congress to create any laws that it deems necessary and proper for the advancement of the nation even if it is not provided in the Constitution.

  • Commander and Chief- States that the President is the supreme head of all military branches.

  • Full Faith and Credit- That the laws of the Constitution apply to all states within the United States and each citizen shall be treated as a member that falls under the Federal government as well as a member of their state. (If you have a drivers license in New York, it will be respected in California for a fair amount of time)

Video's that you might want to consider watching on the subjects presented follow:

CONSTITUTION


ALTERNATIVE SEPARATION OF POWERS


CRAM COURSE PRACTICE:

CLICK HERE FOR CRAM COURSE PRACTICE QUIZ

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