Chapter 1,2,3 Flashcards
Autocracy
A form of government in which a single individual- king, queen, or dictator rules
Oligarchy
Small group controls most of the governing decisions (landowners, military officers)
Autoritarian
Few legal limits; some limits imposed by social group
Totalitarianism
Government has no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate social institutions that challenge it
Constitutional Government
Limits are placed on power of government
Democracy Direct
Citizens permitted to vote directly on laws and polices
Democracy Representative
You elect someone to represent you
Liberal
Favor regulation of Economy.
Limited government role on social issues
Conservative
Limited government role on Economy.
Favor government involvement in social issues.
Libertarians
Limited government involvement in both Economy and social issues
Pluralism
All should be free to compete for influence in the government: outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation
Shay’s Rebellion
Showed lack of national unity
Virginia Plan
Favored Population
New Jersey Plan
Favored equal representation
3/5 Compromise
every 3/5 of a slave counts as a citizen
Concurring
Solicitor General
The Great Compromise
The Connecticut Compromise
Separation of Powers
Prevent concentration of power:
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
Check and Balances
Each branch would have some control over the other branches
Commerce Clause
Article 1 Section 8:
Gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among states
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Article 4 Section 1:
Honor public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state
Privileges and Immunities Clause
State cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give residents privileges
Necessary and Proper Clause
Expands power of the National Government
Amendment Process
Article 5
Expressed Powers
Powers the Constitution gave congress and the President (power to tax)
Implied Powers
Not specifically expressed but implied through the expansive interpretation of delegates powers (IRS)
Inherent Powers
Powers held by the U.S. President which are not specified in the Constitution, but which are needed to efficiently perform the duties of the office.
Concurrent Powers
Authority possessed by both State and National government
Police Powers
power reserved to the state gov to regulate the health, safety, and morals of the citizens
Federal system
System of gov where power is divided by a constitution between a certain gov and regional gov
Dual Federalism
government powers were shared between the federal and state government
Cooperative Federalism
All 3 levels of government work together to combat a crisis
Devolution
a policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government such as from the national movement to the state and local government
Confederation
Regional levels of gov have power independent of the national gov
Unitary system
A centralized go system in which lower levels of gov have little power independent of the national government
Block Grants
Federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent
Categorical Grants
congressional grants given to states and localities on condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specific by law
States rights
the principle that the step should oppose the increasing authority of the national government; this principle was most popular in the period before the Civil War
Supremacy Clause
If federal government passes a law the states can’t make laws against it
Federal Mandate
Federal order imposed upon states( Americans with Disabilities Act)
Requirements/Terms- Congress
25 years old
citizen of the United States
be an inhabitant of the state they represent
6yr term limit
Fillbuster
tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent acton on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down
Gerrymandering
the apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one racial or ethnic group of political party
Franking
free mail/ advertising
Pork
Local projects that are often not needed
Impeachment Process
Starts in the House of Representative
Moves to the Senate (2/3 vote required)
Congressional Committees
Standing- Permanent, propose/ write legislation
Select- Temporary, highlight/investigate issue within committee
Joint-has members of both Senate/House
Conference- Work out a compromise on House and Senate
Power of Senate
Impeachment
Tax Bills
Amendment process
Legislative process
Receives Bill Committees Subcommittees Rule Committee in the House Vote in Senate Floor action in both chambers Conference committee
Markup
rewrites legislation to change during hearing of Bill
Incumbent
someone who already holds office
Logrolling
Agreements are made between legislators in voting for or against a bill; vote trading
Oversight
monitor Presidents actions and over see government agencies
Casework
Members of Congress provide to constituents who request assistance.
redistricting
redrawing district map for gain/loss in House seats
Patronage
is the dispensation of favours or rewards such as public office, jobs, contracts, subsidies, prestige or other valued benefits by a patron (who controls their dispensation) to a client
Requirements/term- President
Must be 35
Natural Born Citizen
Resident for 14 Years
Diplomatic recognition
what countries we deal with
Cabinet
secretaries, or chief administrators, of the major departments of the federal government; Cabinet secretaries are appointed by the president with the consent of the Senate
Inner cabinet
Most important Cabinet
Kitchen Cabinet
Jackson cabinet
22nd Amendment
Limits President to two terms in office
25th Amendment
Vice President
Line of Succession
Vice Speaker of the House Senate President Pro tempore Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasure
Vice Presidents Role
Balancing the Ticket
Supporting Prez
Presidential Succession
Original Jurisdiction
Authority to initially consider a case
Appellate Jurisdiction
authority to hear appeals from a lower court decision
Judicial review
Power of the court to review and if necessary declare actions of the legislative or executive branches unconstitutional
Marbury v. Madison
Established Judicial Review
McCulloch v. Maryland
Established National Supremacy
Judicial Activism
go beyond the words of the Constitution
Judicial Restraint
refuse to go beyond the Constitution
Rule of Four
to hear a case you need 4 justices
Amicus Curiae
individual/group who seek to assist Court in reaching a decision by presenting additional briefs
Stare decisis
doctrine that a previous decision by a court applies as a precedent in similar cases until that decision is overruled
Writ of Certiorari
at lest 4 of the nine Justices to review a decision of a lower court
Federal Court Structure
Trail Courts
Courts of Appeal
Supreme Court
Affirm
upheld decision
Reverse
the decision
Remand
conclude that a mistake was made in lower court
Unanimous
9-0
Majority
8-1
Split
4-4
Concurring
opinion on why the majority was wrong
