U.S. Government Cheat Sheet
Separation of Powers
FederalismNational Government
(Delegated Powers) Coin money Maintain armed forces Declare war Regulate interstate & foreign commerce Make all laws “necessary & proper” for carrying out delegated
powers
State Government(Reserved Powers)
Conduct elections Establish schools Regulate businesses within a state Establish local governments Make marriage laws Assume other powers not given to the national government
or denied to the states
Joint Government(Concurrent Powers)
Enforce laws Establish courts Borrow money Protect public safety Punish criminals Build roads Collect taxes
Executive Branch(Carries out the laws)
Membership President—George W. Bush Vice President—Dick Cheney Cabinet
Requirements for President & VP At least 35 years old Natural-born US citizen US resident for 14 years prior
Term for President 4 years, 2 term maximum
Powers & Duties of President Appoint officials (Requires approval) Sign or veto bills Wage war (Requires approval) Negotiate treaties (Requires approval) Grant pardons Call Special Sessions of Congress
Judicial Branch(Interprets the laws)
Membership Supreme Court—9 members Chief Justice—John Roberts
Term Life
Powers & Duties Exercise Judicial Review
Landmark Decisions Marbury v. Madison—Judicial Review McCulloch v. Maryland—National Supremacy Dred Scott . Sandford--Citizenship Plessy v. Ferguson—Separate but Equal Korematsu v. US—Wartime Powers Brown v. Board of Education—Desegregation Mapp v. Ohio—Search Warrants Gideon v. Wainwright—Right to Counsel Miranda v. Arizona—Self-Incrimination Reynolds v. Sim—One man, One Vote Tinker v. Des Moines—Student Speech US v. Nixon—Executive Privilege New Jersey v. T.L.O.—Student Searches Bethel School District v. Fraser—Student Speech Texas v. Johnson—Flag Burning
Legislative Branch(Makes the laws)
CongressWrite bills, Tax, Declare war, Override vetoes, Propose amendments
SenateMembership 100 members, 2 per state KY—Mitch McConnell & Jim Bunning
Requirements At least 30 years old
Term 6 years, unlimited
Powers & Duties Approve presidential appointments Approve treaties Try impeachments
Leadership President pro Tempore—Robert C. Byrd
House of RepresentativesMembership 435 members, based on state population KY—6, Ron Lewis
Requirements At least 25 years old
Term 2 years, unlimited
Powers & Duties Make impeachments
Leadership Speaker of the House—Nancy Pelosi
Amendments 3. Freedom of Religion,
Speech, Press, Assembly, & Petition
4. Right to Bear Arms5. Quartering of Troops6. Searches & Seizures7. Criminal Proceedings; Due
Process; Eminent Domain8. Criminal Proceedings9. Civil Trials10. Cruel & Unusual Punishment
1. Rights Retained by the People2. Powers Reserved to the States13. Abolition of Slavery14. Citizenship15. Suffrage—Race17. Direct Election of Senators19. Suffrage—Gender22. Presidential Term Limits24. Poll Taxes25. Presidential Succession26. Suffrage—Age
Constitutional PrinciplesLimited Government
Separation of PowersChecks & BalancesPopular Sovereignty
Individual Rights
Presidential Elections
Political Parties & Ideologies Democrats—Liberals Republicans—Conservatives Third Parties
o Green Partyo Libertarian Partyo Reform Party
Primaries & Caucuses—January to May 1st Primary—New Hampshire 1st Caucus—Iowa
National Convention—Summer Nominate candidate Approve party platform
General Campaign—Summer to November Raise money Conduct opinion polls Make appearances Produce commercials Debate opponents
Election Day—November
Electoral College—December 538 total electoral votes 270 needed to win presidency KY—8 Winner-Take-All & Minority Presidents
o 1824—John Q Adams v. Andrew Jacksono 1876—Rutherford Hayes v. Samuel Tildeno 1888—Benjamin Harrison v. Grover Clevelando 2000—George W. Bush v. Al Gore
What If No One Wins? House of Representatives chooses President Senate chooses Vice President
o 1800—Thomas Jefferson v. John Adamso 1824—John Q. Adams v. Andrew Jackson
Inauguration Day—January 20
Key TermsAmendmentBill of RightsCensusChecks & BalancesCitizenCivil LibertiesCivil RightsCommon GoodConservativeConstitutionalismDeclaration of IndependenceDelegated PowersDemocracyDictatorshipDouble JeopardyDue ProcessEqual RepresentationExecutive BranchFederalismIdeologyImplied PowersJudicial BranchJudicial ReviewJurisdictionLegislative BranchLegitimacy LiberalLimited GovernmentMagna CartaMonarchyNatural RightsNaturalizationPolitical ParticipationPowerPopular SovereigntyProportional RepresentationPublic PolicyRepublicRule of LawSeparation of PowersSovereigntySuffrageTyrannyUS ConstitutionWrit of Habeas Corpus
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Presidential Roles
Chief DiplomatParty LeaderChief of State
Commander-in-ChiefChief ExecutiveLegislative Leader
Learning Targets1. I can compare & contrast various forms of government in the world & evaluate how effective they have been in establishing order,
providing security & accomplishing common goals. 2. I can explain & give examples of how democratic governments preserve & protect the rights & liberties of their constituents through
different sources.3. I can analyze how powers of government are distributed & shared among levels & branches & evaluate how this distribution of powers
protects the "common good". 4. I can interpret the principles of limited government & evaluate how these principles protect individual rights & promote the "common good.” 5. I can explain & give examples of how the rights of one individual may, at times, be in conflict with the rights of another. 6. I can explain how the rights of an individual may, at times, be in conflict with the responsibility of the government to protect the "common
good".7. I can evaluate the impact citizens have on the functioning of a democratic government by assuming responsibilities and duties.
Key Individuals
John LockeBaron de MontesquieuThomas JeffersonJames MadisonAbraham LincolnAndrew Johnson
Franklin RooseveltRichard NixonJohn MarshallEarl WarrenSusan B. AnthonyMartin Luther King, Jr.
