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Gov / Econ > Gov Final > Flashcards

Gov Final Flashcards

1
Q

Bicameral

A

Made up of Two Houses

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2
Q

sessions

A

meetings ;)

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3
Q

congressional appointment

A

deciding how many representatives a state should have in the house based upon its size

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4
Q

Gerrymandering

A

redrawing district boundaries and borders to gain an advantage.

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5
Q

Incumbency

A

a person holding an office continuing to do because it is easy to be reelected

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6
Q

House Rules

A

More strict than senate rules. defines the action an individual can take in the house based upon its size

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7
Q

Senate Rules

A

more flexible than house rules, gives senators more freedom to express their ideas. Unlimited debate on bills, relatively informal

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8
Q

expressed powers

A

legislative powers of congress as described in the constitution

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9
Q

implied powers

A

legislative powers that are implied in the constitution. allows congress to expand their power / influence

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10
Q

revenue bills

A

laws for making money. starts in the house, then goes to the senate.

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11
Q

appropriation bills

A

laws proposed to authorize spending. Usually originating from executive branch

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12
Q

authorization bills

A

sets up a federal program and specifies how much money can be appropriated for it.

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13
Q

interstate commerce

A

commerce among the states, regulated by congress

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14
Q

Non-legislative Powers

A

Power to:
choose a president if there is no majority in the electoral college
impeach any federal officer for misconduct
approval of any presidential appointments to office
ratify formal treaties with other nations
propose amendments to constitution.

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15
Q

Private vs. Public Bills

A

Private bills: individuals people / places, often accusations against the government, or a persons immigration problem.
Public bills: entire nation and general matters

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16
Q

Resolutions vs. bills

A

Resolutions: used to make policy on unusual or temporary issue. Don’t have same enforcement as laws unless passed by senate, house, and president. Bills are expected to be followed and enforced, and affect a larger number of citizens.

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17
Q

Rider

A

Provision attached to a bill, covers a subject other than the one covered in the bill

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18
Q

Earmarks

A

Ways that members of congress can specify that some part of a funding bill will go to a certain purpose

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19
Q

Pork barrel

A

A bill that starts a federal project in a certain area or district. Usually proposed by a congressman vying for his/her region.

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20
Q

How a bill becomes law

A

Introduced to house or senate
Sent to a committee or subcommittee
Sent to house / senate
Sent to President
If president doesn’t sign it in 10 days, and congress doesn’t adjourn, bill becomes a law
If president vetoes the bill, a 2/3 congress vote can override it.

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21
Q

Different Types of Vetoes

A

Normal veto: president outright rejects it
Pocket veto: president refuses to act on bill for 10 days, and congress adjourns in those 10 days
Line-Item veto: president only vetoes certain provisions of the bill, and keeps the rest

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22
Q

Impeachment process

A

House holds power to impeach any federal official with a 2/3 vote. If impeaching the president, the Chief Justice presides over the trial and senate

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23
Q

Presidential succession

A

Process of replacing a president after death or removal. 25th amendment specifies process: Vice President replaces president. President appoints nominee if VP needs to be replaced

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24
Q

Roles of President

A 
Commander in Chief
Appointer of: 
the heads of the executive office
Federal court judges
Ambassadors
Makes treaties
Meets with leaders of other countries
Hosts foreign officials
Ensures all laws are faithfully executed
Manages federal budget
Delivers state of the union address
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25
Q

Executive orders

A

Rules with force of law from the president. The executive order can pertain only to executing a law, plenty of presidents have abused this however. Truman used it to integrate armed forces, Roosevelt used it to put japs in internment camps

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26
Q

Executive privilege

A

Right of president and other high-ranking executive officials refuse to provide information to congress or a court. Used to keep White House discussions confidential while they are deciding on policies

27
Q

Cabinet departments

A

advisory body to the president, the president him/herself, and the Vice President. 15 departments, each with their own bureaus.

28
Q

All departments of the cabinet

A 
Department of:
State
HL security
Treasury
Defense
Justice
Interior
Agriculture
Commerce
Labor
Health and human services
Housing and urban development
Transportation
Energy
Education
Veterans affairs
29
Q

Dept. HL Security

A

Created after terrorist attack in 2001. Controls coast guard, border patrol, immigration, customs, emergency management. Analyzes data collected from FBI and CIA

30
Q

Dept. state

A

Responsible for implementing foreign policy of the United States, protects rights of US citizens in foreign countries, creates embassies in other countries

31
Q

Dept. treasury

A

Manages monetary resources of US. manufactures money, houses the IRS borrows and repays money

32
Q

Department of defense

A

Created 1947. Dept. of war and navy merged. Manages US armed forces

33
Q

Department of justice

A

Oversees nations legal affairs - same as attorney general. Houses FBI, DEA. Enforces antitrust laws and civil rights legislation

34
Q

department of the interior

A

protects public lands and natural resources. oversees relations. native american relations. Houses the bureau of mines. oversees national parks

35
Q

department of agriculture

A

helps farmers improve their incomes and expand their markets. develops conservation programs, safeguards nations food supplies.

36
Q

department of commerce

A

promotes and protects the industrial and commercial segments of the American economy. houses the bureau of the census. in charge of patents and trademarks

37
Q

department of labor

A

ensures safe working conditions, minimum wage, pension rights

38
Q

department of health and human services

A

medicare and medicaid, public health service-national health policy, medical research, ensures safety of foods and drugs through inspections. new drugs must be inspected before being sold

39
Q

department of housing and urban development

A

ensures americans equal housing opportunities, makes mortgage money available for people to buy homes

40
Q

department of transportation

A

administrations: aviation, railroad, highway, transit

41
Q

department of energy

A

plans energy policy and researches and develop energy technology

42
Q

department of education

A

coordinates federal assistance programs for public and private schools. oversees programs to help students with limited English proficiency and with physical disabilities.

43
Q

department of veterans affairs

A

administers hospitals and educational programs for veterans and their families.

44
Q

independent agencies

A

executive office of the president (EOP) consists of people and independent agencies that directly assist the chief executive with advice and information.

45
Q

role of electoral college

A

winner takes all electoral votes. makes the populous minority vote not matter at all.

46
Q

Presidential Requirements

A

over 35
natural born US citizen
resident of US for 14 years
preferably has gov. experience

47
Q

Federal court system

A

supreme court and lower courts established by confess. power derived from the constitution and federal laws. federal courts hear trials regarding federal laws

48
Q

Marbury v. Madison

A

court has power of judicial review (determining whether a law or government action is constitutional). This power is what gives the courts influence in the check and balances.

49
Q

Due process

A

no state may deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process law.

50
Q

judicial circuits

A

twelve regions within the U.S. each with its own appellate court. 13th court not assigned a region, as it is a special appeals court with national jurisdiction

51
Q

indictment

A

formal accusation charging a person with a crime after a fair and speedy trial

52
Q

Grand jury vs. petit jury

A

Grand Jury: 16 - 23 people, hears charges against a person suspected of a crime.
Petit Jury: 6 -12 people, hears civil and criminal cases

53
Q

Supreme Court Justices

A

Nine justices who serve lifetime terms, and are appointed by the president.

54
Q

Per Curiam

A

brief, unsigned statement of the Supreme Court’s Decision

55
Q

Amicus Curiae

A

“friend of the court” beliefs.

56
Q

Briefs

A

written statement submitted by the lawyers on each side of a Supreme Court case that sets forth the legal arguments, relevant facts, and precedents supporting one side of the case

57
Q

Writ of Certiorari

A

way for a case to reach the supreme court. order from the Supreme Court for a lower court to send up records on a case for review. If a case is granted vert, it is heard by the Supreme Court

58
Q

Different Types of Supreme Court Opinions

A

Unanimous: all vote the same
Majority: view of most justices
concurring: voting with majority, but for diff. reason
dissenting: opinion of minority of justices

59
Q

Supreme Court Processes

A

A case reaches the Court through writ of certiorari, or works its way through district and appeal courts

60
Q

Judicial Activism vs. Restraint

A

Judicial Restraint: stance that the Supreme Court should avoid taking initiative on social and political issues, should uphold acts of congress unless unconstitutional, and should leave policy making to other branches.
Judicial Activism: Court should actively help settle social and political questions, and more frequently declare some unconstitutional

61
Q

precedent

A

a former Supreme Court case who’s ruling is used to support an argument in a present-day case.

62
Q

stare decisis

A

“let the court stand”. stare decisis is one of the basic principles of law in making judicial decisions. once Court decision is made, the decision is concrete and can be used as precedent in future cases.

63
Q

Tort Law

A

Protects citizens and gives them compensation when they are injured. Two types of Tort.
Intentional: deliberate bodily harm (assault / battery)
Unintentional: accidental bodily harm (no “wet flow” sign).

64
Q

14th amendment

A

contains due process law

Gov / Econ (4 decks)

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