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government Flashcards

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1
Q

Declaration of Independence

A

The document which formally declared the United States of America to be independent from Great Britain in 1776

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2
Q

Articles of Confederation

A

The first constitution of the US; loosely united the 13 states under a weak central government from 1781 to 1789

Weak and ineffective

Single chamber

Each state had 2-7 delegates but only one vote

9 of 13 states had to vote for a law for it to be passed

Conflicts between states

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3
Q

Constitutional Convention

A

The 1787 meeting in Philadelphia where the Constitution was written

Confederal system
Two chambers of Congress
Lower thresholds for passing laws and amendments (only majority support in each
The president and the supreme court

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4
Q

The Great Compromise

A

A compromise between large and small states at the Constitutional Convention which resulted in a two chamber Congress with a proportional House of Representatives and an equal Senate

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5
Q

Three-Fifths Compromise

A

A compromise between Northern and Southern states at the Constitutional Convention which resulted in slaves being counted as three-fifths of a person for determining seats in the House of Representatives

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6
Q

Separation of Powers

A

Distribution of legislative, executive, and judicial power among multiple branches of government

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7
Q

Checks and Balances

A

A system in which each branch of government can limit or block the actions of the other branches

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8
Q

Federalists

A

Supporters of the Constitution during the time when states were debating its ratification

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9
Q

Anti-federalists

A

Opponents of the constitution during the time when states were debating its ratification

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10
Q

Federal System

A

A system of government in which power is divided roughly evenly between the national and subnational levels

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11
Q

Dual Federalism

A

A political arrangement in which power is divided between the federal and state governments in clearly defined terms, with state governments exercising those powers accorded to them without interference from the federal government.

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12
Q

The Bill of Rights

A

The federalists agree and ratify 10 amendments to the constitution

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13
Q

14th Amendment

A

Obligated the states to respect the rights articulated in the BOR

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14
Q

Establishment Clause

A

Prevents the government from establishing an official religion or passing laws that favour or disfavour particular religions

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15
Q

Free Exercise Clause

A

Prevents the government from interfering with citizens’ religious practices

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16
Q

Lemon Test

A

3-Part test of whether a government action violates the establishment clause of the first amendment

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17
Q

Title IX

A

A 1972 law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal aid

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18
Q

Right to Privacy

A

A right against excessive government intrusion into one’s personal life, often invoked in matters related to sexual activity

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19
Q

The House of Representatives

A

435 members, one per congressional district
Representatives serve 2 year terms
Expected to be closer to average Americans due to shorter terms
Has to power to impeach a president, chooses the president

20
Q

The Senate

A

100 members (two per state)
Senators serve 6 year terms
Expected to be more independent of public opinion
Votes to ratify treaties, presidential cabinet appointees, Supreme Court justices, heads of certain gov’t agencies, holds the trial and votes to convict or acquit the president once he’s impeached, chooses the vibe president (in case there is no winner)

21
Q

Speaker of the House

A

The highest-ranking member of the House of Representatives and the leader of the majority party in the House, elected by a vote of all representatives

22
Q

Law making process (10)

A
  1. A member of Congress introduces a bill in the House or the Senate
  2. The bill is referred to a committee and then a subcommittee for further review
  3. Subcommittee makes amendments and votes on whether or not to send it back to the committee
  4. If sent back, the committee reviews and amends the bill before voting on whether or not to send it back to the full chamber for consideration
  5. The chamber votes whether or not to pass the bill
  6. If passed the bill is introduced to the other chamber and goes through the same process
  7. The law may differ in the two chambers
  8. The new version goes back to the House and the Senate where both chambers must pass it in order to move forward
  9. If passed it is sent to the president who can sign it or veto it
  10. If vetoed the law can still pass if 2/3 of both chambers vote and override the veto
23
Q

Roles of President

A

Head of government (practical role of leading the government of a country
Head of state: the symbolic role of fulfilling ceremonial duties on behalf of a country
Commander-in-chief of the US armed forces
Chief diplomat
Unofficial head of his party

24
Q

Cabinet

A

A group of advisors to the president, consisting of the vice president and the secretaries of the 15 cabinet departments
- Chosen by the president and confirmed by the Senate
- Each holds the title of Secretary
- Advise the president on policy and implement the presidential and congressional directives

25
Q

Executive Office of President

A

A set of agencies (15) that advise and act on behalf of the president on various administrative matters

26
Q

What are they and where do they come from

Powers of the President (5)

A
  • His authority derives from two sources
    1. The constitution (remained stable over time)
    2. The laws passed by Congress which delegate certain powers to him
  • Signing bills into law, vetoing laws
  • Appointing Cabinet secretaries federal judges heads, ambassadors to foreign countries
  • Military strategy (without the power to declare war
  • Power to pardon people of convicted crimes
  • Convene a special session of Congress
  • Executive order: a presidential decree that has the force of law but does not require congressional approval
27
Q

Congressional cooperation

A

Unified government and divided government

28
Q

Impeachment Process (3)

A

The house of representatives can by a majority vote impeach the president
The impeached is tried in the Senate with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding
A 2/3 majority vote of the Senate is needed to remove an impeached president

29
Q

War Powers Act

A

A 1973 law that empowers the president to initiate military actions, provided he informs Congress within 48 hours of their commencement and subject to congressional authorisation after 90 days

30
Q

Executive agreement

A

An agreement between the president and one or more other countries which functions like a treaty but does not require ratification by the Senate

31
Q

Principal-agent problem

A

When a principal asks an agent to do something but the agent’s motivations differ from the principal’s -> can cause agents to perform tasks in another way

32
Q

Pendleton Act

A

An 1883 law that reformed that national bureaucracy from the spoils system to a civil service by protecting certain bureaucrats from being fired without cause

33
Q

Electoral College

A

A set of 538 electors, chosen by the states and the District of Columbia, whose votes determine the winner of the presidential election
- 538 electors, equal to the number of members of Congress each state has
- Electors are chose on a winner takes it all basis
- If a candidate wins a state by only one popular vote, they receive all of that state’s electoral votes
- To win the electoral vote a candidate must earn 270 electoral votes
- If no candidate reaches 270 votes, the House of Representatives chooses the president and the Senate chooses the vice president
- Defenders of the system argue it prevents candidates from ignoring rural areas of the country in favour of big population centres and reduces teh impact of voter fraud and recounts
- Critics argue it violates majority rule

34
Q

Article III

A

Establishes the judicial branch of America’s national government and tasks it with interpreting both the Constitution and the laws made by Congress

35
Q

The Supreme Court

A

The highest ranking federal court in the US

36
Q

13 Appellate Courts

A

Courts ranking below the Supreme Court in the federal judiciary

37
Q

94 District Courts

A

Courts ranking below the appellate courts in the federal judiciary

38
Q

Judicial Process (4)

A
  • Most cases begin in the district level, losing side can appeal to an appellate court and then to the Supreme Court (last resort)
  • American federalism gives both the national government and the state governments the power to establish and administer courts
  • each state has its own court system
  • cases originate either in federal courts or state courts depending on the issues and parties involved
39
Q

Supreme Court Decision Making (9)

A
  1. Whether to hear a case
  2. Writ of Certiorari
  3. Schedules oral arguments -> lawyers for each side present facts of the case
  4. Justices may interrupt lawyers to ask questions
  5. Justices confer and determine which side has won by majority vote
  6. Concurrence (opinion written by a justice agreeing with the majority opinion but for additional or different reasons)
  7. Dissent (an opinion written by a justice disagreeing with the majority opinion)
  8. Majority opinion becomes a precedent
  9. Stare decisis (doctrine that judges should rely on precedent)
40
Q

Judicial Appointments

A
  • Some states: governors or legislatures nominate judges while in others the citizens choose their own judges
  • Judges on the federal court and Supreme Court justices are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate
41
Q

Supreme Court Justice

A
  • Spot clears up (death/retirement)
  • President nominates a candidate
  • Nominee is submitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review during which they may be called to testify before the committee
  • If the committee approves, the whole Senate debates and votes
  • A majority of Senators needs to agree in order for a justice to be confirmed
  • Process has gotten harder due to polarisation
42
Q

The Constitution of the US

A

Two chambers instead of one

Stronger central power

Created federal system

Congress can raise an army

Executive branch headed by president

43
Q

Examples of Civil Liberties

A
  • Due process
  • Freedom of speech
  • Freedom of religion
44
Q

Extension of Civil Rights

A
  • People of colour
  • Gay marriage
  • Abortion
  • Contraceptives
  • Women
45
Q

Growth of Federal Government

A

Pendleton act and progressivism contributed to the growing size of the federal government.

Grew to better divide specific roles in the federal government. This was thought to be able to expand the government’s ability to solve problems.

46
Q

Corporative Federalism

A

A flexible relationship between the federal and state governments in which both work together on a variety of issues and programs.

us politics (2 decks)

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