This document provides a summary of key concepts related to American civics and government. It covers topics like democracy, economics, the Constitution, federalism, the three branches of government, presidential qualifications and powers, political parties, landmark Supreme Court cases, and taxes. The document is intended to teach readers about foundational aspects of the US system of government in a concise yet comprehensive manner.

1. 2017-18
American Systems Review
All you ever wanted to know and
forgot to ask……

2. Or….
• All you didn’t learn and need to know now to
pass for the year!!!

3. Democracy
• Direct – People vote on laws
• Indirect – Representative – Republic – people
vote for Representatives
» Also a Republic

4. Economics
• Capitalism –Free market, competition,
Freedom of Choice, little government
• Socialism – Command market, little or no
competition, Government control of choices

5. Constitution
• Preamble – Intro to Con, listing 6 goals of US
gov’t
• 7 Articles – LEJSAS9/13
• Amendments - 27

6. Federalism
• Division of power between US central/federal
gov’t and the state governments

7. Three Branches of US Gov’t
• Legislative – makes laws
– Bill - proposed law
– Bicameral – two houses (House and Senate)
• Executive – executes of carries out the laws
• Judicial – interprets the laws

8. Purposes of Government
• Keep order
• National defense
• Services
• Economic decisions

9. Presidential Qualifications
• 35
• 14 year US resident
• Natural Born
• Term 4 years
• 2 term limit – 10 year max

10. Presidential Election
• Electoral College – 270 to win
• Popular Vote – citizens vote
• Electoral vote – electoral college vote

11. Presidential Powers
• Treaty - agreement with other country/nation
• Veto – reject a law
• Pardon – forgive someone for a crime
• Convene Congress – call to meeting
• Commander in Chief – armed forces action
• Appointment – choose someone to fill a job in
government

12. Presidential Roles
• Commander in Chief
• Chief of:
– State – ceremonial – pictures at White House
– Diplomat – meet with head of other nations
– Party – lead political party
– Economy – US jobs
– Legislator - laws

13. Presidential Cabinet
• State – foreign affairs
• Treasury – nations money
• Defense – national security
• Interior – national parks
• Education – nations education system
• Health – health and disease
• Justice – civil rights
• Homeland Security - terrorism
• HUD (Housing and Urban Development) – purchasing
houses
• Agriculture – helping farmers

14. Political Party
• Group of people who come together to win
elections and control government
• Major – Dem – Republican
• Minor/Third Parties -

15. Democrat
• Young
• Minority
• African American
• Urban/city
• More social program
• Media/entertainers

16. Republican
• Elderly
• Rural/country
• Blue collar workers
• White
• Protestant/religious
• Less government programs
• Lower taxes

17. Liberal vs. Conservative
• Liberal Conservative
– pro – choice Oppose abortion
– more programs/taxes Less programs/taxes
– gun control gun rights protection
– Protect rights for undocumented immigrants
• Protect Borders

18. Judicial Branch
• Precedent – past judicial decisions
• Brief – written arguments submitted to the
court before a trial.
• Stare decisis – let the past/earlier decision
stand.

19. Judicial Branch
• Jury –
– Grand jury – up to 23 people to decide if there is
enough evidence to hold a trial. Can issue and
indictment – a formal charge
– Petit Jury – usually 12 jurors who decide guilt or
innocence of a defendant
– Litigants – people engaged in a lawsuit

20. Supreme Court
• Highest court in the US - 9 justices - decides
the constitutionality of a law.
• 8000 cases appealed each year. Hears about
75-85 a year.
• Writ of certiorari – decision by the court to
hear a case.
• Unanimous 9-0
• Split – 5-4. swing vote

21. Landmark cases
• All cases will be on matching
– Brown v Board of Education
– Mapp v. Ohio
– Univ of Cal v. Bakke
– Tinker v. Des Moines
– Pattawatomie v. Earls
– Dred Scott v, Sanford
– Miranda V. Arizona
– Roe v. Wade
– US v. Nixon
– Korematsu v. US
– Hazelwood v, Kuhlmeirer
– New Jersey v. TLO
– Texas v. Johnson
– Thompson v. Oklahoma

22. Brown v. Board of Ed

23. Brown v. Board of Ed
• Linda Brown forced to walk to separate black
school
• Are separate schools Constitutional?
• 9-0, no separate but equal in public schools is
not equal

24. Dred Scott v. Sanford

25. Dred Scott v. Sanford
• Dred Scott was taken to a free state
• Sued for his freedom
• Was not considered a citizen and thus could
not sue for his freedom

26. Hazelwood V. Kulhmeier

27. Hazelwood V. Kulhmeier
• School principal censored a school newspaper
taking out two articles
• Student sued saying it was freedom of speech
• SC sided with the principal saying school
newspaper was an activity not a public forum

28. Koramatsu v. United States

29. Koramatsu v. United States
• During WWII President Truman issued an
order to round up Japanese in California and
detain them in a camp during the war.
• Koramatsu sued on the grounds the President
was abusing his Constitutional powers
• Supreme Court sided with the President,
permissible during times of war

30. Mapp v. Ohio

31. Mapp v. Ohio
• Dollree Map’s house was searched with out a
legitimate warrant. The police found something
illegal and she was arrested and convicted.
• She sued saying her 4th Amendment rights against
illegal search and seizure were violated.
• SC sided with Ms. Mapp. “exclusionary rule”
evidence obtained illegally can not be used against in
court against you.

32. Miranda v. Arizona

33. Miranda v. Arizona
• Ernesto Miranda was arrested for raping a
young girl. During the questioning he was
never informed of his right to remain silent.
He confessed to the crime.
• He sued saying his due process right were
violated
• SC sided with Miranda- Police need to inform
suspect of their rights

34. NJ v. TLO

35. NJ v. TLO
• TLO pursed was searched by a school
administrator. They found marijuana and
other drug paraphernalia.
• She sued saying it was an illegal search, no
probable cause
• SC sided with school on reasonable suspicion.

36. Regents of the Univ of Cal v. Bakke

37. Regents of the Univ of Cal v. Bakke
• Bakke applied to med school and did not get
even though his scores were higher than some
minority students who did get in
• Sued saying that reverse discrimination
violated his equal rights
• SC sided with Bakke, school cant use solely
race for admission

38. Roe v. Wade

39. Roe v. Wade
• Roe lived in a state where it was illegal to get
an abortion.
• She sued saying it was her right to make a
private decision about abortion.
• SC protected a woman's right to choose an
abortion during the first three months of the
pregnancy

40. Texas v. Johnson

41. Texas v. Johnson
• Johnson was protesting and burned the US
flag. He was arrested jailed and fined
• He sued saying it was protected freedom of
speech.
• SC sided with Johnson

42. Tinker v. Des Moines

43. Tinker v. Des Moines
• Tinker’s wore a black arm band to protest the
war in Vietnam. They were told by school
administration to take it off or be suspended.
They refused.
• Tinkers sued claiming freedom of speech.
• SC sided with the Tinkers, Students have
limited speech in school

44. US v. Nixon

45. US v. Nixon
• After the Watergate scandal. Nixon refused to
turn over recording claiming executive privilege.
• Nixon claimed the Constitution gave the
president power to hold back evidence.
• SC sided the with US and Nixon had to turn over
the recordings.

46. Thompson v. Oklahoma

47. Thompson v. Oklahoma
• 17 year old committed murder and was
sentenced to death.
• Was the death penalty a violation of the 8th
Amendments cruel and unusual protection?
• Yes, 17 too young for the death penalty

48. Pottawatomie v.Earls

49. Pottawatomie v.Earls
• School District of Pottawatomie randomly
drug tested any student in extra curricular
activities.
• Lindsay Earl sued saying it was a violation of
her 4th Amendment.
• SC sided with the School District

50. Taxes
• Income taxes – largest revenue to US gov’t
• April 15th deadline, IRS
• Progressive tax - % you pay goes up the more
money you make

51. Taxes
• Social insurance taxes
– Social security
– Medicare
– Unemployment
– Regressive tax – all taxpayers pay the same %

52. Taxes
• Estate tax – tax on the property left by
someone who dies
• Custom tax – tax on goods brought back into
the country
• Sin taxes – taxes on items that are not
considered good for you. Cigarettes, soda

53. Taxes
• What are the three things a government can
do when it spends more than it brings in
revenue (money coming in).
– Raise taxes on citizens to pay for programs
– Cut government programs
– Borrow to pay for programs

54. We Are Done!!!!