Summer School Session, 2013

INTRODUCTION TO CIVICS EIGHT - VBMS

Released Items, Fall 2011

CIVICS EIGHT TEST TAKING PRACTICE

The Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Food and Drug Administration are all agencies of the Federal Government.

D. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

“Opportunity cost” refers to what you miss out on while you are pursuing other goals. You can’t work after school and study; therefore, when you choose to work a job, the opportunity cost is study time. Everybody needs to study hard to succeed in high school.

C. THE TIME SHE COULD HAVE SPENT STUDYING

Most registered voters choose to vote for either the Republican or the Democratic Party. But in many states, voters don’t register by their party. In Virginia, most voters are independents, meaning that individuals without any political affiliation must be courted for our votes!

A. INDEPENDENT VOTERS HELP DECIDE ELECTIONS

Political Action Committees are able to raise enormous sums of money and use it to promote candidates who they agree with on the major issues in the election. Each year, PACs become more influential in determining the winning candidates in elections.

C. RAISE MONEY FOR CANDIDATES WHO SUPPORT THE SAME VIEWS

The Circuit Court in Virginia will hear serious cases, including civil cases involving large sums o money, or, more importantly, serious crimes called felonies. The General District Court would handle traffic violations or lesser offenses called misdemeanors.

D. CIRCUIT COURT

In the United States we respect the rule of law. This means that no one – from the President of the United States to the lowliest member of the School Board to a member of the US military – is immune from the law. This is not the case in a nation like Russia, for example, where Vladimir Putin rules arbitrarily.

A. A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IS FOUND GUILTY OF SPEEDING.

The President of the United States appoints judges to the United States Court of Appeals. The judges are subject to approval from the Congress. In this sense, both branches of government hold a check upon the Judiciary. Judges are appointed for l i fe during good conduct, so it is important to make wise choices in who sits on the bench.

B. THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

Part I. A Brief Survey of Democracy in World History

VOCABULARY MATCHING ACTIVITY

FOR UNIT ONE

1. THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE

2. THE ROMAN REPUBLIC

3. ATHENS

4. THE MAGNA CARTA

5. THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT

6. THE ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS

7. THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

8. THE ALBANY PLAN OF UNION

“All men are by nature equally free and independent…”

"whenever any government shall be found inadequate or contrary to these purposes, a majority of the community hath an indubitable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to reform, alter or abolish it, in such manner as shall be judged most conducive to the public weal."

9. THE VIRGINIA DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

“Be it enacted by General Assembly that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any rel igious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but that al l men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of Religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge or affect their civi l capacities.- Thomas Jefferson

10. THE VIRGINIA STATUTE OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

11. THE CHARTERS OF THE VIRGINIA COMPANY OF LONDON

12. THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION