Supreme Court Justices
John Roberts
2005 John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States. Appointed by George W. Bush. Conservative.
How does the Electoral College Work?
When voters cast their ballot for President of the United States, they aren’t necessarily voting for that person directly. Instead, they are casting a vote for presidential electors, collectively known as the Electoral College. The elector then votes for the same candidate on their behalf.
What was FDR's poverty Reduction Program.
The New Deal – which created Social Security, Unemployment Insurance and Public Works
13th amendment
Abolishes slavery and involuntary servitude.
Appointed in 2009 by Obama
Sonia Sotomayor. From the Bronx.
What is Presidential Veto power?
The president can block a bill passed by congress. If Congress wants to reverse it they need 2/3 vote in both chambers to override the President’s veto.
How big is the national debt?
$35 trillion -- $35,000,000,000,000.00
How many people work for the government?
2.1 million federal civilian employees.
1.3 million active duty military and coast guard.
500,000 USPS workers.
3-4 million contractors.
Approximately 7-8 million people.
14th amendment
Grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the US and guarantees EQUAL PROTECTION under the law.
Appointed by Biden in 2022.
Katanji Brown Jackson. Liberal.
Which powers of the President are written in Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution?
-President is Commander in Chief, President has the power to grant pardons, President can appoint his Cabinet, Ambassadors and Judges of the Supreme Court and negotiate treaties with the “advice and consent” of the Senate.
What is Mandatory Spending?
Mandatory spending refers to programmatic spending that is essentially automatic. Congress sets eligibility requirements and benefit formulas (Social security, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP)
What was LBJ's poverty reduction program?
The "Great Society", which created Medicare, Welfare (TANF) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the EPA.
15th ammendment
Prohibits the government from allowing people to vote.
Appointed by George H. W. Bush in 1991. The most senior member of the Court.
How does impeachment work? Which Presidents have been impeached.
The house files articles of impeachment and the Senate has a trial to determine if the President is Guilty or Innocent. President Andrew Johnson, Nixon (almost) Bill Clinton, Trump (twice)
What is Discretionary Spending?
Discretionary spending refers to federal spending that changes year to year as Congress passes appropriation bills funding particular agencies. (Military funding, science, research, etc.)
What are public goods?
Public goods are non-excludable goods or service that is provided without profit to all members of a society, usually by the government.
Incorporation Doctrine
Applying the Bill of Rights to the STATES and not just the federal government.
Appointed by Trump in 2020. Female Justice.
Amy Coney Barrett.
What is an executive order?
An order given by a president to an agency to carry out (or not carry out) a particular policy. This does not require a bill from Congress and allows the President to independently set policy in certain areas.
How is the Federal Budget distributed?
Mandatory Spending is nearly 2/3 of the Budget, Discretionary Spending is ¼ and the remainder is Net interest on debt.
What is the argument against government?
The government is inefficient, is unaccountable and is too expensive. People should be independent like frontiersman. We should use charity or private business to provide public goods, or people should be on their own.
Brown vs. Board of Education
Constitutional Question: Does racial segregation in public schools violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment?
Summary: The Court declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the earlier Plessy v. Ferguson decision, which had allowed for "separate but equal" facilities. This landmark ruling helped dismantle segregation across the U.S. and was a key moment in the Civil Rights Movement.