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Government > final review > Flashcards

final review Flashcards

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1
Q

define democracy

A

the people hold the power to rule, the people meet to make all the decisions

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2
Q

what is a republic

A

a government where citizens rule through elected representatives

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3
Q

what is a federal system

A

a system of government in which the national and state governments share power

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4
Q

what is a presidential system

A

a form of government in which the executive and legislative branches are separate, independent, and coequal

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5
Q

what is a parliament

A

government where people vote for representatives, the political party in control picks their prime minister (head executive)

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6
Q

what is a monarchy

A

a political system in which a country is ruled by a monarch (king or queen) who has total control

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7
Q

what was John Lockes impact

A

believed that the purpose of the government is to protect the laws of nature and natural rights (life, liberty, and property)/ if a government failed to protect these rights, people were justified in rebelling and changing that government

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8
Q

what was montesquieu’s imact

A

separation of powers into 3 branches of government

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9
Q

what is social contract

A

an agreement between the people of a society to abide by laws and accept punishment; people agree to sacrifice some liberty in order to gain more protection; governments get their power from the people

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10
Q

what is the natural rights philosophy

A

everyone has the right to life, liberty, and ownership of property/citizens have the right to overthrow the government when their “natural rights” are violated

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11
Q

who was the author of the declaration of independence

A

Thomas Jefferson

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12
Q

what was the purpose of the declaration of independence

A

to declare the separation of the colonies from Britain

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13
Q

what are the key ideas of the declaration of independence

A

states general ideas about rights and governments, lists complaints directed toward King George lll, declares an official separation of the colonies

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14
Q

what were the articles of confederation

A

nation’s first constitution; was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781 during the revolution; document was limited because states held most of the power, and congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage

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15
Q

what were the main weaknesses of the articles of confederation

A

Congress had trouble passing laws because a vote of 9 out of 13 states were needed
There was no executive official to ensure that laws were carried out
Without national courts, there were no means of interpreting laws or carrying out justice
The Articles of Confederation could not be changed without a unanimous vote
Congress lacked power to collect taxes
The government could not control trade between the states
Each state had its own currency so there was no stable national currency
The government could not pay its debts

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16
Q

what was the great compromise

A

the agreement by which Congress would have two houses: the senate (where each state gets equal representation – two senators) and the House of Representatives (where representation is based on population)

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17
Q

what is federalism

A

a way of organizing a nation so that two levels (national and state) have formal authority over the same land and people, it is a system of shared power between units of government

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18
Q

what is the electoral college

A

the body of elector chosen from each state to elect the president and vice president of the US, the people of each state vote for the electors who then cast their votes on the people’s behalf

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19
Q

what is a federalist

A

supporters of the constitution, strong central government, 3 branches of government

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20
Q

what is an anti-federalist

A

opposed the constitution, opposed strong central govt, thought people’s rights were limited and insisted on a bill of rights, too much power to national govt

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21
Q

what were the federalist papers

A

A series of influential articles posted in the newspaper, promoting the thoughts and ideas of Federalists, papers pointed out the problems and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the strengths of the Constitution

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22
Q

what is the importance of the federalist papers

A

persuaded enough people to ratify the Constitution

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23
Q

what is popular sovereignty

A

the people hold ultimate power in the government

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24
Q

what is limited government

A

no government is all powerful, government must obey the law

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25
Q

what is separation of powers

A

no one component of the government holds too much power, powers are distributed among 3 different branches

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26
Q

what are checks and balances

A

designed to prevent abuse of power in the government

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27
Q

what is judicial review

A

the power of the courts to declare a law constitutional and unconstitutional

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28
Q

what is federalism

A

power is shared between the central/national government and the states

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29
Q

what are the universal requirements of voting

A

o U.S. citizen
o 18 years or older
o Have to be a resident in the state you are casting your vote in

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30
Q

what is the difference between political party and interest group

A

political party seek POWER

Interest group seeks to INFLUENCE

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31
Q

what is the main role of 3rd parties in politics

A

by promoting new ideas, if they gain support, major parties adopt their issues to save votes

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32
Q

what is the primary source of news for most Americans

A

TV

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33
Q

which government agency/body regulates the media

A

FCC

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34
Q

what is selective perception

A

the process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages

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35
Q

what is political socialization

A

A process by which individuals learn their political beliefs and attitudes from family, school, friends, coworkers, and other sources

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36
Q

what is the MAIN source of political socialization

A

family/parents

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37
Q

what is the preamble

A

introduction to the US constitution

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38
Q

what are reserved powers

A

the powers the constitution gives to the states

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39
Q

what are concurrent powers

A

the powers shared by the national and state governments

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40
Q

what is the elastic clause/necessary and proper clause

A

one of the powers of Congress that allows them to make any laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out their powers

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41
Q

what are expressed powers

A

those explicitly mentioned in the constitution

42
Q

what are implied powers

A

powers which can reasonable be assumed

43
Q

what are examples of expressed powers

A 
To lay and collect taxes
To borrow money
To establish naturalization law
To raise armies and a navy
To regulate commerce
To establish post offices
44
Q

what are examples of implied powers

A

To punish tax evaders
To regulate the sale of some commodities (such as alcohol) and outlaw the use of others (narcotics)
To require states to meet certain conditions to qualify for federal funding
To establish the Federal Reserve System of banks
To regulate and limit immigration
To draft Americans into the military
To establish a minimum wage
To ban discrimination in workplaces and public facilities
To pass laws protecting the disabled
To regulate banking

45
Q

what is the “winner takes all” system in the electoral college

A

an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins

46
Q

what is gerrymandering

A

dividing a state into odd-shaped districts for strictly political reasons (to give one party an advantage over another)

47
Q

what is the amendment process

A

an amendment may be proposed by 2/3 of both the house and the senate, an amendment may be approved by the legislatures of ¾ of the states

48
Q

what is the only amendment to be repealed

A

21st, prohibition of alcohol

49
Q

what is article 1

A

legislative branch

50
Q

what is article 2

A

executive branch

51
Q

what is article 3

A

judicial branch

52
Q

what is the full faith and credit clause

A

Constitution’s requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state

53
Q

what is the extradition clause

A

the legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one state is returned to that state

54
Q

what is a bicameral legislature

A

2 houses, the framers had to create a 2-chambered body to settle the conflict between the Virginia and the New Jersey Plans

55
Q

how many members are in the house of reps

A

435, distributed to each state based on population

56
Q

how many members are in the senate

A

100, 2 per state

57
Q

what is a filibuster

A

a tactic used in the senate to halt action on a bill, it involves making long speeches until the majority retreats

58
Q

what is a cloture

A

the only way to end a filibuster, 3/5 of senators must vote for cloture, used to close debate

59
Q

what is a rider

A

an amendment to a bill that is not germane to the legislation

60
Q

what is a ratification

A

the process by which a constitutional amendment, or other document is officially put into place

61
Q

what is the seniority system

A

custom whereby the member of congress who has served the longest on the majority side of a committee becomes its chair and the member who has served the longest on the minority side becomes its running member

62
Q

what are the 4 options a president has with a bill

A

pass, pocket pass, veto, pocket veto

63
Q

what is a pocket veto

A

when congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it

64
Q

what is a pocket pass

A

if the president lets a bill sit within 10 days while congress is in session and it passes

65
Q

what is a pardon

A

a release from the punishment for or legal consequences of a crime

66
Q

what is the 22nd ammendment

A

president can only serve 2 terms or 10 years

67
Q

what is the first 4 in the presidential succession

A

Vice president
Speaker of the house
President pro tempore of the senate
Secretary of state

68
Q

what is the 25th amendment

A

presidential succession

69
Q

what is the role of the joint Chiefs of Staff

A

the commanding officers of the armed services who advise the president on military policy

70
Q

what is the role of the secretary of State

A

the head of the department of stat and traditionally a key adviser to the president on foreign policy

71
Q

what is the role of the secretary of Defense

A

the head of the department of defense and the president’s key adviser on military policy

72
Q

what is the role of the attorney General

A

the position of the head of the Justice Department and the chief law enforcement officer of the US

73
Q

wha are the two types of COURT SYSTEMS

A

Federal and state

74
Q

what is a trial court

A

First court to hear a case

75
Q

what is an appellate court

A

if you lose in a trial court, you can ask a higher court to look at the verdict and replace it with a different decision

76
Q

what are the two types of LAWS

A

civil and criminal

77
Q

what is civil law

A

cases that involve a dispute over a contract or damage to an individual group

78
Q

what is criminal law

A

Case involves acts against public safety and order

Government acts as legal representative of society

79
Q

what is the supreme court

A

original and appellate jurisdiction, hear the highest and most complex cases selectively

80
Q

what is the circuit court of appeals

A

appellate jurisdiction, focus is on correcting the procedure and law that occurred in the original proceedings of legal cases

81
Q

what is the district court

A

original jurisdiction, routine cases

82
Q

what is the precedent when deciding cases for the SC

A

prior cases whose principles are used by judges as the basis for their decisions in present cases

83
Q

what is the importance of Marbury v Madison case

A

established judicial review

84
Q

what is the 1st amendment

A

freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition

85
Q

what is the 5th amendment

A

due process of law, no self-incrimination, no double jeopardy, eminent domain

86
Q

what is the 6th amendment

A

right to a speedy and public trial by jury of one’s peers, right to counsel/assistance of counsel, indictment (formal list of charges), compulsory process and confrontation, trial by impartial jury in state where crime was committed

87
Q

what is the role of the brown v board of education case

A

separate but equal

88
Q

what are major entitlement programs in the US

A

social security, medicare, food stamps

89
Q

what is the primary source of income for the federal govt

A

individual income tax

90
Q

where does the us govt spend most of its money on

A

social security, medicare, healthcare

91
Q

what day did Arizona become a state

A

February 14, 1912

92
Q

why was Arizona’s entry delayed

A

its Constitution allowed the recall of judges

93
Q

what is initiative

A

allows voters to make or amend laws without the aid of the state legislature
propositions on the ballot

94
Q

what is referendum

A

the process where voters directly approve or veto a bill already passed through the state legislature
allows people to a “check”

95
Q

what is recall

A

allows people the authority to conduct recall elections as a “check” on abuse of power. It applies to “Every public officer in the state of Arizona, holding an elective office, either by election or appointment

96
Q

what is the governor’s role

A

head of the executive

97
Q

who is 2nd in line to the governor

A

the Secretary of State

98
Q

what is the structure of the state legislature

A

bicameral: 30 legislative districts: 2 reps in the house, 1 in senate for each legislative district: soooo, 90 total with 30 senators and 60 house of reps in Arizona

99
Q

what is the number of congressional districts

A

9

100
Q

what is the number of electoral votes

A

11

Government (4 decks)

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