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Intro to American Gov > Intro to American Gov - Test 1 > Flashcards

Intro to American Gov - Test 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Bicameralism

A

2 branches in congress

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2
Q

Expressed powers

A

powers enumerated in the constitution

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3
Q

Necessary and proper clause

A

authority to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out their powers

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4
Q

Supremacy clause

A

laws of national government are superior

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5
Q

Separation of powers

A

division of powers between the three branches

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6
Q

Federalism

A

constitutional division between state and federal government

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7
Q

Bill of rights

A

first 10 amendments, rights and liberties of the people

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8
Q

Federalists

A

those in support of strong national government (James Madison, Alexander Hamilton)

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9
Q

Anti Federalists

A

favored strong state governments (Patrick Henry, George Mason, George Clinton)

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10
Q

Implied powers

A

powers derived from the necessary and proper clause

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11
Q

Reserved powers

A

powers derived from the 10th amendment, not given to national government or denied to states, reserved for states (Power of coercion, enforce criminal codes, police powers)

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12
Q

Eminent domain

A

right of government to take private property and use it for public use with compensation

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13
Q

Concurrent powers

A

authority possessed by fed/state

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14
Q

Full faith and credit clause

A

requires that each state normally honors the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state (same sex marriage)

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15
Q

Privileges and immunities clause

A

a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privileges

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16
Q

Home rule

A

power delegated by the state to local government

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17
Q

Dual Federalism

A

system of government that prevailed until 1937 where the state and federal government shared powers, with the states exercising the most important powers

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18
Q

Commerce clause

A

Delegates to congress to regulate commerce among nations, between states, and with Indian Tribes. Favors national power over the economy

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19
Q

Cooperative federalism

A

grants in aid used strategically to encourage states and localities

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20
Q

Grants in aid

A

funds given by congress to state and local governments

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21
Q

Categorical grants in aid

A

earmarked for special categories (Education, crime)

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22
Q

Project grants

A

grant programs in which states submit proposals to fed agencies for which funding is provided on a competitive basis

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23
Q

Formula grants

A

grants in aid in which a formula is used to determine the amount of federal funds a state gov will receive

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24
Q

Regulated federalism

A

congress can impose legislation on states and localities requiring them to meet national standards

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25
Q

Unfunded mandates

A

national standards imposed on state or local govs without federal funding or reimbursement

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26
Q

Block grants

A

federal funds given to states to pay for goods, services, or programs

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27
Q

States rights

A

oppose increasing authority of national government

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28
Q

State sovereign immunity

A

a legal doctrine holding that states cannot be sued for violating an act of congress

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29
Q

Legislative supremacy

A

preeminent position of congress

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30
Q

Divided government

A

branches controlled by different parties

31
Q

Executive privilege

A

president’s communications with advice is confidential

32
Q

Constituency

A

district from which official is elected

33
Q

Delegates

A

rep who votes according to preferences of own district

34
Q

Trustee

A

rep votes for what they think is best

35
Q

Agency representation

A

representatives are held accountable to their constituents if they fail to rep them properly (constituents have the power)

36
Q

Money bill

A

bill concerned with appropriations

37
Q

Incumbency

A

holding the office you’re running for

38
Q

Casework

A

providing personal services to constituents (talking, introducing special bills, influence decisions)

39
Q

Patronage

A

resources available to higher officials: usually opportunities to make partisan appointments to offices and to confer grants, licenses, or special favors to supporters

40
Q

Pork barrel legislation

A

appropriations for local projects that are often not needed so incumbents can garner support at home

41
Q

Gerrymandering

A

The appointment of voters in districts in such a way that gives an unfair advantage to one political party

42
Q

Party caucus/conference

A

nominally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates or leaders, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters

43
Q

Speaker of the house

A

chief presiding officer of the house, elected at the beginning of each congress on a straight majority party vote

44
Q

Majority leader

A

elected leader of majority party of house/senate, below speaker of the house

45
Q

Minority leader

A

elected leader of minority party

46
Q

Standing committee

A

permanent legislative committee that considers legislation within its designated subject area: the basic unit of deliberation in congress

47
Q

Seniority

A

priority/status given based on length of continuous service on committee

48
Q

Examples of ideological caucuses

A

Democratic Study Group, Congressional Black Caucus

49
Q

Closed rule

A

house rule that prohibits intro of amendment during debate

50
Q

Open rule

A

allow amendments during debate

51
Q

Filibuster

A

Tactic used by members of the senate who oppose the action proposed so they continuously hold the floor until the majority backs down

52
Q

Cloture

A

allows the supermajority of members of the legislative body to set a time limit on debate over a given bill

53
Q

Conference committee

A

joint house/senate committee to compromise on versions of legislation

54
Q

Pocket veto

A

when congress adjourns during the time a president has to approve a bill and the president takes no action on it

55
Q

Party vote

A

when at least 50% of one party takes a particular position and at least 50% of another party disagrees with that position

56
Q

Roll call vote

A

vote in which each legislator’s yes or no vote is recorded

57
Q

Party leader’s resources

A
  1. Committee assignments 2. Access to the floor 3. The whip system 4. Logrolling 5. The presidency
58
Q

Whip system

A

a communications network within each house; whips poll the membership to learn their intentions on specific issues

59
Q

Logrolling

A

reciprocal agreements between legislators, usually in voting for/against a bill. Unites parties that have nothing in common but their desire to exchange support.

60
Q

Oversight

A

the effort of congress, via hearings, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

61
Q

Executive agreement

A

an agreement between the president and another country that has the force of a treaty but does not require advice and consent from Senate

62
Q

Impeachment

A

the charging of government official with “Treason, bribery, or other high crimes” (Congress)

63
Q

Distributive tendency

A

tendency of Congress to spread policy over wide range of districts

64
Q

Expressed powers

A

The powers enumerated in the constitution that are granted by the federal government

65
Q

Delegated powers

A

Constitutional powers assigned to one governmental agency but exercised by another agency with consent from the first

66
Q

Inherent powers

A

powers claimed by a president that are not expressed by the constitution but are inferred by it

67
Q

Commander in chief

A

The power of the president as the commander of the national military and the state national guard units

68
Q

Line item veto

A

the power of the executive to veto specific areas of a bill

69
Q

War Powers Resolution

A

president can send troops into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or if US troops are already under attack, or seriously threatened

70
Q

Legislative initiative

A

the president’s inherent power to bring a legislative agenda before congress

71
Q

Executive order

A

a rule of regulation issued by the president that has the effect and formal status of legislation

72
Q

Executive agreement

A

an agreement between the US and another country similar to a treaty but without the consent of the senate

73
Q

National security council

A

a presidential foreign policy advisory committee made up of the president, the vp, the secretaries of state, defense, and treasury, the attorney general, and other members invited by the president

74
Q

Regulatory review

A

The office of management and budget function of reviewing all agency regulations before they become public

Intro to American Gov (2 decks)

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