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Government and Civics - Coggle Diagram

- - - - U.S. Constitution: supreme law of the United States. Established in 1789 with 7 articles. Now amended 27 times. Begins "we the people" emphasizing the role of citizens in government.
        
        Amendments of the Constitution: Change or addition to the U.S. Constitution.
        
        Bill of Rights: First 10 Amendments. The rights of the individual citizens.
        
        1st Amendment: Freedoms Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition
        
        2nd: Bear Arms
        3rd: Not Quarter Soldiers
        4th: No Unreasonable Search or Seizure
        5th: No Double Jeopardy or Witness Against Self
        6th: Fair Trial
        7th: Jury Trial
        8th: No Cruel and Unusual Punishment
        9th: Rights Not Listed
        10th: Power to State and People
        
        Voting Amendments:
        15th: All male citizens right to vote.
        19th: Women's right to vote.
        23rd. Right to vote and electors for D.C. citizens.
        24th: Eliminated Poll Tax.
        26th: Set voting age at 18.
        
        Articles of the Confederation: Established the U.S. Government as a democracy, defined government, and set basic expectations of rule.
        
        Article 2: Established Executive Branch, President and Subordinate Officers. Carries out and enforces laws.
        
        Elected through the Electoral College. The electoral college receives a number of electors based on population (2 + # of representatives, based on census, DC gets 3 electors {23rd Amendment}), that get one vote each, then majority rules by state. To win office of president, have to get majority (at least 51%). There are 538 – divided by 2 is 269, to win must have 270. Tie breaker is done by house of representatives (done in 1801, 1825, and 1837).
        
        Article 3: Established the Judicial Branch. Reviews laws.
        
        Supreme Court Justices are nominated by President and voted on by Senate. There are 9 Justices.
        
        The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is John G. Roberts, Jr.
        
        Articles 4, 5, 6: Established Federalism - system of federal, state, and local jurisdiction.
        
        Article 1: Established the Legislative Branch, Congress. Makes the laws.
        
        Senate: Represents citizens of the state they represent. There are 100 seats, 2 per state.
        
        House of Representatives: Represents citizens of the state they represent within the national (federal government. There are 435 seats, at least 1 per state, based on population.
        
        Elected by popular vote.
        
        Article 7: Established procedure for ratifying the Constitution. Founding fathers left room for a changing and evolving country, knowing original Constitution may need adjusted to fit new ideals.
        
        Used a system of checks and balances to serve as a counter-balancing system that would protect citizens from any one person or group from obtaining absolute authority.
      - Declaration of Independence: Announced the separation of the original 13 colonies of the United States from Britain's Rule - Approved on July 4, 1776 by Continental Congress
- - - - Political Parties:
        U.S. has two dominate pollical parties. This two-party system is based on laws, party rules and custom, although this system was not specifically outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Several third parties also operate in the U.S., and from time to time elect someone to office.
        
        Democratic Party:
        Considered left-centered and characterized as the liberal party for more progressive stance on civil and domestic issues. Founded in 1828 by Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.
        
        Republican Party:
        Considered right-centered and characterized as the conservative party for support of national defense and veteran affairs, economic liberalism, fiscal conservatism, and social conservatism. Founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activist. First President elected through this party was Abraham Lincoln.
      - Census: An official count or survey of a population. The U.S. Census Bureau's records are used to determine the number of seats each state will hold in the House of Representatives, as well as the number of electoral college votes for the President of the U.S.A.