Final Review Goverment Flashcards
Where is the phrase “wall of separation found”?
A letter by Thomas Jefferson
How did the Supreme Court rule regarding the Ten Commandments display?
Some displays are constitutional
What would be a step toward real reform in government?
Making freedom from government more attractive than dependance on government;
Genuine accountability from the government; A simpler government with fewer
regulations
A Christian’s greatest right and responsibility is:
To pray for our leaders.
American citizens enjoy…
…many rights but also carry many responsibilities
Discuss the cons of the electoral college system.
Cons: it can fail to reflect the will of the majority of voters
Discuss the pros of the electoral college system.
pros: maintains the importance of states; it can provide a
clear winner even if no one gets a majority of the popular vote; it maintains the two-party
system.
Who was the first Vice-President to assume the office of President upon the
death of the President?
John Tyler
What provision does the Twenty-Fifth Amendment provide in case the President
becomes disabled?
The President can notify the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore of
the Senate. If that is not possible, the VP and a majority of Cabinet members can inform
the Speaker and the President Pro Tem of the President’s incapacity.
What is the most common way that troops have been sent into action?
By order of the President as Commander in Chief
What are some factors that have helped to expand the Federal bureaucracy?
Elected officials like to tell voters about programs they have helped to start; Congress
has assigned to the bureaucracy the responsibility for writing rules and regulations; civil
service laws make it difficult for a Federal worker to lose his or her job.
How can a President’s agenda influence how he carries out laws?
He might aggressively enforce certain laws and downplay the enforcement of other laws.
How has the role of the President with regard to initiating legislative proposals
changed over the years?
At first, the President did not make many proposals. Since Theodore Roosevelt,
Presidents have generally been more active in proposing legislation to Congress.
What has generally been the position of Congress regarding foreign affairs?
Congress has generally supported the President in foreign affairs, even if he has not had
the same party affiliation as the majority of Congress.
What are some examples of works carried out by the Treasury Department?
Collection and disbursement of Federal revenue through the IRS. Printing and Engraving, Bureau of Public Debt.
What department handles America’s relations with other countries?
State Department.
What are the basic responsibilities of the Justice and Interior Departments?
Justice: enforce Federal law; Interior: administer Federal lands and natural resources.
What are some benefits that the Federal government has provided veterans?
Health care, educational benefits, mortgages, pensions
What was the first independent agency created by Congress and why was it
started?
The Interstate Commerce Commission, started to oversee railroads
What does a grand jury do?
Reviews the evidence to see if a trial is warranted
What are the three basic levels of Federal courts?
District Courts, Circuit Courts of Appeals, Supreme Court
What is the difference between criminal law and civil law?
Criminal law involves crime against the state and civil law involves a dispute between
two parties.
22.What are the three principles followed by the Supreme Court?
- Stare decisis, avoiding political controversies,
and protecting individual liberty and conscience.
What was the purpose of the Bill of Rights?
To protect individual rights and to limit government.
What are some of the rights guaranteed to a person accused of a crime?
He does not have to testify against himself . due process of law, the right of a trial by jury, charges against him, the right to an attorney, protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
What is the value of the First Amendment right of freedom of speech?
It is a sign of a healthy society and government to allow dissent.
what does the 13th amendments do…
13th: abolished slavery.
what does the 14th amendments do…
14th: granted former slaves citizenship and due process of law.
what does the 15th amendments do…
15th: forbade the denial of the right to vote because of race.
What is the most common form of city government today?
Council-manager form.
What is eminent domain?
The power of government to take private property for public use.
What are sunset laws?
Health care, education, transportation, and safety.
What are the two largest sources of revenue for state governments?
State income taxes and state sales taxes.
Does lowering or raising taxes help the economy more?
Lowering taxes helps the economy more
What attempt to create an international organization was made after WWI?
League of Nations
What are the two main economic systems and how do they differ?
In capitalism, the means of production are owned by private individuals, while in
socialism they are owned by the state.
3Why is socialized medicine not a good solution to the health care issue?
- Health care becomes rationed instead of more readily available; the system has no
motivation to be efficient; it is driven by bureaucracy and not by patients’ needs.
In what ways is illegal immigration a serious issue in the U.S.?
human trafficking’s, national security concerns, unfair for people wanting to come in legally.
