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Gov unit 2

Terms in this set (73)

Social institutions
Systems of values and rules that determine how our society is organized
Why are Social institutions important?
They satisfy needs and teach values
Identify the five social institutions in our society
1. Family
2. Religion
3. Education
4. Economy
5. Government
What does family, religion, and education shape
Behavior and values of members in society
How do families benefit society?
They serve as a kind of training ground for adults- to-be
How does religion benefit society?
By teaching values and by passing them on from generation to generation
How many different religious groups can be found in the United States today?
1,200
Why is education increasingly important in our society?
Education is increasingly important because we live in a time of rapid technology change, more and more of the available jobs require a great deal of knowledge for a special skill
School is one of the first places where you meet people from?
Different backgrounds and with different values
The following facts are four reasons to finish school:
A. One and five dropouts is unemployed
B. Nearly 1/2 of Americans living in poverty are drop outs
C. More than one third of convicted criminals are drop outs
D. In a lifetime, a high school dropout can expect to earn less than a high school graduate
six reasons that the government has taken steps to limit private enterprise are:
A. Businesses have sometimes earned profits unfairly
B. Conditions for workers have sometimes been unsafe and inhumane
C. Unsafe products have harmed consumers
D. Not all Americans have had economic security
E. The economy has been unstable
F. The environment has been damaged
Identify the six ways that government has used to improve or correct economic problems:
Six Ways government has used to improve or correct economic problems are: government regulate businesses, make direct payments to individuals, own resources and produce goods and services, help pay for important economic activities, control the amount of money they spend & amount they receive in taxes, and make tax rules & collect special taxes
Our government was formed to protect our rights so that:
1. Soldiers can't come in your home at night and arrest your parents
2. The president can't stay in power as long as they want
3. The government can't outlaw religion and churches, and temples cannot be locked and barred
What do we need government to provide?
1. Law and order
2. Security
3. Public services
4. Maintaining other institutions
What are the three types of government?
1. Monarchy
2. Dictatorship
3. Democracy
Monarchy
Form of government in which all or most of the power is in the hands of one individual, the monarch
Dictatorship
Government controlled by one person
Democracy
System in which the power is shared by all the people
How can laws in our country be changed
By having Citizens express their opinions and work with others
The lawmaking body of our federal government is
Legislative
Legislative
Made up of two branches, the House of Representatives and the Senate
Representatives to the house are elected to
Two year terms
Senators are elected to
Six year terms
How might a representative or senator face a conflict of interest regarding local and national needs
A senator pays attention to the interests of the state as a whole, not just one district. A representative pays attention to one district
Five general powers are granted to Congress. They are:
1. Promoting general welfare
2. Providing for defense
3. Establishing justice
4. Unlisted powers
5. Nonlegislative powers
"The power of the purse"
Congress has final approval for the governments plan for raising and spending money
Congress holds another check over the president, which is the power to what?
To impeach
Who votes to impeach the president and prosecutes the impeachment trial
The House of Representatives
Who tries the impeachment trial
The Senate
Who presides over the House of Representatives
Speaker of the house
Who presides over the Senate
President pro tempore
When the latter person is unable to participate in every Senate proceeding who presides in such cases?
Vice President
Each party of Congress has a
Majority party and a minority party
Standing committee
Bills are not sent to them for action - they deal with a certain area, such as education or banking
Select committee
Deal with a problem not covered by any standing committee. They study the impact the arrival of the year 2000 would have on computer systems around the world
Joint committee
Made up of members of both the house & senate. They are formed to conduct investigations
Conference committee
Made up of both senators and representatives. They try to settle any differences in both the houses in order to move on
Two ways that The president can approve a bill passed by Congress in two ways that he or she can reject a bill from Congress
President can approve a bill by signing it or the bill will also become law if, while Congress is in session. Ways to reject it is by vetoing it and sending it back to Congress unsigned. The second way is by a pocket veto
Explain to ways that a bill can be stopped within Congress
Two ways a bill can you stop through Congress is by calling it cloture (to end be on a bill) & Filibuster ( use of long speeches to prevent a vote on a bill)
Compromise bill
Increases minimum wage to $4.25 per hour
Why is it good or bad that bills "must overcome many hurtles before becoming laws"
Because the framers wanted Congress to take its time. They wanted every bill to be studied and debated carefully
What are the qualifications for president, and for how many terms can one run for president
To be president, a person must be at least 35 years old and a natural born citizen of the US. They must have lived in the US at least 14 years. A president can't hold office for more than two terms. One term equals four years
Chief executive
Take care that the laws be faithfully executed
Commander in chief
When the nation is at war the president makes the most important decisions
Chief diplomat
The president leads in making foreign-policy, plans for guiding our nations relationships with other countries
Legislative leader
Congress is expected to consider the presidents ideas rather than act alone in making laws
Judicial powers
The president chooses Supreme Court justices and other federal judges
How was George Washington significant in shaping the office of the presidency
He was significant because he would be elected as a nation's first leader and served as a role model for what a president should be
Secretary of health and human services
Directs Medicare, runs the food and drug administration, runs a public health service, and runs the family support aministration
Secretary of transportation
Helps state and local government's maintain highways, enforces transportation safety standards, and operates the United States Coast Guard
Secretary of housing and urban development
Helps provide housing for low income citizens and assist state and local government's in financing community development and housing projects
Secretary of labor
Enforces laws on minimum-wage, job discrimination, and working conditions, helps run job training and unemployment programs and provide statistics on changes in prices and levels of employment
Secretary of energy
Conducts research on sources of energy, promotes the conservation of fuel and electricity, and directs programs to deal with possible shortages
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Gives medical, educational, and financial help to people who have served in The armed Forces
Secretary of education
Provides assistance to elementary, secondary, and college education programs, conducts research and provide statistics on education, and promotes equal access to educational opportunities
Secretary of treasury
Collects federal taxes through the internal revenue service, prints money and postage stamps, makes coins, and protect the president and vice president through the Secret Service
Secretary of state
Carries out foreign-policy, supervises ambassadors and other US diplomats, and represents the US at the United Nations
Secretary of defense
Maintains the Army, Navy, Marine corps, Air Force, researches military weapons, and build/maintains military bases
Secretary of commerce
Provides assistance to American businesses, conducts the national census, issues patents and trademarks for inventions, and maintains official weights and measures
Secretary of Interior
Manages national parks and other federal lands and protects fish, wildlife and other natural resources
Secretary of agriculture
Provides assistance to farmers, inspects food processing plans, runs the foodstamp and school lunch programs, and works to control plant and animal diseases
Attorney General
Investigate and prosecute violations of federal laws, operates federal prisons, runs the Federal Bureau of investigation, and represents the federal government in lawsuits
In addition to the cabinet, the president overseas 11 executive agencies, regulatory commissions and government corporations. What are they?
The 11 executive agencies can be described as the nuts and bolts carrying the nations laws and government programs, the regulatory commissions makes and carries out rules for businesses or economic activity and Government corporations are like private businesses in that they try to make a profit
Executive Privilege
Gives the president the right to keep some information secret from Congress and the courts. It is important because it is another way the president can take independent action
Explain how presidents have used and/or miss used presidential power in the following cases:
1. Louisiana purchase of 1803: they used it to double the size of the US. However Jefferson became troubled because the constitution didn't say that the president or Congress could buy territory
2. The steel mill crisis of 1952: Truman had no right to take control of private property and said he was acting as commander of chief to protect American troops
3. The Watergate affair of 1972-1974: Nixon and members of his staff were accused of covering up White House involvement in a break-in, in the Watergate office building. The aim of this was to help him get really liked by finding out about the Democrats campaign plans
All courts perform the same basic function
To apply the law to an actual situation
Plaintiff
An individual or a group of people who bring a complaint against another party to court
Defendant
The party who defends against the complaint
Prosecution
A government body that brings a criminal charge against a defendant
Precedent
A guideline for how similar cases should be decided in the future
What impact does the precedent have on our courts interpretation of the law
It makes the meaning of the law for the constitution clear. It also determines how the law should be applied, both inside and outside the legal system
Original jurisdiction
Authority to hear a case first
Appellate jurisdiction
Case that is heard
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