Civics Refresher

Structure of Government:

Understand what made the first system of American government (Articles of Confederation) fail

Understand the reason that power was split between three separate, but equal, branches of government

Review the structure of US Constitution (along with discussion of notable Articles/clauses)

Understand the jurisdiction trifecta

United States Supreme Court and Court Structure:

Understand the process of certiorari (i.e., mainly that most cases must work their way through all appellate courts before being reviewed by the Supreme Court and that review is rare and not automatic)

Understand that the Constitution created the United States Supreme Court

Understand the North Carolina court structure

Understand that both federal and state courts operate on tiers (and know difference between the function of trial and appellate courts)

Understand concepts of stare decisis and common law

Know that North Carolina is in the Fourth Federal Circuit

First Amendment:

Recall the historical development of the first amendment (i.e., understand concept of seditious libel)

Know to whom the First Amendment applies when referring to "Congress shall make no law..."

Understand the factors the court considers when classifying conduct as speech (e.g., actor and audience)

Know the three parts of the test that courts will use when deciding whether prior restraint is present (from Near v. Minnesota)

Understand the exceptions that came from the dicta in Near v. Minnesota regarding when a government can lawfully engage in prior restraint