FLVS US GOV Module 3 Note Guide
FLVS US GOV Module 3 Note Guide
This notetaking guide will help you prepare for assessments, quizzes, exams, and Discussion-Based
Assessments. You do not have to submit it for a grade, but you can submit it for Enrichment Credit if you
complete the entire Guide. Vocabulary and reflection questions are organized by lesson. Define each
vocabulary term in your own words. Answer each reflection question with details from the lesson.
3.01 Citizenship
A latin term that means ‘law of the soil”. It refers to people born in
Jus soli U.S. states or territories being U.S. citizens. An exception to this rule
would be the child of a foreign diplomat, as they are not considered
subject to U.S., a requirement of jus soli.
They’re covered by rights and privileges reserved for legal citizens such as due process and equal protection.
What is the difference between an immigrant who has a visa and a permanent resident? (2)
Visa permits a person to travel to a country to visit, go to school, or work temporarily. Nonimmigrant visas have
a time limit. Immigrant visas, for those who wish to live permanently in the United States, have no time limit.
Permanent resident status permits the holder to live and work in the United States. People often call it a
“green card.” A person can apply for naturalization after being a permanent resident for a certain length of time.
A person who owes permanent allegiance to the United States. They’re under the protection of the United
States but without citizenship. This applies to those born in certain U.S. territories like American Samoa and
Swains Island.
Better work opportunities, better living conditions, better education, safety from persecution and violence,
reunification with family.
1. Application
Must be at least 18 years old, have been a legal, permanent resident for a minimum period( 3 years if
married to a U.S. citizen; five years if not married), and pay a fee
2. Fingerprints
Must provide fingerprints for a background check and pay for the service; this is to help ensure the
person has good moral character and no criminal background
3. Interview / Exam
Must answer questions about personal background and application, as well as questions on U.S.
history and government in English
4. Oath of Loyalty
Must swear an oath to give up loyalty to other nations and governments and to support and defend the
U.S. Constitution and laws, including military service if required by law
What are rights of citizens vs. undocumented immigrants? (3)
Fill in the chart using infor from page 4. Add rows if needed.
Servi
Myth Fact
Undocumented immigrants are overrunning the borders Most immigrants who cross the border to the United
of the United States. States are entering the country legally. The
percentages of undocumented immigrants in the United
States illegally make up just over 3% of the United
State's total population. This number has remained
steady since the early 2000s. That's not to say there
are not illegal entrants; there are, and it is an important
public policy issue. However, it's important to also
consider the issue on a broader scale. The total
unauthorized population includes immigrants who have
previously entered the United States legally but have
overstayed or their documents have expired.
Undocumented immigrants take job opportunities away Undocumented immigrants pay around $11.74 billion in
from people born in the United States without paying yearly taxes through state and local taxes, income
taxes. taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes, to name a few.
In reality, more jobs are created due to businesses
being created by immigrants.
Undocumented immigrants drain the United States' Undocumented immigrants are generally excluded from
social services. federal benefits, such as student financial aid and most
food and housing assistance programs. Taxes such as
those for Social Security, which they would not benefit
from, are withheld from their paychecks. There are a
few specific exceptions that address humanitarian or
common good concerns, such as emergency medical
treatment, immunizations against communicable
diseases, and short-term emergency disaster relief.
What are the three major government programs that directly interact with immigrants? Explain each. (6)
What is one reason for the high percentage of undocumented immigrants? (6)
Two major factors contributing to the recent increase in pending cases are government and court shutdowns from
the Covid-19 pandemic and an increase in new deportation cases filed by the Department of Homeland Security.
Time to take a quiz!!! Go to the Assessments tab at the top of your course and take the 3.01 quiz. Use your
Note Taking Guide to help you.
Required by law
Civic duty
Voluntary
Civic responsibility
What is the difference between civic duty and civic responsibility? (1)
1. George Washington was a soldier and the president who viewed himself as a public servant.
2. Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott took great personal risk to warn colonial militia of
the British marching to them during the night.
3. Martin Luther King Jr. brough leaders of African American churches together to protest against racial
inequality.
What are the key factors in writing an effective email to your local representative? (4)
Note: There are deadlines to register to vote. Depending on the state, it could be as early as a month before
Election Day or it could be on Election Day. Florida requires its citizens to register 29 days before Election Day.
● Your Florida driver's license or Florida identification card issued by the Florida Department of Highway
Safety & Motor Vehicles
● The issued date of your Florida DL or Florida ID card
● The last four digits of your Social Security number
What are the three voting systems, and how does each of them work? (5)
1. Optical Scan Paper Ballot Systems: Machines scan the ballots at the voting location.
2. Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) Systems: Voters use an electronic device that records their votes
sing a touchscreen computer, mechanical button, or dials
3. Ballot-Marking Device (BMD) Systems: Machine records votes of physical paper ballot. These are used
to meet accessibility needs.
Time to take a quiz!!! Go to the Assessments tab at the top of your course and take the 3.02 quiz. Use your
Note Taking Guide to help you.
Collective action
What founding principles justify why individual rights are limited? (2)
What are some example rationales from the government on why it limits rights? (3)
Explain why rights may be limited during an emergency situation, such as Hurricane Katrina. (4)
Time to complete a written assignment. Use the TEMPLATE from page 6 of the lesson to complete the
assignment! You can also choose to attend a live lesson. Check the calendar on the homepage to see if
there is one coming up in the next few days. Click here for help.
Legally protected freedoms meant to ensure equality under the law, such as
Civil rights the right to vote
Personal freedoms that are protected from government restriction, such as the
Civil liberties freedoms listed in the Bill of Rights
What is the difference between civil rights and civil liberties? (1)
Civil rights refer to laws aimed at preventing discrimination and upholding equality under laws. Civil liberties are
basic freedoms guaranteed through the Bill of Rights.
What is the most effective way to expand protections for civil rights? (1)
What are some historical examples of achievement through civic engagement? (2)
Identify at least two examples of how protections for civil rights and liberties have expanded over time, through
each of the following actions: (3)
Time to take a quiz!!! Go to the Assessments tab at the top of your course and take the 3.04 quiz. Use your
Note Taking Guide to help you.
3.05 Public Policy
Initiative: a process in many U.S. states that allows citizens to introduce ideas
Powers of Initiative, for new laws to the state legislature
Referendum, and Referendum: a public vote on a political question, such as changing or
Recall overturning an existing policy
Recall: In some states, a process allowing voters to remove an elected official
from office
How can it be created? Enacted by governing bodies with legal Developed and implemented by
authority, such as Congress or local persons involved in organizations,
councils institutions, or government
agencies (could be a set of
regulations, for example)
Scope Usually domestic and has varying Very broad, policies can be
jurisdiction depending on the region and enacted in areas like healthcare,
the type of legal system educations, and foreign affairs
Flexibility More rigid and require more formal Adaptable and often can be more
processes to change easily changed, such as in the
case of regulations
What are the steps in analyzing public policy?(1) Watch the video!
1. Find out as much information as you can about the policy
2. Monitor how the community feels about it, Examine media coverage
3. Analyze the policy’s direct and indirect costs and benefits
4. Choose whether you support to policy or not
5. Write to representatives and recommend action.
1. Phone: Talk to people to learn more about local and state agencies. You can search online or in your
local phone book to find numbers for lawmakers and government agencies dealing with certain issues
to learn more about them.
2. Internet: Most state and federal legislators have websites where you can learn about their positions on
different issues and what committees serve. You can learn about issues and the work of people trying
to address them through different organizations.
3. News Media: On television or through streaming, you can watch events that happen ont he main floor
of Congress or state legislatures.You can learn about different perspectives on issues through editorials
and television or radio political commentators.
Why is it important to monitor public policy? (3)
Legislators need input from citizens to ensure that they are representing the will of the people.
The Supreme Court can change policies all over the country. For example, the landmark case Hernandez v.
Texas (1954) extended constitutional protection to Mexican Americans.
Time to complete a written assignment. Use the TEMPLATE from page 7 of the lesson to complete the
assignment! You can also choose to attend a live lesson. Check the calendar on the homepage to see if
there is one coming up in the next few days. Click here for help.
A set of beliefs, values, and ideas that form the basis for an organization or
Political ideology program
People who share beliefs about the government and support their members in
Political Party elections to increase the group’s power
Period during the late 1700s, when the Founding Fathers developed the
Founding Era foundational documents and principles for the United States government.
A radical action or point of view
Extremism
A group of people with shared goals who work together to influence public
Special Interest policy
Groups E.G. Labor Unions, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC),
NAtional Association for the Advancement of Colored People(NAACP)
Moderate: Center
Moderates can be liberal on some issues and conservative on otherers. Most U.S. voters are moderate but
might lean to one side more often. Candidates for political office compete hardest for moderat votes.
• First: 1796 election with Jefferson supporters, many of who had been Anti-Federalists, now called
themselves Democratic-Republicans. Federalists supported John Adams.
• Second: Democratic-Republicans dominated the presidency until 1824, when they split into two
separate parties: Jacksonian-Democrats, later simply Democrats, and the Whig Party.
• Third: A third party emerged that was against slavery, called the Republican Party. The Republican
Party of Lincoln is the root of the modern Republican Party.
• Fourth: In 1896, The issue dividing major parties shifted from slavery to economic policies like currency
and tariffs. Many Northern Democrats shifted their votes to Republican candidate WIlliam McKinley, who
pushed for policies that benefited cities and industry.
• Fifth: During the Great Depression, Democratic candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt promised a “New Deal”
to bring relief to struggling Americans from all backgrounds. The costs were high, however, and those who
thought New Deal policies gave the federal government too much power rallied behind the Republican Party,
adopting more conservative views.
• Sixth: Socioeconomics, race, and the role that government should have created a strong division
between the Democratic and Republican parties. Third parties had a notable impact on several state and
federal elections and the Republican party as a whole experienced decay. In 2008, Democrat Barack Obama
won the presidency, carrying many states that traditionally voted Republican.
• Seventh: Debatable…
What are some advantages of the majority political party in the federal government? (4)
● Political party with majority seats in Congress has greater control over the direction of public policy that
passes into law
● Will have an easier time persuading Congress to follow their policy agenda
● Policies favored by the majority are more likely to survive the process
Print( Newspapers, books, coupons, brochures, etc,), Electronic/Broadcast( Video games, movies, radio, etc.),
and Visual ( Political cartoons, paintings, roadway billboards, bumper stickers, etc.).
Time to take a quiz!!! Go to the Assessments tab at the top of your course and take the 3.06 quiz. Use your
Note Taking Guide to help you.
Describe bias, its types, and the related elements of political communication: (3-4)
Time to complete a written assignment. Use the TEMPLATE from page 7 of the lesson to complete the
assignment! You can also choose to attend a live lesson. Check the calendar on the homepage to see if
there is one coming up in the next few days. Click here for help.
A process where voters choose the candidates who will run for political office
Primary elections
U.S. general election held two years after every presidential election where all
Midterm elections seats in the House are up for election as well as one-third of the Senate seats
Primary election where only registered members of the political party may vote
Closed primaries
A closed meeting of people from one political party, especially a local meeting
Caucus to select delegates or candidates
A U.S. state where no political party has a significant majority of voter support,
Swing states making it possible for the state’s electoral votes to go to any candidate
The distribution of seats in the House among the states based on proportion of
Apportionment total population, calculated after a census is conducted every 10 years
The dividing or a geographic region into representative districts that would give
Gerrymandering political advantage to a certain political party or other group
Election by the majority of eligible voters in a country; the votes of the people
Popular vote
A person who is currently holding office
Incumbent
What are the steps to becoming a candidate for an elected position? (2)
Why are primary elections important? (2)
Primary elections give voters a chance to choose from the pool of candidates running for that office position. The
more people participate, the better chance a candidate will be more aligned with the voters' wants and needs.
Set a precedent, allowing apportionment cases to be heard by the Supreme Court. It influenced similar cases
around the country.
What are some arguments for and against the Electoral College? (5)
All of these organizations have put forth efforts to increase voter turnout.
Historically, voter suppression has targeted people of color and women. However, the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and
Twenty-Sixth Amendments expanded voting protections for people of different races, genders, and ages. However,
even with federal protection in place some states passed laws that can limit access to voting. For example, Jim
Crow laws discriminated against Black Americans by instituting segregation and voter suppression tactics such as
requiring poll taxes and literacy tests. These restrictions remained in place until the passage of the Voting Rights Act
of 1965. The Twenty-Fourth Amendment prohibits poll taxes in federal elections.
Time to take a quiz!!! Go to the Assessments tab at the top of your course and take the 3.08 quiz. Use your
Note Taking Guide to help you.
For honors students only… take notes from the lesson and then complete the Honors assignment. Click here
for help.
Once everything in the module is complete, use the link from the homepage to
schedule your DBA.
Use the reviews in 3.10 or this guide to help you prepare for the DBA and Module exam.
Check out the Mod 3 Review Video before you do your DBA.