The Blog @ TomRichey.net

Gideon v. Wainwright (AP Gov Supreme Court Case)

1/7/2020

Gideon v. Wainwright is a 1963 Supreme Court case that established the right of all criminal defendants to an attorney, even if they cannot afford one. It is considered to be a landmark case in establishing the rights of the accused. It is one of the fifteen required Supreme Court cases on the AP United States Government and Politics exam.

Facts of the Case

Clarence Earl Gideon was accused of breaking into a pool hall in Panama City, Florida, and stealing money from the cigarette machine and cash register. He was too poor to afford an attorney and at the time, Florida law only provided an attorney to defendants accused of capital offenses (offenses that are subject to the death penalty). Gideon represented himself in court and was found guilty of the crime.

Gideon's handwritten petition to the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari

While in prison, Gideon did some research in the prison library and became convinced that he had been denied his Sixth Amendment right to an attorney. He petitioned the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari and the Court agreed to hear his appeal.

The Decision

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Gideon had a right to an attorney under the Sixth Amendment, guaranteeing all criminal defendants the right to an attorney. This decision is an example of selective incorporation, in which the Supreme Court incorporates parts of the Bill of Rights, which initially only applied to the federal government, to also apply to the states.

Gideon's case was re-tried in a Florida court, where he was found Not Guilty with the help of a court-appointed attorney.

For a deeper look into Gideon v. Wainwright, take a look at the YouTube video and study guide that I created with my friends at Marco Learning!

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Fiscal Policy vs. Monetary Policy (AP Government Review)

1/5/2020

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In my latest YouTube video, I explain Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy to AP Government students.

Fiscal Policy, which is set by Congress, involves policies regarding taxes and spending. It involves determining how much the government will tax, how the burden of these taxes will be distributed, the federal budget, and whether the government will run a deficit or a surplus. Since fiscal policy is set by Congress, it is a political process that is subject to political pressures and popular opinion.

Monetary Policy, which is set by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, deals with interest rates and the money supply. The Federal Reserve sets the rate at which banks may borrow from the Fed in the short term, which impacts all other interest rates. High interest rates discourage borrowing and low interest rates encourage borrowing. The Fed also regulates the money supply, determining how much currency is in circulation in order to control inflation. Since the members of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate for 14 year terms, monetary policy is not as directly responsive to public opinion as fiscal policy. The Fed is set up as an independent regulatory agency, so it does not answer directly to politicians (though it is not entirely immune to political pressure).

Click to enlarge this graphic organizer explaining fiscal policy and monetary policy.

Fiscal policy and monetary policy both affect economic growth. For example, Congress may cut taxes in order to stimulate the economy, while the Fed may lower interest rates in order to encourage investment.

If you're looking for help preparing for you AP Government exam, check out the online course that I created with my friends at Marco Learning. Click here for more information.

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Marco Learning AP Government and Politics Course

1/5/2020

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I'm excited to announce that I have created an online AP Government and Politics course with my friends at Marco Learning! For more information, visit marcolearning.com.

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