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American Government > Module 1 > Flashcards

Module 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

Loose Construction

A

Interpretation of the Constitution allowing federal government to do what’s necessary and proper

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2
Q

Elastic Clause

A

Article 1, Section 8 of Constitution allowing Congress to make all laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry out the powers of the Constitution

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3
Q

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

A

Established Congress’ authority to create a national bank and established the doctrine of implied powers

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4
Q

Implied Powers

A

Inferred from delegated powers, not explicitly stated

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5
Q

Delegated Powers

A

Powers specifically assigned to the national government

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6
Q

Inherent Powers

A

Integral powers to national sovereignty, i.e. declaring war, conscription

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7
Q

Enumerated Powers

A

Congressional powers specifically stated in the Constitution
- Power to impeach
- Power to regulate and discipline
- Habeas Corpus
- No Ex Post Facto Laws
- Power to establish post offices, coin money, taxation, and regulate interstate commerce

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8
Q

Power to Impeach

A

House can pass accusation.
Senate tries impeachments

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9
Q

Power to Regulate & Discipline

A

Includes power of expulsion from Congress (2/3rds vote) and censure

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10
Q

Habeas Corpus

A

Right for a person to be brought before a judge to be explained the charges laid against them.

Cannot be suspended except during wartime or insurrection.

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11
Q

Ex Post Facto Law

A

Making an act illegal after it has already been performed

Impossible for Congress to do

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12
Q

Article 1, Section 8

A

Gives Congress ability to:
- tax
- establish post offices
- coin money
- regulate interstate commerce

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13
Q

Article 1, Section 7

A

Gives Congress power to raise revenue.

Bills to do so must start in the House

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14
Q

Income Tax

A

Tax levied on income

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15
Q

Payroll Tax

A

Flat tax matched by employers for Social Security and Medicare

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16
Q

Sales Tax

A

State and local level, not federal

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17
Q

Sin Tax

A

Levied on items such as alcohol and tobacco

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18
Q

Estate Tax

A

Levied on property after death

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19
Q

Deficit/Public Debt

A

Government spending exceeds government revenues

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20
Q

Budget Process

A

1) President submits budget for each fiscal year (Oct. 1 - Sep. 30)

2) Congressional Budget Office manages the budget process

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21
Q

Gramm-Rudman Act (1984)

A

Aimed to reduce the national debt

Failed

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22
Q

Budget Enforcement Act (1990)

A

Defined mandatory and discretionary spending.

Introduced a pay-as-you-go system

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23
Q

Balanced Budget Act (1997)

A

Led to paying down deficit, resulted in budget surplus

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24
Q

House of Representatives

A

435 members

Population proportional representation by state

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25
Q

Speaker of the House

A

Selected by majority party in the House of Representatives.

2nd in line to presidency after VP

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26
Q

Whips

A

Keep party leader informed of party members’ thoughts on certain bills.

In charge of determining what the likely vote will be on controversial issues.

Both majority and minority parties of House & Senate elect a whip

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27
Q

Senate

A

100 members

2 senators per state

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28
Q

Vice President

A

President of the Senate

Casts tie-breaking votes

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29
Q

President Pro Tempore

A

Technically 3rd in line for the presidency after Speaker

Selected by majority party. Typically goes to longest serving member.

Largely honorific.

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30
Q

Permanent Committees

A

Assist in legislative duties, both chambers have ~20 each

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31
Q

Select Committees

A

Formed for temporary matters

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32
Q

Ways & Means Committee

A

Appropriates federal funding

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33
Q

House Rules Committee

A

Limits debate time, determines bill amendments

34
Q

Appropriations Committee

A

Allocates federal funds

35
Q

Armed Services, Judiciary, & Veteran’s Affairs Committees

A

Present in both chambers

36
Q

Budget & Accounting Act

A

Requires President to submit a budget to Congress

37
Q

Article 2 of the Constitution

A

Outlines the Executive Branch (President)

38
Q

Presidential Requirements

A
  • Born in the US
  • At least 35 years old
  • Takes oath of office
39
Q

Dual Role of President

A

President is both Head of State & Commander in Chief

40
Q

Electoral College

A

Group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

41
Q

Presidential Powers

A
  • Commander in Chief
  • Pardons
  • Foreign Policy
  • Executive Orders
  • Veto Power
  • Executive Privilege
  • Appointments
42
Q

Commander in Chief

A

Citizen as head of armed forces

43
Q

Presidential Pardons

A

Can grant pardons except in cases of impeachment

44
Q

Foreign Policy

A

President can receive ambassadors, recognize foreign governments, and negotiate treaties (with Senate consent)

45
Q

Executive Orders

A

Have the rule of law if courts do not override

46
Q

Veto Power

A

President able to veto acts of Congress

47
Q

Executive Privelage

A

President may withhold information from Congress, judiciary system, and general public

48
Q

Appointments

A

President may choose members of cabinet, ambassadors, and federal judges (with Senate confirmation)

49
Q

Presidential Term Limits

A

22nd Amendment (1951) limits presidents to 2 terms

50
Q

Vice President

A

President of the Senate

Originally chosen by 2nd most Electoral College votes, changed by 12th Amendment

51
Q

25th Amendment

A

Addresses Presidential succession and inability

52
Q

25th Amendment, Section 1

A

VP becomes President upon death, removal, or resignation by President

53
Q

25th Amendment, Section 2

A

President appoints new VP with Congressional approval

54
Q

25th Amendment, Section 3

A

President can declare inability, VP acts as President

55
Q

25th Amendment, Section 4

A

VP and majority of Cabinet can declare president’s inability

56
Q

First Lady

A
  • Wife of the President
  • Advocates for President
  • No Constitutional role
  • Often takes on specific causes (Eleanor Roosevelt: UN Ambassador; Jackie Kennedy: White House Refurbishment; Hillary Clinton: Healthcare; Laura Bush: Childhood Literacy; Michelle Obama: Women’s Rights)
57
Q

Bureaucracy

A

System of government where most decisions are made by state officials rather than elected representatives

58
Q

Administrative Discretion

A

Ability of agencies to interpret the law and set new policy

59
Q

Patronage

A

Awarding government jobs to political supporters

60
Q

Pendleton Civil Service Act (1833)

A

Legislation that established a merit-based system for federal employment

61
Q

Civil Service Exam

A

Exam required for certain government jobs to ensure merit-based hiring

62
Q

Hatch Act (1939)

A

Legislation that restricted political activities of civil servants

63
Q

General Schedule

A

Pay scale for federal employees, with 15 levels and 10 steps in each level

64
Q

Great Depression

A

Economic crisis of 1930s, led to increased demand for social services

65
Q

Office of War Information (1942)

A

Created by FDR during WWII, disbanded on 1945

66
Q

Selective Service Administration

A

Agency responsible for keeping track of military eligibility

67
Q

National Archives and Record Administration

A

Agency responsible for preserving important documents

68
Q

Privatization

A

Turning government functions over to the private sector

69
Q

US Postal Service

A

Government agency responsible for mail delivery

70
Q

Deregulation

A

Reducing government regulations

71
Q

Devolution

A

Transferring government functions to the states

72
Q

Cabinet

A

Senior government officials chosen by the President to lead executive departments

73
Q

Department of Homeland Security (2002)

A

Federal department created in response to the 9/11 attacks

74
Q

Independent Executive Agencies

A

Agencies that report directly to the President but focus on specific tasks

75
Q

Federal Reserve

A

Provides financial services and operates the nation’s payment systems

76
Q

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

A

Agency focused on protecting the environment

77
Q

Regulatory Agencies

A

Agencies that control the benefits and costs of industrialization

78
Q

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

A

Regulatory agency that oversees securities transactions

79
Q

Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC)

A

Regulatory agency created to control the railroads

80
Q

Government Corporations

A

Corporations established by the government to manage specific services (Amtrack)

81
Q

iron Triangle

A

Relationship between congressional committees, interest groups, and the bureaucracy

82
Q

Revolving Door

A

Movement of individuals between government positions and private sector lobbying

American Government (1 decks)

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