LIBERTY LEARNING
STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT
When learning about government one of the first things you may come across is its structure. This is one of the most basic, yet important things to know about your government. Knowing how your government is set up will also help you understand how it functions the way it does, as well as what checks and balances are in place to ensure no one branch gains too much power. The following includes short summaries of each branch of the U.S Government as well as the federalist system in general.
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
While most people may know that Congress passes bills that become laws, what can be more confusing is the process a bill has to go through before becoming a law. The following is a list of steps that make up the lawmaking process that Congress has to go through in order to enact a new law.
Landmark Court Cases
Not only is it important to know what rights the Constitution gives you, but knowing how those rights have been expanded and restricted over the years is also vital to being an informed U.S citizen. The Supreme Court has heard many cases since its inception, but there are some that stick out in history, whether it be for its great expansion of rights, its restriction of rights, or even because of their controversy. The following is a list and summary of landmark court cases that the U.S Supreme Court has ruled on.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN GOVERNMENT
As a citizen of the United States you have many opportunities to participate in your government and help truly make it a government of the people. One of the biggest ways people can get involved in government is by voting in local, state, and national elections, or perhaps even running for and holding office themselves. Even if you’re not old enough to vote or run for office, there are still plenty of ways to become a civically active citizen. You can have political discussions with other people. You can support a candidate by wearing buttons or using signs and stickers. You can campaign for a candidate, or donate money to a political party and/or candidate. You can sign a petition, or contact your representatives through writing letters, emailing, or calling. You can attend town hall meetings and other government gatherings that are open to the public. You can lobby for a certain law to be enacted. One way that every person can get involved in government is by demonstrating through marches, boycotts, sit-ins, or other forms of protest to show your displeasure with something the government is doing. While the participation of people is a crucial part of the functioning and maintenance of the U.S government, not every person takes part. Before you decide if you want to get involved you should decide what you want to get involved with, and to what degree you want your involvement to be. Ask yourself what’s important to you and whether or not you think the government is doing a good job in regards to it. It’s important to remember that no matter how much or how little participating in government you decide to do, educating yourself in the realm of civics will always be important to your ability to be an informed citizen and to making sure your government is of the people, by the people, and for the people.
