PLS 201 Final Exam Fall'15 Flashcards
House of Representatives
Information
How many members? 435 members
How long are their terms? 2 yr term
How many people do they represent? 750,000 ppl
U.S. Senate
Information
How many members? 100 members
How long are their terms? 6 yr term
How many people do they represent? Represents the state
CA State Assembly
Information
How many members? 80 members
How long are their terms? 2yr terms
How many people do they represent? 500,000ppl
-Led by the Speaker of the Assembly
CA State Senate
Information
How many members? 40 members
How long are their terms? 4 yr term
How many people do they represent? 1 million ppl
-Led by the President Pro Tempore
County Board of Supervisors
Information
How many members? 5 members
How long are their terms? 4yr term
How many people do they represent?
The Fed
Information
How many members?
How long are their terms?
How many people do they represent?
CA State Supreme Court
- 7 members
- 12 yr term
U.S. Supreme Court
- 9 members
- Life time terms
- Appointed by the President and confirmed by simple majority of the senate
Harold Lasswell definition of Political Science
- The science of who gets, what, when, and how
ANARCHY
Form of Government
-Absence of government
MONARCHY
Form of government
-Rule of one person, usually in the form of a king or queen and is hereditary in nature.
(divine right)
ARISTOCRACY
Form of government
Ruled by the elite class or royal family.
OLIGARCHY
Form of government
Rule by a few
PLUTOCRACY
Form of government
Rule by the wealthy or rich
THEOCRACY
Form of government
Rule by religious laws, edicts, or cleric
DEMOCRACY
Form of government
Government ruled with the consent of the people
2 Basic types of democracy
1) Direct Democracy
2) Republic
2 Basic Elements of Democracy
1) Majority Rule (Tyranny of the majority)
2) Minority Rights
Egalitarianism
The belied of equality of all people especially in political, economic, and social life.
How many articles in the constitution?
7 articles
-Each is a rule book
The Great Compromise
The senate would comprise of 2 senators from each state.
How many amendments to the Constitutions?
27
- the first 10 are known as the Bill of Rights
3/5 Compromise
Slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person for purposes of congressional representation.
The Federalist Papers
- 85 editorials/editorials
- 3 authors:
John Jay Adams
Alexander Hamilton
James Madison
Traditional method to amend the Constitution ?
1) Has to be proposed by 2/3 vote in both houses of congress.
2) Ratified by 3/4 of the state legislatures.
Civil Liberties
Rights and Freedoms that protect an individual from the state.
Liberty=Protect
Civil Rights
Rights that guarantee full legal, social, and conic equality.
Rights=Equality
Amendment 1
Freedoms:
Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition.
Unprotected Speech
List 2
1) Commercial Speech
2) Libel/ Slander
Amendment 2
Right to bear arms
Amendment 4
Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
Amendment 5
- Grand Jury: Groups of citizens that determine your status based on evidence to put someone in jail.
- Double jeopardy: If not guilty, can not be tried again for the same crime
- Self Discrimination: Plea the 5th
Amendment 6
Speedy and public trial
Amendment 8
Protection os unusual and cruel punishment
Amendment 9
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights, shall not be continued to deny of disagree.
What do I need to ratify a Treaty?
Must have to vote of 2/3 of the senate to approve it
Filibuster
Unlimited debate in the senates designed to thwart a bill.
- You need 60 votes or 3/5 got to stop it
Override a President Veto
Need 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress.
Amendment 22
Changed and limited the presidential term to a 2 term limit.
Impeachment President of Fed. Judge
1) Removed for “Treason, Bribery, or the high crimes and misdemeanors.”
2) Simple majority in the HR for Impeachment
3) 2/3 majority in the senate for conviction and removal.
What is the 14 Amendment known as?
Eco-Protection Amendment
Judicial Review
Power of the Supreme Court to invalidate a law as unconstitutional.
Marbury vs. Madison
Court Case
- Supreme Court Case in which the Court first asserted the power of judicial review,
Structure of Federal Courts
U.S. Supreme Court: 9 members
U.S. Court of Appeals: 13 circuits
District Courts: 94 courts
Which Court of Appeals controls CA?
9
How many judges in a court of appeals panel?
3
How does the supreme court decide which cases to hear?
4 justices of the Supreme Court must agree to hear the case.
Solicitor General
- Justice Department official
- Responsible for representing the fed.gov
Judicial Activism
When courts seen necessary to take a more active role in chafing, implementing or enforcing public policy.
Judicial Restrain
Courts defer to the other branches of government in making policy.
Supremacy Clause
Establishes that the U.S. Constitution is the supreme law of the land.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Makes all states recognize the laws, official documents, and judicial decrees of other states.
Federal Pre-emption
When the federal government overrides or preempts state or local laws in certain areas.
Amendment 13
Made slavery unconstitutional
-Freed slaves
Amendment 14
Equal Protection Ammentment
- Born in U.S. then a U.S. Citizen
- Eco-Protection Amendment
Amendment 15
De jure right to vote
legal right to vote to African Americans
Plessy vs. Ferguson
Court Case
Supreme Court ruling that set the precedent to
SEPARATE BT EQUAL
Brown vs. Board of Education
Overturned Plessy vs. Ferguson
-made racial segregation unconstitutional in public schooling
Title 7
PART OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964
- Prohibits discrimination by covered employers on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EEOC
Fed. agency designed to end employment discrimination and investigating discrimination complaints.
Roe vs. Wade
Court Case
Granted a constitutional right for women to get an abortion
Mapp vs. Ohio
Established the precedent of the Exclusionary Rule that illegally seized evidence can not be used in court.
Gideon vs. Wade
If a defendant can not afford an attorney, one will be provided by the courts.
Escobedo vs. Illinois
Whenever a person becomes primary suspect of a crime, he should have the right to request assistance of council.
Miranda vs. Arizona
Police must inform suspects of their constitutional rights upon their arrest.
Electoral College
INFORMATION
- Reps. of each state who cast a final ballot that elects the President.
1) Each state has electoral votes equal to the number of rep. plus 2 U.S. Senators.
2) CA has 55 electoral votes (53 HR and 2 senators)
3) Amendment 23: grants the District of Columbia 3 electoral votes - Electoral college gave advantage to small populated states
- Total electoral votes= 538
- Simple majority 270
Amendment 17
Provided for direct election of senators
Amendment 19
Expanded the right of suffrage to women
Amendment 24
Made poll tax unconstitutional
Amendment 26
Expanded the right to suffrage to 18 yr olds.
-During the Vietnam War
Redistricting
redrawing of legislative districts to reflect changes in population and seat allotments to states.
Gerrymandering
The process of redistricting that favors one political party.
Baker vs. Carr
Supreme Court ruling in which the state of Tennessee was forced to the one man one vote principle.
Safe Seat
Legislative district drawn in such a manner that of effective ensures the dominance of one political party .
-product of redistricting
Political labels
Yellow Dog: Liberal Democrat
Blue Dog: Moderat Democrat
Rino: Moderate Rep.
Tea Party: Republican
What philosophically delineates the two parties the most?
Democrats believe in a more active role of government
Ideological Spectrum
- Communism
- Socialism
- Liberalism
- Conservatism
- Reactionaryism
- Fascism
3 weaknesses of campaign laws
1) Soft Money
2) Bundling
3) Advocacy Ads.
3 types of 3th parties
1) Ideological: Libetarians (Tea Party)
2) Personality: Vote for the person not the party
3) Issue-Oriented: Green Party
Business Cycle
Fluctuation between expansion and recession which is part of modern capitalism economies.
Fiscal Policy
Federal government policies on taxes, spending and debt management.
- President and Congress controls fiscal policy.
Amendment 16
Authorizes Congress to collet Income Tax.
U.S. National debt?
$ 18.6 Trillion
Federal Budget
- Revenue: 2.9 Trillion
- Expenditure: 3.8 Trillion
- Deficit: 1 Trillion
Monetary Policy
Federal government policy regulating the nations money supply and interest rates.
- The Federal Reserve is in charge
The Fed.
- Federal Reserve Board aka THE FED
- 7 members
- 14 yr term
- They are nominated by the President and confirmed by simply majority in Congress…Led by chairman who is appointed for 4 yrs.
5 Steps of policy cycle
1) Problem Identification
2) Policy formunaltion
3) Policy Adoption
4) Policy Implementation
5) Policy Evaluation
What single Issue deliniates the 2 parties the most?
Abortion
Consumer Price Index
CPI
Measure Inflation
- Inflation rate in 2015 was 1.5%
Outsourcing
-Migration services to an external provider.
Gross Domestic Product
GDP
Total market value of all final goods and services produced in a country in a given year.
- GDP for 2013: $16.9 Trillion
Down Jones
Industrial Average
-Index of the total weighted value of 30 blue chip stocks.
How many points is the Down Jones worth?
18,000 points
Social Welfare
Governmental Program designed to improve or enhance individuals quality of life.
2 Basic types of Social Welfare?
1) Social Insurance
2) Public Assistance
Social Security
-
What year will the SS will become insolvent?
Federal Insurance Contribution Act
FICA
- Taxes to pay for social security act and medicare that assessed at 7.65 % for only the first $117,700 of gross wages.
Poverty Rate
Level of defining poverty established by the department of health and Human Services.
- In 2014 the poverty level was $24,250 for a family of four.
- 15% of American people will fall under this level
- 18% of American children
Minimum Wage
- Federal: $7.25
- CA min wage: $9, soon to be $10 in 2016
How many court cases does the Supreme Court hear a year?
70
CA population
CA: 38 million
LA: 10 million
U.S. Population
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