Government Outlines from the Book
I.
Elections
a. Candidates
i. Republicans
1. Paul, Romney, Brownback, Giuliani, Thompson, Huckabee,
McCain, Hunter
ii. Democrats
1. Clinton, Obama, Kucinich, Richardson, Biden, Edwards, Gravel
b. Process
i. Requirements for President and Vice President
1. +35 Years of age, natural born citizen, been a resident for the past
14 years, party affiliation
2. Not required but good ideas…money, political background, family
orientated, clean criminal and political record, likable personality
ii. Requirements for a Senator
1. +30 years old, +9 years of citizenship, resident of their state
iii. Requirements for a Representative
1. +25 years old, +7 years of citizenship, resident of their state.
iv. Requirements for Governor
1. +30 years old, +5 years of citizenship, resident of their state.
v. National Committee
1. Gathering of same political party members from various regions
with a purpose of selected new leaders.
vi. National Convention
1. National meeting of a political party to select who is running for
office.
c. Parties
i. Major Parties through history.
1. Federalists, Democratic-Republicans, Whigs, Republicans,
Democrats
2. Always a 2-Party System
ii. Republicans
1. Viewpoints
a. Conservative, Cut taxes, Pro-Life, Usually Pro-Marriage,
Military Strength
iii. Democrats
1. Viewpoints
a. Liberal, Pro-Choice, Usually Pro-Same Sex Union, big
government=expanded services=higher taxes
iv. One-Party System
1. Only one major party
a. Pros – lots of agreement, quick government
b. Cons – Silent minority, too easy to pass laws
v. Two-Party System
1. Our current system
a. Pros – Slow government, compromise, choice, people have
a voice
b. Cons – conflict, stubbornness, only for the rich and
powerful? Slow to change ideas
rd
vi. 3 Party
1. Can’t win the White House
a. Pros – more voices, temporary (single issue)- over time
absorbed by major parties, eliminator of ideas
b. Cons – slow to change
d. Political Action Committees (PAC)
i. Purpose – Help candidates get their message out in a campaign.
1. Issues – Accuracy of message, can operate without approval
candidate, limited to $5000
e. Interest Groups
i. Purpose – groups of people with similar ideas who try to influence the
government.
1. Singular issue
2. Strength in Numbers – very grassroots
3. Support multiple candidates
ii. Examples – MADD, AARP, Unions, NAACP, Junk Food Industry, NRA
f. Electoral College
i. What is it? – Group of people who cast the actual votes for the office of
the President.
ii. Purpose – Protect from an over-whelming majority or superior force.
(Small states vs. large states, and uneducated popular will.)
iii. Problems – Belief that individual votes don’t count, third party candidates
steal votes, winner take all
iv. Pros – tie-breaker, protection from ill-informed public
v. Cons – unpopular, limits participation, out-dated?
vi. Differences – Nebraska and Maine
II.
g. Register to Vote
i. Qualifications – 18 Years old, Citizen, legally sane, clean record, resident
of the state
ii. When to change your registration – change of name, change of address,
change of political party
Form and Function of Government
a. Different Governments
i. 4 Kinds
1. Autocracy – One dictator (Hitler, Saddam)
2. Monarchy – King, Queen or Emperor
3. Oligarchy – Small group of people who have control (United
Nations)
4. Democracy
a. Direct – when all the people make all the decisions
b. Indirect(Representative) – people elect representatives to
make the decisions
b. Our Government
i. Type – 2 Party indirect democracy with a weak 3rd party.
ii. Checks and Balances based on the three branches
iii. Shared Powers – the Federal government will share power with the state
and local governments.
iv. Federal Powers
1. Expressed
- word for word literal translation of the
Constitution
2. Implied – expected actions of government based on intent of the
Constitution
3. Inherent – Necessary and Proper Clause – Government can do
what it has to when vital to the nation’s best interest.
c. History of our Government
i. Roots
1. British – Idea of limited government, Magna Carta (Constitutional
Law), voting rights, representational government, checks and
balances.
2. Ancient Greece - Ancient direct democracy, basis for our ideas.
3. Enlightenment Thinkers – Rousseau, Descartes, Locke – Asked the
question, “why?” and thought about the “rights of man,”
“unalienable rights,” and the role of government.
d. Global Economies
i. Two Main Factors
1. Free Flow of International Trade.
2. Economic development of third world countries.
ii. Trade Partners – Japan, China, Mexico, Canada
iii. NAFTA – North American Free Trade Agreement – encourages free trade
amongst Canada, US, and Mexico – benefits – low prices. Negative – loss
of jobs.
iv. GATT – General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade. International Policy which
sets tariffs.
v. Pros – trading blocks, tariffs
vi. Cons – quotas
vii. Law of Supply & Demand
1. More supply = less demand = lower prices
2. More demand = less supply = higher prices
e. Freedom & Liberties
i. Bill of Rights
1. History – Added to Constitution for ratification purposes.
2. Purpose – Protection for the people from the action of the
government
3. Guaranteed Freedoms
a. Speech – limited free speech for protection purposes
b. Press – limited free press – no libel and no slander
i. Censorship – Government can censor information
for the greater good of society.
c. Assembly – protest…
f. Citizenship & Immigration
i. 14th Amendment – Citizenship info.
1. Ways to be a citizen
a. Born on U.S. soil
b. Both parents are U.S. citizens
c. Naturalization
ii. Naturalization
1. Qualifications – entered legally, be of good moral character, must
support the principles of U.S. government, must be able to speak
and read English, know U.S. history and government, resident for
7 years.
2. Collective Naturalization – a whole group of people made into
automatic citizens, example annexation of territory.
iii. Losing Citizenship – Only the government can take it away. However,
criminals can lose rights.
iv. Responsibilities – Know Civic Laws and Rights, partake in the political
process, willing to serve in military.
v. Immigrants and aliens – alien – someone who lives in a country without
citizenship. Immigrant – someone who moves into a new country
permanently.
1. Resident Alien – long term but legal
2. Non-Resident Alien – short term but legal
3. Enemy Alien – resident only due to a war
4. Refugees – resident to escape danger or persecution
a. Political Asylum 5. Illegal Alien – people here illegally
vi. Benefits of Citizenship
1. Voting
2. U.S. Passport
3. Government Jobs
4. Bring foreign family members into the U.S.