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Government: Exam Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the four parts of a state?

A

Population - every state has people
Territory - they must have recognized boundaries
Government - must be politically organized
Sovereignty - must be able to make their own decisions

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2
Q

Why are the US states not truly “states”?

A

US states are subordinate to the US Constitution - they don’t have sovereignty

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3
Q

Name and describe the most significant theory according to the American political system regarding the origin of the state.

A

Social Contract Theor - people band together for mutual defense, choosing a leader, and willingly giving up some freedoms in the process.

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4
Q

Describe three other theories regarding the origins of a government.

A

Force - strong take over the weak
Evolutionary - state is formed by families joining clans, and clans to tribes

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5
Q

Identify three of the clauses from the Preamble (Purpose of Gov’t)

A
  1. In order to form a more perfect union
    2 Establish justice
  2. Provide for the common ddefense
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6
Q

What are the differences between a unitary, federal, and confederate form of government?

A

unitary - power comes from a single, centralized agency
federal - power divided between a national government and local governments
confederate - loos alliance of states with a weak national government

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7
Q

What are the two categories of government under the question “who can participate?” and how are they different?

A

democracy - people choose their government
dictatorship - government not subject to the will of the people

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8
Q

List three things that a government may do in order to protect the fundamental worth of the individual

A
  1. seatbelt laws
  2. traffic lights
  3. health care laws
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9
Q

Why is it important that a democratic government provides majority rule and minority rights?

A

it is important to make sure that the majority rules, thus protecting democracy; at the same time the minority may become the majority. It is important to listen to them as well.

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10
Q

Describe the “Golden Triangle of Freedom” as Eric Metaxas explains. Why are all three necessary for “self-government?”

A

Freedom requires virtue; virtue requires freedom. In order for a people to be free, they must be virtuous otherwise those freedoms will be taken away. Virtue is rooted in and relies on faith. True faith is not coerced. All three must be present for a people to truly be able govern themselves.

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11
Q

Describe why the following statement is true: “A less-virtuous society is less free.”

A

If people are not virtuous, their freedoms will be takenn away because they cannot be trusted.

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12
Q

What role did George Whitfield play in preparing America for self-government?

A

Whitfield preached up and down the 13 colonies, causing Christian revival. The American people became extremely virtuous as a result. So then, the Framers could trust the people with self-government.

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13
Q

According to the John Piper article, Christians are both “pilgrims” and “patriots” at the same time. What does he mean by this?

A

Pilgrim - when we see evil in the world and have the feeling that we are not at home in this world as it is.
Patriot - when we see people doing things that align with our beliefs as Christians and we can celebrate those instances.

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14
Q

How should this reality of pilgrims and patriot inform our politics and the way we view the world?

A

We need to recognize that our first and foremost allegiance is to Christ and His Kingdom. We should have a special closeness with Christians in other countries because they also belong to Christ’s Kingdom.

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15
Q

Plan for counting slaves in the population

A

3/5 Compromise

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16
Q

Called for a boycott of British goods

A

1st Continental Comngress

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17
Q

Earliest document that protected against absolute power by the king

A

Magna Carta

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18
Q

Plan that favored large states

A

Virginia Plan

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19
Q

Weak government abolished by Constitution

A

Articles of Confederation

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20
Q

Document that provided the basis for American individual rights

A

English Bill of Rights

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21
Q

Equal representation in Congress

A

New Jersey Plan

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22
Q

Governed during the Revolution

A

2nd Continental Congress

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23
Q

Later document that limited king’s power by allowing trial by jury and not quartering of troops

A

Petition of Right

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24
Q

Combined the New Jersey and Virginia Plans

A

Connecticut Compromise

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25
Q

(T/F) The Articles of Confederation provided for a bicameral system in Congress

A

F

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26
Q

(T/F) The Bill of Rights, in the Declaration of Independence, provides all people with certain unalienable rights.

A

F

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27
Q

(T/F) Judicial Review provides the Supreme Court with the means of declaring law unconstitutional.

A

T

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28
Q

The first 10 amendments are the Bill of Rights and amendments 13-15 are the Civil War amendments.

A

T

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29
Q

To formally amend the Constitution, a bill has to pass by 2/3 in Congress and by 2/3 in the States.

A

F

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30
Q

When the founders established US government, they looked to French documents to serve as the blueprint for individual rights and freedoms that all people should enjoy.

A

F

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31
Q

Three characteristics of US government are that it is limited, ordered, and representative.

A

T

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32
Q

Were vastly ruled by the king and were allowed to form with written grants

A

Colonies (1776-1783)

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33
Q

Created the Declaration of Independence and was the first government of the free United States

A

2nd Continental Congress (1776-1783)

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34
Q

Formed a “firm league of friendship”

A

Articles of Confederation (1783-1787)

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35
Q

Provided for a Separation of Powers, includes amendments, and allows Congress to pass laws and the Supreme Court to verify them

A

Constitution (1787-present)

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36
Q

List and describe four of the six principles of the Constitution

A

Popular sovereignty - the people ultimately have the power
Checks and balances - no one branch can gain too much power
Separation of Powers - different branches have different responsibilities
Limited government - no one is above the law

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37
Q

What were four weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

A

They could not tax the states
They could only borrow troops
They had no power over trade or commerce
It could only be amended if all 13 colonies agreed

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38
Q

What were the differences between the royal, proprietary, and charter colonies?

A

Royal - strict control by the king
Proprietary - king allow a governor to rule in his place
Charter - king granted a group of people a charter to establish and rule their own land

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39
Q

List and describe four ways in which the Constitution can be informally amended.

A

Judicial decisions - the courts constantly reexamine the law
Executive action - the president continually interprets his role
Legislative process - Congress makes bills that evaluate their power
Political parties - constantly interpreting their beliefs about the Constitution

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40
Q

The term bicameralism means that our government has

A

two houses

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41
Q

How long is each term of Congress?

A

two years

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42
Q

The House of Representatives has ____________ members

A

435

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43
Q

the reapportionment of Congressional representatives occurs after each:

A

Census

44
Q

Up for re-election in the 2016 election are _______ House members and _________ Senators

A

All, 1/3

45
Q

All of the following are qualifications for a House member except:

A

Have to be 30 years old

46
Q

Senators are considered as having:

A

More power than House members

47
Q

What does it mean that Senate has an “oversight function”?

A

They can check to see if executive agencies are working effectively

48
Q

Which of the following group of people vote the way their party wants them to?

A

Partisans

49
Q

The salary for the Congressmen/women is set by:

A

Congress

50
Q

Which of the following groups is currently the largest in the Senate?

A

Democrats

51
Q

Which of the following occupations would best describe what Senate members died before they were in office?

A

lawyers

52
Q

Which of the following is not a power that Congress has?

A

supreme

53
Q

Thomas Jefferson would want Congress to only exercise which power?

A

expressed

54
Q

which of the following can Congress not tax?

A

churches

55
Q

Which of the following would be an example of an indirect tax?

A

cigarettes

56
Q

Which of the following powers allows Congress to set up a National Bank?

A

Power to Borrow

57
Q

Which term describes Congress’s ability to take private land for public use?

A

Eminent domain

58
Q

What is another term for the “necessary and proper” clause?

A

“Elastic Clause”

59
Q

The president of the Senate is the __________.

A

Vice-President of the US

60
Q

The rule that allows the members of the Senate who have served the longest to hold the highest positions is known as…

A

Seniority Rule

61
Q

When a bill dies in committee it is referred to as being…

A

Pigenonholed

62
Q

This type of committee brings members of the House and Senate together to work out a bill:

A

conference committee

63
Q

Which of the following statements best summarizes what it means that our representatives are “politicos”?

A

They are partisans, trustees, and delegates

64
Q

Congress’s ability to monitor health care under the Affordable Care Act comes from which of the following expressed powers of Congress?

A

Commerce Power

65
Q

Describe the differences between expressed, implied, and inherent powers of Congress.

A

E – the specific powers outlined by the constitution
Implied – Powers given to Congress to fulfill the expressed powers
Inherent – Powers that Congress has simply because they are government.

66
Q

What is gerrymandering? How can it be used to create an advantage for a party?

A

The redrawing of district lines after a census. A political party in control can do this to their
advantage by drawing lines that favor their party.

67
Q
  1. What are three things that Congress must do when it convenes at the beginning of a
    new term?(3pts)
A

They must choose a Speaker of the House, they must swear in new members and fill
vacancies in committees.

68
Q

Explain the similarities and differences in the responsibilities of a Speaker of the House
and the President of the Senate.(2pts)

A

SoH – May debate, vote in or to create a tie, presides, and is a member of the majority
PoS – May not debate, votes in a tie, presides, is the Vice President

69
Q

Describe two inherent powers of Congress (4).

A

Impeaching the president and confirming a President’s supreme court nomination

70
Q

What is the relationship between filibustering and the cloture rule? (2)

A

Filibustering is talking a bill to death and cloture is enacted by 60 members of the Senate to
prevent or stop a filibuster.

71
Q

Describe the process by which a bill becomes a law.

A

A bill is submitted to the House where it is numbered and put in the records. It is then sent
to a committee where it is researched, debated, and spelled out. From there it goes to the
Committee of the Whole, which acts as one big committee, debated and ironed out. Then it
goes to the House for debate and voting. If it passes there, it goes to the Senate, where a
similar process occurs. Assuming it passes both houses, it goes to the president who can
ratify or veto it. In the event of a veto, Congress, through a 2/3 majority, can override the
veto, though that has occurred less than 10% of the time.

72
Q

manages military personnel

A

department of defense

73
Q

manages secret service and customs

A

department of the treasury

74
Q

protects against terrorist attacks

A

department of homeland security

75
Q

headed by the attorney general

A

department of justice

76
Q

conducts the nation’s foreign affairs

A

department of state affairs

77
Q

food stamps, anti-poverty, forest

A

department of agriculture

78
Q

public school system

A

department of education

79
Q

manages natural resources and indian

A

department of the interior service

80
Q

responsible for everything we buy and sell

A

department of commerce

81
Q

presides over the senate

A

VP

82
Q

Must be informed in writing if the President is unable to serve

A

congress

83
Q

Gets to retreat at Camp David and cruise in Air Force One

A

Pres

84
Q

Only allowed ten years maximum of service at this position

A

Pres

85
Q

First in line to succeed the President

A

VP

86
Q

Chosen to balance the electoral ticket

A

VP

87
Q

Third in line to the President serves here

A

Congress

88
Q

Needs to confirm Presidential appointments

A

Congress

89
Q

Chief Executive

A

He heads the largest employer in the US and appoints all the cabinet
positions

90
Q

Chief Diplomat

A

He is in charge of foreign affairs and treaties, and often works through
the Sec of State

91
Q

Chief Legislator

A

He sets goals for Congress; encourages them to write certain bills

92
Q

Chief of Party

A

The president’s political party is generally unified behind that person;
they serve as the leader of that party

93
Q

Commander in Chief

A

He/she heads the military personnel and gives the final order for
military action

94
Q

Describe the importance of the Vice-Presidency. Provide specific examples (names of
people would be nice). (5 points)

A

The VP balances the electoral ticket, decides on matters of presidential disability, is
president of the Senate, and basically does the things that the President wants him/her to
do. Many VP’s have become president after being VP: George H.W. Bush is an example.
Other VP’s have become Pres through succession: Gerald Ford, LBJ, and Truman are
examples.

95
Q

Explain what characteristics make Adrian Peterson, Mitt Romney, and Kim Kardashian
a candidate or not a candidate (formally or informally) for president. (6 points)

A

The formal qualifications for President include age (35), which would probably disqualify
AP and Kim but not Mitt. All three are likely natural born citizens who have lived in the US
for 14 years. Informal qualifications include charisma, wealth, happy families, and
intelligence. AP may not qualify for his family issues, Kim may not qualify for intelligence
issues, Mitt probably qualifies the best.

96
Q

Why is there so much debate over our electoral system today? Why is our system set up
this way? (6 points)

A

Because a person can win the electoral vote and lose the popular vote, or vice versa. Our
system is set up this way to recognize the importance of a federal government – that is
state and national governmental rights. This system allows for each state to be recognized
rather than having the big cities rule the elections.

97
Q

What did the 12 th amendment do and why was it necessary? (4 points)

A

The 12 th amendment puts the VP and Pres on the same ballot together. This was necessary
because they originally had 1 st place Pres and 2 nd place VP. Then you would have a Pres and
VP from different political parties. They would never get anything accomplished.

98
Q

Describe the tone of a national convention. What work is done there? (5 points)

A

It’s a huge party atmosphere that revolves around the chosen candidates. The goal of the
convention is to choose Pres and VP candidates, organize a campaign, choose officers, and
unite and rally the states behind a single candidate team.

99
Q

what roles do primaries, caucuses, and the national convention play in electing a presidential nominee

A

everything

100
Q

Exclusive vs. Concurrent Jurisdiction:

A

Exclusive means that only one court (state or federal) can view a case. Concurrent means
that it can be seen by multiple courts.

101
Q

Original vs. Appellate Jurisdiction:

A

Original is a case that is heard first and appellate is a case heard on appeal

102
Q

Federal Courts have jurisdiction…(6 points)

A

Because of ____subject matter____. Explain: The federal courts deal with issues that
arise out of the Constitution.And because of ____those involved___. Explain: If a case deals with states or an
American official like an ambassador or consul, it would go to the federal courts.

103
Q

List three differences between the Districts Court system and the Court of Appeals (3
points).

A

There are more district courts, they only have original jurisdiction, and there are hundred a
judges for the district courts. There are fewer appellate courts, they have appellate
jurisdiction, and they see far fewer cases than the district courts.

104
Q

Briefs

A

These are the details of the case, like testimonies and evidence and previous rulings, that
the justices will examine before deciding on a case.

105
Q

Conference

A

This is where the justices will meet to decide a case. They usually speak in order of
seniority.

106
Q

List and explain the three written opinions of the court (6 points).

A

Majority – the official decision of the court
Concurring – an opinion that agrees with the majority; usually written to emphasize
something
Dissenting – someone in the minority who writes an opinion on why they didn’t agree

Government (8 decks)

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