Study Guide: Civics EOC Exam
John Locke: What ideas is he known for?

Natural Law – “Life, Liberty, and Property”

Social Contract – people give up power to government but get back protection

Influenced Declaration of Independence
What is the social contract?
The people give up power to rule and some rights, but get back protection from the government
Montesquieu: How did he influence the “Founding Fathers?”

Separation of Powers – 3 branches

Checks and Balances
What are three concepts found in the Magna Carta that influenced the Founding Fathers?

Limited Government

Trial by Jury

Rule of Law – no one is above the law
List two rights that are found in the English Bill of Rights that are found in the US Bill of Rights:

Freedom of Speech

No cruel and unusual punishment, no taxation without representation
Name two concepts in the Mayflower Compact that influenced the Founding Fathers:

Self-government

Rule of Law – Social Contract
What did Thomas Paine's Common Sense influence the Founding Fathers to do?
Declare independence from Great Britain
List three things that the British did that made the Colonists angry?

Stamp Act, Quartering Act, Tea Act – imposed taxes on products, forced colonists to house
soldiers

No taxation without representation

Boston Massacre, Concord and Lexington, Quartering of Soldiers
Who was the "Grievances" of the Declaration of Independence addressed to? The King – King George
What rights did Thomas Jefferson say every American is entitled to in the Declaration of Independence?
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
Which Enlightenment philosopher influenced Jefferson in the "Natural Rights" section of the Declaration
of Independence? John Locke
List three weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation:

No power to tax

Too weak to enforce laws – remember Shay’s Rebellion

No power to regulate trade
List the goals of the Preamble and describe what they mean:

“We the People” – popular sovereignty

“a more perfect union” – make a better country

“Ensure domestic tranquility” – keep the peace

“Provide for the common defense” – military

“Promote the general welfare” – help people, provide programs like healthcare, schools, etc

“Secure the blessings of liberty” - freedom
Define: Separation of Power: no part of the government of branch has more power than another
Define Checks and Balances: branches check each other and balance out power between branches
Provide an Example of Checks and Balances for each branch:

Judicial branch can declare laws unconstitutional – checking the legislative branch

Executive branch can veto – checking the legislative branch

Legislative branch confirms appointments, has impeachment powers – checking the executive
branch
Define the Rule of Law: Protects citizens from tyranny or abuse or power, leaders must follow the law,
no one is above the law
What President demonstrated tried to go above the Rule of Law: Richard Nixon
During his second term, President Richard Nixon tried to place the Executive Branch of the federal
government beyond the reach of legal process. When served with a subpoena ordering him to produce a
series of tapes that were anticipated to link him to the Watergate conspiracy and cover-up, Nixon refused
to comply, asserting that the confidentiality of these tapes was protected from disclosure by an absolute
and unqualified “Executive Privilege.” In United States v. Nixon, the Supreme Court disagreed, compelling
the president to hand over the tapes because the Constitution forbids any branch of government or
person in U.S. from being above the law. We are all equal before the law.
List two “sources” of American Law:

Code of Hammurabi – 1754 BCE

English Common Law
List four “types” of law:

civil – between individuals or corporaitons – deal with money usually

Criminal – breaking the law – impacting safety

Constitutional law – rights, power of the government

Military – rules for soldiers
Which Amendment defined citizenship? The 14th Amendment
List five “qualifications” for becoming a naturalized citizen:

Be 18 years old

Be lawful permanent resident

Live in US for 5 years

Be of good moral character

Know basic English
What are the two ways to become a natural born citizen? Law of Soil – be born on US soil, Law of Blood
– be born to US citizens – no matter where you are born
List the six steps to become a naturalized citizen:
1. Live in US for 5 years
2. Fill out an application
3. Fingerprint and background check
4. interview
5. pass a Civics and English test
6. take an oath
List four “obligations” of US citizens: - MUST DO
1. obey the law
2. pay taxes
3. serve on jury
4. defend the nation
List four “responsibilities” of citizenship: - SHOULD DO
1. vote
2. attend civic meetings
3. petition government
4. run for office
List the 10 Amendments in the Bill of Rights:
1. Freedom of Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition
2. Right to bear arms, own a gun
3. Quartering of Soldiers
4. Arrests and searches
5. Rights of the accused – due process – no self-incrimination – eminent domain
6. Rights of a person on trial
7. Jury trials on civil cases
8. Limits on bail and punishment
9. delegated rights
10. reserved rights
Define the following Amendments:
13th: abolished slavery
14th: defined citizenship, due process, equal protection
15th: gave black men the right to vote
19th: women’s suffrage
24th: abolished poll taxes
26th: lowered voting age from 21 to 18
List the outcomes of the following Landmark Supreme Court Cases:
Marbury v. Madison: judicial review
Plessy v. Ferguson: separate but equal
Brown v. Board of Education: ended segregation of schools
Gideon v. Wainwright: right to free legal counsel
Miranda v. Arizona: due process – criminals must be notified of their rights
In re’ Gault: kids have due process rights
Tinker v. Des Moines: free speech – kids could express themselves
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier: put limits on Tinker if the speech disrupted learning environment
US v. Nixon: rule of law – even the president isn’t above the law
Bush v. Gore: divided court gave election to Bush, stopped the Florida recount
Describe the following Political Parties:
Democrats: “Federalists”

government “welfare” programs to help those in need

higher taxes

business regulations
Republicans: “Anti-Federalists”

Fewer government programs

Lower taxes

Less business regulation
Libertarians: maximum freedom – minimal government
Socialist: government and workers control businesses, welfare programs to help people (healthcare,
education)
Communists: workers and people control business – many ended up as dictatorships
List the Constitutional Qualifications for the following offices:
President:

35 years old – resident for 14 years

Natural born citizen

2 four year terms (22 Amendment)
House of Representatives:

25 years old

Resident of state for 7 years

No term limits
Senate:

30 years old

Resident for 9 years

No term limits
Define the following:
Party Platform: main goals and ideas of the party
Interest Groups:(add) also called an advocacy group, lobbying group, pressure group, or special interest
is a group. They are determined to encourage or prevent changes in public policy by influencing elected
officials and the public.
Lobbying: (add) the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in a government
Political Action Committee: known also as PACs, influence politics and get candidates elected
Bias: opinionated leaning toward one side of an issue
Media Watching Role: forms of communication – TV, radio, newspaper, ads (Watchdog)
Propaganda: information spread to persuade
List 3 things each level of government is responsible for:

National – military, interstate and foreign trade, environment, healthcare

State – education, intrastate trade, intrastate environmental and safety issues

Local – schools, roads, sanitation and services, local safety
What is a “domestic policy”? plan to deal with problems inside the US
What is a “foreign policy”? plan to deal with other countries, trade, treaties
List the ways the President deals with foreign policy:

Signs treaties

Appoints ambassadors

Appoints Secretary of State

Serves as Commander-in-Chief

Chief diplomat
List the ways Congress deals with foreign policy:

Confirms treaties (Senate)

Declares war

Provides funding

Confirms ambassadors
Define the following international organizations:
United Nations: 193 countries, keeping peace, helping other members
NATO: North American Treaty Organization – defensive treaty where members protect other members
from attack – originated against communism and the threat from the Soviet Union
NAFTA: North American Free Trade Agreement – free trade between US, Canada, and Mexico
UNICEF: part of the UN, provides members assistance for children
International Court of Justice (World Court): provides a court where disputes between countries can be
settled
WTO World Trade Organization – free trade – no tariffs
Red Cross: disaster relief
NGOs: non-governmental organizations
What two wars fought in Europe and Asia where the last “declared wars”? WWI and WWII
Name two “undeclared” wars? Vietnam and Afghanistan (also Operation Iraqi Freedom…all are
technically “military operations” not “wars.”)
What was the decade’s long conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union referred to?
The Cold War
What were the two conflicts with Cuba in the 1960s? Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis
What country were the two “Gulf Wars” fought against? Iraq
Define the following “forms” of government:
Direct Democracy: Everyone makes decisions – like in ancient Greece
Representative Democracy: elected representatives make decisions- a republic (what we have in U.S.)
Absolute Monarchy: ruled by a king or queen
Constitutional Monarchy: king or queen is a figurehead – has no power in the government
Communism: extreme version of socialism – everything is owned and controlled by the people
Socialism: public ownership of businesses, free healthcare, education
Autocracy: ruled by one
Oligarchy: ruled by a few
What “system” of government is power shared between the national and regional governments? central
What system of government do the regional governments tell the central government what to do?
Confederal system
What system of government does the central government have all of the power? Unitary system
Who is the executive chosen by in a Parliamentary System? Prime Minister (like in England and Canada)
What are powers held by the national government called? Enumerated
List ten constitutional powers of the national government: tax, regulate commerce, coin money,
approve presidential appointments, impeachment, army and navy, declare war, naturalization,
immigration, confirm treaties, make all laws necessary (elastic clause)
List the three levels of Federal Courts: US District Courts, US Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court
List the three levels of the Florida Court System: County/Circuit courts, District Court of Appeals,
Supreme Court
What are powers shared by the national and state governments called? concurrent
List three powers shared by the national & state governments: tax, public welfare, courts, borrowing
money, building roads
delegated powers: (add) powers held only by Federal Government
List three powers held only by federal government: (add) coin money, declare war, sign treaties
What are powers held by state governments called: reserved – 10th Amendment
List three powers held only by state governments: establish schools, run elections, issue licenses
(marriage, drivers, etc)
What do you call the system in which powers are shared by national and state governments? Federalism
How are federal amendments made? 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress or ¾ of state legislators
List the Steps through Congress for passing a law:
Bill proposed, introducing legislation to either House or Senate, committee review, debate, to other
house, conference committee, president signs, becomes a law
Complete the Chart Comparing the US & Florida Constitutions:
United States
Florida
Articles: 7
Articles:12
Size: 1 big page
Size: 80 pages
Rights Contained in: Bill of Rights
Rights Contained in: Florida Declaration of Rights
Specifics:
Easier to change
Designed to be a living/changing document
List three ways to amend the Florida Constitution

initiatives

constitutional revision committee meets every 20 years

joint resolution 3/5 of House and Senate, ratified by voters
List Services:
National: disaster relief, environment, Food and Drug safety, welfare programs, Postal Service,
Interstate Highways
State: Education, environmental issues, licenses, state highways, state police, public safety
Local: police, fire department, library, schools, local roads, trash collection