Exam study guide Flashcards
1
Q
Immigrant
A
a person who moves permanently to a new country
2
Q
alien
A
a foreign-born resident of the united states who has not been nautralized
3
Q
what can aliens not do in the U.S.?
A
they cannot vote in elections or run for president. they may not serve in most government jobs
4
Q
welfare
A
the health, prosperity, and happiness of the members of a community
5
Q
naturalization process/requirements/steps
A
Naturalization is a legal process to obtain citizenship. They must meet certain requirements if they want to become a citizen, including: must be age 18 or older, they must be a lawful permanent resident for five years, must be able to read, write, and speak English, must be of good moral character, and must show an understanding of civics.
6
Q
Loss of citizenship rights
A
Americans can lose citizenship in three ways: Expiration- when someone gives their allegiance to a foreign country, Denaturalization- citizens who are found to have lied on their citizenship test will lose naturalization, and being convicted of certain crimes.
7
Q
Duties of citizens
A
Duties are actions that we are required to perform. Some examples of citizens’ duties include: obeying laws, paying taxes, defending the nation, serving in court, and attending school.
8
Q
Responsibilities of citizens
A
Responsibilities are things we should do. Some examples of citizens’ responsibilities include: being informed and active, respecting the right of others, contributing to the common good, and donating.
9
Q
Representative democracy
A
a government in which citizens choose a smaller group to govern on their behalf
10
Q
constitutional monarchy
A
monarchy in which the power of the hereditary ruler is limited by the country’s constitution and laws.
11
Q
authoritarian regimes
A
a government in which one leader or group of people holds absolute power
12
Q
totalitarian
A
describes a system in which government control extends to almost all aspects of people’s lives
13
Q
ideology
A
a body of ideas about life and society
14
Q
socialism
A
system in which society, either directly or indirectly through the government, controls all aspects of the economy
15
Q
direct democracy
A
a form of democracy in which the people vote firsthand
16
Q
republic
A
a representative democracy where citizens choose their lawmakers
17
Q
democracy
A
a government in which the citizens hold the power to rule
18
Q
limited government
A
the principle that a ruler or a government is not all-powerful
19
Q
legislature
A
a group of people that makes laws
20
Q
social contract
A
an agreement among people in a society with their government
21
Q
natural rights
A
a freedom people possess relating to life, liberty, and property
22
Q
the enlightment
A
a change in how some people saw the world during the 1960s
23
Q
house of burgesses
A
elected assembly in colonial Virginia, created in 1618
24
Q
jamestown
A
the first permanent English settlement in North America, found in Virginia in 1607
25
Why did the English come to the Americas to settle in colonies?
Many came for land or jobs and for the right to worship in their own way. Those who could not afford the trip, could come by agreeing to be indentured servants.
26
dissenters
one who opposes official or commonly held views
27
Fundamental orders of COnnecticut
the first written constitution in America (1639)
28
new england colonies
Massachusetts bay, Connecticut, Rhode island, new Hampshire. Cold climate, rocky soil, forests, and harbors. Economy was small farms, shipbuilding, trapping, and trade.
29
Middle colonies
New york, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware. Warmer climate, natural resources. Economy was cash crops, sawmills, mines, and iron works
30
Southern Colonies
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia. Warm climate, rich soil. Economy was cotton, tobacco, and rice.
31
proclamation
an official, formal public announcement
32
What led to the French and Indian War?
Great Britain and France were fighting over the land in 1754 outcome was the British won and controlled French lands as far as the Mississippi River
33
smuggling
The act of illegally importing or exporting goods
34
Stamp Act
1765; law that taxed printed goods and stamps had to be placed on legal papers, newspapers, and other documents.
35
Sugar Act
Set taxes on sugar imports from countries other than Great Britain in 1764
36
Townshend Acts
Placed taxes on goods the colonists imported to the colonies, allowed search warrants to combat smuggling in 1767
37
Tea Act
Required American colonists to buy tea only from the British East India Company 1773
38
Boston Tea Party
December, 1773 angry colonists boarded several ships in the Boston Harbor. They had disguised themselves as Native Americans. They dumped 342 chests of the tea into the water as a protest British taxes
39
Coercive Acts
Included several laws to punish the colonist for resisting British authority (it was meant to punish Boston) in 1774
40
Thomas Paine
published a pamphlet titled Common Sense in 1775
41
Thomas Jefferson
Wrote the Declaration of Independence
42
John Hancock
John Hancock, the president of the Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence
43
constitution
a detailed, written plan for government
44
bicameral
A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses
45
confederation
a group of individuals or state governments
46
Articles of Confederation
the first constitution of the United States. Weakness were The approval of 9 states was needed to pass a law.
Changing the articles required the approval of all 13 states. Congress had no power to collect taxes or to enforce laws.
47
Ordinance of 1785
A law that set up a plan for surveying western lands
48
popular sovereignty
the idea that power lies with the people
49
separation of powers
the split of authority among the 3 branches of government
50
checks and balances
a system in which each branch of government is able to check, or restrain, the power of the others
51
rule of law
principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern
52
enumerated powers
powers granted directly to the national government by the Constitution
53
reserved powers
powers that the Constitution does not give to the federal government that are kept by the states
54
concurrent powers
powers shared by the state and federal governments
55
Shay's Rebellion
an uprising of Massachusetts farmers who did not want to lose their farms because of debt caused by heavy state taxes after the American Revolution
56
Constitutional Convention
5/25/1787 - The convention began in Philadelphia. The delegates chose George Washington to lead them. James Madison kept the only notes taken at the meeting in a journal
57
New Jersey Plan
One house Congress, equal representation
58
Virginia Plan
Two houses of Congress, representation in both houses by population.
59
Great Compromise
Two houses of Congress, equal representation in the Senate, representation by population in the House of Representatives.
60
Federalist
supporters of the Constitution
61
Anti-Federalists
people who opposed the Constitution
62
What was the purpose of the federalist papers?
defend the constitution
63
How many amendments are there currently?
27
64
Legislative branch
the branch of government that makes the laws
65
Executive branch
the branch of government that carries out laws
66
Judicial Branch
the branch of government that interprets laws
67
civil liberties
freedoms to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair legal treatment
68
1st Amendment
Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition
69
2nd amendment
Right to bear arms
70
3rd Amendment
No quartering of soldiers
71
4th Amendment
Protection against Unreasonable Search and Seizure
72
5th amendment
Protection from Self incrimination; Criminal Proceedings; Due Process; Eminent Domain; Double Jeopardy
73
6th Amendment
Right to a fair, speedy trial
74
Right to a fair, speedy trial
No cruel or unusual punishment
75
13th amendment
abolished slavery
76
14th amendment
defines citizenship; guarantees equal protection under law to all US citizens
77
15th amendment
Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race and color
78
19th amendment
Gave women the right to vote
79
24th amendment
Abolishes poll taxes
80
slander
spoken untruths that are harmful to someone's reputation
81
libel
written untruths that are harmful to someone's reputation
82
censorship
the banning of printed materials or films due to alarming or offensive ideas
83
indictment
a document issued by a grand jury to charge someone with a crime
84
probable cause
a strong reason to think that a person or property was involved in a crime
85
search warrant
a court order allowing police to search property and seize evidence
86
double jeopardy
putting someone on trial for a crime for which he or she was previously found not guilty
87
self-incrimination
giving evidence about yourself that could lead to you being found guilty of a crime
88
due process
following established legal procedures
89
eminent domain
the right of government to take private property for public use
90
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
(1954) a major victory. The Supreme Court
struck down "separate but equal." It also ruled that
segregation in public schools was against the
Constitution.
91
sit-ins
the act of occupying seats or sitting down on the floor of an establishment as a form of organized protest
92
Rosa Parks
1955 - Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of a bus
in Montgomery, Alabama. She was arrested, this started
the boycotting of public buses.
93
Martin Luther King, Jr.
King believed in nonviolent resistance, the peaceful protest of unfair laws. wrote I have a dream speech.
94
Requirements to run for Senate
-30 years old
-Citizen for at least 9 years
-Required to reside in state represented
95
Requirements to run for House
25 years old, US citizen for 7 years, live in represented state
96
Two houses of Congress
Senate (higher house equal representation two senators for each state 100 members unlimited number of terms) and House of Representatives (proportional representation, based on population 435 members serve for 2 years)
97
constituents
a person from a legislator's district
98
gerrymander
an oddly shaped election district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group
99
Who leads the House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
100
Who leads the Senate?
Vice President
101
Why are members of Congress assigned to work on committees?
to oversee bills
102
elastic clause
Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.
103
impeach
To accuse government officials of misconduct in office
104
Three presidents that have been impeached
Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump
105
bills of attainder
laws that punish a person without a jury trial
106
ex post facto laws
A law which punishes people for a crime that was not a crime when it was committed.
107
writ of habeas corpus
A court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person
108
Benefits of members of Congress
Free office space, parking, trips home, Franking privilege, immunity
109
franking privilege
the right of senators and representatives to send job-related mail without paying postage
110
lobbyists
representatives of interest groups who contact government officials directly to influence their policy
111
pork-barrel projects
government project grant that primarily benefits the home district or state
112
What are the two types of bills
public- concerns all
private- concerns one person or place
113
joint resolution
a resolution that is passed by both houses of Congress
114
special-interest groups
an organization of people with some common interest who try to influence government decisions
115
filibuster
a tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bill's sponsor withdraws it
116
cloture
A procedure used in the Senate to limit debate on a bill
117
pocket veto
president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days
118
veto
Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature
119
Requirements to run for president
35 years old, natural born citizen, must have lived in U.S. for 14 years
120
Electoral College
the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president
121
How many terms of office may a president serve
2
122
Salary and Benefits of President
Salary - $400,000 a year Receives money for personal costs/travel Lives/works in the White House Staff of more than 80 people takes care of the president's family Use of Camp David Use of special fleet cars, helicopters, Air Force One
123
25th amendment
gave the procedures to be followed if it becomes necessary for the vice president to assume the president's job
124
State of the Union Address
The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation.
125
pardon
A declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment
126
reprieve
delay of punishment
127
amnesty
a pardon to a group of people
128
elector
person appointed to vote in presidential elections
129
executive order
A rule issued by the president that has the force of law
130
ambassador
an official representative of a country's government
131
treaty
a formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries
132
embargo
an agreement among a group of nations that prohibits them all from trading with a target nation
133
cabinet
A group of advisers to the president.
134
Spoils System
rewarding people with government jobs on the basis of their political support
135
merit system
hiring people into government jobs on the basis of their qualifications
136
What happened in the Watergate Scandal?
in 1974, Nixon resigned after refusing to give up the tapes that showed he was responsible for the Watergate scandal. showed even the president was not above the law.
137
How many departments currently serve as the president's cabinet?
18
138
President who won a 4th term in office
Franklin D. Roosevelt
