front 1 What are the three major powers of any government? | back 1 Legislative, Executive, and Judicial |
front 2 Define: Dictatorship | back 2 All government authority and power is controlled by one man |
front 3 Define: Democracy | back 3 Government ran by the people |
front 4 What are the theories on the origins of government? | back 4 Force, evolution, divine right, and social contract |
front 5 What are the purposes of the US government? Where can we find them? | back 5 Establish order, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for common defense, secure the blessings of liberty; found in the preamble of the U.S. Constitution |
front 6 List the key foundations of American government? | back 6 Worth of the Individual, equality of all persons, necessity of freedom, majority rule with minority rights |
front 7 Define: Limited Government | back 7 Government must act within the framework of the U.S. Constitution |
front 8 Define: Limited Government | back 8 Government must act within the framework of the U.S. Constitution |
front 9 What important documents did the founding fathers use to help them create the American government? | back 9 Magna Carta, English Bill of Rights, Petition of Right, Declaration of Independence |
front 10 What type of parliamentary government was reflected in the American colonies? | back 10 Two chamber legislature, and upper house and a lower house |
front 11 Describe the Framers of the Constitution: (professions, school, race, religious background) | back 11 White, educated, wealthy merchants, lawyers, and plantation owners |
front 12 Describe the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan: | back 12 Virginia Plan was the large state plan that called for a 2-chamber legislature and representation based on population while the New Jersey Plan called for a 1-chamber legislature with representation being equal among the states. |
front 13 Describe the “Great” / Connecticut Compromise | back 13 Created Congress with a 2-chamber legislature made up of the Senate (upper house) and the House of Representatives (lower chamber). Upper house would be based on equal representation while the lower chamber was based on population. They share the legislative power of government. |
front 14 List the basic principles of the Constitution | back 14 Limited and ordered government, judicial review, separation of powers, checks and balances |
front 15 Explain the difference between Checks and Balances and Separation of Powers | back 15 Checks and balances allows for each branch to play a role in the power of the other two while separation of powers splits the powers of government into separate working branches independent of each other. |
front 16 List the four methods to add an Amendment to the Constitution, and which is used most often | back 16 Proposed by Congress (2/3 vote in both chambers) and ratified by ¾ of state’s legislatures or conventions |
front 17 Define: Federalism | back 17 Government existing on multiple levels, national and state |
front 18 Define delegated powers | back 18 Powers specifically granted to federal government by the U.S. Constitution |
front 19 Define expressed powers | back 19 Powers specifically detailed by the U.S. Constitution |
front 20 Define implied powers | back 20 Powers deemed necessary and proper by Article I section 8 clause 18. |
front 21 Define inherent powers | back 21 Powers understood to belong to the federal government |
front 22 Define reserved powers | back 22 Powers given to the states according to the 10th Amendment |
front 23 Define concurrent powers | back 23 Powers that belong to both the federal and the state governments |
front 24 Describe the difference between a term and a session of Congress | back 24 Term of Congress last two years because it pertains to the time in which all the members of Congress are the same and a session is the time in which they are in Washington doing their job. |
front 25 What is the main role of Congress? | back 25 Make federal laws |
front 26 Describe what Congress has the power to Tax | back 26 Imports, goods sold within the United States |
front 27 Explain the process of Eminent Domain | back 27 Allows government to seize private property to serve a government purpose; must provide just compensation |
front 28 Define: State of the Union Address | back 28 President addresses both chambers of Congress on his plan for the upcoming year |
front 29 Who is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the Senate? | back 29 - Presiding officer of the House: Speaker of the House |
front 30 Define: President Pro Temp | back 30 Presiding officer of the Senate when the Vice President is absent |
front 31 Describe the purpose of a Conference Committee | back 31 Consists of members of the House and the Senate and is put together to create a finalized bill when different bills are created by the House of Reps and the Senate. |
front 32 List the steps for how a bill becomes a law | back 32 Introduced by a sponsor, brought to a committee, comes out of committee and is brought to the floor of its original chamber for debate and vote, final bill read in its’ original chamber, goes to the opposing chamber (same routine followed), brought to the President’s desk for signature, if President vetoes Congress may override with a 2/3 vote in both chambers. |
front 33 Define: Quorum | back 33 When enough members of either chamber are present to have a vote |
front 34 Define: Filibuster | back 34 Used in the Senate to defeat a proposed bill from being passed. Used heavily during the Civil Rights era by racist southern representatives |
front 35 . What is officially needed for someone to take the oath of office for the Vice President if the office becomes vacant? | back 35 Approval of the Senate |
front 36 How are the President and Vice President elected? What determines the states # of votes? | back 36 Elected by the Electoral College. Number of votes per state in the Electoral College are equal to its representation in Congress |
front 37 Describe the process of appointment by the President | back 37 President has the power to appoint federal judges and executive officials with the consent of 2/3 vote of the Senate |
front 38 48. Describe the Military powers of the President | back 38 President is the commander-in-chief of the United States military |
front 39 Explain the legislative powers the President can take over Congress | back 39 President has the power to veto bills passed by Congress |
front 40 What jurisdiction does the Supreme Court exercise? | back 40 Both original and appellate jurisdiction; has the power to hear any case that it chooses to hear. |
front 41 Which federal court has Original jurisdiction over most cases in Federal Court? | back 41 Lowest level; district court |
front 42 Under what circumstances can a case be brought in federal court? | back 42 If it is a federal law; deals with federal officials; or with citizens of different states |
front 43 Who are a group of people eligible to vote? | back 43 The electorate; Constituents |
front 44 Define: Split Ticket Voting and what are its effects? | back 44 Shows that people are moving away from political party affiliation and voting for both Democrats and Republicans on the same ticket. |
front 45 To which group does the Constitution give the power to set the date to hold Congressional elections to? | back 45 Congress |
front 46 Define: Interest Group | back 46 Political group who seeks to persuade the opinions of others to share their political viewpoint on any number of political issues. |
front 47 Explain the difference between Civil Liberties and Civil Rights | back 47 Civil liberties are protections from the government like the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th Amendment and Civil Rights are protections given by the government against individuals like the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments |
front 48 Define: Due Process | back 48 Guarantee of certain protections when you are accused of a crime from the actions of law enforcement such as right to fair trial and attorney. |
front 49 Guarantee of certain protections when you are accused of a crime from
the actions of law enforcement such as right to fair trial and
attorney. | back 49 a. Allows Americans to freely exercise their own religion, free from
government intrusion |
front 50 How has the Supreme Court reasoned on the issue of flag burning as a protected form of Free Speech? | back 50 That flag burning is protected free speech |
front 51 Which group of people are protected by shield laws? | back 51 Journalists |
front 52 What clause in the Constitution protects an individual’s rights of assembly and petition? | back 52 Freedom of expression |
front 53 Who issues a warrant? What legal standard must be present to issue a warrant? | back 53 The courts issue warrants and probable cause must be established prior to gaining a warrant |
front 54 What does the Exclusionary Rule state about evidence? | back 54 If the evidence was gaining illegally by law enforcement then it cannot be used in court |
front 55 Define: Double Jeopardy | back 55 Being tried twice for the same crime in the same court. It is unconstitutional |
front 56 What rights for a person accused of a crime are protected under the 6th Amendment? | back 56 Fair, speedy, and public trial, as well as a right to an attorney |
front 57 Amendment One | back 57 Freedom of Religion, Press, Speech, Assembly, Petition |
front 58 Amendment Two | back 58 Right to Bear Arms |
front 59 Amendment Three | back 59 Right ot not have to quarter Soldiers and seizures |
front 60 Amendment Four | back 60 Right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures |
front 61 Amendment Five | back 61 Right to grand jury indictment, no double jeopardy, freedom from self-incrimination, due process of law |
front 62 Amendment Six | back 62 Right to be in-formed of charges be present when wit-nesses speak in court, to call defense witnesses, to have a lawyer. |
front 63 Amendment Seven | back 63 Right to a jury trial in civil cases |
front 64 Amendment Eight | back 64 Freedom from excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment |
front 65 Amendment Nine | back 65 Guarantee of rights not listed in Constitution |
front 66 Amendment Ten | back 66 Rights of states and people |
front 67 Amendment Eleven | back 67 Prevents suits against states |
front 68 Amendment Twelve | back 68 Election of the President(Election Procedures) |
front 69 Amendment 13 | back 69 Abolition of slavery |
front 70 Amendment 14 | back 70 Right to be free from discrimination in states to have due process of law, to have equal protection of the law |
front 71 Amendment 15 | back 71 Black suffrage |
front 72 Amendment 16 | back 72 Individual Income Tax |
front 73 Amendment 17 | back 73 Election of National Senators |
front 74 Amendment 18 | back 74 Prohibition of alcoholic beverages |
front 75 Amendment 19 | back 75 Women's Suffrage |
front 76 Amendment 20 | back 76 Inauguration day is January 20th and Congress should meet at least once every year |
front 77 Amendment 21 | back 77 Repeal to Prohibition (they can drink again) |
front 78 Amendment 22 | back 78 Limitation of Presidential term of office |
front 79 Amendment 23 | back 79 Voters in Washington D.C. given the right to vote for presidential electors |
front 80 Amendment 24 | back 80 Abolition of poll taxes |
front 81 Amendment 25 | back 81 Succession of offices of the President |
front 82 Amendment 26 | back 82 Voting age is set to 18 |
front 83 Amendment 27 | back 83 Limits the power of Congress to increase its own salaries |
front 84 What is an activist court? | back 84 Court that makes decisions that forge new ground such as Roe V Wade or Brown V Board of Education |
front 85 What is an Amicus Curiae brief? | back 85 A brief presented by someone interested in influencing the outcome of a lawsuit but who is not a party to it |
front 86 What is the Attorney Journal? | back 86 Head of the Department of Justice |
front 87 What did Buckley v Valeo do? | back 87 Limit on contributions is constitutional; limit on candidate spending is unconstitutional |
front 88 What is the Commerce Clause? | back 88 The section of the Constitution in which Congress is given the power to regulate trade among the states and with foreign countries. |
front 89 What is Congressional Oversight? | back 89 Review of executive branch decision making and implementation of laws |
front 90 What is a Constituent? | back 90 A person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent |
front 91 What are delegates? | back 91 A representative chosen to attend the party's national convention; generally they are more activist and ideological than rank and file party members |
front 92 What is devolution? | back 92 The transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states |
front 93 What is the due process clause? | back 93 A clause to the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments that says no person shall be deprived of "life, liberty or property" without due process of the law. |
front 94 What is the exclusionary rule? | back 94 Improperly gathered evidence may not be introduced in a criminal trial |
front 95 What is the Executive Order? | back 95 A rule issued by the president that has the force of law |
front 96 What is federalism? | back 96 Relationship between states and the national government with shared powers |
front 97 What are Federalists? | back 97 Believed in a strong central government in the shaping of the constitution |
front 98 What is fiscal policy? | back 98 A government policy for dealing with the budget (especially with taxation and borrowing) |
front 99 What is the free exercise clause? | back 99 Has been interpreted to outlaw teacher/school organized religious programs, but not student initiated. |
front 100 What is gerrymandering? | back 100 Redistricting done to benefit the majority party (and incumbents) |
front 101 What did Gideon v. Wainwright do? | back 101 A person who cannot afford an attorney may have one appointed by the government |
front 102 Define grassroots | back 102 People at the local level; average voters, not professional politicians |
front 103 What is Habeas Corpus? | back 103 The right not to be held in prison without first being charged with a specific crime |
front 104 What is the iron triangle? | back 104 The 3 groups that help shape policy in Congress –congressional committees, bureaucracy, and interest groups |
front 105 What did Korematsu v. US do? | back 105 The court ruled that the ordering of Japanese=Americans into internment camps was constitutional |
front 106 What is Litmus test? | back 106 An examination of the political ideology of a nominated judge |
front 107 What is a majority Leader and minority leader? | back 107 Elected by representative parties to be their spokesmen |
front 108 What did Marbury v Madison do? | back 108 Case that established Judicial Review |
front 109 What did McCulloch v Maryland do? | back 109 Supreme Court decision upholding supremacy of the national government over the sates/implied powers clause. |
front 110 What did US v Nixon do? | back 110 Supreme Court ruling that stated that there is no "absolute unqualified" presidential privilege of immunity. |