Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

American Government > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Equal Opportunity

A

every American has an equal chance to succeed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

10th Amendment

A

The powers of the Feds are listed in the constitution and the rest should be left up to the states and the people

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Federalism

A

Power divided between national and state government. Each has its own independent authority and its own duties.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Virginia Plan

A

Madison’s plan, embraced by larger states, strengthened the national gov relative to state govs

  • -bicameral - reps based on state pop
  • -citizens would vote for house of reps, who would vote for senators
  • -congress would elect pres
  • -national judiciary
  • -national government would have powers in all cases where states were incompetent
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

New Jersey Plan

A

Put forward at constitutional convention by the small states, left gov authority with state govs

  • -congress would be unicameral - one vote in congress regardless of size
  • -congress would elect committee to serve as federal exec for one term
  • -Exec committee would select Supreme Court
  • -national gov could tax the states and would have excluded right to tax imports
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Bicameral

A

Having two legislative houses or chambers – like house and senate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Unicameral

A

Having a senile legislative branch

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Democracy

A

A gov in which citizens rule and directly make government decisions for themselves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Connecticut Compromise

A
  • -bicameral congress, house vote on pop, senate every state has two votes,
    • Feds control interstate commerce
  • -congress has ability to declare war
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Institutions

A

The organizations, norms, and rules that structure government and public action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Electoral College

A

The system established by the Constitution to elect the president; each state has a group of electors (equal in size to its members of house and senate);
The public in each state votes for electors who then vote for president;

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Equality

A

All citizens enjoy the same privates, status, and rights before the laws

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Political equality

A

All citizens have the same political rights and opportunities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Economic equality

A

A situation in which there are only small differences in wealth among citizens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Social equality

A

All individuals enjoy the same status in society

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Checks and balances

A

The principle that each branch of government had the authority to block other branches, making it more difficult for any one branch or individual to exercise too much power. This usher makes passing by legislation far more difficult in the U.S. than in most other democracies.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Republic

A

Citizens rule indirectly and make government decisions through their elected representatives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Confederation

A

Group of independent states or nations that yield some of their powers to a national gov, though the states retain a degree of sovereign authority.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Bill of rights

A

The first ten amendments to the constitution, listing the rights guaranteed to every citizen.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Selective Incorporation

A

The Supreme Court decides case by case which rights apply to state governments.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

New Federalism

A

A version of a cooperative federalism but with stronger emphasis on state and local government activity vs national gov

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Devolution

A

The transfer of authority from national government to state and local

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Concurrent Powers

A

Government authority shared by national and state powers, such as power to tax residents.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Full faith and credit clause

A

The constitution requirement that each state recognize and uphold laws passed by any other state.

25
Q

Granted powers

A

National government set out explicitly in the constitution

26
Q

Necessary and proper clause

A

The constitutional declaration that defines Congress’s constitutional authority to exercise the “necessary and proper “ powers to carry out its designated functions

27
Q

Inherent Powers

A

National government powers implied by, but not specifically named in, the constitution

28
Q

Supremacy clause

A

The constitutional declaration that the national governments authority prevails over any conflicting state or local governments claims.

29
Q

Dual federalism

A

Layer cake federalism; clear division of governing authority between national and state governments

30
Q

Civil liberties

A

The limits on government that allow people to freely exercise their rights

31
Q

Clear and present danger

A

Court doctrine that permits restrictions of freedom of speech if officials believe that the speech will lead to prohibited action such as violence.

32
Q

Brown vs Board of Education

A

Struck down segregated schools as unconstitutional. Fourteenth amendment.

33
Q

Civil rights

A

The freedom to participate in the full life of the community –to vote, use public facilities, and exercise economic opportunity

34
Q

Plessy vs Ferguson

A

An 1896 Supreme Court case that permitted segregation. Brutal lunching kept it in place.

35
Q

Unitary Government

A

A national polity governed as a single unit, with central government exercising all or most political authority

36
Q

Libel and Slander

A

Written falsehoods; spoken falsehoods

37
Q

Executive order

A

Presidential declaration, with force of law, that issues instructions to the executive branch without any requirement for congressional action or approval.

38
Q

Free-rider

A

Gets benefits but doesn’t pay the cost.

39
Q

New England merchants

A

Involved in ww commerce

40
Q

Southern planters

A

Huge slave driven plantations

41
Q

Royalist

A

Loyal to the crown

Left when heat up

42
Q

Small farmers

A

Small farms

ubstance farmer - grow enough for family

43
Q

Elites non elites

A

Elites:
Merchants
Planters
Royalists

Non elites:
Small farmers
Urban and mid class

44
Q

Intolerable acts

A

Punish people for rising against British interest - brings elites and non elites together

45
Q

Articles of confederation

A 
Perpetual Union
Sub national emphasis
Decentralized
Weak national gov
States elect reps to confederate congress
- 1 house
- 1 vote
- no exec
- states implement laws

Not much coop after war

46
Q

Rules for constitutional convention

A

Close door proceedings - know groups fight against

Write new constitution- move away from perpetual Union

47
Q

Federalists vs Anti federalist

A

Want strong gov vs not. Anti not as coordinated. Propaganda arises from both.

48
Q

Autocracy

A

Individual force
Rule by one
Monarchy

49
Q

Oligarchy

A

Group force
Rule by few
Aristocracy

50
Q

Federalist #51

A

Men are not Angels. Precautions in place double security (power divided between state and government)

51
Q

Federalist #46

A

What will happen if we create strong gov? Will it become all powerful? No. Kept in check by states.

52
Q

Unitary

A

Centralized. Power is central to main gov. Sub national not autonomous.

53
Q

Confederacy

A

Decentralized. States have power. Weak national gov.

54
Q

Advantages of federalism

Disadvantages

A

Strong national gov. Power kept in check by all.

Slow to get things done.

55
Q

Dual citizenship

A

Citizen belongs to state and fed

56
Q

Centralized federalism

A

1964-1980
Creative federalism
Feds step into state matters
Feds start stringing stipulations to their help. Unfounded mandates. 20% rev comes from gov so state must comply.

57
Q

Gibbons vs Ogden

A

Ogden had monopoly on water navigation.
Gibbons engaged in shipping from NY to NJ
O wants money for use of waterways
Interstate commerce says he can’t charge.

58
Q

Cooperative federalism

A

1933-1964
State and gov come together - rampant poverty, depression
Education, health care - state matters need fed funding
Railroads need to cross through state.

59
Q

Barron vs Baltimore

A

Partners: fed and states - distinct separation
Dual fed
Barron owns wharf - state road work destroys it - says state owes money(eminent domain)
Fed protections cannot protect you from state

American Government (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions