CHS Final Exam Flashcards
the document recording the proclamation of the second Continental Congress (4 July 1776) asserting the independence of the colonies from Great Britain, also stating the ideas of equality and natural rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Declaration of Independence
1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)
Articles of Confederation
A document that embodies the fundamental laws and principles by which the United States is governed.
U.S. Constitution
Legislative Branch (Congress)
Article 1 of the Constitution
Section of the Constitution laying out powers and responsibilities of the Executive Branch
Article 2 of the Constitution
Section of the Constitution laying out powers and responsibilities of the Judicial Branch
Article 3 of the Constitution
Outlines the rights and expectations for all states and citizens including the adding of new states
Article 4 of the Constitution
Outlines the process for formally amending or changing the Constitution
Article 5 of the Constitution
Supremacy Clause - clearly states that national law will be supreme over state law
Article 6 of the Constitution
The right to free speech, press, assembly, petition, and religion, government cannot establish religion
1st Amendment (1791)
Criminal Proceedings; Due Process; Eminent Domain; Double Jeopardy; Protection from Self incrimination
5th Amendment (1791)
An essay composed by James Madison which argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because many interests (factions) exist. Such diversity makes tyranny by the majority more difficult since ruling coalitions will always be unstable.
Federalist 10
Separation of powers, checks and balances
Federalist 51 (Madison)
an Antifederalist Paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic and that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government
Brutus 1 (1787)
US requires a strong, energetic executive; plural executive is dangerous
Federalist 70
discusses the power of judicial review. It argues that the federal courts have the duty to determine whether acts of Congress are constitutional and to follow the Constitution when there is inconsistency. Hamilton viewed this as a protection against abuse of power by Congress.
Federalist 78
Martin Luther King, Jr., wrote on April 16, 1963. In the letter, King defended the nonviolent protests that he participated in for the fight against racial injustice
“Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” 1963
This case establishes the Supreme Court’s power of Judicial Review
Marbury v. Madison
Supreme Court ruling (1819) confirming the supremacy of national over state government, and established a liberal interpretation of the “necessary and proper” clause.
McCulloch v. Maryland
The Court held that Congress had exceeded its commerce clause power by prohibiting guns in a school zone.
US v. Lopez
a 1896 Supreme Court decision which legalized state ordered segregation so long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal
Plessy v. Ferguson
court found that segregation was a violation of the Equal Protection clause, “separate but equal” has no place
Brown v. Board of Education
Candidates can use as much of their own money on their own campaigns.
Buckley v. Valeo
corporate funding of independent political broadcasts can’t be limited
Citizens United v. FEC
An electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office. This type of electoral system typically leads to legislatures dominated by two political parties.
winner-take-all
single-member district
a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.
Electoral College
a system in which the candidate with the most district votes in a state gets all of the delegate votes from that state
winner-take-all
The role of the media in scrutinizing the actions of government officials; our eyes on the government., Dig up facts and warn the public if something is wrong
Watchdog role of media
The media can influence what subjects become national political issues and for how long.
Gatekeeper
Media focuses on who’s ahead and by how much instead of a debate on substantive issues.
horserace journalism
A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy
political party
An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy
interest group
Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.
Lobbying
institutional advantages held by those already in office who are trying to fend off challengers in an election
incumbency advantage
believe that government is necessary to protect individuals from being harmed by others; the belief that the government’s proper role is to actively promote health, education, and justice.
Liberal Political Ideology
the belief that the government should play a limited role in citizens’ lives; also the belief in “traditional family values” and what is viewed as a moral lifestyle
Conservative Political Ideology
Conservative political party in the United States
Republican Party
Liberal political party in the United States
Democratic Party
The process by which the public opinion divides and goes to the extremes.
Political Polarization
Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens
Civil Liberties
Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.
Civil Rights
segregation by law
de jure segregation
Segregation resulting from economic or social conditions or personal choice.
de facto segregation
State governments must observe fair procedures when they deny a person life, liberty, or property.
Due Process Clause 14th Amendment
14th amendment clause that prohibits states from denying equal protection under the law, and has been used to combat discrimination
Equal Protection Clause
Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases
stare decisis
Legal briefs submitted by a “friend of the court” for the purpose of raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties. These briefs attempt to influence a court’s decision.
Amicus Curaie briefs
The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional
Judicial Review
A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures
judicial restraint
A judicial philosophy in which judges make bold policy decisions, even charting new constitutional ground. Advocates of this approach emphasize that the courts can correct pressing needs, especially those unmet by the majoritarian political process.
judicial activism
Election campaigns and other political processes in which candidates, not political parties, have most of the initiative and influence.
Candidate Centered Campaigns
Election campaigns and other political processes in which political parties, not individual candidates, hold most of the initiative and influence.
party-centered campaigns
A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations
Political Action Committee (PAC)
campaign contributions donated directly to candidates
hard money
Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.
soft money
Presidential Succession; Vice Presidential Vacancy; Presidential Inability
25th Amendment
Amendment that created a 2 term limit on presidents.
22nd Amendment
The power of Congress to review the policies and programs of the executive branch
oversight function
A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group
Iron Triangle
Passed in 1883, an Act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.
Pendleton Civil Service Act
the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and elect the President in the case of an electoral college tie
Powers of the House of Representatives
confirm presidential appointments by a majority vote, ratify (approve) treaties made by the president by a 2/3rds vote (67 senators), hold impeachment trial to remove a president
Powers of the Senate
Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government
Necessary and Proper Clause
Clause stating that Congress can regulate interstate and international commerce.
Commerce Clause
A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
Federalism
A political system in which the privileged classes acquire the power to decide by a competition for the people’s votes and have substantial freedom between elections to rule as they see fit.
elite democracy
a theory of democracy that holds that citizen membership in groups is the key to political power
Pluralistic Democracy
a theory of democracy that holds that citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives
participatory democracy
Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures
4th Amendment
Supreme Court held that criminal suspects must be informed of their right to consult with an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police.
Miranda v. Arizona
Right to bear arms
2nd Amendment (1791)
No quartering of soldiers
3rd Amendment (1791)
The right to a Speedy Trial by jury, representation by an attorney for an accused person
6th amendment (1791)
Right to a jury trial for criminal and some civil cases
7th amendment (1791)
Prohibits excessive bail and no unusual punishment
8th amendment (1791)
Addresses our unenumerated rights
9th Amendment (1791)
Federal powers are not stated in the Constitution are reserved for the states
10th amendment (1791)
Prohibits citizens of one state or foreign country from suing another state.
11th amendment (1795)
Changes procedure for electing President and Vice-President
12th amendment (1804)
Abolition of slavery w/o compensation for slave-owners
13th amendment (1865)
citizenship, due process, equal protection
14th amendment (1868)
U.S. cannot prevent a person from voting because of race, color, or creed
15th amendment (1870)
Congress is given the power to tax incomes
16th amendment (1913)
Direct election of senators
17th amendment (1913)
Prohibition of liquor
18th amendment (1919)
Gave women the right to vote
19th amendment (1920)
The major effect of this was to severely cut down the “lame duck” period from the presidency.
20th amendment (1933)
Repeal of Prohibition
21st amendment
the president is limited to two terms or a total of 10 years in office
22nd amendment
Gives Washington DC electoral college votes as if it were a state (DC still has no representation in Congress)
23rd amendment (1961)
Prohibits federal and state governments from charging poll tax
24th amendment (1964)
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
26th amendment (1971)
Any change in congressional salaries takes place after the general election
27th amendment (1992)
paid, owned, earned
types of media
Campaigns have evolved from traditional media forms like TV and radio, to include digital media, allowing for more targeted messaging and greater outreach to the specific voters they want.
how campaigns have evolved as the form of media evolved
- favored ratification of the constitution
- favored a powerful federal government
- argued against bill of rights
- “Federalist Papers”
federalist views
-Wanted the power to be held at the state level
-in favor of a small republic
- wanted a bill of rights
- opposed ratification of the constitution
anti-federalist views
