Government Study Guide- Essay Test

Explain the process in which Congress bestowed more voting opportunities to fellow American citizens. Be sure to provide clear and concise examples.

Congress bestowed more voting opportunities to fellow American citizens in several amendments, most notably in the 15th, 19th, and the 26th amendments. For any of these amendments to be passed, one must be proposed by Congress and receive two-thirds vote of both houses of congress, where it will then require three-fourths of the 50 state legislatures. If this happens, an amendment will be ratified. In the 15 th amendment, Congress agreed that the right to vote should not be abridged because of color or previous servitude, which gave Africans/ African Americans and indentured servants votes. In the 19th amendment, Congress granted womens suffrage (or right to vote). Finally, in the 26th amendment, Congress agreed to lower the voting age to 18.

Describe the process in which Congress can legally and forcibly remove US government officials of wrongdoing while in office.

The process in which Congress can legally and forcibly remove US government officials of wrongdoing while in office is called impeaching. Under the Constitution, the House of Representatives is able to impeach, or accuse, federal officials- including the president. Ultimately, it will be up to the Senate to determine the accused persons guilt or innocence. Officials can be impeached for, as stated in the constitution, Conviction of Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. Congress has investigated more than 60 people on impeachment charges, including Presidents Andrew Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton. Due process is important in our society because it contains four important protections for people accused of crime. First, no one can be tried for a serious crime unless a grand jury has decided there is enough evidence to justify a trial. Second, a person who is found innocent of a crime may not be tried again for the same offense. Third, no one may be forced to testify against him or herself. Finally, it states that the government may not deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process. This process originates with John Locke, who believed that there was a natural law in place for all humans, such that we all had the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. An example of this would be that a government cannot put someone into double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and government seizure of property without just compensation Expressed powers are those powers directly expressed or stated in the Constitution by the Founders. Most of these are found in the first three articles of the Constitution. Includes the power to levy and collect taxes, to coin money, to make war, to raise an army and navy, and to regulate commerce among the states. Implied powers are those that the national government requires to carry out the powers that are expressly defined in the Constitution. The basis for this is the necessary and proper clause. Includes the power to regulate nuclear power plants, to develop the space program, and to draft people into the armed forces. Inherited powers are those that the national government may exercise simply because it is a government. Examples are that the national government must control immigration and establish diplomatic relations with other countries. A search warrant (or an arrest warrant) is an order signed by a judge describing a specific place to be searched for specific items or naming the individual to be arrested for a specific crime. These were set in place because the Fourth Amendment the right to privacy in that it requires authorities to have a specific reason to search a premises or to seize evidence or people. A search warrant must be based on probable cause; meaning that police must have a reasonable basis to believe the person or premises is linked to the crime.

Why is due process so important in our legal system? Where does this process originate? Give Examples.

Compare and Contrast expressed, implied, and inherited powers.

Explain how a search warrant works.

Full Faith and Credit

The Constitution states that this shall be given in each state to public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. Each state must recognize the laws and legal proceedings or the other states. For example, a car registration of one state must be accepted by all other states. This clause only applies to civil laws though, or laws relating to disputes between individuals, groups, or with the state (one state cannot enforce another states criminal laws). Judicial restraint is a philosophy that holds that the Court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political questions. Basically, the Court should uphold acts of Congress unless the acts clearly violate a specific provision of the Constitution (people who advocate for this want the Court to leave the policy making to others). Judicial activism is a philosophy that holds that the Court should play a role in shaping national policies. The Court should apply the Constitution to social and political questions. Earl Warren, Supreme Court Chief Justice from 1953 to 1969 accepted many cases involving many controversial issues, particularly civil rights and the rights of the accused. The State Governments powers are described as reserved powers, and include things such as regulating intrastate commerce, establishing local government systems, administer elections, and protect the publics health, welfare, and morals. The states also have concurrent powers, or powers they share with the national government, which include the ability to levy taxes, borrow money, spend for general welfare, establish courts, and enact and enforce laws. These powers were given to the states via the Constitution because they needed to be able to regulate things on a more local scale that the National government is simply not able to provide for Poll taxes were basically taxes paid in elections in order to vote. Some states used these to keep low-income African Americans from voting. Some poll taxes involved a simple test where one was told to read and recite the main idea from Homers writings in The Odyssey, which was very difficult for most African Americans/ uneducated citizens. These were eliminated when the 24th Amendment was ratified in 1964, which prohibited these in federal elections.

Compare and Contrast Judicial Restraint and Judicial Activism.

Functions of State: What, How, Why?--------------> Not sure about this one

Explain how poll taxes worked and how they were eliminated.

*These are questions that have been mentioned to me as possible questions on the test. Other than this, study the vocab words from the review sheet and the correct essay responses from the last test.