midterm quiz review Flashcards by Mr. Z

what kind of democracy do people participate directly in making government decisions

direct democracy

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Toll goods

available to all without direct payment.

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what is the process which decides how resources will be allocated

politics

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true or false Elite theory claims political power rests in the hands of groups of people and policy is a result of the competition between these groups.

false

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partisanship

is if you support the actions of a Party simply because you identify as a member of that party.

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social contract

an agreement in which citizens will consent to be governed so long government protects their natural rights

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true or false The US Constitution is a document written in 1776 in which the American colonists proclaimed their independence from Great Britain and listed their grievances against the British King

false

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what kind of alliance did the Articles of Confederation create?

an alliance of sovereign states held together by a weak central government

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what is considered a bicameral legislature

U.S congress

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a federal system

is a form of government in which power is divided between state governments and a national government

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Enumerated powers

powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution

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the great compromise

is a compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a two-house Congress

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Three-Fifths Compromise

compromise between northern and southern states that called for counting 60 percent of the slave population for both federal taxation and representation in Congress.

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who did not support ratification of the Constitution

anti-federalist

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who supported ratification of the Constitution

Federalists

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how many states must ratify an amendment before it becomes law

3/4

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The Federalist Papers

are a collection of eighty-five essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay in support of ratification of the Constitution

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Bill of Rights

1st 10 Amendments protecting individual and states’ rights.

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what part of the constitution enables the national government “to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying” out all its constitutional responsibilities is an example of an elastic clause

article 1 section 8

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Cooperative federalism

a style of federalism which lead to the blending of layers as in a marble cake.

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unfunded mandates

federal laws and regulations that impose obligations on state and local governments without fully compensating them for the costs of implementation.

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Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.

states that federal law is superior to laws passed by state legislatures

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Checks and balances

a system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of power by another branch,

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who believes that we have natural/inalienable rights to life, liberty and property

John locke

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in a confederate system where is power concentrated?

states

In a unitary system where is power concentrated

national gov't

what case Supreme Court set standards for illegal forms of pornography noting, among other things, that pornography is NOT protected by the first amendment if the average person finds it offensive

1973 Miller case

2nd amendment

right to bear arms

"grandfather" provisions

prohibited people from voting unless they were descendants of men who had voted before 1867

Brown v. Board of Ed

Supreme Court ruled that segregation was unconstitutional

8th Amendment

right to be protected from cruel or unusual punishment

initiative (aka proposition)

is law or constitutional amendment proposed and passed by the voters

incumbency advantage

is the advantage held by officeholders that allows them to often win reelection

open primary

is an election in which any registered voter may vote in any party’s primary or caucus

A Super PAC

is a 527/Independent Expenditure Only Committee.

true or false A delegation is a constitutionally created group of individuals, chosen by the states, with the responsibility of formally selecting the next U.S. president

false

who has the lowest voter turnout rate out of u.s, Belgium, Turkey, or Australia?

U.S

does California automatically registers all citizens over eighteen to vote

no but Oregon does

what made it easy for a citizen to register to vote

the national voter registration act

true or false Presidential approval ratings tend to decrease over a president’s term of office.

true

exit poll

is an election poll taken by interviewing voters as they leave a polling place

modern liberalism

is a political ideology focused on equality and supporting government intervention in society and the economy if it promotes equality

what did the United Farm Workers Union demand?

higher pay

what amendment proposed amendment to the Constitution that would prohibit all discrimination based on one's sex/gender

equal rights amendment

Jim Crow laws

state and local laws that promoted racial segregation and undermined black voting rights in the south after Reconstruction`

The right to privacy is implied or explicit in the constitution

implied

5th Amendment

contains your right not to be prosecuted for the same crime (double-jeopardy) and the right not to incriminate yourself

free exercise clause

is a provision of the First Amendment that prohibits the government from regulating religious beliefs and practices

what is a provision of the First Amendment that prohibits the government from endorsing a state-sponsored religion

Establishment clause

what amendment protects free speech

1st

Civil liberties

are limitations on the power of government, designed to ensure personal freedoms

civil rights

are guarantees of equal treatment by government authorities

equal-time rule

all candidates running for office must be given the same radio and television airtime opportunities

The fairness doctrine still requires that holders of broadcast licenses cover controversial issues in a balanced manner

Congress did not renew this act so it no longer exists.

true or false The Federal Communications Commission oversees the programming of television, radio and cable but not satellite.

false

Libel

printed information about a person or organization that is not true and harms the reputation of the person or organization.

slander

spoken words about a person or organization that is not true and harms the reputation of the person or organization.

true or false The Freedom of Information Act establishes that all information requested by citizens be provided by public agencies

false

yellow journalism.

Sensationalized coverage of scandals and human interest stories

muckraking

News coverage focusing on exposing corrupt business and government practices

true or false Newspapers during the Revolutionary War period tended to give fake news and sensationalize stories.

false

Agenda setting

is the media’s ability to choose which issues or topics get attention.

Gerrymandering

manipulation of legislative districts in an attempt to favor a particular candidate.

Divided government

is a condition in which one or more houses of the legislature is controlled by the party in opposition to the President

two-party system.

a system in which two major parties win all or almost all elections

Bipartisanship

is when elected officials of both political parties work together and compromise.

what do Third parties do?

- bring up important issues to the attention of the major parties. - They also often serve as spoilers in the elections they enter.

First-past-the-post

is a system in which the winner of an election is the candidate who wins the greatest number of votes cast and is also known as plurality voting

party platform.

is the collection of a party’s positions on issues it considers politically important

lobbyist

a person who represents an organization before government in an attempt to influence policy

Party polarization

is when the party positions move toward ideological extremes

true or false There is more professional lobbying today than there was 30 years ago.

true

grassroots movement

A political movement that often begins from the bottom up, inspired by average citizens concerned about a given issue

Contributions to PACs are ________, but _______ have been placed on how much money can be contributed to super PACs

Unlimited; limits

Revolving door laws

require a cooling-off period before government officials can register to lobby after leaving office

is hard money restricted

yes

is soft money restricted

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

was a 2010 Supreme Court case that granted corporations and unions the right to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections.