U N I T E D S TAT E S

OF AMERICA

GENERAL
I N F O R M ATI O N

DEMOGRAPHY
POPULATION:

324,229,269 (as of July 17,

2016)

The United States

population is equivalent to
4.38% of the total world
population.

3rd largest country in

terms of population

DEMOGRAPHY
Density: 84.54 people/sq mi
Birth Rate: 13.42
births/1,000 population
Death Rate: 729.5
deaths/100,000 people
Median Age: 38 Years Old
Fertility Rate: 1.89
Life Expectancy: 79
Unemployment Rate: 5.32%

GEOGRAPHY
AREA:

3,794,083 square miles

(9,826,630 square
kilometers)
HIGHEST POINT:
Denali (Mt. McKinley)
6,190.5 m (20,310 ft)
LOWEST POINT:

Badwater Basin, Death

Valley, California ; 85 m
(279 ft)

GEOGRAPHY
LONGEST RIVER:
Missouri River, 3,767 km
(2,341 mi)
LARGEST LAKE:
Lake Michigan, 58,000
km2 (22,394 sq mi)
BORDERS:
Canada (8,893 km) and
Mexico (3,327 km)
LAND: 93.4%
WATER: 6.76%

GEOGRAPHY
Located in North America, the

country is bordered on the

west by the Pacific Ocean
and to the east by the Atlantic
Ocean.
Consists of 50 States
Divided into six regions:

Northeast (New England), the

mid-Atlantic, the South, the
Midwest, the Southwest, and
the West.
District of Columbia

(Washington, D.C) - Federal

District

NATIONAL TERRITORY

ted
Territory

Acquired

American
Samoa

1900

Guam

1899

Northern
1986
Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico

1899

U.S Virgin
Islands

1917

Territorial
Status
Unincorporated,
Unorganised
Unincorporated,
Unorganised
Unincorporated,
Unorganised
Unincorporated,
Unorganised
Unincorporated,
Unorganised

NATIONAL TERRITORY

ited
Territory

Acquired

Territorial Status

Baker Island

1856

Unincorporated, Unorganised

Howland Island

1858

Unincorporated, Unorganised

Jarvis Island

1856

Unincorporated, Unorganised

Johnston Atoll

1859

Unincorporated, Unorganised

Kingman Reef

1860

Unincorporated, Unorganised

Midway Atoll

1867

Unincorporated, Unorganised

Navassa Island

1858

Unincorporated, Unorganised

Palmyra Atoll

1898

Unincorporated, Unorganised

Wake Island

1899

Unincorporated, Unorganised

NATIONAL ANTHEM:
The Star-Spangled
Banner by Francis Scott
Key, 1814

NATIONAL MOTTO:
In God We Trust / E
Pluribus Unum"

POLITICAL SYMBOLS
US Coat of Arms

US President Seal

CELEBRATIONS
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Veterans Day (Nov. 11)

(Jan. 18)

George Washingtons

Birthday (3rd Monday of

February)
Memorial Day (May 30)
Independence Day (July 4)
Labor Day (First Monday of

September)
Columbus Day (Second

Monday of October)

Thanksgiving Day (Fourth

Thursday of November)

CELEBRATIONS
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Veterans Day (Nov. 11)

(Jan. 18)

George Washingtons

Birthday (3rd Monday of

February)
Memorial Day (May 30)
Independence Day (July 4)
Labor Day (First Monday of

September)
Columbus Day (Second

Monday of October)

Thanksgiving Day (Fourth

Thursday of November)

I M PAC T O F T H E
PAS T

Stamp Act of 1765

Boston Massacre - 1770

Boston Tea Party - 1773

The Intolerable Acts - 1774

First Continental Congress 1774

Battle of Lexington and Concord

- 1775

Pre-Federalism Period:
1775 - 1789

The Declaration
of Independence
of 1776

Battle of Saratoga - 1777

Surrender of Yorktown - 1781

Treaty of Paris - 1783

Articles of Confederation
Drafting - 1777
Approving of the States - 1781
Reconsideration - 1787

New Constitution

Drafting
Connecticut Compromise - 1787
Campaigning - 1787 and 1788
Approval of the States - 1789

Dual Federalism Phase 1:

1789 - 1865

 1789 to 1800 - The Federalist Period

2 political parties: Federalists and the

Democratic Republicans
Doctrine of Nullification - 1789
Alien Act
Sedition Act
Addition of the first ten amendments 1791
The Tenth Amendment
Internal Improvement Debate 1800s
The Hartford Convention 1815
Fugitive Slave Act 1850
Civil War of 1860
Two central issues
Role of the Federal Government
Nature of the union

Dual Federalism Phase 2:

1865 - 1901
Increasing Presence of the National

Government
Twelfth Amendment - 1804
Fourteenth Amendment - 1868
Fifteenth Amendment - 1870
Interstate Commerce Act of 1887
Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890

Cooperative Federalism:
1901 - 1960

Greater cooperation and collaboration between

various levels of the government

National Income Tax
Grant-In-Aid System

 Sixteenth Amendment 1913

Commission on Intergovernmental Relations

1953
Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental
Relations (ACIR)

Creative Federalism:
1960 - 1968

The Great Society 1964

Contemporary Federalism:
1970 - 1997
New Federalism Phase 1 1970s
New Federalism Phase 2 1980s (Ronald

Reagans Administration)
New Federalism Phase 3 1992 1995 (Bill
Clintons Administration)

KEY POLITICAL
INSTITUTIONS

The Government of United States of

America:
Federal government
Second largest democracy on globe

THE PLEDGE

KING GEORGE III

THE CONSTITUTION
The Declaration of Independence of 1776
The Constitution of 1789
7 articles and 27 amendments
Separation of powers
Federal government has three distinct branches:
1. Legislative
2. Executive
3. Judicial

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

United States Congress

Bicameral
House of Representatives
and Senate

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
435 voting members
2 year terms
25 years of age
U.S. Citizen for at least 7 years
6 non-voting members (5 delegates
and one resident commissioner)
live in the state which one
represents (but not the actual
district)

SENATE
100 members
6 year term
30 years of age
Have been a U.S. Citizen or 9 years
Live in the state which one represents

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

PRESIDENT
Head of state and
government
Military commander-inchief and chief diplomat
be a natural-born
citizen of the United
States
be at least 35 years old
have lived in the US for
at least 14 years

THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

VICE PRESIDENT
Second highest official

THE JUDICIAL BRANCH

explains and applies the
laws
highest court in the
land
nine Justices (the Chief
Justice of the United
States and eight Associate
Justices)

AMERICAN IDEOLOGY
Louis Hartz
Civic duty
Political corruption
Democracy
Equality before the law
Freedom of religion
Freedom of speech

STATE GOVERNMENT
- to make laws
- education, family law, contract law, and most crimes

LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- the needs of the people

- providing everything from police and fire protection to

sanitary codes
- health regulation
- education
- public transportation
- housing

Who got the real power?

I. Those who have money.
A. George Washington was one of the biggest
landowners of his day.
B. Presidents in the late 19th century were close to
the railroad interests.
C. For the Bush family, it was oil and other natural
resources, agribusiness, and finance.
II. The Social Upper Class
III. The Corporate Community
IV. The Power Elite

WHAT D O P E O P LE
QUARREL
ABOUT?

SOCIO-ECON-POLITICAL
CLEAVAGES
A. Social
Gay Marriage

1. Legal union between

two people having the
same sex
2. Do you support
legalization of samesex marriage?

SOCIO-ECON-POLITICAL
CLEAVAGES
A. Social
Religious Freedom Act

1. The intention of the law is to protect

the Native Americans from losing their
jobs because of their religious beliefs
such as their ceremonies involving illegal
drug peyote. People who support this
law believe that the government should
not force religious businesses and
churches to attend to their customers
who do not share the same beliefs as
theirs.
2. Should a business be able to deny
service to a customer if the request
conflicts with the owners religious
beliefs?

SOCIO-ECON-POLITICAL
CLEAVAGES
A. Social
Gender Workplace Diversity

1. Promotes equal
treatment and acceptance
of both males and females
in a certain organization.
2. Should businesses be
required to have women on
their board of elections?

SOCIO-ECON-POLITICAL
CLEAVAGES
B. Economical
Student Loans

1. They would like to lower the

interest rate on existing student
loans from 7% to 3.86% by
requiring people who earn $1
Million and $2 Million dollars per
year to pay a mandatory income
tax of 30%
2. Do you support increasing
taxes for the rich in order to
reduce interest rates for student
loans?

SOCIO-ECON-POLITICAL
CLEAVAGES
B. Economical
Minimum Wage
1. In 2009, minimum wage for
employees has been set a 7.25
per hour. In 2014 however,
Obama proposed that minimum
wage be raised to $10.10 per
hour. This applies to all federal
employees.
2. Should the government raise
the federal minimum wage?

SOCIO-ECON-POLITICAL
CLEAVAGES
B. Economical
Farm Subsidies
1. The government
provide farmers more than
$20 billion a year in farm
subsidies.
2. Should the government
subsidize the farmers?

SOCIO-ECON-POLITICAL
CLEAVAGES
C. Political
Elections
1. Republicans Conservatives
2. Democrats Liberals

SOCIO-ECON-POLITICAL
CLEAVAGES
DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

Abortion Restriction

NO

YES

Capital Punishment

NO

YES

Civilian Gun Control

YES

NO

Immigration Control

NO

YES

Same-sex Marriage

YES

NO

Limiting Private
YES
Financing of Campaigns

NO

Progressive Taxation

YES

NO

Universal Government
YES
Health Care

NO

SOCIO-ECON-POLITICAL
CLEAVAGES
C. Political
Ideologies

a.Liberals
i. Argues that the government needs to act to ensure
equality among its citizens
ii. Liberals worked to promote civil rights for African
Americans and other minorities, gay rights, affirmative
action, open immigration, and similar policies.
iii.Push for social, economic, political equality

SOCIO-ECON-POLITICAL
CLEAVAGES
C. Political
Ideologies
a. Conservatives
i. Protect freedom and provide security
ii. Government should stay out of
peoples lives and should allow people to do,
act, and behave as they see fit.
iii. Freedom triumphs equality: should
promote the former, regardless of how
expanded freedoms might affect equality

How to resolve conflicts

a. Based on America Management Association, there are five

ways to solve a conflict:
i. Identify the source of the conflict
ii. Look beyond the incident
iii. Request solutions
iv. Identify solutions both disputants can support.
v. Agreement

EXECUTIVE:
O R G A N I Z ATI O N A L
STRUCTURE

Whereshall,
is the
power
vested?
The President
at stated Times, receive for his
Services, a Compensation, which shall neither be
increased nor diminished during the Period for which he
shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within
that Period any other Emolument from the United States,
or any of them.
The President's salary, currently $400,000 a year, must

remain constant throughout the President's term. The

President may not receive other compensation from
either the federal or any state government.

COMPOSITION OF THE POWER

PRESIDENT
The executive branch consists of the President and
those to whom the President's powers are delegated. The
President is both the head of state and government, as
well as the military commander-in-chief and chief
diplomat.
The President, according to the Constitution, must "take
care that the laws be faithfully executed", and "preserve,
protect and defend the Constitution". The President
presides over the executive branch of the federal
government, an organization numbering about 5 million
people, including 1 million active-duty military personnel
and 600,000 postal service employees.

COMPOSITION OF THE POWER

VICE PRESIDENT
The Vice President also serves as the President of the United
States Senate, where he or she casts the deciding vote in the case
of a tie. Except in the case of tie breaking votes, the Vice
President rarely actually presides over the Senate. Instead, the
Senate selects one of their own members, usually junior members
of the majority party, to preside over the Senate each day.
The Vice President is elected along with the President by the
Electoral College each elector casts one vote for President and
another for Vice President. Before the ratification of the 12th
Amendment in 1804, electors only voted for President, and the
person who received the second greatest number of votes became
Vice President.

COMPOSITION OF THE POWER

Executive Office of the President
Every day, the President of the United States is faced
with

scores

of

decisions,

each

with

important

consequences for America's future. To provide the

President with the support that he or she needs to govern
effectively, the Executive Office of the President (EOP)
was created in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The EOP has responsibility for tasks ranging from
communicating the President's message to the American
people to promoting our trade interests abroad.

COMPOSITION OF THE POWER

Cabinet
The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15
executive departments. Appointed by the President and confirmed
by the Senate, the members of the Cabinet are often the President's
closest confidants. In addition to running major federal agencies,
they play an important role in the Presidential line of succession
after the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Senate
President pro tempore, the line of succession continues with the
Cabinet offices in the order in which the departments were created.
All the members of the Cabinet take the title Secretary, excepting
the head of the Justice Department, who is styled Attorney General.

COMPOSITION OF THE POWER

Cabinet
Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of
15 executive departments,

Department of Agriculture

Department of Commerce

Department of Defense

Department of Education

Department of Energy

Department of Health
and Human Services

Department of
Homeland Security

Department of Housing
and Urban Development

Department of the
Interior

Department of Justice

Department of Labor

Department of State

Department of
Transportation

Department of Treasury

Department of Veterans
Affair

QUALIFICATION OF THE OFFICE

Section 1 of Article Two of the United States Constitution
sets forth the eligibility requirements for serving as
president of the United States:
By the time of their inauguration, the President and Vice
President must be:

natural born citizens

at least 35 years old
Inhabitants of the United States for at least fourteen
years.

QUALIFICATION OF THE OFFICE

In

this 1944

poster, Franklin Roosevelt

successfully

campaigned for a fourth term. He was the only President who

served more than two terms.
Eligibility for holding the office of President and VicePresident were modified by subsequent amendments:

The Twelfth Amendment (1804)

requires

the

Vice-

President to meet all of the qualifications of being President.

The Twenty-secondAmendment (1951)
President from being elected more than twice

prevents

TERM OF OFFICE

The President shall hold his Office during the Term of

four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen
for the same Term, be elected, as follows

ACQUISITION AND LOSING

POSITION / RULE ON SUCCESSION
In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or
of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the
Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall
devolve on the Vice President, and the Congress may by
Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation
or Inability, both of the President and Vice President,
declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such
Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be
removed, or a President shall be elected

ACQUISITION AND LOSING

POSITION / RULE ON SUCCESSION
The Congress may provide for a line of succession
beyond the Vice President. The current
Presidential Succession Act establishes the order as the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
President pro tempore of the Senate and then the fifteen
Cabinet Secretaries in order of that Department's
establishment.

ACQUISITION AND LOSING

POSITION / RULE ON SUCCESSION
The Twenty-fifth Amendment explicitly states that when the
Presidency becomes vacant, the Vice President becomes President,
and also establishes a procedure for filling a vacancy in the office of
the Vice President The Amendment further provides that the President,
or the Vice President and Cabinet, can declare the President unable to
discharge his duties, in which case the Vice President becomes Acting
President.
If the declaration is done by the Vice President and Cabinet, the
Amendment permits the President to take control back, unless the Vice
President and Cabinet challenge the President and two-thirds of both
Houses vote to sustain the findings of the Vice President and Cabinet.
If the declaration is done by the President, he may take control back

ACQUISITION AND LOSING

POSITION / RULE ON SUCCESSION

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the

United States, shall be removed from Office on
Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or
other High crimes and Misdemeanours.

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS;

LIMITATIONS OF POWER
EXECUTIVE POWER
Within the executive branch itself, the president has
broad powers to manage national affairs and the workings
of the government. The president can issue rules,
regulations, and instructions called executive orders, which
have the binding force of law upon federal agencies but do
not require congressional approval. They are, however,
subject to judicial review and interpretation.

POWERS AND FUNCTIONS;

LIMITATIONS OF POWER
EXECUTIVE POWER
Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, the president is

also responsible for preparing the United States' budget,

although Congress must approve it.
As Commander in Chief of the
armed forces of the United States.

POWERS RELATED TO
LEGISLATION

The president has several options when presented with

a bill from Congress. If he agrees with the bill, then he can
sign it into law within ten days of receipt. If the president
opposes the bill, he can veto it and return the legislation to
Congress with a veto message suggesting changes.
Presidents must approve all of a bill or none of it; they do
not have the ability to veto selectively.
the U.S. president, as a leader of his political party and
the United States government, holds great sway over
public opinion whereby he may influence legislation.

POWERS RELATED TO
LEGISLATION
The President must "take care that the laws be faithfully
executed." This clause in the Constitution imposes a duty
on the President to take due care while executing laws and
is called the Take Care Clause, also known as the Faithful
Execution Clause or Faithfully Executed Clause. This
clause is meant to ensure that a law is faithfully executed
by the President, even if he disagrees with the purpose of
that law.

POWERS OF APPOINTMENT
The President of the United States has several different
appointment powers.
Before taking office, the president-elect must appoint more
than 6,000 new federal positions, these positions are
appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the
United States Senate.
The President also has the power to nominate federal
judges,

including

members

of

the

United States Courts of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

The President must also appoint his staff of aides, advisers,
and assistant.

POWERS OF APPOINTMENT
As head of the executive branch, the president must
appoint the top officials for all of the federal agencies.
These positions are listed in the Plum Book which outlines
more than 7,000 appointive positions in the government.
The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies
that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by
granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their
next Session.

EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY
Article II of

the United States Constitution gives

the

president the power of clemency. The two most commonly

used

clemency

powers

are

those

of pardon and

commutation. A pardon is an official forgiveness for an

acknowledged crime. Once a pardon is issued, all
punishment for the crime is waived. The person accepting
the pardon must, however, acknowledge that the crime did
take

place.

The

president

maintains

the

Office of the Pardon Attorney in the U.S. Department of

Justice to review all requests for pardons.

EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY

The president can also commute a sentence which, in

effect, changes the punishment to time served. While the
guilty party may be released from custody or not have to
serve out a prison term, all other punishments still apply.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Under the Constitution, the president is the federal official
that is primarily responsible for the relations of the United
States

with

ambassadors,
confirmation

foreign

nations.

ministers,
by

the

and

The

president

consuls

Senateand

appoints

subject

receives

to

foreign

ambassadors and other public officials. With the secretary of

state, the president manages all official contacts with foreign
governments.
The President may enter the United States into treaties,
but they are not effective until ratified by a two-thirds vote in
the Senate.

EMERGENCY POWER
The Constitution does not expressly grant the President
additional powers in times of national emergency.
Suspension

of

habeas

corpus

without

Congressional

approval.
The President must "take care that the laws be faithfully
executed." This clause in the Constitution imposes a duty on
the President to take due care while executing laws and is
called the Take Care Clause, also known as the Faithful
Execution Clause or Faithfully Executed Clause. This
clause is meant to ensure that a law is faithfully executed by
the President even if he disagrees with the purpose of that law.

SOFT POWER
Joseph Nye introduced the concept of "soft power" in the
late 1980s. For Nye, power is the ability to influence the
behavior of others to get the outcomes you want. There are
several ways one can achieve this: you can coerce them
with threats; you can induce them with payments; or you
can attract and co-opt them to want what you want. This
soft power getting others to want the outcomes you want
co-opts people rather than coerces them.

PRIVILEGES AND PROHIBITIONS

PRIVILEGES:
By tradition, the President and the First Family live in the White
House in Washington, D.C., also the location of the President's Oval
Office and the offices of the his senior staff. When the President
travels by plane, his aircraft is designated Air Force One; he may also
use a Marine Corps helicopter, known as Marine One while the
President is on board. For ground travel, the President uses an
armored Presidential limousine.
The President shall, at stated Times, receive for his Services, a
Compensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during
the Period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not
receive within that Period any other Emolument from the United
States, or any of them.

PRIVILEGES AND PROHIBITIONS

PRIVILEGES:
The President's salary, currently $400,000 a year, must remain constant
throughout the President's term. The President may not receive other
compensation from either the federal or any state government.
The Vice President has an office in the West Wing of the White House,
as well as in the nearby Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Like the
President, he also maintains an official residence, at the United States
Naval Observatory in Northwest Washington, D.C. This peaceful mansion,
has been the official home of the Vice President since 1974 previously,
Vice Presidents had lived in their own private residences. The Vice
President also has his own limousine, operated by the United States Secret
Service, and flies on the same aircraft the President uses but when the
Vice President is aboard, the craft are referred to as Air Force Two and
Marine Two.

POLICY MAKING PROCESS

Agenda building
Formulation and adoption
Implementation
Evaluation and termination

JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
The judicial branches of the federal and state

governments are separate from the legislative and

executive branches. To insure judicial independence,
the judicial branches of the federal and state
governments control the administration of the courts.
Court administration includes managing court budgets,

prescribing rules of trial and appellate procedure,

reviewing judicial discipline matters, offering
continuing educational programs for judges, and
studying court performance.

JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
Day-to-day responsibility for judicial administration rests

with each individual court. By statute and administrative

practice, each court appoints support staff, supervises
spending, and manages court records.

The chief judge of each court oversees day-to-day court

administration, while important policy decisions are

made by judges of a court working together. The clerk of
court is the executive hired by the judges of the court to
carry out the courts administrative functions.

JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION
The clerk manages the courts non-judicial functions according

to policies set by the court and reports directly to the court

through the chief judge. Among a clerks many functions are:
Maintaining court records and dockets
Managing court information technology systems
Paying all fees, fines, costs, and other monies collected into

the U.S. Treasury

Administering the courts jury system
Providing interpreters and court reporters
Sending official court notices and summonses
Providing courtroom support services

JURISDICTION

Refers to the authority by which a court takes

cognizance of, and decides, matters brought to its

attention. To establish this authority, the court must
consider whether it is proper forum for resolution of the
dispute; whether the person who invokes the courts
authority is a proper plaintiff; and, if so, whether the
court has jurisdiction over the parties, especially the
defendant.

JURISDICTION

"Original jurisdiction" means the court hears a case in

the first instance.

"Appellate jurisdiction" means that the court hears a

case only upon appeal of a previous decision from a

lower court.
The US Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in a few

select kinds of casesthose involving ambassadors,

for example.

JURISDICTION

Original jurisdiction in cases: (title 28 , U.S Code)

a. Between the U.S and a state

b. Between two or more state
c. Cases involving foreign ministers or ambassadors
d. Brought by citizens of one state against citizens of
another state or against a foreign country

JUDICIAL SYSTEM

There are two key elements to understanding court

organization:
a. The structure of court systems (number and types of
courts)
b. Court Jurisdiction (their legal authority to hear
different kinds of disputes that people bring to court)

JUDICIAL SYSTEM

Federal Court of Appeals

When cases are appealed from district courts, they go to
a federal court of appeals. Courts of appeals do not use
juries or witnesses. No new evidence is submitted in an
appealed case; appellate courts base their decisions on a
review of lower-court records.
Federal District Courts
There are ninety four federal district courts across the
country, with at least one in every state (larger states have up
to four). District courts are the only courts in the federal
system in which juries hear testimony in some cases, and
most cases at this level are presented before a single judge.

Types of cases heard in Federal Court System:

a. Cases where the law at issue is a federal law
b. Cases involving treaties
c. Cases involving the U.S Constitution
d. Cases where the U.S Government is a party to the
litigation

State Courts
Each state has a court system that exist independently
from the federal courts. State court systems have trial
courts at the bottom level and appellate courts at the top.
Over 95% of the nation's legal cases are decided in state
courts
Some states have two appellate levels, and others have
only a single appellate court. States vary in the way they
organize and name their courts, but they usually give some
lower courts specialized titles and jurisdictions.

MAJOR TYPES OF COURTS FOUND IN 50 STATES:

>Highest Appellate Courts
State supreme court
>Intermediate Court of Appeals
Superior court, district or circuit court of appeals, etc.
(found in 2/3 of state)
>Trial Courts of General Jurisdiction
District court, circuit court, court of common pleas, etc.
>Trial Courts of Limited Jurisdiction
Small-claims court, traffic court, family court, juvenile court,
county court, justice of the peace

Trial Courts
points of entry into the judicial process
each side in a lawsuit or a criminal case has an
opportunity to state its claim or complaint, to present
witnesses to prove its version of the facts and
circumstances, and to cite the law relevant to the conflict.
Court cases involve either *criminal or *civil conflicts.
**Criminal cases occur when a person has committed an
act that is forbidden by the law and is punishable, possibly
by a fine payable to the government or by a jail term.
**Civil cases include all other cases and do not involve jail
terms; not involving the government are conflicts between
private properties and usually involve personal jury.

Appellate Court
a person found guilty in a criminal case or a party in a
civil suit who is unhappy about the outcome of a trial may
appeal to another court for review of the decision of the trial
court.
Appellate courts do not hold new trials; they only review
the written record of the lower court and hear the
arguments of the opposing attorneys.
other appeals are heard by intermediate appeals courts
those involving more serious crime and more money are
reviewed by the highest court the State Supreme Court

Court of Military Appeals

hears appeals of military court-martial (when a person
who is in the military commits a crime they can be tried and
punished by the military courts.)
Court of Claims
hears cases in which the U.S. Government is sued.
Court of International Trade
hears cases involving appeals of rulings of U.S. Customs
offices.

JUDICIAL REVIEW
One of the most important powers of the Supreme
Court.
The power of the courts to declare laws invalid if they
violate the Constitution.
The role of the Court as the final authority on the
meaning of the Constitution.
State courts also have the power to review state laws
or actions based upon their state constitutions.
Established by the landmark decision in Marbury v.
Madison

JUDICIAL REVIEW

Federal Courts have the power to review:

a. Congressional Laws
b. State Actions
c. Federal Bureaucratic Agencies
d. Presidential Actions

NATURE OF LEGAL SYSTEM

The U.S. legal system uses the adversarial process.

Lawyers are essential to this process. Lawyers are
responsible for presenting their clients evidence and legal
arguments to the court. Based on the lawyers
presentations, a trial judge or jury determines the facts
and applies the law to reach a decision before judgment
is entered.

ELECTORAL
COMPETITION

ELECTORAL MODEL

EXECUTIVE MODEL:
In the executive model the election commission is
directed by a cabinet minister as part of the executive
branch of government, and may include local government
authorities acting as agents of the central body.
Countries with this model include Denmark, Singapore,
Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia and the United States.

ELECTORAL MODEL

Election commissions
Election Assistance Commission, administers
federal elections and establishes standards for state
and local elections
Federal Election Commission, regulates campaign
finance legislation
Electoral Commission, a special commission for the
1876 presidential election

POWER AND FUNCTION

Federal Election Commission This is the US independent
regulatory agency created to administer and enforce the
statute that governs the financing of federal elections.

its role is limited to the administration of federal campaign

finance laws.
The FEC also publishes reports filed by Senate, House of
Representatives and Presidential campaigns that list how
much each campaign has raised and spent, and a list of all
donors over $200, along with each donor's home address,
employer and job title.

POWER AND FUNCTION

The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is an
independent agency of the United States government
created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). The
Commission serves as a national clearinghouse and
resource of information regarding election administration.
Creating and maintaining the Voluntary Voting System
Guidelines
Creating a national program for the testing, certification, and
decertification of voting systems
Maintaining the National Mail Voter Registration Form required
by the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA)

POWER AND FUNCTION

The Electoral Commission was a temporary body

created by Congress to resolve the disputed United
States presidential election of 1876. It consisted of 15
members.

ELECTORAL PROCESS

QUALIFICATIONS
Who Can Vote?
Anyone who is
1) 18 years of age
2) a citizen of the U.S. and meets the residency
requirements of his or her state
Who Can Be a Senator?
Someone who is
1) at least 30 years old
2) a citizen of the U.S. for at least 9 years
3) a resident of the state where he or she is elected.

QUALIFICATIONS
Who Can Be a Representative?
Someone who is
1) at least 25 years old
2) a citizen of the U.S. for at least 7 years
3) a resident of the state where he or she is elected.
Who Can Be President/ Vice President?
Someone who is
1) a natural-born citizen of the U.S.
2) at least 35 years of age
3) a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years.

CAMPAIGN TECHNIQUES, MOBILISATIONS,

ELECTIONEERING, DETEREMINING WINNERS

A political campaign is an organized effort which

seeks to influence the decision making process within
a specific group.
-Campaign advertising is the use of paid media
(newspapers, radio, television, etc.) to influence the
decisions made for and by groups.

CAMPAIGN TECHNIQUES, MOBILISATIONS,

ELECTIONEERING, DETEREMINING WINNERS

-Media management
-Mass meetings, rallies and protests
-Modern technology and the internet
-Husting

CAMPAIGN TECHNIQUES, MOBILISATIONS,

ELECTIONEERING, DETEREMINING WINNERS

-Search Engine Manipulation Effect (SEME), and ability

to reach the millennial demographic over social media
and search engines have become an important
component to Online Husting based campaign efforts,
this feature can now be enriched with Googles latest
optimization tactics, such as Structured Data Markup
integration helps to publish campaign content in more
prominent way.

CAMPAIGN TYPES
An informational campaign is a political campaign
designed to raise public awareness and support for the
positions of a candidate (or his party). It is more
intense than a paper campaign, which consists of little
more than filing the necessary papers to get on the
ballot, but is less intense than a competitive campaign,
which aims to actually win election to the office.
A paper campaign is a political campaign in which the
candidate only files the necessary paperwork to
appear on the ballot. The purpose of such a token
effort may be simply to increase name awareness of a
minor political party or to give voters of a certain
ideology an opportunity to vote accordingly.

ELECTIONEERING

-Electioneering to work for the success of a particular

candidate, party, ticket, etc., in an election.

DETERMINING WINNERS

-Each state has the same number of electors as it has

senators and representatives (there are two senators
from each state, but the number of representatives
depends on the state population in the most recent
census). The District of Columbia, although it isn't a
state, also participates in presidential elections -- it
currently has three electors.

DETERMINING WINNERS
-The People in Each State Vote for Electors in the
Electoral College. In most of the states, and also in the
District of Columbia, the election is winner-take-all;
whichever ticket receives the most votes in that state
(or in D.C.) gets all the electors. (The only exceptions
are Maine and Nebraska. In these states, just two of
the electors are chosen in a winner-take-all fashion
from the entire state. The remaining electors are
determined by the winner in each congressional
district, with each district voting for one elector.)

DETERMINING WINNERS
-The Electoral College Votes for the President. The
Electoral College then votes for President and for
Vice-President, with each elector casting one vote;
these votes are called electoral votes. Each elector is
pledged to vote for particular candidates for President
and Vice-President. In most elections, all the electors
vote in accordance with the pledge they made; it is not
clear what would happen in the unlikely event that a
large number of electors violated their pledge and
voted differently.

DETERMINING WINNERS

-Normally, one of the candidates for President receives

a majority (more than half) of the electoral votes; that
person is elected President. That candidate's vicepresidential running mate will then also receive a
majority of electoral votes (for Vice-President), and
that person is elected Vice-President.

DETERMINING WINNERS

-If There's No Electoral College Winner, the House of

Representatives Chooses the President. In the rare
event that no presidential candidate receives a
majority of the electoral votes, then the President is
chosen instead by the House of Representatives, from
the top three presidential vote-getters in the Electoral
College; each state delegation in Congress casts one
vote. (The Vice-President would be chosen from the
top two vice-presidential vote-getters by the Senate.)

RESOLVING ELECTORAL
CONFLICTS
-According to both legal-electoral theory and political
science, the System for the Resolution of Electoral
Disputes refers to the system of appeals through
which every electoral action or procedure can be
legally challenged. Legal appeals related to electoral
issues can be submitted before judicial or political
agencies. Such a system aims at ensuring regular and
completely legal elections. Legal elections depend on
legal corrections of any mistake or unlawful electoral
action.

RESOLVING ELECTORAL
CONFLICTS
-Therefore, the systems aim is to ensure real protection for and
effective enforcement of the political rights to elect or to be
elected. To do so, the system ensures to all participants
(political parties, citizens and candidates) that the voters
decision will prevail. The system aids in the protection of certain
values that support every electoral action and every electoral
procedure as follows:

Legality

Certainty

Objectivity

Impartiality

Authenticity

Clarity

RESOLVING ELECTORAL
CONFLICTS

-The whole system is based on an overriding principle:

the judicial agents in charge of sorting out electoral
controversies must be independent, impartial and
technically proficient in order to ensure constitutional
resolutions.

L O C A L G O V E R N M E N T:
O R G A N I S ATI O N A L
STRUCTURE

STATE: TEXAS

1. Where is the power vested?

The Constitution divides the powers of the
government of the state into three distinct departments:
the legislative, executive, and judicial.

STATE: TEXAS
LEGISLATIVE
Legislative power this state shall be vested in a
Senate and House of Representatives, which shall be
styled The Legislature of Texas.
EXECUTIVE
Executive branch is referred to as a plural executive
because many of the offices in that branch of
government are elected directly by Texas voters.
JUDICIAL
Judicial power of the state shall be vested in a
Supreme Court, a Court of Criminal Appeals, in Court of
Appeals and in such other courts as may be provided
by law.

STATE: TEXAS
2. Composition of The Office
LEGISLATIVE
Senate 31 members
House of Representatives 150 members
EXECUTIVE
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Commissioner of the General Land Office
Attorney General
Secretary of the State

STATE: TEXAS
JUDICIAL
Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Court of Criminal
Appeals, District Courts, County Courts, Commissioners
Courts, Courts of Justices of the Peace
State Commission on Judicial Conduct consist of 13
members.
- 1 Justice of a Court of Appeals
- 1 District Judge
- 2 members of State Bar
- 5 Citizens
- 1 Justice of the Peace
- 1 Judge of Municipal Court
- 1 Judge of a County Court
- 1 Judge of a Constitutional County Court

STATE: TEXAS
3. Qualifications
LEGISLATIVE
Senate a senator must be at least 26 years of age, a
citizen of Texas five years prior to election, and a
resident of the district from which elected one year prior
to election.
House of Representatives must be a citizen of the
United States, must be a qualified elector of the state,
must be at least 21 years of age. He or she must have
been a resident of the state for two years immediately
preceding election, and for one year immediately
preceding election must have been a resident of the
district from which he or she was chosen.

STATE: TEXAS

EXECUTIVE
He or she must be a citizen of the United States of
America, at least 30 years of age, and a resident of
Texas for at least five years preceding his or her election.

STATE: TEXAS
JUDICIAL
Supreme Court Citizen of US and of Texas; 35 to 74 years of age; a
practicing lawyer or a lawyer, and judge of court of record together, for at
least 10 years.
Court of Criminal Appeals - Citizen of US and of Texas; 35 to 74 years of
age; a practicing lawyer or a lawyer, and judge of court of record together,
for at least 10 years.
Court of Appeals - Citizen of US and of Texas; 35 to 74 years of age; a
practicing lawyer or a lawyer, and judge of court of record together, for at
least 10 years.
District Court - Citizen of US and of Texas; 25 to 74 years of
age;resident of the district for at least 2 years; a practicing lawyer or judge,
or both combined, for 4 years.
Constitutional County Courts Shall be well informed in the law if the
state. (Law license is not required).
Statutory County Courts - Citizen of US and of Texas; 25 years of age or
older; a resident of county for at least 2 years; licensed attorney who has
practiced law or served as a judge for 4 years.
Justice Courts No specific statutory or constitutional provisions apply.

STATE: TEXAS
4. Term of Office.
LEGISLATIVE
Senate 4 years
House of Representatives 2 years
EXECUTIVE
4 years in office
JUDICIAL
Supreme Court 6 years
Court of Criminal Appeals 6 years
Court of Appeals 6 years
District Courts 4 years
County-Level Courts 4 years
Justice and Municipal Courts 4 years

STATE: TEXAS
5. Acquisition and losing the position. Filling up of
vacancy
LEGISLATIVE
- When vacancies occur in either House, the Governor, or the
person exercising the power of the Governor, shall issue
writs of election to fill such vacancies; and should the
Governor fail to issue a writ of election to fill any such
vacancy within twenty days after it occurs, the returning
officer of the district in which such vacancy may have
happened, shall be authorized to order an election for that
purpose.
- The legislature may provide by general law for the filling of a
vacancy in the legislature without an election if only one
person qualifies and declares a candidacy in an election to
fill the vacancy.

STATE: TEXAS
EXECUTIVE
Sec. 3a. DEATH, DISABILITY, OR FAILURE TO QUALIFY
OF PERSON RECEIVING HIGHEST VOTE. If, at the time
the Legislature shall canvass the election returns for the
offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, the person
receiving the highest number of votes for the office of
Governor, as declared by the Speaker, has died, fails to
qualify, or for any other reason is unable to assume the office
of Governor, then the person having the highest number of
votes for the office of Lieutenant Governor shall become
Governor for the full term to which the person was elected as
Governor. By becoming the Governor, the person forfeits the
office of Lieutenant Governor, and the resulting vacancy in
the office of Lieutenant Governor shall be filled as provided
by Section 9, Article III, of this Constitution.

STATE: TEXAS
If the person with the highest number of votes for the
office of Governor, as declared by the Speaker,
becomes temporarily unable to take office, then the
Lieutenant Governor shall act as Governor until the
person with the highest number of votes for the office of
Governor becomes able to assume the office of
Governor. Any succession to the Governorship not
otherwise provided for in this Constitution, may be
provided for by law; provided, however, that any person
succeeding to the office of Governor shall be qualified
as otherwise provided in this Constitution, and shall,
during the entire term to which he may succeed, be
under all the restrictions and inhibitions imposed in this
Constitution on the Governor.

STATE: TEXAS

JUDICIAL
- Judicial vacancies in appellate and district courts are
filled by appointments of the Governor. Vacancies in
County level and justice courts are filled by
commissioners courts. And vacancies in municipal
courts are filled by the mayor or governing body of the
city in non-partisan elections.l

STATE: TEXAS
6. Powers and Functions; limitations of power
LEGISLATIVE
Bills
- lawmaking power
- proposing and passing the bill
Resolution
- formal statement of opinion
Administrative power
- Ratification of gubernatorial appointments
- Creation, abolition and redefinition of state agencies
- Requiring regular and special reporting from state
agencies
- Budget approval over state agencies

STATE: TEXAS
Investigative and Impeachment
- legislature has the authority to administer oaths and
subpoena witnesses and documents in order to obtain
information about the issues and problems to be
addressed through legislation.
- House of Rep. has the power to impeach state judges all
the way up to Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the
Supreme Court of Texas, as well as executive branch
officials.
Immunities
- List if immunities of Texas legislators is short, but if crucial
importance.
Limitation : the Executive will be the one to sign the bill.

STATE: TEXAS
EXECUTIVE
Power of Appointments
Budgetary powers exercises less influence over the
budget process. The legislature takes the lead in the
budget process, leaving the governor the opportunity to
speak publicly of priorities.
Military and Police Powers The Texas Constitution
names the Governor as the Commander-in-chief of the
Texas National Guard when the states units have not
been placed under the command of the US President.
Veto power enables the governor to nullify the bill,
concurrent resolutions and appropriation of items.

STATE: TEXAS

Limitation: If a Governor neither signs nor vetoes the bill, it

automatically becomes a bill without the signature. In
contrast to the process at the federal level, which allows
the President to kill the bill. This process is called pocket
veto and it is not available ti Texas Governors.
Vetoes are not absolute.

STATE: TEXAS

JUDICIAL
Enforces and adjudicates laws in overlapping federal,
state and local jurisdictions.
Court of Criminal Appeals dedicated to criminal
matters
Supreme Court civil cases and cases involving
juveniles.

STATE: TEXAS
Prohibitions:
- Holding other offices
- Practice of profession
- Other salary, reward or compensation
Privileges:
The Governor may, on extraordinary occasions,
convene the Legislature at the seat of Government, or at
a different place, in case that should be in possession of
the public enemy or in case of the prevalence of disease
threat. His proclamation therefor shall state specifically
the purpose for which the Legislature is convened.

STATE: TEXAS

The Governor shall convene the Legislature in special

session to appoint presidential electors if the Governor
determines that a reasonable likelihood exists that a final
determination of the appointment of electors will not
occur before the deadline prescribed by law to ascertain
a conclusive determination of the appointment. The
Legislature may not consider any subject other than the
appointment of electors at that special session.

STATE: TEXAS
8. Policy making process and administration of
territorial units.
Agenda Setting public attention focuses on a public
problem or issue. Officials words and actions help focus
attention.
Policy Formulation policy makers in the legislature
and bureaucracy take up the issue. They create
legislative, regulatory, or pragmatic strategies to address
the problem.
Policy Adoption policy makers formally adopt a
policy solution, usually in the form of legislation or rules.

STATE: TEXAS

Policy Implementation government agencies begin

the job of making the policy work by establishing
procedures, writing guidance documents or issuing
grants-in-aid to other governments.
Policy Evaluation policy analysts inside and outside
government determine whether the policy is addressing
the problem and whether implementation is proceeding
well. They may recommend revisions in the agenda, in
the formulation of policy, or in its implementation.

F U N D A M E N TAL
RIGHT OF THE
PEOPLE

CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

1. Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment
of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to
petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
2. Right to Bear Arms A well regulated Militia, being
necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the
people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

3. Quartering of Soldiers No Soldier shall, in time of
peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of
the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be
prescribed by law.
4. Search and Seizure The right of the people to be
secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects,
against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not
be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon
probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and
particularly describing the place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized.

CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

5. Trial and Punishment, Compensation for Takings
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or
otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or
indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the
land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual
service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any
person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in
jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any
criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be
deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process
of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use,
without just compensation.

CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

6. Right to Speedy Trial, Confrontation of Witnesses

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy
the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury
of the State and district wherein the crime shall have
been committed, which district shall have been
previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the
nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted
with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory
process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have
the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

7. Trial by Jury in Civil Cases In Suits at common
law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty
dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and
no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in
any Court of the United States, than according to the
rules of the common law.
8. Cruel and Unusual Punishment Excessive bail
shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

9. Construction of Constitution The enumeration in

the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed
to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
10. Powers of the States and People The powers not
delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States
respectively, or to the people.

HUMAN RIGHTS

The protection of fundamental human rights was a

foundation stone in the establishment of the United States
over 200 years ago. Since then, a central goal of U.S.
foreign policy has been the promotion of respect for human
rights, as embodied in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. The United States understands that the
existence of human rights helps secure the peace, deter
aggression, promote the rule of law, combat crime and
corruption, strengthen democracies, and prevent
humanitarian crises.

HUMAN RIGHTS
Because the promotion of human rights is an important national
interest, the United States seeks to:
Hold governments accountable to their obligations under
universal human rights norms and international human rights
instruments;
Promote greater respect for human rights, including freedom
from torture, freedom of expression, press freedom, women's
rights, children's rights, and the protection of minorities;
Promote the rule of law, seek accountability, and change
cultures of impunity;
Assist efforts to reform and strengthen the institutional capacity
of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
and the UN Commission on Human Rights; and
Coordinate human rights activities with important allies,
including the EU, and regional organizations.

FOREIGN POLICY: Pattern of

Interaction with other states
The Foreign Service consists of ambassadors and other
official representatives to more than 160 countries.
Ambassadors and their staffs set up embassies in the
countries recognized by the United States and serve as an
American presence abroad. The embassies are part of the
State Department, and they protect Americans overseas
and are responsible for harmonious relationships with other
countries.

FOREIGN POLICY DECISION

MAKING: Who are involved?
The President almost always has the primary
responsibility for shaping foreign policy. Presidents, or their
representatives, meet with leaders of other nations to try to
resolve international problems peacefully. According to the
Constitution, Presidents sign treaties with other nations
with the "advice and consent" of the Senate. So the
Senate, and to a lesser extent, the House of
Representatives, also participate in shaping foreign policy.
The Secretary of State and many other officials of the State Department play major roles in setting foreign policy. The Secretary of State is usually the President's principal foreign policy adviser,
and he or she is the chief coordinator of all governmental actions that affect relations with other countries.

CURRENT DOMESTIC AND

INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS

Can more powers to US troops change the course in

Afghanistan?
The US has given more powers to its commanders in
Afghanistan to better deal with a protracted Islamist
insurgency. Experts, however, say the decision might not
yield the desired results in the war-torn country.

CURRENT DOMESTIC AND

INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS
On Tuesday, July 12,
2016, US Secretary of
Defense Ash Carter
announced that the new
powers given to General
John Nicholson, who
commands both the NATOled Resolute Support
mission and a separate US
counterterrorism mission,
would allow "much more
efficient and effective use of
the forces we have here as
well as the Afghan forces."