Government

//Students of American Government/Civics must understand the philosophy, functions, and structure of the United States government. Assessment of this domain focuses on the students’ ability to analyze the philosophical foundations of the United States government; to describe, explain, and analyze how that philosophy developed into the structure and function of the United States government; and to describe and explain the government’s relationship to the states and to its citizens. Assessment of American Government/Civics includes items that require students to interpret primary source material and charts.//
 * II. American Government/Civics**

Congress: makes laws and is made up of the Senate and House

 * ====== House of representatives ======
 * 1) laws dealing with money (taxes) must start here and is based on each states population
 * 2) candidates must be at least 25 years of age
 * 3) serve for a 2 year term
 * 4) impeachment process starts here
 * Senate
 * 1) is made up of 2 representatives for each state
 * 2) representatives must at least be 30 years of age
 * 3) serve for 6 years
 * 4) serves as the jury during a presidential impeachment
 * 5) if the senate makes a tie the vice president breaks it
 * Political Parties
 * 1) primary role or reason for their existence is to get their candidate elected
 * 2) doing this builds their political power in government
 * Cabinet
 * 1) appointed by the president but verified by the senate
 * 2) has no term limit
 * 3) leads federal of government
 * 4) not called for in the constitution

- Each branchhas its own duties and powers, seperate from one another.
 * __**Separation of Power**__: one principal behinf creating the three branches of American government.

- Says that the federal law is over the state law. - conflicts between federal or state law? Federal wins
 * __** Supremacy Clause **__

- keeps one branch of government from getting too much power.
 * **__ Checks and Balances __**

- Commander in Chief of Armed Forces. chief executive, chief agenda setter, representative of the nation, chief of state, foregn policy leader. - When he is hosting a visit from a forgin leader he is acting as a head of state.
 * **__ Powers of the President __**

Amendments: 13th - freed slaves 14th - make blacks citizens 15th - black men right to vote
 * Civil Rights Amendments

Voting - 15th, 17th, & 19th