The Constitution of the United States of America
*The US Constitution is the oldest written constitution in the world. It was written in 1787, and was ratified by all 13 original States and in effect by 1789.
-The Constitution has three main sections: the preamble, the articles, and the amendments.
*The Preamble: This is a statement of goals for the nation. The framers of the constitution hoped that the document would fulfill the goals set forth for it in the opening statement: to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure peace within our borders, be ready to defend our nation, promote the well being of all citizens, and to secure freedom for all Americans for all time.
*The Articles: There are seven articles in the constitution. The Articles basically outlines the structure of American government. Each branch of government and their powers and limitations are clearly defined, the amending process and the concept of federalism are explained.
*The Amendments: Many people believe that the best thing about our constitution is that it can be changed. Since 1789 the constitution has been changed only 27 times. The first 10 Amendments, the Bill of Rights, were all ratified by 1791, so in essence there are have only been 17 changes made over the past 215+ years. Amendments have been added for many different reasons: to insure civil rights, voting rights, and to further define the role of government is America.
-The Constitution has within it, six major principles: the concept of popular sovereignty, federalism, separation of powers, a system of checks and balances, the idea of judicial review, and the principle of limited government.
*Popular Sovereignty: The concept of popular sovereignty insures that the government is ultimately ruled by the people.
*Federalism: The constitution outlines a system in which the powers of government are divided between the national government, and the government of the states.
-Separation of Powers: The constitution insures that the powers of government are separated and distributed among the three branches. This is to insure that no one branch hold the power.
-Checks & Balances: In order to keep each branch honest, and to insure that each branch is carrying out its duties and responsibilities, each branch has certain powers, or checks over the other branches. This is to insure a balance of power within the federal government.
-Judicial Review: The most important check that any branch has belongs to the judicial branch. It is the responsibility of the judicial branch to insure that all the laws passed, and actions taken by the executive, and legislative branches are legal and within the boundaries of the Constitution.
-Limited Government: The Constitution lists the powers that the federal government has, and also describes powers that it doesn’t have, that may belong to the States, or to the individual
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Journal 4
-If you had to start your own business, what would it be and why?
-How would you finance it?
-How would you market it?
-How would you finance it?
-How would you market it?
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Local Government
Local Government
-Local government is the level of government closest to the people. It is the government of the county and the city, town, township, borough, village, or hamlet. Currently there are over 85,000 local units of government in the United States.
-Home Rule: Ultimately the state government has final authority over any local government; however state governments usually issue to the local governments home rule charters. A home rule charter is official permission for a local community to govern itself with little interference from the state. All local laws must fall into accordance with the state constitution and all state laws.
*There are 4 basic types of local government in America today. They are as follows:
-The County: The largest territorial and political subdivision of a state. County governments supervise elections, issue certain licenses, keep records of all vital statistics, administer public welfare services, supply public utilities, and in some states administer lower state courts. In Louisiana and Mississippi counties are called parishes.
-Townships: A township is a large subdivision of a county. Townships do not exist in every state, they are however most abundant in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in parts of the Midwest. Townships are made up towns, villages, boroughs, or hamlets. Township governments usually control law enforcement, sanitation, parks, and recreation areas.
-Municipality: A municipality is an urban unit of government; a city, town, or large borough that has legal rights granted to it from the state through a charter. Most municipalities are medium sized to large cities. Municipalities often offer all the same services that counties and townships offer.
-The Special District: This is a unit of local government that deals with a specific function such as education, public transportation, and public utilities.
-School Districts: School districts are special districts that administer education to students of specific communities. School districts often span more than one locality. Schools are paid for by the people who live in the district through property taxes.
-Public Transportation: The counties of a certain region of a state sometimes get together to create a special district to serve as the local authority for public transportation. The best example of this is the South East Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA.)
-Public Utilities: In many states services such as gas,
electric, or water are provided by special districts set up by the county or a group of counties in the same geographic area of the state.
Local Government Services
*Besides governing local communities local governments also exist to provide citizens essential services. Some of the most important services provided by local are as follows:
-Education: Local governments, through special districts, provide free, public education to all children in the school district.
-Zoning: Local governments use zoning to regulate the way land and buildings may be used. Zoning exists to insure safety and quality of life in communities.
-Police & Fire Protection: Local governments must insure that its citizens are protected against crime and threat of fire. Police & fire protection is essential and is very expensive. A good deal of local taxes goes to pay for these two important services.
-Water Supply: Water service is a public utility that is controlled by some level of local government in each state. Water service is the only utility that is always operated by government.
-Sewage & Sanitation: Local governments are responsible for keeping the community clean; they do this by providing sewer, street cleaning, and trash pick up services. In some communities sewage and sanitation are paid for through taxes, in other communities the local government may charge fees to provide these services.
-Social Services: To insure the well being of the community many local governments provide extensive social services. Some of these services may be the department of health, job-training programs for unemployed and poor citizens, programs for the elderly, after school programs for children, shelters for the homeless, etc.
-Transportation: Many communities form special districts to provide public transportation systems that may include bus service, train service, light rail service etc.
-Recreation and Cultural Activities: Many communities strive to provide their citizens with diverse leisure activities that appeal to most of the people in the area. These activities are often provided through parks and recreation areas, playing fields, stadiums, ice rinks, amphitheaters, orchestras, art and cultural museums, etc.
*Local governments provide many services that we as citizens take advantage of everyday. These services cost local governments a very large sum of money. Communities raise the funds necessary to operate the local government and provide these services in several ways. They are as follows:
-Property Tax: In most states the money to operate school districts is generated through real estate taxes assessed by the local government. In a few states people are required to tally the value of everything they own each year and pay a tax on that amount to their local government.
-Sales Tax: Many communities charge a tax on all goods and services sold in that community.
-Local Wage Tax: Some local governments assess a tax on all wages earned in that community, or on all wages earned by people who live in the community, or in some cases both.
-Fines: Local governments generate a great deal of revenue by issuing monetary fines for parking, traffic, sanitation, and criminal violations,
-Fees: Many local governments charge fees for business permits, and licenses.
-Bonds: Some local governments borrow money by selling bonds that can be redeemed years from when they are sold
-Grants: Local governments often receive grants from the state and federal government to operate and offer special services in the community.
-Local government is the level of government closest to the people. It is the government of the county and the city, town, township, borough, village, or hamlet. Currently there are over 85,000 local units of government in the United States.
-Home Rule: Ultimately the state government has final authority over any local government; however state governments usually issue to the local governments home rule charters. A home rule charter is official permission for a local community to govern itself with little interference from the state. All local laws must fall into accordance with the state constitution and all state laws.
*There are 4 basic types of local government in America today. They are as follows:
-The County: The largest territorial and political subdivision of a state. County governments supervise elections, issue certain licenses, keep records of all vital statistics, administer public welfare services, supply public utilities, and in some states administer lower state courts. In Louisiana and Mississippi counties are called parishes.
-Townships: A township is a large subdivision of a county. Townships do not exist in every state, they are however most abundant in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in parts of the Midwest. Townships are made up towns, villages, boroughs, or hamlets. Township governments usually control law enforcement, sanitation, parks, and recreation areas.
-Municipality: A municipality is an urban unit of government; a city, town, or large borough that has legal rights granted to it from the state through a charter. Most municipalities are medium sized to large cities. Municipalities often offer all the same services that counties and townships offer.
-The Special District: This is a unit of local government that deals with a specific function such as education, public transportation, and public utilities.
-School Districts: School districts are special districts that administer education to students of specific communities. School districts often span more than one locality. Schools are paid for by the people who live in the district through property taxes.
-Public Transportation: The counties of a certain region of a state sometimes get together to create a special district to serve as the local authority for public transportation. The best example of this is the South East Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA.)
-Public Utilities: In many states services such as gas,
electric, or water are provided by special districts set up by the county or a group of counties in the same geographic area of the state.
Local Government Services
*Besides governing local communities local governments also exist to provide citizens essential services. Some of the most important services provided by local are as follows:
-Education: Local governments, through special districts, provide free, public education to all children in the school district.
-Zoning: Local governments use zoning to regulate the way land and buildings may be used. Zoning exists to insure safety and quality of life in communities.
-Police & Fire Protection: Local governments must insure that its citizens are protected against crime and threat of fire. Police & fire protection is essential and is very expensive. A good deal of local taxes goes to pay for these two important services.
-Water Supply: Water service is a public utility that is controlled by some level of local government in each state. Water service is the only utility that is always operated by government.
-Sewage & Sanitation: Local governments are responsible for keeping the community clean; they do this by providing sewer, street cleaning, and trash pick up services. In some communities sewage and sanitation are paid for through taxes, in other communities the local government may charge fees to provide these services.
-Social Services: To insure the well being of the community many local governments provide extensive social services. Some of these services may be the department of health, job-training programs for unemployed and poor citizens, programs for the elderly, after school programs for children, shelters for the homeless, etc.
-Transportation: Many communities form special districts to provide public transportation systems that may include bus service, train service, light rail service etc.
-Recreation and Cultural Activities: Many communities strive to provide their citizens with diverse leisure activities that appeal to most of the people in the area. These activities are often provided through parks and recreation areas, playing fields, stadiums, ice rinks, amphitheaters, orchestras, art and cultural museums, etc.
*Local governments provide many services that we as citizens take advantage of everyday. These services cost local governments a very large sum of money. Communities raise the funds necessary to operate the local government and provide these services in several ways. They are as follows:
-Property Tax: In most states the money to operate school districts is generated through real estate taxes assessed by the local government. In a few states people are required to tally the value of everything they own each year and pay a tax on that amount to their local government.
-Sales Tax: Many communities charge a tax on all goods and services sold in that community.
-Local Wage Tax: Some local governments assess a tax on all wages earned in that community, or on all wages earned by people who live in the community, or in some cases both.
-Fines: Local governments generate a great deal of revenue by issuing monetary fines for parking, traffic, sanitation, and criminal violations,
-Fees: Many local governments charge fees for business permits, and licenses.
-Bonds: Some local governments borrow money by selling bonds that can be redeemed years from when they are sold
-Grants: Local governments often receive grants from the state and federal government to operate and offer special services in the community.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
3rd Quarter Project
Making a Personal Monthly
Budget
-You were each assigned an occupation with a monthly salary in class. Your assignment here will be to create a personal monthly budget for yourself using the salary that corresponds to the occupation you were assigned.
-You must make all of the following assumptions:
1.) You are a single individual in his or her mid 20’s.
2.) You are renting an apartment, or house, and
you live by yourself.
3.) You are responsible for paying all of the following utilities each month: Gas, Electric, Telephone, (Cable TV or satellite service, and Internet access fees are optional.)
4.) If you were assigned an occupation that requires some education, but not necessarily a Bachelor’s Degree, you are responsible for making a student loan payment each month of $200. If you were assigned an occupation that requires a Bachelor’s Degree, you are responsible for making a student loan payment each month of $300. If you were assigned an occupation that requires a Master’s Degree or higher, you are responsible for making a student loan payment each month of $600. If you are unsure about the degree you would need for your occupation, you should consult me.
5.) Your monthly income will be taxed at a total rate of 23%. To figure out your after-tax salary, multiply your salary by .77. If you make less than $1200 per month do not take tax into consideration.
Your assignment is to answer the following questions based on research you will do:
1.) Where do you live? How much do you spend each month for rent?
2.) What is the total of all your utility bills and student loans?
3.) How much do you spend each month on food and drink?
4.) What will be your primary mode of transportation and how much will it cost you each month? (If you intend to drive a car you must deduct $200 for car insurance. If you intend on driving a newer car, 2003-2008 model year, you need to find out how much car payments are each month and deduct that from each month’s budget. You must deduct $300 a month for gasoline and routine maintenance for a newer car, or $350 a month for gasoline and routine maintenance for an older car. If you intend on using public transportation you need to deduct the cost of a monthly transit pass from your budget.)
5.) What are some of the things you do you do for entertainment? How much does this cost you each month?
6.) How much do you spend on shoes and clothing each month? (Minimum you must deduct is $20; the maximum depends on your lifestyle and taste.)
7.) Do you give any money to charity? If so, which ones, and how much do you give?
8.) If there is anything else you need to deduct for the lifestyle you want to live, then you also need to deduct that amount.
*Answer all of the above questions in complete sentences and in paragraph form. Back up all
of your answers with
research. Research sources can include using the newspaper or Internet to find out how much rent or monthly car payments cost. You can also ask friends, relatives, or neighbors questions concerning utility bills. (If you say that you live in an apartment, don’t ask someone who lives in a house how much utilities will be, ask someone who lives in an apartment.) Please be realistic about this about this project and take it seriously.
*Make up a chart (not a graph) showing how much you start out with each month, show all deductions, and show how much you end up with each month. You must not spend any more money than you receive in salary each month.
*All projects must be typed.
*Include a list of all your resources.
Projects are due on Monday
March 10, 2008.
Budget
-You were each assigned an occupation with a monthly salary in class. Your assignment here will be to create a personal monthly budget for yourself using the salary that corresponds to the occupation you were assigned.
-You must make all of the following assumptions:
1.) You are a single individual in his or her mid 20’s.
2.) You are renting an apartment, or house, and
you live by yourself.
3.) You are responsible for paying all of the following utilities each month: Gas, Electric, Telephone, (Cable TV or satellite service, and Internet access fees are optional.)
4.) If you were assigned an occupation that requires some education, but not necessarily a Bachelor’s Degree, you are responsible for making a student loan payment each month of $200. If you were assigned an occupation that requires a Bachelor’s Degree, you are responsible for making a student loan payment each month of $300. If you were assigned an occupation that requires a Master’s Degree or higher, you are responsible for making a student loan payment each month of $600. If you are unsure about the degree you would need for your occupation, you should consult me.
5.) Your monthly income will be taxed at a total rate of 23%. To figure out your after-tax salary, multiply your salary by .77. If you make less than $1200 per month do not take tax into consideration.
Your assignment is to answer the following questions based on research you will do:
1.) Where do you live? How much do you spend each month for rent?
2.) What is the total of all your utility bills and student loans?
3.) How much do you spend each month on food and drink?
4.) What will be your primary mode of transportation and how much will it cost you each month? (If you intend to drive a car you must deduct $200 for car insurance. If you intend on driving a newer car, 2003-2008 model year, you need to find out how much car payments are each month and deduct that from each month’s budget. You must deduct $300 a month for gasoline and routine maintenance for a newer car, or $350 a month for gasoline and routine maintenance for an older car. If you intend on using public transportation you need to deduct the cost of a monthly transit pass from your budget.)
5.) What are some of the things you do you do for entertainment? How much does this cost you each month?
6.) How much do you spend on shoes and clothing each month? (Minimum you must deduct is $20; the maximum depends on your lifestyle and taste.)
7.) Do you give any money to charity? If so, which ones, and how much do you give?
8.) If there is anything else you need to deduct for the lifestyle you want to live, then you also need to deduct that amount.
*Answer all of the above questions in complete sentences and in paragraph form. Back up all
of your answers with
research. Research sources can include using the newspaper or Internet to find out how much rent or monthly car payments cost. You can also ask friends, relatives, or neighbors questions concerning utility bills. (If you say that you live in an apartment, don’t ask someone who lives in a house how much utilities will be, ask someone who lives in an apartment.) Please be realistic about this about this project and take it seriously.
*Make up a chart (not a graph) showing how much you start out with each month, show all deductions, and show how much you end up with each month. You must not spend any more money than you receive in salary each month.
*All projects must be typed.
*Include a list of all your resources.
Projects are due on Monday
March 10, 2008.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Journal 3
There are 5 major party candidates still running for President. To complete this activity, follow the steps below in order.
1. Answer the following question in you journal:
- Which of the following candidates: Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, or Barack Obama are you supporting for President or leaning towards supporting? Why? (You must choose at least one.)
2. Now go to one of the websites listed below and find out as much as you can in 10 minutes about the candidate that you chose for #1. Stay on the site for at least 10 minutes, learn about where they stand on important issues such as the war, economy, healthcare, environment etc.
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/
http://www.johnmccain.com/
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/
http://www.barackobama.com/
Answer the following question:
-After spending time reading about the candidate you chose in #1, do you still support or lean towards that candidate? Why or Why not? What things do you like the most and least about this candidate? Explain.
3. Now take this survey:
http://www.dehp.net/candidate/
Answer the following question:
-Which of the 5 candidates who are still in the race did your survey score highest for? Was this person the same person you chose in #1? Are you surprised at who scored highest in your survey? Explain.
4. If the candidate that scored highest in your survey is different than the candidate you chose in #1, then go to the website of the candidate who scored highest in your survey, spend a few minutes reading about this candidate, and then answer the following question:
-After spending time reading about this candidate do you now support or lean towards this candidate instead? Why or Why not? What things do you like the most and least about this candidate? Explain.
If the candidate you chose for #1 is the same as the candidate that scored highest in your survey, then go to the website of the candidate who scored second highest on your survey and answer the following question:
-After spending time learning about the two candidates who finished 1st and 2nd in you survey, did your mind change at all about who you're supporting for President? Explain.
1. Answer the following question in you journal:
- Which of the following candidates: Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, or Barack Obama are you supporting for President or leaning towards supporting? Why? (You must choose at least one.)
2. Now go to one of the websites listed below and find out as much as you can in 10 minutes about the candidate that you chose for #1. Stay on the site for at least 10 minutes, learn about where they stand on important issues such as the war, economy, healthcare, environment etc.
http://www.hillaryclinton.com/
http://www.mikehuckabee.com/
http://www.johnmccain.com/
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/
http://www.barackobama.com/
Answer the following question:
-After spending time reading about the candidate you chose in #1, do you still support or lean towards that candidate? Why or Why not? What things do you like the most and least about this candidate? Explain.
3. Now take this survey:
http://www.dehp.net/candidate/
Answer the following question:
-Which of the 5 candidates who are still in the race did your survey score highest for? Was this person the same person you chose in #1? Are you surprised at who scored highest in your survey? Explain.
4. If the candidate that scored highest in your survey is different than the candidate you chose in #1, then go to the website of the candidate who scored highest in your survey, spend a few minutes reading about this candidate, and then answer the following question:
-After spending time reading about this candidate do you now support or lean towards this candidate instead? Why or Why not? What things do you like the most and least about this candidate? Explain.
If the candidate you chose for #1 is the same as the candidate that scored highest in your survey, then go to the website of the candidate who scored second highest on your survey and answer the following question:
-After spending time learning about the two candidates who finished 1st and 2nd in you survey, did your mind change at all about who you're supporting for President? Explain.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Journal 2
You are the founding parents of a new nation.
-Create the system of government for your new nation.
-Create the economic system for your new nation.
-What type of legislature will your new nation have?
-What type of Executive Branch will you new nation have?
-Does your nation have a Judicial branch? What powers does your judicial branch have?
-Name your new nation.
-Create the system of government for your new nation.
-Create the economic system for your new nation.
-What type of legislature will your new nation have?
-What type of Executive Branch will you new nation have?
-Does your nation have a Judicial branch? What powers does your judicial branch have?
-Name your new nation.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Comparative Government
Comparative Government Systems
*In the United States we have democratic republican system of government, which features a mixed economy that is mostly capitalist with hints of socialism. We as a culture, partly due to our geographic isolation from the rest of the world, and partly due to American nationalism do not know that much about other systems of Government and Economics. We will study systems of government and economics that are different from our systems.
Great Britain
*Britain is classified as a constitutional monarchy; the King or Queen serves as head of state. Although Britain is a constitutional monarchy it is also classified as a democracy because laws are made by a legislative body called Parliament. Great Britain, also called the United Kingdom, is made up of the kingdoms of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
-British Constitution: The British Constitution is an unwritten constitution, which is essentially made up of the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, a system of precedents laid down by the British court system, and laws enacted by Parliament. Since the British Constitution is unwritten all it takes to change it is a new law enacted by Parliament.
-The British Monarchy: The British monarchy is essentially powerless. It is basically a family of figureheads who serve as heads of state and participate in government only through ceremonial duties. The monarchy serves as a symbol of unity and history for the British people. Currently the monarch of Great Britain is Queen Elizabeth II.
-Parliament: The legislature of Great Britain is called Parliament. Parliament holds almost all the power of government in Britain. British Parliament is a bicameral legislature with an upper house called the House of Lords, and a lower house called the House of Commons.
-The House of Lords: The House of Lords has over 1,200 members. Most members inherit the title Lord; others are awarded the title Lord from the monarch. The House of Lords has very few real powers, it is mostly just a formality for laws to be passed by the House of Lords. All bills must pass the House of Commons first in order to become law; the bill must also pass the House of Lords to become a law, but any bill that is vetoed by the House of Lords can be easily overturned by the House of Commons. The only real powers the House of Lords has is that it can amend proposed bills and send them back to the House of Commons, and it can delay the passage of bills.
-The House of Commons: Member of the House of Commons are simply referred to as MP’s, or members of parliament. They are elected by the people in a unique way. Citizens of Britain elect MP’s by voting in elections for political parties. Seats in Parliament are awarded to each party according to the percentage of the vote they gain in the election. There are 651 members of parliament, an MP’s terms in Parliament can last up to 5 years. The vast majority of laws in Britain are made in the House of Commons.
-The National Government: The political leadership of Britain is referred to as the National Government. The National Government is made up of the Prime Minister and his or her cabinet of Ministers. The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party with a majority in Parliament. The Prime Minister appoints other members of Parliament to serve as his or her Ministers. The main duties of the Prime Minister are to propose bills, and to call elections. Elections must be held at least every 5 years in Britain, however the Prime Minister can call for new elections whenever he or she wishes. The current Prime Minister of Great Britain is Tony Blair who is a member of the Labour Party.
France
*France has a unitary system of government and is a democratic republic. France is like Britain in that it has a parliamentary system of government. France is also similar to the United States in that is has a strong, elected executive branch. France’s economic system is a blended one that combines features of socialism with features of capitalism. The French economy is one of the most socialistic economies in Europe.
-The French Constitution: The French constitution has only been in existence since 1958. Since 1789 the French government has been changed many times, going from a monarchy to a republic, to an empire, back to a republic, the nation then became occupied by the Germans during WWI, then it went back to being a republic before it was occupied by the Nazi’s during WWII, after WWII it again became a republic. The republic set up after WWII was a miserable failure, the multi-party system that was established divided the nation into many factions and it became almost impossible for Parliament to get anything done. Parliament dissolved the government in 1958; a new, more modern Constitution that featured a strong executive was written and the Fifth Republic was established.
-The Executive Branch: The executive branch of the French government consists of the President, the Premier, and the Cabinet.
-President: The leader of the French government is the President. The President is elected directly by the people of France to serve a term that lasts 7 years. The President of France has mostly all the same powers as our President does;
he also has a few special powers. The French President has the right to call a national referendum on an issue; this allows the people of France to vote directly on an issue, he has the power to declare himself a dictator during times of national
emergencies, he has the power to appoint a Premier, and he has the power to rule by decree on any issue not defined in the Constitution as a matter for parliament to decide. Currently the President of France is Jacques Chirac.
-Premier: The President of France appoints a Premier. The role of Premier is similar to the role of the British Prime Minister. The Premier appoints a cabinet and together they carry out the day to day tasks of running the government. The main role of the Premier is to attend meetings of Parliament and to use his
influence to push the agenda of the President in Parliament. Currently the Premier of France is Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
-Parliament: France has a bicameral legislature with an upper house called the Senate and a lower house called the National Assembly. The French parliament is very similar to the British Parliament in that most of the real power of the legislature is held by the lower house. The French Constitution contains a list of the sort of laws that Parliament can legislate, if the issue is not listed in the Constitution it is up to the President to rule on the matter by decree.
-Senate: The Senate is made up of 321 member who are elected
by special regionalized committees called Electoral Colleges.
Senators are elected to serve a 9 year term. Like the House of
Lords in Britain, the Senate has very little real power; it
has the power to veto legislation but vetoes can be easily
overridden by the National Assembly. Senate also has the
power to delay the passage of legislation.
-National Assembly: The National Assembly is made up of 577
members. Citizens of France elect members of the National
Assembly by voting in elections for political parties. Seats in
Parliament are awarded to each party according to the
percentage of the vote they gain in the election. There are 557
members of the National Assembly who serve terms that can
last up to 5 years. Elections for the National Assembly must be
held at least every 5 years, however the President can dissolve
the National Assembly and call for new elections whenever he
or she wishes.
Japan
*Japan is classified as a constitutional monarchy; the Emperor serves as the head of state. Although Japan is a constitutional monarchy, it is also classified as a democracy, because laws are made by a legislative body called the Diet.
-Japanese Constitution: The Japanese Constitution was written in 1946 following World War II. Japan, at the time the Constitution was written, was occupied by American forces; therefore Japan’s Constitution is very American in its ideology. The Constitution was written mostly by General Douglas MacArthur in conjunction with other members of the American military and a few pro-democracy citizens of Japan. The new constitution, which went into effect in 1947 accomplished a few very important things. The constitution established a democratic system of government while keeping alive the ancient monarchy. It also established that the Emperor did not have the divine right to rule and was not a god. The Emperor was effectively stripped of all governing powers by this constitution and remained in place solely as a figurehead of Japan.
-Renunciation of War: The new Japanese constitution outlawed war and established that Japan should only maintain a very small military with the sole purpose of self-defense. Today, Japan has one of the world’s smallest militaries, numbering only about 250,000 men and women. Japan relies heavily on the United States for military protection.
-The Diet: Japan’s legislative body is called the Diet. It is the same type of legislature as a parliament, and is very similar to Britain’s Parliament. The Diet is a bicameral legislature with an upper house called the House of Councilors, and a lower house called the House of Representatives.
-House of Councilors: The House of Councilors has 252 members who are chosen to serve a 6 year term. This house has far less power than the House of Representatives. The House of Councilors has the power to delay legislation being passed by the House of Representatives and it also has the power to veto bills. If a bill is vetoed by the House of Councilors, the House of Representatives can override the veto by re-voting on the bill; in order for a veto to be overridden the bill must be approved by 2/3rds of the House of Representatives.
-House of Representatives: There are 512 members of the House of Representatives who are elected from 130 districts throughout Japan. These Representatives serve a term that can last up to 4 years. The members of the House of Representatives elect a Prime Minister who also serves a term that lasts for 4 years. The main role of the House of Representatives is to make laws.
-The Prime Minister: The Japanese Prime Minister is usually the highest-ranking member of the majority party. He or she is first elected as a regular member of the House of Representatives and is then elected Prime Minister by the members of the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister appoints a cabinet of 12 ministers who carry out the day to day running of the government. The Prime Minister presides over the House of Representatives and has the power to dissolve the government and call for new elections. The House of Representatives however has the power to vote no confidence in the Prime Minister. When this happens the Prime Minister is obliged to dissolve the government and call for new elections before the 4 year term is over.
The United Mexican States
*The Mexican government is very similar to the government of the United States. Mexico is made up of 31 states and one capitol district. The government of Mexico is a Federal Republic. Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1810 and was basically governed by a series of Military leaders and dictators until the dictator Pofirio Diaz was overthrown during the Mexican Revolution of 1910. A civil war raged in Mexico between 1910-1917. In 1917 the civil war came to an end a new Constitution was written and put into place. The Constitution and government of Mexico have been in effect ever since.
-Mexican Constitution: The Mexican Constitution is very long and very tedious. The rights of the people, laws, and powers of government are very specific. The Mexican constitution is sometimes confusing and tends to, at times, contradict itself. The constitution does however set up a structure of government that includes an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch. The powers of the government are divided between the Federal government and the governments of the 31 individual states.
-The Executive Branch: The President of Mexico is elected directly by the people for a term that lasts for 6 years. After the 6 year term is over the President may not run for re-election. The President of Mexico has a significant amount of power. He has the power to drive legislation through Congress and recommend the passage of bills; he has the power to appoint federal judges and supreme court justices; he has the power to appoint a cabinet of ministers, and he is the commander in chief of the military. Currently the President of Mexico is Vicente Fox.
*The Legislative Branch: Mexico has a bicameral legislature made up of a lower house and an upper house. The upper house is called the Senate and the lower house is called the Chamber of Deputies. The main function of the Congress is to make laws and to decide whether rules made by the President are legal or not.
-The Senate: There are 128 seats in the Senate; 96 are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, these members are elected to represent their respective states, each state gets 3 senators. The other 32senators are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote. Senators may not run for consecutive terms in the Senate. Just as in the US, the Senate is neither more nor less powerful than the lower house.
-The Chamber of Deputies: There are 500 seats in the Chamber of Deputies; 300 members are directly elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms, these members are elected to represent their respective states; the remaining 200 members are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote, also for three-year terms. Deputies may not run for consecutive terms in the Chamber of Deputies.
-State and Local Government: Just as in the US each state has the right to govern itself as long as all the laws that are on the books, or are passed adhere to the Mexican Constitution and Federal law.
The People’s Republic of China
*The People’s Republic of China was established in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists was fought after World War II. Communist revolutionaries led by Mao Zedong seized power from the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek. The Communists took control over mainland China and established the People’s Republic. The Nationalists fled from the mainland to the island of Formosa and established a government that was referred to as Free China. Formosa is today called Taiwan.
-The People’s Republic of China is essentially a totalitarian oligarchy completely dominated by the Communist Party.
-The Chinese Constitution: The People’s Republic oh China actually has 2 constitutions, both written in 1982. One constitution is for the Chinese Communist Party; the other constitution is for the national government. The constitution for the Communist Party basically sets up the oligarchic structure that runs the national government. Members of the Communist Party in China receive more rights and privileges than ordinary Chinese citizens. Essentially the Communist Party sets up an system of elitism in China.
-The National Government: The national government is basically completely controlled by the Communist Party, however, the constitution of the national government is written in a way that may lead us to believe that the ordinary citizens of China have a say in their government. They do not. A system is in place for a structure of government that leads us to believe that the people participate, that system is as follows:
-Legislative Branch: The legislative branch of China’s government is a unicameral system called the National People’s Congress. There are 2,985 seats; members are elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms. The vast majority of members of the National People’s Congress are members of the Communist Party. Members of the National People’s Congress are supposed to make laws. What the National People’s Congress really does is rubber stamp laws decided on by the top officials of the Communist party. The National People’s Congress also elects the President and Vice President of China.
-Executive Branch: The president and vice president are elected by the National People's Congress to serve a five-year term. The President is almost always the leader of the Communist Party and the Vice-President is usually the second highest-ranking member of the Communist Party. The President appoints a Premier to preside over the National People's Congress, the National People's Congress must confirm the President’s appointment but that is merely a formality. The Premier is usually the third highest-ranking member of the Communist Party.
-Most decisions and laws in China are made by 20 elite members of the Communist Party called the Politburo. The 6 highest ranking members of the Politburo make up a group that is called the Politburo Standing Committee. These 6 people are at the heart of an oligarchy that governs 1.3 billion people.
*In the United States we have democratic republican system of government, which features a mixed economy that is mostly capitalist with hints of socialism. We as a culture, partly due to our geographic isolation from the rest of the world, and partly due to American nationalism do not know that much about other systems of Government and Economics. We will study systems of government and economics that are different from our systems.
Great Britain
*Britain is classified as a constitutional monarchy; the King or Queen serves as head of state. Although Britain is a constitutional monarchy it is also classified as a democracy because laws are made by a legislative body called Parliament. Great Britain, also called the United Kingdom, is made up of the kingdoms of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
-British Constitution: The British Constitution is an unwritten constitution, which is essentially made up of the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, a system of precedents laid down by the British court system, and laws enacted by Parliament. Since the British Constitution is unwritten all it takes to change it is a new law enacted by Parliament.
-The British Monarchy: The British monarchy is essentially powerless. It is basically a family of figureheads who serve as heads of state and participate in government only through ceremonial duties. The monarchy serves as a symbol of unity and history for the British people. Currently the monarch of Great Britain is Queen Elizabeth II.
-Parliament: The legislature of Great Britain is called Parliament. Parliament holds almost all the power of government in Britain. British Parliament is a bicameral legislature with an upper house called the House of Lords, and a lower house called the House of Commons.
-The House of Lords: The House of Lords has over 1,200 members. Most members inherit the title Lord; others are awarded the title Lord from the monarch. The House of Lords has very few real powers, it is mostly just a formality for laws to be passed by the House of Lords. All bills must pass the House of Commons first in order to become law; the bill must also pass the House of Lords to become a law, but any bill that is vetoed by the House of Lords can be easily overturned by the House of Commons. The only real powers the House of Lords has is that it can amend proposed bills and send them back to the House of Commons, and it can delay the passage of bills.
-The House of Commons: Member of the House of Commons are simply referred to as MP’s, or members of parliament. They are elected by the people in a unique way. Citizens of Britain elect MP’s by voting in elections for political parties. Seats in Parliament are awarded to each party according to the percentage of the vote they gain in the election. There are 651 members of parliament, an MP’s terms in Parliament can last up to 5 years. The vast majority of laws in Britain are made in the House of Commons.
-The National Government: The political leadership of Britain is referred to as the National Government. The National Government is made up of the Prime Minister and his or her cabinet of Ministers. The Prime Minister is the leader of the political party with a majority in Parliament. The Prime Minister appoints other members of Parliament to serve as his or her Ministers. The main duties of the Prime Minister are to propose bills, and to call elections. Elections must be held at least every 5 years in Britain, however the Prime Minister can call for new elections whenever he or she wishes. The current Prime Minister of Great Britain is Tony Blair who is a member of the Labour Party.
France
*France has a unitary system of government and is a democratic republic. France is like Britain in that it has a parliamentary system of government. France is also similar to the United States in that is has a strong, elected executive branch. France’s economic system is a blended one that combines features of socialism with features of capitalism. The French economy is one of the most socialistic economies in Europe.
-The French Constitution: The French constitution has only been in existence since 1958. Since 1789 the French government has been changed many times, going from a monarchy to a republic, to an empire, back to a republic, the nation then became occupied by the Germans during WWI, then it went back to being a republic before it was occupied by the Nazi’s during WWII, after WWII it again became a republic. The republic set up after WWII was a miserable failure, the multi-party system that was established divided the nation into many factions and it became almost impossible for Parliament to get anything done. Parliament dissolved the government in 1958; a new, more modern Constitution that featured a strong executive was written and the Fifth Republic was established.
-The Executive Branch: The executive branch of the French government consists of the President, the Premier, and the Cabinet.
-President: The leader of the French government is the President. The President is elected directly by the people of France to serve a term that lasts 7 years. The President of France has mostly all the same powers as our President does;
he also has a few special powers. The French President has the right to call a national referendum on an issue; this allows the people of France to vote directly on an issue, he has the power to declare himself a dictator during times of national
emergencies, he has the power to appoint a Premier, and he has the power to rule by decree on any issue not defined in the Constitution as a matter for parliament to decide. Currently the President of France is Jacques Chirac.
-Premier: The President of France appoints a Premier. The role of Premier is similar to the role of the British Prime Minister. The Premier appoints a cabinet and together they carry out the day to day tasks of running the government. The main role of the Premier is to attend meetings of Parliament and to use his
influence to push the agenda of the President in Parliament. Currently the Premier of France is Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
-Parliament: France has a bicameral legislature with an upper house called the Senate and a lower house called the National Assembly. The French parliament is very similar to the British Parliament in that most of the real power of the legislature is held by the lower house. The French Constitution contains a list of the sort of laws that Parliament can legislate, if the issue is not listed in the Constitution it is up to the President to rule on the matter by decree.
-Senate: The Senate is made up of 321 member who are elected
by special regionalized committees called Electoral Colleges.
Senators are elected to serve a 9 year term. Like the House of
Lords in Britain, the Senate has very little real power; it
has the power to veto legislation but vetoes can be easily
overridden by the National Assembly. Senate also has the
power to delay the passage of legislation.
-National Assembly: The National Assembly is made up of 577
members. Citizens of France elect members of the National
Assembly by voting in elections for political parties. Seats in
Parliament are awarded to each party according to the
percentage of the vote they gain in the election. There are 557
members of the National Assembly who serve terms that can
last up to 5 years. Elections for the National Assembly must be
held at least every 5 years, however the President can dissolve
the National Assembly and call for new elections whenever he
or she wishes.
Japan
*Japan is classified as a constitutional monarchy; the Emperor serves as the head of state. Although Japan is a constitutional monarchy, it is also classified as a democracy, because laws are made by a legislative body called the Diet.
-Japanese Constitution: The Japanese Constitution was written in 1946 following World War II. Japan, at the time the Constitution was written, was occupied by American forces; therefore Japan’s Constitution is very American in its ideology. The Constitution was written mostly by General Douglas MacArthur in conjunction with other members of the American military and a few pro-democracy citizens of Japan. The new constitution, which went into effect in 1947 accomplished a few very important things. The constitution established a democratic system of government while keeping alive the ancient monarchy. It also established that the Emperor did not have the divine right to rule and was not a god. The Emperor was effectively stripped of all governing powers by this constitution and remained in place solely as a figurehead of Japan.
-Renunciation of War: The new Japanese constitution outlawed war and established that Japan should only maintain a very small military with the sole purpose of self-defense. Today, Japan has one of the world’s smallest militaries, numbering only about 250,000 men and women. Japan relies heavily on the United States for military protection.
-The Diet: Japan’s legislative body is called the Diet. It is the same type of legislature as a parliament, and is very similar to Britain’s Parliament. The Diet is a bicameral legislature with an upper house called the House of Councilors, and a lower house called the House of Representatives.
-House of Councilors: The House of Councilors has 252 members who are chosen to serve a 6 year term. This house has far less power than the House of Representatives. The House of Councilors has the power to delay legislation being passed by the House of Representatives and it also has the power to veto bills. If a bill is vetoed by the House of Councilors, the House of Representatives can override the veto by re-voting on the bill; in order for a veto to be overridden the bill must be approved by 2/3rds of the House of Representatives.
-House of Representatives: There are 512 members of the House of Representatives who are elected from 130 districts throughout Japan. These Representatives serve a term that can last up to 4 years. The members of the House of Representatives elect a Prime Minister who also serves a term that lasts for 4 years. The main role of the House of Representatives is to make laws.
-The Prime Minister: The Japanese Prime Minister is usually the highest-ranking member of the majority party. He or she is first elected as a regular member of the House of Representatives and is then elected Prime Minister by the members of the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister appoints a cabinet of 12 ministers who carry out the day to day running of the government. The Prime Minister presides over the House of Representatives and has the power to dissolve the government and call for new elections. The House of Representatives however has the power to vote no confidence in the Prime Minister. When this happens the Prime Minister is obliged to dissolve the government and call for new elections before the 4 year term is over.
The United Mexican States
*The Mexican government is very similar to the government of the United States. Mexico is made up of 31 states and one capitol district. The government of Mexico is a Federal Republic. Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1810 and was basically governed by a series of Military leaders and dictators until the dictator Pofirio Diaz was overthrown during the Mexican Revolution of 1910. A civil war raged in Mexico between 1910-1917. In 1917 the civil war came to an end a new Constitution was written and put into place. The Constitution and government of Mexico have been in effect ever since.
-Mexican Constitution: The Mexican Constitution is very long and very tedious. The rights of the people, laws, and powers of government are very specific. The Mexican constitution is sometimes confusing and tends to, at times, contradict itself. The constitution does however set up a structure of government that includes an executive branch, a legislative branch, and a judicial branch. The powers of the government are divided between the Federal government and the governments of the 31 individual states.
-The Executive Branch: The President of Mexico is elected directly by the people for a term that lasts for 6 years. After the 6 year term is over the President may not run for re-election. The President of Mexico has a significant amount of power. He has the power to drive legislation through Congress and recommend the passage of bills; he has the power to appoint federal judges and supreme court justices; he has the power to appoint a cabinet of ministers, and he is the commander in chief of the military. Currently the President of Mexico is Vicente Fox.
*The Legislative Branch: Mexico has a bicameral legislature made up of a lower house and an upper house. The upper house is called the Senate and the lower house is called the Chamber of Deputies. The main function of the Congress is to make laws and to decide whether rules made by the President are legal or not.
-The Senate: There are 128 seats in the Senate; 96 are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, these members are elected to represent their respective states, each state gets 3 senators. The other 32senators are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote. Senators may not run for consecutive terms in the Senate. Just as in the US, the Senate is neither more nor less powerful than the lower house.
-The Chamber of Deputies: There are 500 seats in the Chamber of Deputies; 300 members are directly elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms, these members are elected to represent their respective states; the remaining 200 members are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote, also for three-year terms. Deputies may not run for consecutive terms in the Chamber of Deputies.
-State and Local Government: Just as in the US each state has the right to govern itself as long as all the laws that are on the books, or are passed adhere to the Mexican Constitution and Federal law.
The People’s Republic of China
*The People’s Republic of China was established in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War between the Nationalists and the Communists was fought after World War II. Communist revolutionaries led by Mao Zedong seized power from the Nationalists led by Chiang Kai-shek. The Communists took control over mainland China and established the People’s Republic. The Nationalists fled from the mainland to the island of Formosa and established a government that was referred to as Free China. Formosa is today called Taiwan.
-The People’s Republic of China is essentially a totalitarian oligarchy completely dominated by the Communist Party.
-The Chinese Constitution: The People’s Republic oh China actually has 2 constitutions, both written in 1982. One constitution is for the Chinese Communist Party; the other constitution is for the national government. The constitution for the Communist Party basically sets up the oligarchic structure that runs the national government. Members of the Communist Party in China receive more rights and privileges than ordinary Chinese citizens. Essentially the Communist Party sets up an system of elitism in China.
-The National Government: The national government is basically completely controlled by the Communist Party, however, the constitution of the national government is written in a way that may lead us to believe that the ordinary citizens of China have a say in their government. They do not. A system is in place for a structure of government that leads us to believe that the people participate, that system is as follows:
-Legislative Branch: The legislative branch of China’s government is a unicameral system called the National People’s Congress. There are 2,985 seats; members are elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms. The vast majority of members of the National People’s Congress are members of the Communist Party. Members of the National People’s Congress are supposed to make laws. What the National People’s Congress really does is rubber stamp laws decided on by the top officials of the Communist party. The National People’s Congress also elects the President and Vice President of China.
-Executive Branch: The president and vice president are elected by the National People's Congress to serve a five-year term. The President is almost always the leader of the Communist Party and the Vice-President is usually the second highest-ranking member of the Communist Party. The President appoints a Premier to preside over the National People's Congress, the National People's Congress must confirm the President’s appointment but that is merely a formality. The Premier is usually the third highest-ranking member of the Communist Party.
-Most decisions and laws in China are made by 20 elite members of the Communist Party called the Politburo. The 6 highest ranking members of the Politburo make up a group that is called the Politburo Standing Committee. These 6 people are at the heart of an oligarchy that governs 1.3 billion people.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
3rd Quarter Journal 1
Here is a link to the State of The Union Address: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/01/20080128-13.wm.v.html
-Which issue, that the President brought up in his speech, do you feel is the most important? Why? Do you agree with how the President wants to handle this issue? Explain.
-What was your overall impression of the State of the Union Address? Explain
-Do you approve of how George W. Bush has handled his Presidency overall? Explain.
-Which issue, that the President brought up in his speech, do you feel is the most important? Why? Do you agree with how the President wants to handle this issue? Explain.
-What was your overall impression of the State of the Union Address? Explain
-Do you approve of how George W. Bush has handled his Presidency overall? Explain.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
2nd Quarter Journals
1. Veteran's Day Journal
-Does our government adequately care for our veterans?
-What things should our Government be doing for veterans that they currently
are not doing?
-Should it be illegal for employers to replace employees who are military
reservists currently serving on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan with new
permanent employees?
2. 300 Word Essay
-If you could change anything about our government what would it be and why?
-How would you do it?
3. 300 word Essay
-What do you think are the most important qualifications for a person running
for President to possess? Explain.
4. Write a letter to President on any topic that you'd like.
5. Using your notes from the past few weeks, make up 25 questions and answers for
the upcoming test. (Given December 12th.)
6. Using your notes from the past few weeks, make up 25 questions and answers for
the upcoming test. (Given January 2nd.)
7. Create your own Third Party
-What type of party would it be?
-What would the platform of your party be?
-What would be the major goals of your party?
-Does our government adequately care for our veterans?
-What things should our Government be doing for veterans that they currently
are not doing?
-Should it be illegal for employers to replace employees who are military
reservists currently serving on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan with new
permanent employees?
2. 300 Word Essay
-If you could change anything about our government what would it be and why?
-How would you do it?
3. 300 word Essay
-What do you think are the most important qualifications for a person running
for President to possess? Explain.
4. Write a letter to President on any topic that you'd like.
5. Using your notes from the past few weeks, make up 25 questions and answers for
the upcoming test. (Given December 12th.)
6. Using your notes from the past few weeks, make up 25 questions and answers for
the upcoming test. (Given January 2nd.)
7. Create your own Third Party
-What type of party would it be?
-What would the platform of your party be?
-What would be the major goals of your party?
Thursday, January 10, 2008
January Notes
United States Citizenship
*The United States of America has a population that is close to 300 million people. The vast majority of these people are citizens of the US.
-Citizen: A citizen is a person who has all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that a government of a political area grants or imposes on them.
*There are 3 ways in which a person can become a citizen of the United States:
-Jus Soli: This is a Latin phrase that means law of the soil. A person who is a citizen based on Jus Soli is a citizen because he or she is born in the US or in any territory of the United States. This definition of citizenship is outlined in the 14th Amendment. The only exception to this rule is a person who is born in the United States to parents who are in the US on official business of a foreign government.
-Jus Sanguinis: This is a Latin phrase that means law of blood. A person who is a citizen based on Jus Sanguinis is a citizen because one or both of their parents are citizens of the United States. This makes it possible for a person who is not born in the United States to be a natural born American citizen.
-Naturalization: A person living in the US who is not a citizen through native birth or through blood can go through a process called naturalization to gain American citizenship. There are 5 qualifications an immigrant must meet to gain citizenship. These 5 qualifications are as follows:
-Person must have entered the US legally. (There are however exceptions to this rule.)
- Person must be of good moral character.
- Person must declare their support of the principles of American government.
- Person must be able to prove they can read, write, and speak English. (Applicants over 50 years old who have lived in the US for over 20 years are exempt from this rule.)
- Person must have basic knowledge of American history and American government.
*Many immigrants meet the qualifications for citizenship; they must however go through a few formal steps in order to become a citizen. The steps they must go through are as follows:
-Person must file a petition requesting citizenship.
-Person must be at least 18 years old. (A non-citizen under 18 can only become a citizen if at least one of their parents becomes a naturalized citizen.)
-Person must live in the United States for at least 5 continuous years before filing the petition for citizenship unless he or she is married to a US citizen, in that case the person must live in the US for at least 3 continuous years.
-Person must go through a formal hearing conducted by Immigration and Naturalization Services in which they are questioned about their past, and about their moral character. They must also present 2 witnesses to testify on their behalf.
-Person must pass a test in which they can demonstrate a basic knowledge of American History, and American Government.
-Person must go to another hearing in which a federal judge administers the American oath of allegiance, the person must also formally denounce allegiance to any other government. After this oath is administered the person becomes a naturalized citizen of the United States of America.
-Naturalized citizens have all the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities of natural born citizens. There is only one exception to this rule: Naturalized citizens may not serve as President or Vice-President of the United States.
Losing One’s Citizenship & Aliens
*There are three ways in which people become citizens of the United States; Jus Soli, Jus Sanguinis, and through the Naturalization process. There are also three ways in which a person can lose citizenship; they are as follows:
-Expatriation: Giving up one’s citizenship by leaving one’s native country to live in another country. Expatriation can be voluntary or involuntary. If one chooses, he or she can denounce his or her American citizenship voluntarily while living in another country. Citizenship may be lost involuntarily as well; an example of this would occur if a person became a naturalized citizen of another country, they would automatically lose their American citizenship.
-Punishment For a Crime: Citizenship can be taken away as a punishment for certain federal crimes that involve extreme disloyalty to the United States, participation in a rebellion against the United States, attempts to overthrow the government, and treason.
-Denaturalization: Naturalized citizens can lose their citizenship if the government finds out that they completed any part of the naturalization process through fraud or deception. Naturalized citizens can also lose citizenship if the government finds out that they join any radical organization that promotes anti-Americanism, or anti-democratic principles within 5 years of becoming naturalized.
Immigration
America has always been a nation of immigrants. Most of us can trace our ancestry back to people who came here from somewhere else. Immigrants continue to come to America to this day.
*Alien: A person who lives in a country where he or she is not a citizen. In America there are 5 types of aliens; they are as follows:
-Resident Alien: A person from another country who lives in America permanently and is not a citizen. Resident aliens may live in the United States for as long as they wish. They are also entitled to work anywhere that might hire them. People who are resident aliens get an identification document commonly referred to as a Green Card that documents their legal status in America.
-Non-Resident Alien: A person from another country who is here for only a temporary period of time. Non-resident aliens are not immigrants. They are usually in this country for educational purposes, short work assignments, or for vacation.
-Enemy Alien: An alien who is a citizen of a country in which the United States is at war. Enemy aliens can be resident aliens, non-resident aliens, or refugees. The government often keeps close tabs on those it deems enemy aliens.
-Refugee: A person from another country who is here seeking protection from persecution in their homeland based on racial, religious, or political grounds. The government sometimes also gives refugee status to people who are fleeing severe economic hardship or starvation in their homelands.
-Illegal Alien: A person from another country who enters the United States without a legal permit. Currently there are well over 3 million illegal aliens living and working in the United States.
Rights & Responsibilities of American Citizens
*American citizens are guaranteed certain rights; these rights are outlined for us in the Constitution of the United States. Our most important rights are listed in the Bill of Rights. The 14th Amendment defines what citizenship is and stands as one of the most important amendments. We as American citizens enjoy and cherish our rights; however we must realize that citizenship also comes with responsibilities. The responsibilities we have as citizens are as follows:
-Knowing about rights and laws: In order to fully enjoy the free 1society in which we live, we must be aware of the basic laws of our community, state, and country. We must also be aware of the rights that are in place to protect us. The ability to exercise one’s rights depends on an awareness of those rights
-Participation: It is important for Americans to take full advantage of the freedom and right we have to participate in our government. There are many ways in which we can participate.
-Voting: The easiest and most common way in which we can participate in our government is to vote in elections.
-Speaking Out: Exercising our freedom to express our opinions is an essential duty. We can do this by writing letters to our local, state, and federal governments, by writing letters to newspaper editorial pages, by distributing political literature, by simply talking to our friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and family members about politics. Some people even choose to exercise this right by standing on soapboxes on a crowded city streets screaming out their opinions through megaphones.
-Joining Political Organizations: Many people join and become active in political organizations. These organizations range from political parties to special interest groups. Some people even form their own political organizations.
-Running for Political Office: Some people who are highly involved in participation in government run for elected office.
Political Parties in America
*A political party is a group of people with broad common interests who organize to win elections, control government, and influence government policies. Different nations have different types of political party systems. There are 3 types of political party systems in the world today:
-One-Party System: In a one-party system the government is in effect the only political party. Many nations with communist or totalitarian governments have one-party systems; examples are China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea. In some nations the national religion is in effect the only political party; these countries have what is called a theocracy, examples are Iran, Afghanistan under the Taliban, and Vatican City.
-Multiparty System: In many nations people are free to openly believe in whatever they choose, in some of these nations the citizens organize many political parties that try to win elections. Most multiparty systems exist in Europe and feature a Parliamentary type of government. Examples of nations with multiparty systems are France, which has 5 major political parties; and Italy, which has 10 major political parties.
-Two-Party System: In some nations there are only two major political parties that completely dominate the political landscape. Other, so called, third parties are allowed to exist in nations with two party systems, however they have very little true political power and very little influence over the government. The best example of a nation with a two-party system in the world today is the United States of America.
Third Parties in America
*Although a strong two party system exists in the United States it is possible for minor parties to emerge. These minor parties are called third parties. There are many third parties in existence in America today. In addition to the Democrats and Republicans there are more than 50 other minor political parties currently in existence.
-Third parties exist for a variety of reasons. The most common reason third parties emerge is simply because some people do not feel as though their system of political beliefs match up with the two major parties. Some of these parties are more mainstream and share many of the ideas of the two major parties; other parties have ideology that is very strange and different from the way most people think politically.
-Some of the more mainstream third parties throughout history have been successful. During the 1990’s the Reform Party had candidates win some state and local elections; the most prominent candidate elected from the Reform Party was Jesse Ventura who was elected governor of Minnesota. Ross Perot, the founder of the Reform Party was a serious candidate in the presidential elections of 1992 and 1996. The Libertarian Party has also had some success in winning local and state elections. Perhaps the most successful of all third parties is the Republican Party.
-There are some third parties that are completely radical and have no real chance of winning elections. Some of these parties are The Knights Party, The Libertarian National Socialist Green Party, The U.S. Marijuana Party, The American Nazi Party, The Freedom Socialist/Radical Women Party, and the Communist Party of America.
-There are three categories of third parties in America today. They are as follows:
-Single-Issue Parties: These parties focus exclusively on one major social, economic, or moral issue. Examples of single-issue parties are The Family Values Party, The Southern Party, and the Prohibition Party.
-Ideological Parties: These parties focus on an overall change in society. These parties tend to have different and sometimes radical ideas that do not adhere to the political norm of the two major parties. Examples of ideological parties are The Green Party USA, The Libertarian Party, and the Socialist Workers Party.
-Splinter Parties: These parties are formed when one of the major political parties suffers a split due to disagreements in the party or changes in ideology within the party. An example of a splinter party is the Progressive Party, also known as the Bull-Moose Party. This party was a splinter of the Republican Party, and was formed in 1912.
Elections and Voting
*The most important responsibility we have as citizens is voting. Certain officials, on all levels of government, are elected by the people. Each state has a designated election day for primary and general elections.
-Election Days: According to the Congress of the United States the general election day for federal offices takes place on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November. State, local, and primary election days vary from state to state and from community to community.
How To Vote
*Before Election Day there are some steps that one must take in order to qualify to vote. There are two general qualifications for voting that apply to people of every state; they are as follows:
-You must be a citizen of the United States.
-You must be at least 18 years old on or before the date of the election.
*Each state has other qualifications that it sets for voting. Some of these qualifications are as follows:
-Some states require that citizens live in that state for a specified period of time before the Election Day. Pennsylvania’s residency requirement is that a person must live in the state for at least 30 days before Election Day.
-Some states require its residents to formally register to vote. Pennsylvanian’s must register to vote at least 30 days before Election Day. PA residents can register to vote at the Department of Transportation by filling out a form they can obtain from state or local offices, or by obtaining a downloadable and printable voter registration form online. The website is: http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/lib/bcel/voter_registration/01_staticpage/voterregistrationapp.html
-Some states require its residents to choose membership in a political party in order to qualify to vote in a primary election. Pennsylvania requires its residents to choose membership in a political party to vote in the primary election. PA residents are not required to choose a party in order to vote in general elections.
-Some states require its residents to be free of any felony conviction in order to qualify to vote. Pennsylvania has no such requirement.
-Some states require its residents to be legally sane in order to qualify to vote. Pennsylvania has no such requirement.
-The 15th Amendment prohibits any federal, state, or local government from denying any citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or religious affiliation.
-The 19th Amendment prohibits any federal, state, or local government from denying any citizen the right to vote based on sex.
-The 26th Amendment prohibits any federal, state, or local government from denying any citizen 18 years old or older the right to vote based on age.
*If you meet all the qualifications for voting you are then able to vote in federal, state, and local primary and general elections. You need to be prepared to go and vote. There are a few things you need to do before going to vote:
-Know where you’re going. You cannot vote at just any polling place, there is a specified place you need to go in order to cast your vote. This place is determined by your address.
-Be able to provide official proof of identification. Some polling places will not allow you to vote without proper ID.
-Research the candidates and be ready to make educated and informed choices inside the voting booth.
State and Local Government
*Since we live in a nation that features a Federal system of government, the power of government is divided between the national government, and the States governments.
-According to Article IV of the US Constitution, each state is guaranteed a representative form of government.
-Article VI of the US Constitution is often referred to as the Supremacy Clause. This means that all federal laws take precedence and are supreme over any state or local laws; however it also means that anything that is not covered under federal law can be covered under state law.
State Constitutions
*Each state has its own Constitution. Each state’s Constitution must adhere to the US Constitution and to all federal laws.
-The first written Constitution in America was adopted by the colony of Connecticut in 1638.
-The State with the oldest Constitution still in effect is New Hampshire. New Hampshire adopted their current Constitution in 1784.
Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
-Pennsylvania’s first Constitution was adopted in 1776. Since 1776 Pennsylvania has had 5 Commonwealth Constitutions. (Pennsylvania, along with Massachusetts, Virginia, and Kentucky are not states, they are Commonwealths.) Pennsylvania’s current Constitution was adopted in 1968.
-Pennsylvania’s Constitution is made up of a Preamble, 11 Articles, and 13 Amendments.
-The Constitution of Pennsylvania’s Preamble is as follows: “WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”
-Article I of Pennsylvania’s Constitution is the Commonwealth’s Bill of Rights. There are 28 specific rights listed in Pennsylvania’s Bill of Rights.
-Article II of Pennsylvania’s Constitution establishes the Commonwealth’s legislative branch of government. Pennsylvania’s legislature is called the General Assembly; it is a bicameral legislature with an upper house, the Senate, and a lower house, the House of Representatives.
-Article III of Pennsylvania’s Constitution defines how the General Assembly goes about making laws.
-Article IV of Pennsylvania’s Constitution establishes the Commonwealth’s Executive Branch. The chief executive of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the Governor (Edward G. Rendell). In addition to the Governor, the executive branch is made up of the Lieutenant Governor (Catherine Baker Knoll,) the Attorney General (Gerald Pappert,) Auditor General (Robert P. Casey,) and Treasurer (Barbara Hafer.)
-Article V of Pennsylvania’s Constitution establishes and defines the Commonwealth’s Judicial Branch. Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court is made up of 7 justices who are elected by the people. This Article is quite lengthy because the Commonwealth basically has 3 sets of rules for the courts. The judicial system is set up the same in all of the counties with the exception of Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties (this includes the City of Pittsburgh.) Philadelphia and Allegheny counties have their own court systems which are run by the local governments, but fall under the authority of the Commonwealth.
-Article VI of Pennsylvania’s Constitution describes the responsibilities and expectations of Public Officers, both those elected and those appointed.
-Article VII of Pennsylvania’s Constitution outlines the Commonwealth’s election process.
-Article VIII of Pennsylvania’s Constitution defines the Commonwealth’s laws regarding taxes and finances.
-Article IX of Pennsylvania’s Constitution describes the legal relationship the Commonwealth has with the county and local governments throughout the state.
-Article X of Pennsylvania’s Constitution sets forth the basic laws that Private Corporations must adhere to in the Commonwealth.
Article XI of Pennsylvania’s Constitution describes and defines the process of Ammending the Constitution.
State Legislatures
-Each state has a legislature, or law making body. Every state in the union has a bicameral legislature consisting of an upper house and a lower house.
-Pennsylvania’s legislature is called the General Assembly. The upper house is called the Senate and has 50 members. The lower house is called the House of Representatives and has 203 members.
-Members of Pennsylvania’s Senate are elected to a term of 4 years and may run for re-election as many times as they want. Members of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives are elected to a term of 2 years and may also run for re-election as many times as they want.
-In many states, State Legislators are paid a very small salary; some as low as $5 a day for each day the legislature is in session. In the states that pay very small salaries, the job of legislator is usually part time and most of the legislators have other full time professions, usually as lawyers, business owners, executives, labor leaders, etc.
-In Pennsylvania the job of legislator is a full time position that requires the members of the legislature to spend a good deal of their time at the state capitol in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania state legislators are the third highest paid in the US making an annual salary of approximately $65,000.
-The presiding officer of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House. Currently the Speaker of the House in Pennsylvania is Dennis O'Brien. The presiding officer of the Pennsylvania Senate is the Lieutenant Governor. Currently the Lieutenant Governor is Catherine Baker Knoll.
Governors
*Each state has a Chief Executive called the Governor. The Governor has many duties, powers, and responsibilities in the state government. Some of the powers and duties of the governor are as follows:
-Carrying out state laws and supervising the executive branch.
-Reporting to the legislature from time to time on the state of the state.
-Appointing some judges and other state officials.
-Proposing new laws and programs to the legislature.
-Preparing the state budget.
-Approving or vetoing bills.
-Declaring states of emergency.
-Representing the state at ceremonies and public functions.
-The governor also has the power to grant pardons, reprieves,
and amnesty to people convicted of state crimes.
-Each state sets term lengths and limits for the governor. In Pennsylvania the governor serves a term that lasts 4 years, and is limited to serving 2 terms.
-Each state determines the salary of their governor. The range in salaries is wide throughout the states. Some states pay their governor less than $40,000 per year; others pay their governor over $150,000 per year. Pennsylvania’s governor receives approximately $142,000 per year. He also has many of his living expenses paid, and is provided with a gubernatorial mansion in Harrisburg.
*The United States of America has a population that is close to 300 million people. The vast majority of these people are citizens of the US.
-Citizen: A citizen is a person who has all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that a government of a political area grants or imposes on them.
*There are 3 ways in which a person can become a citizen of the United States:
-Jus Soli: This is a Latin phrase that means law of the soil. A person who is a citizen based on Jus Soli is a citizen because he or she is born in the US or in any territory of the United States. This definition of citizenship is outlined in the 14th Amendment. The only exception to this rule is a person who is born in the United States to parents who are in the US on official business of a foreign government.
-Jus Sanguinis: This is a Latin phrase that means law of blood. A person who is a citizen based on Jus Sanguinis is a citizen because one or both of their parents are citizens of the United States. This makes it possible for a person who is not born in the United States to be a natural born American citizen.
-Naturalization: A person living in the US who is not a citizen through native birth or through blood can go through a process called naturalization to gain American citizenship. There are 5 qualifications an immigrant must meet to gain citizenship. These 5 qualifications are as follows:
-Person must have entered the US legally. (There are however exceptions to this rule.)
- Person must be of good moral character.
- Person must declare their support of the principles of American government.
- Person must be able to prove they can read, write, and speak English. (Applicants over 50 years old who have lived in the US for over 20 years are exempt from this rule.)
- Person must have basic knowledge of American history and American government.
*Many immigrants meet the qualifications for citizenship; they must however go through a few formal steps in order to become a citizen. The steps they must go through are as follows:
-Person must file a petition requesting citizenship.
-Person must be at least 18 years old. (A non-citizen under 18 can only become a citizen if at least one of their parents becomes a naturalized citizen.)
-Person must live in the United States for at least 5 continuous years before filing the petition for citizenship unless he or she is married to a US citizen, in that case the person must live in the US for at least 3 continuous years.
-Person must go through a formal hearing conducted by Immigration and Naturalization Services in which they are questioned about their past, and about their moral character. They must also present 2 witnesses to testify on their behalf.
-Person must pass a test in which they can demonstrate a basic knowledge of American History, and American Government.
-Person must go to another hearing in which a federal judge administers the American oath of allegiance, the person must also formally denounce allegiance to any other government. After this oath is administered the person becomes a naturalized citizen of the United States of America.
-Naturalized citizens have all the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities of natural born citizens. There is only one exception to this rule: Naturalized citizens may not serve as President or Vice-President of the United States.
Losing One’s Citizenship & Aliens
*There are three ways in which people become citizens of the United States; Jus Soli, Jus Sanguinis, and through the Naturalization process. There are also three ways in which a person can lose citizenship; they are as follows:
-Expatriation: Giving up one’s citizenship by leaving one’s native country to live in another country. Expatriation can be voluntary or involuntary. If one chooses, he or she can denounce his or her American citizenship voluntarily while living in another country. Citizenship may be lost involuntarily as well; an example of this would occur if a person became a naturalized citizen of another country, they would automatically lose their American citizenship.
-Punishment For a Crime: Citizenship can be taken away as a punishment for certain federal crimes that involve extreme disloyalty to the United States, participation in a rebellion against the United States, attempts to overthrow the government, and treason.
-Denaturalization: Naturalized citizens can lose their citizenship if the government finds out that they completed any part of the naturalization process through fraud or deception. Naturalized citizens can also lose citizenship if the government finds out that they join any radical organization that promotes anti-Americanism, or anti-democratic principles within 5 years of becoming naturalized.
Immigration
America has always been a nation of immigrants. Most of us can trace our ancestry back to people who came here from somewhere else. Immigrants continue to come to America to this day.
*Alien: A person who lives in a country where he or she is not a citizen. In America there are 5 types of aliens; they are as follows:
-Resident Alien: A person from another country who lives in America permanently and is not a citizen. Resident aliens may live in the United States for as long as they wish. They are also entitled to work anywhere that might hire them. People who are resident aliens get an identification document commonly referred to as a Green Card that documents their legal status in America.
-Non-Resident Alien: A person from another country who is here for only a temporary period of time. Non-resident aliens are not immigrants. They are usually in this country for educational purposes, short work assignments, or for vacation.
-Enemy Alien: An alien who is a citizen of a country in which the United States is at war. Enemy aliens can be resident aliens, non-resident aliens, or refugees. The government often keeps close tabs on those it deems enemy aliens.
-Refugee: A person from another country who is here seeking protection from persecution in their homeland based on racial, religious, or political grounds. The government sometimes also gives refugee status to people who are fleeing severe economic hardship or starvation in their homelands.
-Illegal Alien: A person from another country who enters the United States without a legal permit. Currently there are well over 3 million illegal aliens living and working in the United States.
Rights & Responsibilities of American Citizens
*American citizens are guaranteed certain rights; these rights are outlined for us in the Constitution of the United States. Our most important rights are listed in the Bill of Rights. The 14th Amendment defines what citizenship is and stands as one of the most important amendments. We as American citizens enjoy and cherish our rights; however we must realize that citizenship also comes with responsibilities. The responsibilities we have as citizens are as follows:
-Knowing about rights and laws: In order to fully enjoy the free 1society in which we live, we must be aware of the basic laws of our community, state, and country. We must also be aware of the rights that are in place to protect us. The ability to exercise one’s rights depends on an awareness of those rights
-Participation: It is important for Americans to take full advantage of the freedom and right we have to participate in our government. There are many ways in which we can participate.
-Voting: The easiest and most common way in which we can participate in our government is to vote in elections.
-Speaking Out: Exercising our freedom to express our opinions is an essential duty. We can do this by writing letters to our local, state, and federal governments, by writing letters to newspaper editorial pages, by distributing political literature, by simply talking to our friends, colleagues, acquaintances, and family members about politics. Some people even choose to exercise this right by standing on soapboxes on a crowded city streets screaming out their opinions through megaphones.
-Joining Political Organizations: Many people join and become active in political organizations. These organizations range from political parties to special interest groups. Some people even form their own political organizations.
-Running for Political Office: Some people who are highly involved in participation in government run for elected office.
Political Parties in America
*A political party is a group of people with broad common interests who organize to win elections, control government, and influence government policies. Different nations have different types of political party systems. There are 3 types of political party systems in the world today:
-One-Party System: In a one-party system the government is in effect the only political party. Many nations with communist or totalitarian governments have one-party systems; examples are China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea. In some nations the national religion is in effect the only political party; these countries have what is called a theocracy, examples are Iran, Afghanistan under the Taliban, and Vatican City.
-Multiparty System: In many nations people are free to openly believe in whatever they choose, in some of these nations the citizens organize many political parties that try to win elections. Most multiparty systems exist in Europe and feature a Parliamentary type of government. Examples of nations with multiparty systems are France, which has 5 major political parties; and Italy, which has 10 major political parties.
-Two-Party System: In some nations there are only two major political parties that completely dominate the political landscape. Other, so called, third parties are allowed to exist in nations with two party systems, however they have very little true political power and very little influence over the government. The best example of a nation with a two-party system in the world today is the United States of America.
Third Parties in America
*Although a strong two party system exists in the United States it is possible for minor parties to emerge. These minor parties are called third parties. There are many third parties in existence in America today. In addition to the Democrats and Republicans there are more than 50 other minor political parties currently in existence.
-Third parties exist for a variety of reasons. The most common reason third parties emerge is simply because some people do not feel as though their system of political beliefs match up with the two major parties. Some of these parties are more mainstream and share many of the ideas of the two major parties; other parties have ideology that is very strange and different from the way most people think politically.
-Some of the more mainstream third parties throughout history have been successful. During the 1990’s the Reform Party had candidates win some state and local elections; the most prominent candidate elected from the Reform Party was Jesse Ventura who was elected governor of Minnesota. Ross Perot, the founder of the Reform Party was a serious candidate in the presidential elections of 1992 and 1996. The Libertarian Party has also had some success in winning local and state elections. Perhaps the most successful of all third parties is the Republican Party.
-There are some third parties that are completely radical and have no real chance of winning elections. Some of these parties are The Knights Party, The Libertarian National Socialist Green Party, The U.S. Marijuana Party, The American Nazi Party, The Freedom Socialist/Radical Women Party, and the Communist Party of America.
-There are three categories of third parties in America today. They are as follows:
-Single-Issue Parties: These parties focus exclusively on one major social, economic, or moral issue. Examples of single-issue parties are The Family Values Party, The Southern Party, and the Prohibition Party.
-Ideological Parties: These parties focus on an overall change in society. These parties tend to have different and sometimes radical ideas that do not adhere to the political norm of the two major parties. Examples of ideological parties are The Green Party USA, The Libertarian Party, and the Socialist Workers Party.
-Splinter Parties: These parties are formed when one of the major political parties suffers a split due to disagreements in the party or changes in ideology within the party. An example of a splinter party is the Progressive Party, also known as the Bull-Moose Party. This party was a splinter of the Republican Party, and was formed in 1912.
Elections and Voting
*The most important responsibility we have as citizens is voting. Certain officials, on all levels of government, are elected by the people. Each state has a designated election day for primary and general elections.
-Election Days: According to the Congress of the United States the general election day for federal offices takes place on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November. State, local, and primary election days vary from state to state and from community to community.
How To Vote
*Before Election Day there are some steps that one must take in order to qualify to vote. There are two general qualifications for voting that apply to people of every state; they are as follows:
-You must be a citizen of the United States.
-You must be at least 18 years old on or before the date of the election.
*Each state has other qualifications that it sets for voting. Some of these qualifications are as follows:
-Some states require that citizens live in that state for a specified period of time before the Election Day. Pennsylvania’s residency requirement is that a person must live in the state for at least 30 days before Election Day.
-Some states require its residents to formally register to vote. Pennsylvanian’s must register to vote at least 30 days before Election Day. PA residents can register to vote at the Department of Transportation by filling out a form they can obtain from state or local offices, or by obtaining a downloadable and printable voter registration form online. The website is: http://www.dos.state.pa.us/bcel/lib/bcel/voter_registration/01_staticpage/voterregistrationapp.html
-Some states require its residents to choose membership in a political party in order to qualify to vote in a primary election. Pennsylvania requires its residents to choose membership in a political party to vote in the primary election. PA residents are not required to choose a party in order to vote in general elections.
-Some states require its residents to be free of any felony conviction in order to qualify to vote. Pennsylvania has no such requirement.
-Some states require its residents to be legally sane in order to qualify to vote. Pennsylvania has no such requirement.
-The 15th Amendment prohibits any federal, state, or local government from denying any citizen the right to vote based on race, color, or religious affiliation.
-The 19th Amendment prohibits any federal, state, or local government from denying any citizen the right to vote based on sex.
-The 26th Amendment prohibits any federal, state, or local government from denying any citizen 18 years old or older the right to vote based on age.
*If you meet all the qualifications for voting you are then able to vote in federal, state, and local primary and general elections. You need to be prepared to go and vote. There are a few things you need to do before going to vote:
-Know where you’re going. You cannot vote at just any polling place, there is a specified place you need to go in order to cast your vote. This place is determined by your address.
-Be able to provide official proof of identification. Some polling places will not allow you to vote without proper ID.
-Research the candidates and be ready to make educated and informed choices inside the voting booth.
State and Local Government
*Since we live in a nation that features a Federal system of government, the power of government is divided between the national government, and the States governments.
-According to Article IV of the US Constitution, each state is guaranteed a representative form of government.
-Article VI of the US Constitution is often referred to as the Supremacy Clause. This means that all federal laws take precedence and are supreme over any state or local laws; however it also means that anything that is not covered under federal law can be covered under state law.
State Constitutions
*Each state has its own Constitution. Each state’s Constitution must adhere to the US Constitution and to all federal laws.
-The first written Constitution in America was adopted by the colony of Connecticut in 1638.
-The State with the oldest Constitution still in effect is New Hampshire. New Hampshire adopted their current Constitution in 1784.
Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
-Pennsylvania’s first Constitution was adopted in 1776. Since 1776 Pennsylvania has had 5 Commonwealth Constitutions. (Pennsylvania, along with Massachusetts, Virginia, and Kentucky are not states, they are Commonwealths.) Pennsylvania’s current Constitution was adopted in 1968.
-Pennsylvania’s Constitution is made up of a Preamble, 11 Articles, and 13 Amendments.
-The Constitution of Pennsylvania’s Preamble is as follows: “WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”
-Article I of Pennsylvania’s Constitution is the Commonwealth’s Bill of Rights. There are 28 specific rights listed in Pennsylvania’s Bill of Rights.
-Article II of Pennsylvania’s Constitution establishes the Commonwealth’s legislative branch of government. Pennsylvania’s legislature is called the General Assembly; it is a bicameral legislature with an upper house, the Senate, and a lower house, the House of Representatives.
-Article III of Pennsylvania’s Constitution defines how the General Assembly goes about making laws.
-Article IV of Pennsylvania’s Constitution establishes the Commonwealth’s Executive Branch. The chief executive of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is the Governor (Edward G. Rendell). In addition to the Governor, the executive branch is made up of the Lieutenant Governor (Catherine Baker Knoll,) the Attorney General (Gerald Pappert,) Auditor General (Robert P. Casey,) and Treasurer (Barbara Hafer.)
-Article V of Pennsylvania’s Constitution establishes and defines the Commonwealth’s Judicial Branch. Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court is made up of 7 justices who are elected by the people. This Article is quite lengthy because the Commonwealth basically has 3 sets of rules for the courts. The judicial system is set up the same in all of the counties with the exception of Philadelphia and Allegheny Counties (this includes the City of Pittsburgh.) Philadelphia and Allegheny counties have their own court systems which are run by the local governments, but fall under the authority of the Commonwealth.
-Article VI of Pennsylvania’s Constitution describes the responsibilities and expectations of Public Officers, both those elected and those appointed.
-Article VII of Pennsylvania’s Constitution outlines the Commonwealth’s election process.
-Article VIII of Pennsylvania’s Constitution defines the Commonwealth’s laws regarding taxes and finances.
-Article IX of Pennsylvania’s Constitution describes the legal relationship the Commonwealth has with the county and local governments throughout the state.
-Article X of Pennsylvania’s Constitution sets forth the basic laws that Private Corporations must adhere to in the Commonwealth.
Article XI of Pennsylvania’s Constitution describes and defines the process of Ammending the Constitution.
State Legislatures
-Each state has a legislature, or law making body. Every state in the union has a bicameral legislature consisting of an upper house and a lower house.
-Pennsylvania’s legislature is called the General Assembly. The upper house is called the Senate and has 50 members. The lower house is called the House of Representatives and has 203 members.
-Members of Pennsylvania’s Senate are elected to a term of 4 years and may run for re-election as many times as they want. Members of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives are elected to a term of 2 years and may also run for re-election as many times as they want.
-In many states, State Legislators are paid a very small salary; some as low as $5 a day for each day the legislature is in session. In the states that pay very small salaries, the job of legislator is usually part time and most of the legislators have other full time professions, usually as lawyers, business owners, executives, labor leaders, etc.
-In Pennsylvania the job of legislator is a full time position that requires the members of the legislature to spend a good deal of their time at the state capitol in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania state legislators are the third highest paid in the US making an annual salary of approximately $65,000.
-The presiding officer of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the Speaker of the House. Currently the Speaker of the House in Pennsylvania is Dennis O'Brien. The presiding officer of the Pennsylvania Senate is the Lieutenant Governor. Currently the Lieutenant Governor is Catherine Baker Knoll.
Governors
*Each state has a Chief Executive called the Governor. The Governor has many duties, powers, and responsibilities in the state government. Some of the powers and duties of the governor are as follows:
-Carrying out state laws and supervising the executive branch.
-Reporting to the legislature from time to time on the state of the state.
-Appointing some judges and other state officials.
-Proposing new laws and programs to the legislature.
-Preparing the state budget.
-Approving or vetoing bills.
-Declaring states of emergency.
-Representing the state at ceremonies and public functions.
-The governor also has the power to grant pardons, reprieves,
and amnesty to people convicted of state crimes.
-Each state sets term lengths and limits for the governor. In Pennsylvania the governor serves a term that lasts 4 years, and is limited to serving 2 terms.
-Each state determines the salary of their governor. The range in salaries is wide throughout the states. Some states pay their governor less than $40,000 per year; others pay their governor over $150,000 per year. Pennsylvania’s governor receives approximately $142,000 per year. He also has many of his living expenses paid, and is provided with a gubernatorial mansion in Harrisburg.
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