Midterm Exam Flashcards
legitimacy
the quality of being accepted as an authority, often applied to those in power
sovereignty
the right to exercise supreme authority over a geographic region, a group of people, or oneself
authority
the legal right or power to give orders and enforce rules
power/purpose of government
to protect order, people, and, public goods
political games- walkout
they walk out of the game and refuse to return until the opposition agrees to give them something they want
political games- horse trading
hard bargaining in politics
political games- power struggle
politicians try to win by outfoxing or overpowering their opponents
political games- civil disobedience
a form of protest in which people disobey a law they consider unjust
democracy
the principle that the people are the ultimate source of the authority and legitimacy of a government
the Bill of Rights and amendments purpose
to protect the rights of the people that weren’t listed in the Constitution
due process
the principle that no person can be deprived of life, liberty, or property without fair procedures and safeguards
power and authority in our system of government come from what or whom?
the people
purpose of the preamble
defines the broad purposes of the republican govenrment created by the Constitution
purpose for the 3 branches of government
to ensure checks and balances
examples of constitutional checks and balances
the president (executive branch) can negotiate treaties, but Congress (legislative branch) must approve them
the purpose of the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution
to clear confusion of what happens if federal, state, or local laws conflict, the federal law will reign supreme
How are the Census and House of Representatives related?
the number of people in a state determines how many representatives that state gets in the House
How can Congress override a presidential veto?
If the bill gets a 2/3 majority in both houses
How many Supreme Court Justices are there?
9
Examples of civil liberty in the Bill of Rights
freedom to speech and the rest of the “freedoms”
examples of expression protected by the 1st Amendment
flag burning, symbolic speech
5 freedoms/protections in the 1st Amendment
speech, religion, press, assembly, petition
What does the 5th Amendment protect?
your rights when accused of a crime
- self-incrimination, double jeopardy
what does the 6th Amendment protect?
your right to a fair trial
-quick, public, impartial jury
What does the 7th Amendment protect?
the rights on trial in civil (noncriminal) court
What does the 8th Amendment protect?
no excessive bail or punishment
What amendment discusses double jeopardy?
5th
What amendment discusses eminent domain?
5th
What amendment discusses self-incrimination?
5th
What case discusses judicial review?
Marbury v. Madison
Characteristics of a federal system of government
division of powers, protection against tyranny of the majority, promotes unity without imposing uniformity, and encourages political participation. There is also lack of consistency of laws between states and tension between federal and state laws
Which part of the U.S. Constitution defines U.S. citizenship?
14th Amendment
what is the purpose of the 14th Amendment?
to reverse the Dred Scott decision (a slave born in America who wasn’t considered a citizen) and to clarify who was a citizen
Naturalization
a legal process through which a person not granted citizenship by birth can become a citizen of that country
rights of citizenship
the right to vote and run for public office, except president and vice president
purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
banned discrimination in most areas of American life on the basis of race, sex, religion, or national origin
responsibilities of citizenship
obey laws, pay taxes, cooperate with public officials. Civic responsibilities: be informed and participate in public affairs, volunteer
what is the primary goal of political parties?
to get their candidates elected for office
the most common form of individual involvement with a political party
voter registration
how lobbyists help government officials to function
they provide information that helps officials create policies that serve the public interest
what are political action committees (PAC’s)
an organization that raises and distributes funds to candidates running for office
who are the main sponsors of PACs
employees are members of the group that formed the PAC
steps in the policy making process
issue identification, agenda setting, policy formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation
