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AP Government > Civics Literacy Test > Flashcards

Civics Literacy Test Flashcards

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1
Q

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

A
  • the Supreme Court upheld the power of the national government and denied the right of a state to tax the federal bank using the Constitution’s supremacy clause
  • The Court’s broad interpretation of the necessary and proper clause paved the way for later rulings upholding expansive federal powers
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2
Q

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988)

A

The U.S Supreme Court held for the first time that public schools can limit what appears in school-sponsored student publications.

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3
Q

Bush v. Gore (2000)

A

The court ruled that manual recounts of presidential ballots in the Nov. 2000 election could not proceed because inconsistent evaluation

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4
Q

president

A
  • head of the executive branch
  • powers: enforces laws, signs/vetos bills, negotiates treaties, nominates Supreme Court justices
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5
Q

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

A

1857 Supreme Court decision that stated that slaves were not citizens; that living in a free state or territory, did not free slaves

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6
Q

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)`

A
  • Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson
  • declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated
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7
Q

popular sovereignty

A
  • a belief that ultimate power resides in the people
  • the people rule
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8
Q

American Revolution

A
  • war between Great Britain and its American colonies
  • how the colonies won their independence
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9
Q

selective service act

A

law requiring men to register for military service

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10
Q

civil rights movement

A

movement in the United States beginning in the 1960s to establish civil rights

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11
Q

mayor

A

head of a city’s government elected by the people who are citizens of that city

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12
Q

Judicial Review (Marbury v. Madison0

A

Supreme Court decides if laws passed by Congress or President are constitutional

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13
Q

supremacy clause

A
  • in article 4 of the Constitution
  • makes the Constitution the supreme law of the land
  • states cannot pass laws that conflict with federal law
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14
Q

social contract theory

A

belief that people are free and equal by natural right, but will give up some freedom to give power to the government so that the government can protect their rights

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15
Q

Anti-Federalist papers

A

a series of essays written to counter and defeat the proposed U.S. Constitution; argued against a strong central government and pushed for more protection of the people’s rights

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16
Q

consent of the governed

A

idea that our government derives its power from the people because we elect representatives to the legislative branch of government

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17
Q

Common Sense

A
  • written by Thomas Paine
  • pamphlet that advocated for the colonies declaring independence from Britain
  • supported the need for a democratic government where the people had representation
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18
Q

equal protection clause

A
  • clause in the 14th amendment
  • forbids any state to deny any person equal protection under the laws
  • the major constitutional restraint on the power of governments to discriminate against persons because of race, national origin, or sex
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19
Q

due process of law

A

fair treatment through the normal judicial system

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20
Q

rule of law

A
  • no one is above the law
  • everyone must follow the law regardless of their position of power
  • established by the Magna Carta of 1215
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21
Q

US Constitution

A
  • “supreme law of the land”
  • was written at a constitutional convention in Philadelphia in 1787
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22
Q

declaration of independence

A
  • written by Thomas Jefferson and adopted on July 4, 1776
  • established the 13 American colonies as independent states, free from rule by Great Britain
  • the preamble (first section) lists our unalienable rights: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
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23
Q

natural rights

A
  • rights people have by the virtue of being human beings
  • both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution address the government’s role in protecting those rights
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24
Q

Mayflower Compact

A
  • the first agreement for self government in America in 1620
  • signed by 41 men on Mayflower and set up a government for the Plymouth colony (pilgrims)
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25
Q

English bill of rights

A
  • Document written by English Parliament in 1689
  • designed to prevent abuse of power by English monarchs
  • parts of the U.S. Bill of Rights have foundation in that document
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26
Q

Tinker v. Des Moines (1968)

A
  • court decided that the First Amendment applied to public schools
  • administrators would have to demonstrate constitutionally valid reasons for any specific regulation of speech in the classroom
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27
Q

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

A
  • state courts are required to provide counsel in criminal cases for defendants who are unable to afford their own attorneys
  • comes from 6th amendment
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28
Q

democracy

A

type of government where power is derived form the people and the people elect representation

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29
Q

free exercise clause

A
  • part of first amendment
  • says you have freedom to practice any religion of your choice
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30
Q

senate

A
  • the upper house of the United States Congress with 100 members-2 from each state
  • senators serve 6 year terms and represent all of their state’s citizens
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31
Q

speaker of the house of representatives

A

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

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32
Q

house of representatives

A
  • the lower legislative house of Congress
  • number of representatives from each state is based on population and each representative is elected by a district in their state
  • members serve 2 year terms
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33
Q

president pro temper of the senate

A

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the Vice President (who is the President of the Senate)

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34
Q

preamble to the constitution

A
  • opening section of the constitution
  • brief introductory statement of the fundamental purposes and guiding principles that the Constitution is meant to serve
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35
Q

popular sovereignty

A

idea that power lies with the people

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36
Q

Legislative Branch (Congress)

A
  • the branch that makes the laws
  • the branch the founders gave the most powers to because it is made up of many representatives elected directly by the people
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37
Q

judicial branch

A
  • the branch of government that interprets the law
  • made up the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts
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38
Q

implied powers

A

powers Congress has that are not specifically stated in the Constitution

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39
Q

enumerated/expressed/delegated powers

A

powers Congress has that are specifically stated in the Constitution

40
Q

elastic clause/necessary and proper clause

A
  • clause in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution
  • gives Congress the right to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out powers not expressly stated but necessary
  • cited in the Supreme Court landmark case McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
41
Q

concurrent powers

A
  • powers shared by the state and federal government
  • “marble cake”
42
Q

supremacy clause

A
  • clause of the Constitution that says the Constitution is the highest law of the land
  • Article 6, Clause 2
43
Q

civic responsibility

A

the responsibilities of a citizen, examples include voting, serving on juries, holding public office

44
Q

civic duty

A

A belief that one has an obligation to participate in civic and political affairs

45
Q

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

A

Supreme Court case that ruled separate but equal public accommodations for the races was constitutional

46
Q

21st Amendment

A
  • repeals the 18th Amendment
  • empowered Congress to regulate liquor industries
47
Q

two party system

A
  • electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections
  • US parties are democrat and republican
48
Q

2nd Amendment

A

right to bear arms

49
Q

1st Amendment

A

represents freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition

50
Q

citizenship

A
  • rights and responsibilities entitled to citizens belonging to a political state or country
  • ex. citizens can run for office
51
Q

15th Amendment

A

doesn’t allow you to deny a vote because of race color, or previous condition of servitude

52
Q

14th Amendment

A
  • gives rights of citizens
  • all persons born in the US are granted citizenship
  • no state can deny any person the equal protection of the laws
  • no state can deny any person life, liberty, property without due process of law
53
Q

13th Amendment

A

no person under the jurisdiction of the US can be a sale and congress can pass legislation implementing the abolition of slavery

54
Q

12th Amendment

A

states electoral college has to vote for president and vice president separately

55
Q

11th Amendment

A

prohibits the federal courts from hearing certain lawsuits against states

56
Q

10th Amendment

A

reserves some powers to the states

57
Q

9th Amendment

A

people’s rights aren’t limited to those in constitution

58
Q

Boston tea party

A
  • demonstration by citizens of Boston who raided three British ships in Boston harbor and dumped hundreds of chests of tea into the harbor
  • organized as a protest against taxes on tea
59
Q

intolerable acts/coercive acts

A
  • series of acts passed by the government in response to the Boston Tea Party
  • caused outrage, as colonists viewed acts as a violation of their rights
  • led to creation of the First Continental Congress and revolutionary war
60
Q

US Supreme Courts

A

9 justices nominated by President, confirmed by Senate; highest court in the nation; hears only appeals; interprets Constitutional law

61
Q

presidential succession

A
  • the order in which officials fill the office of president in case of a vacancy
    1. Vice President, 2. Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3. President of the Senate Pro Tempore, etc
62
Q

impeachment

A

a formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

63
Q

veto power

A

presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by rejecting it

64
Q

reserved powers

A
  • powers reserved for the states
  • ex. creating and maintaining an education system, creating local governments
65
Q

governor

A

highest ranking member of a state’s executive branch

66
Q

commander in-chief

A

role of the president as the supreme commander of the armed forces of the United States

67
Q

chief justice

A

the judge who presides over the supreme court

68
Q

In Re Gault (1967)

A
  • allows requirements for state delinquency proceedings
  • comes from 14th amendment, due process clause
  • est. principle that young people have constitutional rights
69
Q

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

A
  • evidence obtained without a warrant may no be used in criminal prosecution in state or federal court
  • violates 4th amendment (search w/warrant)
70
Q

Miranda v. Arizona (1961)

A
  • requires that individual arrested for a crime must be advised of their right to remain silent and have a counsel present
  • comes from 5th amendment
71
Q

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

A
  • separation between Church and State in schools
  • prayer in public schools is unconstitutional, violates separation of church and state and freedom of religion (First Amendment)
72
Q

executive branch

A
  • headed by the President and carries out the laws
  • also includes the Vice President and the Cabinet members
73
Q

checks and balances

A

system of each branch of gov’t having a power to check the power of the other to make sure no one branch becomes too powerful

74
Q

federalism

A

a system of government where a national government shares power with regional governments, such as states or provinces

75
Q

3/5 compromise

A
  • compromise made when writing the Constitution to sastify both free and slave states
  • for every 5 slaves, 3 would count in a state’s population for both representation and tax purposes
76
Q

great compromise

A
  • introduced by Roger Sherman; set up a bicameral Congress
  • upper house called Senate with each state getting 2 votes
  • lower house called the House of Representatives with each state’s representation based on its population
    -satisfied both the large and small states
77
Q

articles of confederation

A
  • adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1781 during the Revolutionary War to create a national government
  • new government was weak because states held most of the power, and Congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control the coining of money
  • later replaced with the U.S. Constitution.
78
Q

electoral college

A
  • president is elected by a majority of electoral votes
  • After an election a group of electors chosen by each state officially cast the electoral votes for their state to choose the President
79
Q

27th Amendment

A

Congress cannot increase its members’ salaries until the next election

80
Q

26th Amendment

A

guarantees the right to vote to 18 year olds

81
Q

25th Amendment

A

provided for succession to the office of president in the event of death or incapicity and for filling vacancies in the office of the vice president

82
Q

24th Amendment

A

Granted voters in the District of Columbia the right to vote for president and vice president

83
Q

22nd Amendment

A

limits president to two full terms in office

84
Q

8th Amendment

A

prohibits cruel and unusual punishment for crimes

85
Q

7th Amendment

A

provides the right to trial by jury in civil cases

86
Q

6th Amendment

A
  • right to a fair and speedy trial
  • gives you the right to be notified of accusations, confront the accuser, and obtain a witness for or against you
87
Q

5th Amendment

A
  • lists the rules for indictment by grand jury, and eminent domain
  • right to due process
  • prohibits self incrimination and double jeopardy
88
Q

4th Amendment

A

prohibits unreasonable search and seizure

89
Q

3rd Amendment

A

prohibits forced quartering of soldiers

90
Q

Constitutional Convention

A
  • meeting of state delegates in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation
  • ended up making the Constitution
91
Q

20th Amendment

A
  • changed Presidential inauguration of Jan 20th and Jan 3rd is date for new Congress opening
  • if president dies before swearing in the VP becomes president
92
Q

19th Amendment

A

states all women have the right to vote

93
Q

18th Amendment

A

gives Congress right to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol

94
Q

17th Amendment

A

gives right to elect US senators by popular vote

95
Q

16th Amendment

A

gives Congress the right to levy an income tax

AP Government (20 decks)

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