Civics Eoc Study Guide Essay Example
Civics Eoc Study Guide Essay Example

Civics Eoc Study Guide Essay Example

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  • Pages: 12 (3109 words)
  • Published: December 15, 2017
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EOC—STUDY GUIDE

The study guide for the EOC exam concentrates on various types of government. In a representative democracy, citizens elect representatives to legislate and make decisions for them, while acknowledging that the ultimate authority rests with the people. On the other hand, dictatorship is a governmental system where one individual or a small group possesses absolute control over decision-making. Lastly, federalism entails the distribution of power between central and state governments.

Confederation refers to a gathering of individuals or state governments, while the parliamentary government system involves an elected assembly holding executive and legislative powers. In the United States, democracy is built upon specific philosophical principles. These include limited government, which aims to prevent excessive intervention in personal liberties and the economy without consent in writing. Furthermore, representative government operates

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on the concept of popular sovereignty, with representatives chosen by the population.

The representatives are an independent governing body with the responsibility to act in the people's best interests. This is based on the idea of popular sovereignty, which states that a state is created by and therefore accountable to its citizens, who possess all political power. The origins of this principle can be traced back to the Magna Carta, a document obtained from King John of England that guarantees individual freedoms and political rights. Additionally, it is reinforced by the social contract theory, where individuals give up certain rights to a government in exchange for societal peace.

iii. The English Bill of Rights is a significant document in English constitutional law, stating the specific negative and residential rights that citizens and/or residents of a constitutional monarchy should have.
iv. The Declaration of Independence declared the 13 colonies

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as "Free and Independent states" and stressed the complete severance of political connections between them and Great Britain. It offered justification for their separation from British rule.

The Articles of Confederation allowed Congress to make decisions but lacked enforcement power. Modifications to the Articles required unanimous approval. Congress was unable to tax and could only request money from the states. The US Constitution introduced the Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, which determined the legislative structure and representation for each state. It proposed a bicameral legislature. The Three-Fifths Compromise settled the issue of counting slaves as three-fifths of the population for enumeration purposes. The Commerce and Slave Trade compromise addressed the trading of goods, services, information, and money between entities.

ii. The southern states agreed to grant Congress the power to regulate trade within and between states, as well as with other countries, including the slave trade until 1808. In exchange, the northern states agreed that Congress would not levy taxes on exports.
The Electoral College is a group of individuals chosen by each state legislature to cast votes for the president and vice president. Nowadays, electors are directly elected by voters rather than appointed by the legislature.
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists were political factions.

The Constitution is backed by the Federalists, whereas the Anti-Federalists contend that it grants excessive authority to the national government and insufficient power to the states. To address these concerns, the Bill of Rights is incorporated.

S. b. The right to bear arms and the military cannot conduct searches without a warrant.

e. Protection against double jeopardy. f. Right to a fair trial before an impartial judge, with legal counsel and the

chance to be judged by a jury of one's peers.

The constitution guarantees the rights of a fair and speedy trial, as well as the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment or excessive bail. These rights are indisputable.

Reserved, Implied, and Concurrent powers; Basic Principles of the US Constitution; Popular Sovereignty - the belief that power resides with the people; Limited Government - a governing system that prohibits excessive government intervention in personal liberties and the economy by law; Separation of Powers -the division of authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government; Checks and Balances -a system wherein each branch of government has t he ability to restrain or check the power of other branches.

The Supreme Court possesses the authority of Judicial Review, enabling it to assess if a law or government action infringes upon the Constitution. Federalism is a form of governance that distributes power between the federal/national government and state governments. An illustration of federalism in practice is evident through Delegated/Expressed powers, which are explicitly outlined in the Constitution and granted to Congress.

To raise and provide assistance to Armies is essential and appropriate. Reserved powers refer to the powers that are not explicitly granted to the national government according to the Constitution, but rather held by the states. For instance.

Both the state and federal governments have concurrent powers, which means they share responsibilities in areas such as marriage and divorce laws, education regulation, holding elections, imposing taxes, and borrowing money.

Branch Purpose

National State Local Legislative

  • Create/Write Laws
  • Congress
  • General Assembly
  • City Council

Executive

  • Enforce Laws
  • President
  • Governor
  • Mayor/City Manager

Judicial

    Interpret Laws/li1i
    <1l/i>(Supreme Court)
    (State Court)

  • (Local Court)

    10)11)Checks and

Balances in action:


    LisTIleGislative vs. Executive – impeach judges; override veto; reject appointments; refuse to approve treaties/li(iL)>
  1. I(Legislative vs. Judicial – impeach judges; reject appointment of judges)/Li( li/>
    E(lxecutive vs. Legislative – veto legislation)/i (OL)>

    The appointment of judges requires involvement from both the Executive and Judicial branches. Nevertheless, the Judiciary also possesses the authority to declare presidential actions as unconstitutional.

    The power to deem legislative acts as unconstitutional is held by the Judicial and Legislative branches. The Constitution can be altered through congressional action, which mandates a 2/3 vote from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

    The House of Representatives (HOR) is made up of 435 voting members, with each member representing a congressional district. In contrast, the Senate (SEN) consists of 100 members currently serving, two from each state. The term length for representatives in the HOR is 2 years, while senators in the SEN hold office for 6 years.

    The purpose of reapportionment is to create fair political divisions by redistributing representation in a legislative body. On the other hand, gerrymandering aims to unfairly favor one political party in elections by creating unequal districts in terms of size or population. After being approved by one house, a reapportionment plan is sent to the other house where it can be passed, rejected, or amended.

    To pass as a law, a bill must receive approval from both chambers of Congress in the same form. The Key Leaders of Congress and their respective responsibilities are as follows:

    • The Speaker of the House oversees the House of Representatives and is second in line for presidential succession. The Speaker manages administrative and procedural duties while also representing their congressional district.

    The President of

the Senate, who is also the Vice President of the US, holds the responsibility of casting the tie-breaking vote for a bill. When absent, this duty falls to the second-highest-ranking official known as the President pro tempore and a Senator, who represents the Senate in formal events. Additionally, there is a Majority Leader who acts as the floor leader for the majority caucus.

The Minority Leader is responsible for leading the second-highest caucus and ensuring party members participate in voting according to party objectives. Additionally, the Committee Chair decides how subcommittee chairs for other committee party members will be selected. It is important to mention that Article I of the US Constitution includes the elastic clause, which addresses Congress's implied powers.

The Constitution includes expressed powers that are restricted by the Bill of Rights, as well as implied powers that are deduced from the government's responsibilities. Strict construction is a legal philosophy that confines judicial interpretation, whereas liberal construction does not impose boundaries on judicial interpretation.

The Supremacy clause establishes that the Constitution, laws passed by Congress, and treaties of the US are the supreme law of the land. The Executive Branch ensures that a political party selects its presidential candidate through an election. In terms of Constitutional duties, the President is responsible for executing laws passed by Congress, serving as Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, negotiating treaties, appointing Ambassadors, other public Ministers/Counsels, Supreme Court Judges, and all other officers of the US, as well as filling vacancies in the Senate. Additionally, under the War Powers Act ,the President has authority to utilize military forces for 60 days without a formal declaration of war by Congress. This

authority can be extended for an additional 30 days upon request.

The presidential elections occur every four years on the first Tuesday of November in the election year. The presidential cabinet, consisting of the executive branch's highest-ranking appointed officers, provides advice and assistance to the president in carrying out his responsibilities. A civilian occupation in the public sector refers to working for a government department or agency, excluding military service.

Administration refers to the president's officials and employees, while a bureaucracy signifies the structure and regulations that govern activities. Independent Executive Agencies, although not part of the cabinet, are still under the president's authority.

They have expertise in specific government sectors, such as NASA. Another example is a minority opinion, which represents the viewpoints of a few Supreme Court justices in a case.

In contrast, a concurring opinion is a written statement by a justice who agrees with the majority's decision but for different reasons.

The Writ of habeas corpus is a court order that mandates the police to present a prisoner before the court for clarification regarding their detention. The University of California handles Affirmative Action and tackles discrimination problems individually. Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier revolves around freedom of speech in public schools.

The case of New Jersey v. TLO explored the concept of reasonable suspicion and also tackled probable cause. In contrast, Leandro v. UNC focused on matters of equity and funding within schools. Lastly, Worchester v. Georgia revolved around the rights of Native American Reservations.

Judicial Review refers to the Supreme Court's authority to determine the constitutionality of federal, state, and local laws and government actions. The Legal System encompasses various terms mentioned in the Bill of Rights.

These terms include libel, which pertains to harmful written untruths that damage one's reputation, sedition, which involves conduct or speech that incites rebellion against a state or monarch, and grand jury, a group of citizens responsible for determining if there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime.

The text defines several legal concepts. Double Jeopardy refers to being retried for a crime after already being acquitted. Eminent domain grants the government the power to take private property for public use. Slander encompasses false spoken statements that can damage someone's reputation. Probable cause involves having valid reasons to search, charge, or legally act against someone. The exclusionary rule is a law that bars the use of illegally obtained evidence in criminal cases.

The procedures established by law and guaranteed by the Constitution are referred to as due process of law. The First Amendment encompasses various elements: the Free Exercise Clause permits individuals to freely select their religion, the Established Clause forbids the creation of a state religion, and Symbolic Speech pertains to non-verbal actions that convey opinions or ideas.

The government engages in prior restraint through the censorship of material before it is published. Moreover, individuals have the right to peacefully assemble and form social clubs, political parties, labor unions, and other organizations. The right to petition allows citizens to officially express their ideas by requesting action from the government. Lastly, the Fourth Amendment safeguards against unjustified searches and seizures.

The Supreme Court ruling on search and seizure prohibits soldiers, government agents, or police officers from searching someone's home or confiscating their property without a valid reason. This protection extends to all American citizens, with a particular emphasis

on states. Its aim is to guarantee equal rights and protection under the law by preventing unjust deprivation of life, liberty, or property without adhering to appropriate legal procedures. Criminal law primarily targets individuals engaged in criminal activity.

Civil law pertains to non-criminal, military, or religious matters in a community. In legal proceedings, the plaintiff initiates a lawsuit and the defendant is the party being sued or accused. In criminal court, the prosecutor presents arguments against the defendant.

A misdemeanor is a less serious crime with lighter consequences, while a felony represents a more severe offense with stricter punishments. In the event of an appeal, the case is transferred to a higher court. The Criminal Justice process includes:

  1. The initial court hearing – where the defendant appears before a judge and bail is determined.

A probable cause hearing occurs when a Grand Jury or Judge reviews the evidence and officially charges the suspect with the crime. During the arraignment, the defendant can either plead not guilty and set a trial date or opt to plead guilty and negotiate a plea bargain. A plea bargain involves an agreement between the prosecutor and defendant where the defendant admits guilt to a lesser offense in return for possible leniency.

The Court Trial involves several key steps. First, there is the Opening Statement, which is when the judge/jury first hears the convicting evidence presented by the prosecutor's counsel. Then, there is the Examination of Witness, where a witness from one side provides their testimony. This is followed by the Cross Examination of Witness, during which the opposing side asks questions to the same witness.

The closing statement is the final statement from

each side's counsel, serving as a last presentation of evidence. Probation is the temporary suspension of a jail sentence, while parole entails granting a prisoner an early release from prison, but with certain restrictions. In economics, scarcity refers to the lack of sufficient resources to produce everything we desire. It is important to make wise choices when purchasing goods. Additionally, opportunity cost arises from the potential gains forfeited when choosing one action over other alternatives.

A trade-off occurs when one quality or aspect of something is sacrificed in order to gain another quality or aspect. The circular flow of economic activity is a basic economic model that illustrates the connection between money income and spending for the entire economy. The factors of production, including natural resources, labor, and means of production, are crucial components of the production process. There are three types of economic systems, namely capitalism, where the factors of production are owned by the people.

Socialism involves the government owning the factors of production, while communism involves the government making all decisions. A mixed economic system combines both private and state owned enterprises. The laissez faire theory advocates for minimal government interference in economic systems.

In a capitalist free enterprise economic system, businesses are privately owned and operated for profit. The law of demand depicts the willingness and ability of buyers to purchase goods at different prices. Similarly, the law of supply illustrates the correlation between the quantity of goods supplied by producers and the current market price. Factors such as income, elasticity for goods, complement, and substitute goods contribute to changes in supply and demand. An entrepreneur refers to an individual who initiates their own

business. A monopoly occurs when a single company possesses all factors of production, enabling them to set any desired price that consumers are willing to pay.

Oligopoly refers to a market structure where a small number of companies possess complete control over all the resources needed for producing a particular good or service. As a result, they have the ability to set prices at their discretion. On the other hand, a competitive market operates based on the forces of supply and demand, leading to the determination of equilibrium price in a free marketplace.

In terms of ownership structures, a proprietorship involves one individual owning a business. In this case, the owner receives all the profits but must have sufficient funds to initiate the business. On the other hand, a partnership involves two or more individuals jointly owning a business. While there is no requirement to pay corporate income tax in a partnership, owners are subject to unlimited liability.

Creating a corporation can be a straightforward way to secure funding, but it requires obtaining government authorization. Diminishing returns refer to the point of supply where producing an additional unit of any given product becomes no longer profitable. Surpluses indicate an excess of a specific product, resulting in excessively high prices.

Shortages refer to insufficient quantities of a product, resulting in low prices. Capital is defined as any previously produced good that can be utilized as a factor of production. Specifically, a bull market denotes a positive stock market, while a bear market implies a negative stock market. Moreover, a bond represents a loan provided by the government, and a dividend refers to a payment made by a company to

its shareholders.

A charter is a government document that grants permission for certain rights or loans etc. It is a graph that tracks the usual ups and downs in business activity. The price index is a numerical time series measure that is designed to help compare how the prices of some classes of goods and/or services, taken as a whole, measure the economy's price level and the extent to which there is inflation. GDP represents the total market value of all final goods and services produced within a country, while GNP is GDP after adjustments for inflation. Hyperinflation refers to when the price doubles every day, while deflation refers to a general falling level of prices.

Disinflation is the reduction in the inflation rate. Stagflation refers to the combination of inflation and increasing unemployment. Reflation is an effort to raise prices in order to counter deflationary pressures. A fiscal policy is a government policy that aims to influence the economy through changes in government spending and taxes. A monetary policy is the management of money supply and foreign market trading by the government. Types of taxes include progressive taxes, which take a higher percentage from higher incomes, and sales taxes, which are imposed at the time of sale.

The text discusses the principles of taxation, including the concept of excise as a tax on domestically produced goods. It highlights that these principles should be clear and straightforward, while also emphasizing the importance of convenient collection methods. Additionally, the text mentions the Fed's role in controlling the supply of money and influencing borrowing costs through measures such as reserve requirements and the discount rate. The Federal Reserve System, serving

as the central bank of the US, is responsible for these actions and acts as a bank for other banks.

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