Exam 1

Question 1

Advice and consent

Answer 1

A congressional check on the executive branch that takes place in the senate. This gives power to congress to approve or deny treaties signed and appointments made by the president.

Question 2

Anti-federalist

Answer 2

People that wanted more power to the states and were in opposition of the federalists that wanted a strong national government when writing the constitution.

Question 2

Articles of Confederation

Answer 2

The first constitution of the United States. It was then replaced with our current constitution due to the articles giving too much power to the individual states.

Question 3

Bicameralism

Answer 3

The congressional branch has both the senate and the house in order to enforce checks and balances.

Question 4

Bill of Rights

Answer 4

Contains the citizens of the United States’ unalienable rights as well as the other first ten amendments to the constitution.

Question 5

Block grants

Answer 5

Grants given by the national government to a state government. The state government has more flexibility when it comes to how they use the money in comparison to categorical grants.

Question 6

Brown v Board of Education

Answer 6

A supreme court case that declared that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional.

Question 7

Clear and present danger test

Answer 7

Constitutional rule law that allows the government to limit free speech and press, often during times of war, in order to prevent harm.

Question 8

Committees

Answer 8

These committees consider bills and issues and oversee agencies.

Question 9

Concurrent powers

Answer 9

Powers shared between by both the national government and state governments.

Question 10

Confederation

Answer 10

A group of independent states that have a treaty with each other.

Question 11

De jure vs. de facto discrimination

Answer 11

Designates what the law says vs. designates what actually happens in practice.

Question 12

Earmarks

Answer 12

Federal funding set aside for a certain purpose or state.

Question 13

Federal preemption

Answer 13

Constitutional law that will displace the law of a lower authority when two authorities come into conflict

Question 14

15th amendment

Answer 14

Gives the right to vote to black people

Question 15

Fighting words

Answer 15

Words that are not protected under free speech because they incite violence.

Question 16

14th amendment

Answer 16

Gives formerly enslaved people citizenship

Question 17

Full faith and credit clause

Answer 17

State courts respect the laws of other state courts

Question 18

Great compromise

Answer 18

A compromise during the constitutional convention that established the bicameral legislature that our government has

Question 19

Imminent lawless action test

Answer 19

Speech is not protected by the 1st amendment when the speaker means to incite a violation of the law.

Question 20

Incorporation

Answer 20

Bill of rights is applied to state governments as well as national governments.

Question 20

Lemon test

Answer 20

Government can only assist religion as long as it doesn’t promote religion.

Question 21

Miller test

Answer 21

3 part test that determines if a work of art is protected by the first amendment.

Question 22

Plessy v Ferguson

Answer 22

Furthered the separate but equal doctrine

Question 23

Pork barrel

Answer 23

Government spending for local expenditures in return for a constituent’s political support

Question 24

Prior restraint

Answer 24

Form of censorship that prevents speech before it occurs

Question 25

Rational basis test

Answer 25

Judicial review test used by the courts to determine if a law is constitutional or not.

Question 26

Reapportionment

Answer 26

Allows states to draw districts of different sizes and shape

Question 27

Reconciliation

Answer 27

Can put an end to a filibuster as long as there is a super majority vote.

Question 28

13th amendment

Answer 28

Frees the slaves