US Legislative and Executive Power: Checks, Structure, and Polarization
Congressional Dynamics: Lessons from Recent Congresses
Case Study: Obamacare Repeal Efforts (2010-2017)
- The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare, a 2,300-page law) narrowly passed on strict party lines in 2010. Approximately 45% of the public approved.
- Republicans took over the House in 2010; in 2014, they took over the Senate, too. Congress subsequently passed over 60 bills to repeal and replace Obamacare.
- But repeal did not happen. Why?
- President Obama vetoed each bill.
- In 2017, the Republican Party completely
Core Concepts in US Policing and Criminal Law
Foundations of Law Enforcement
The Mission and Power of Police
The primary mission of the police is to solve problems, serve the public, protect life and property, and deal with minor disorder.
- Civil Power: Police represent civil power, used primarily to maintain order.
- Military Power: Military power is used to kill or destroy the enemy, where the side with the highest number of kills is traditionally considered the winner.
Foundational Legal Concepts
- Common Law
- A body of law developed in England from
Essential Facts of US Government and Political Systems
Key Political Systems and Government Types
- Democracy: A system where citizens exercise power by voting, typically through elected representatives.
- Republic: A government in which the country is considered a “public matter” and officials are elected by the people.
- Monarchy: A system ruled by a king, queen, or emperor, often with power inherited by family lineage.
- Constitutional Monarchy: A monarchy limited by a constitution, where elected bodies share or limit the monarch’s powers.
- Dictatorship: A government
U.S. Legal System, Social Dynamics, and Court Processes
California Penal Codes: Homicide & Defenses
Murder
Murder requires malice aforethought; otherwise, it is manslaughter.
- Express Malice: Deliberate thought and intent to kill.
- Implied Malice: An abandoned and malignant heart, not provoked.
Degrees of Murder
- First-Degree Murder: Characterized by:
- Willful, deliberate, and premeditated intent to kill.
- Occurring during a dangerous felony (e.g., robbery, rape).
- Poisoning.
- Lying in wait.
- Torture.
- Drive-by shooting.
- Use of ammunition designed to penetrate armor.
- Second-
US Political Terms, Election Concepts, and Supreme Court Cases
Key Political Terms & Concepts
Clothespin Vote
The vote cast by a person who does not like either candidate, so votes for the less objectionable of the two, putting a clothespin over his or her nose to keep out the unpleasant stench.
Ideological
A set of opinions or beliefs held by a group or an individual.
Prospective Voting
Voting for a candidate based on their proposed ideas for addressing future issues (forward-looking).
Retrospective Voting
Voting for or against an incumbent candidate or party
Read MoreThe US Constitution: From Articles to Amendments
Types of Government
- Monarchy: A single monarch holds the power (e.g., Saudi Arabia).
- Oligarchy: A small group of people rules the country (e.g., North Korea).
- Democracy: Rule by the people through voting. The U.S. is a representative democracy.
Key Events Leading to the Constitution
- Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Quartering Act, Boston Massacre, Tea Act, Boston Tea Party, Intolerable Acts: Series of British policies that fueled colonial discontent.
- Sons of Liberty: Founded by Samuel Adams, this group played a