Exam A Flashcards
What is a monarchy?
A government ruled by a royal family
What is an oligarchy?
An elite few hold power, dictatorship
What is a democracy?
The citizens consent to be governed
What is a theocracy?
technically rule of god. Rule by religious leader or group of religious officials who interpret god’s will
What are 3 ways of government function?
1) Authoritarianism
2) Constitutionalism
3) Totalitarianism
Totalitarianism, Authoritarianism, or Constitutionalism?
1) government is strong but checked, monopoly of political power by an individual or small group that otherwise allow people to go about their private lives as they wish
2) government controls all aspects. Rule by elite that have unlimited power
3) government is restricted. Power is distributed and limited by a system of laws that the rulers must obey
1) Authoritarianism
2) Totalitarianism
3) Constitutionalism
The fact that a democracy has no control over the next leader and a dictatorship has total control… leads to what?
Imperfect democracies and less strict dictators
What is one advantage of a more democratic government?
It is more flexible
What is wrong with a dictatorship if a crisis hits?
May not be flexible enough to respond in the correct way to fix the problems
In Pew Research political typologies…
What are the 3 Partisan anchors?
1) Steadfast conservatives
2) Business conservatives
3) Solid liberals
Describe:
1) Steadfast conservatives
2) Business conservatives
3) Solid liberals
1) Socially conservative populists
2) Pro-wall Street, Pro-immigrant, w/ limited gov’t
3) Liberal across the board
In Pew Research political typologies…
What are the 4 Less Partisan/Predictable?
1) Young Outsiders
2) Hard-Pressed Skeptics
3) Next Generation Left
4) Faith and Family
Describe Young Outsiders
They have conservative views on government, not social issues
Describe Hard-Pressed Skeptics
They are financially stressed and pessimistic
Describe Next Generation Left
They are young, liberal on social issues, less so on social safety net (government welfare programs etc)
Describe Faith and Family partisans
They are racially diverse and religious
Who are described as: young, diverse, and on the sidelines of politics?
Bystanders
____ polls are conducted at polling places to “test the water”. What is an advantage of this type of poll?
Exit
Advantage: already know these people voted
What is a straw poll?
A convenient sampling, a poll of those gathered
What poll doesn’t really care about the answers, but it just trying to get information across through the question?
Push poll
What poll type polls people who are representative of the population as a whole?
Representative/Scientific Polls
List the public opinion polls in order of trustworthiness from most trusting to least:
Push poll, exit poll, representative/scientific, and straw
1) represent/scientific
2) Exit
3) Straw
4) Push
What is a sampling error?
Statistical error related to size of population about the sample
Target population is about what?
Who they are trying to get information about
______ means giving more weight to _______________ in order to accurately represent them in the sample
- Weighting
- A certain part of the population
In the movie, Children of Men, describe the primary theme of Security Vs Liberty Tension
- To have lots of security you have to give up liberties
- The government in the movie was similar to an authoritarian government–they didn’t have total control but they had a lot of control over the citizens
Liberals are pro-government action to promote what?
Example?
- Equality
- Example: More spending on public housing and affirmative action programs
Liberals are anti-government action that do what?
Example?
- Restrict individual liberties
- Example: Banning flag-burning or sexually explicit movies
What are the 4 political ideologies (thing about 4 square box)
1) Liberals
2) Populists
3) Libertarians
4) Conservatives
Liberals combine what 2 sides?
Equality and Liberty
Populists combine what 2 sides?
Equality and order
Populists are pro-government actions to promote what?
Examples?
- Equality
- Examples: Minimum wage laws and health care programs
Populists are also pro- government actions that do what?
Examples?
Impose social order
-Examples: Banning flag-burning or sexually explicit movies
Libertarians combine what 2 sides?
Liberty and freedom
Libertarians are Anti- government actions that interfere with what?
Examples?
- The market
- Examples: affirmative action or socialized medicine
Libertarians are also Anti- government actions that restrict what?
Examples?
- Individual liberties
- Examples: Censorship or anti-gay laws
Conservatives combine what 2 sides?
Order and freedom
Conservatives are Anti-Government actions that interfere with what?
Examples?
- The Market
- Examples: Affirmative action or socialized medicine
Conservatives are Pro- Government actions that do what?
Examples?
- Impose social order
- Examples: bans on pornography, flag-burning, same-sex marriages
What war tapped out the British treasury? What did it lead to?
- 7 years war
- Taxes on the colonies
Which act was the final straw in a series of unpopular taxes imposed?
Tea act
Which act caused Britain repeal to the stamp act and lessen the sugar act?
The Declaratory act
What was the Coersive act?
4 acts established by Britain government in response to the Boston Tea Party
What did Locke believe in?
Natural, inherent rights must be protected, including property
Who talked about separation of powers?
Montesquieu
What did Hobbes say?
The “ability to govern lies in ourself”, this was radical thinking
Who was skeptical of ability to balance between freedom and liberty and said we need _______ to create the balance
- Rousseau
- Structure
Liberalism said ______ opinions have protection from _______
- Minority
- Majority
The Articles of Confederation was a league of independent states with what?
Sovereignty
What type if congress was created under the Articles of Confederation?
Unicameral
Did the Articles of Confederation have an executive?
NAH MAN
Under the Articles there was _____ in office to avoid entrenched elite
Rotation
To consent for changes to articles, what was needed?
A unanimous vote
Under the articles, how many votes were needed for decisions other than changes to the articles?
9
What was the primary reason the articles of confederation failed?
There was no centralized power
No way to defend
No national defense
The fact that there was no _____ or regulation of ____ ______ under the articles lead to confusing rules and regulation
- Taxes
- Interstate commerce
Under the articles… what did the army consist of? What issues did this lead to?
- State militias
- They were not able to defend all
Describe Shays Rebellion
Daniel Shay was a revolutionary war hero who was not paid for his service, went to Massachusetts to farm and couldn’t pay his debts to the state. Started an armed uprising in MA with farmers and MA needed help but no one would help since they were expected to do it alone.
When coming up with the constitution, how did the founders address the issue of representation?
-VA plan = representation based on population
vs.
-NJ plan = representation equal for all
- Came up with: Connecticut Compromise = created the bicameral congress
Federalists vs. Anti-federalists
1) Who was interested in strong national government?
2) Who was interested in frequent elections w/ more direct democracy
3) Who wanted representation to keep citizens close
4) Who had a fear of the majority?
5) Who wanted a TIGHTLY restricted national government?
6) Who wanted a GENERALLY restricted national government
7) Who was concerned about elites in power?
1) Federalists
2) Anti
3) Anti
4) Federalists
5) Anti
6) Federalists
7) Anti
Missions of the constitution:
1) Establish _________
2) Insure ______ _______
3) Provide for _______ ________
4) Promote general _______
5) Secure ________
1) Justice
2) Domestic tranquility
3) Common defense
4) Welfare
5) Liberty
Who can impeach judicial and executive branch officials?
The Senate
What branch has the authority to declare war/ make wars?
Congress
Who has the power to create treaties?
DA PREZ
Amendment proposal of constitutionhas 2 options: _________ or ________
Congress or convention
Ratification of constitution has 2 options:
_________ or __________
State legislatures or state ratifying conventions
The constitution provides restrictions on government power, in respect of individual citizens, through what?
The Bill of Rights
Define federalism
The power of the national government is limited by granting state governments their own legal and political power
What are 2 ways amending the constitution can be PROPOSED?
1) Congress: ⅔ of the members of each must vote for it
2) Constitutional convention: requested by ¾ of the states
What are 2 ways proposed constitutional amendments can be RATIFIED?
1) By ¾ of state legislature
2) By constitutional conventions held in ¾ of the states
In congress…
____ ____ provide leadership to their caucuses
Political parties
The HOUSE is done by population, and is redone ever ___ years
10
Their is 1 house representative per _____, how many representatives are in the house?
- District
- 435
In the HOUSE, there are election for all seats every ___ years
2
What is a key unique power of the house of representatives?
Starting tax legislation
In the senate…
Electoral staggered for __ year terms
6
What fraction of the senate is elected every 2 years?
1/3
What is are 2 key unique powers of the senate?
1) Impeachments
2) Treaties
Why did the writers of the constitution make a commander in chief?
To act as a check on congress, so congress can declare war but the president is the commander. Shay’s rebellion is an example of why they needed this.
What is the significance of Marbury vs. Madison?
The Supreme Court announced for the first time that a court may declare an act of Congress void if it is unconstitutional… JUDICIAL REVIEW
What is the significance of McCulloch v. Maryland?
Congress can pass laws they deem necessary and proper
What clause states federal laws and constitution take precedence over state and local laws?
Supremacy clause
Describe the electoral college?
Population votes for electors who go with a candidate, electors then cast their vote, states then either count electoral votes or give all votes to majority
How many electoral votes does a candidate need to get in order to win?????
270
What are the 7 enumerated powers of President?
- commander in chief
- makes appointments
- pardons crimes
- state of the union address
- convenes congress
- greets ambassadors
- runs/enforces laws made by congress
What are the 3 enumerated powers of the VA governor?
- commander and chief of armed forces
- conducts business with foreign states
- power to fill vacancies
What did the War Powers Act do?
Defines how president can send troops to battle
Which act allows president to invoke emergency powers to circumvent existing laws?
National Emergency Act
What did the American Antiquities Act?
President may declare national monuments
What are 3 implied power of the prez?
- executive orders to administrative agencies
- signing statements when signing statutory laws
- ability to withhold information
Who nominates supreme court justices and who confirms them?
President nominates
Senate confirms
Original jurisdiction happens….
If a case goes directly to the supreme court
Trial or Appellate court?
1) Where cases are heard for the first time
2) A party can appeal, asking a higher court to review the decision
3) The outcome has the potential to affect large numbers of people
4) Cases only affect the people involved
5) Existing evidence is reviewed, no new evidence is submitted
1) Trial
2) Appellate
3) Appellate
4) Trial
5) Appellate
Federal courts cover cases regarding…
- constitution,
- laws made by Congress and Executive,
- conflicts between two or more states and their citizens
- ambassadors, treaties, foreign relations
- Maritime Law
Which are in trial courts and which are in appellate courts?
1) Plaintiff and defendant
2) Petitioner and respondent
1) Trial
2) Appellate
When a case is moving through SCOTUS, what is the rule of 4?
4 justices decide they want to hear the case
Judicial activism?
Justices can and should interpret the constitution based on needs of society when legislatures fail to do so
Judicial restraint?
Justices should not engage in the interpretation and should instead defer to the decisions of elected legislatures
Primary checks Congress has on the presidency (4)
1) Senate ratifies treaties
2) Can overturn a veto w/ 2/3 vote
3) Can reject proposed treaties and federal officials nominations
4) Can impeach the president
Primary checks congress has on the judiciary (3)
1) Can create lower courts
2) Can amend the constitution to overturn a decision of the court
3) Can impeach judges
Primary checks the presidency has on congress (5)
1) Commander in chief
2) Cabinet nominations
3) Power to veto laws
4) Submits federal budget
5) Proposes treaties
Primary checks the presidency has on the judiciary (3)
1) Pardon crimes
2) Nominate judges
3) Power to grant amnesty
Primary checks the judiciary has on congress (1)
1) Declare laws unconstitutional through judicial review
Primary checks the judiciary has on the presidency (1)
1) Can rule presidential actions and treaties unconstitutional through judicial review
Which amendments primarily limit…
1) Congress
2) Executive
3) judicial
1) 1st
2) 2nd-4th
3) 5th-8th
What is one example of federalism in the US that is creating conflict or tension over an issue?
Legalization of marijuana
What is selective incorporation?
The gradual protection of citizens by the federal government actions from state government actions. The bill of rights only applied to the national government and it was only over time that it protected people from state governments
What is an example of selective incorporation?
In regard to the right to bear arms, it was a right in the constitution that citizens had this right, but states could still restrict that right in their state, until 2010 when the government issued selective incorporation saying the states could not take away this right
Caucus vs. Primary
Caucus: a huge meeting where candidates have representatives and voters trying to convince people of the candidates views, then people either write their vote on a piece of paper (republican) or go into a corner (democrat) to have their vote counted
Primary: Same as election
