poli 210 midterm Flashcards
What are the three types of government systems?
Confederacy: Central government is a creation of sovereign states. Federal: Joint sovereignty. Unitary: Local units are creations of a sovereign central state.
What historical context influenced the creation of the federal system in the U.S. Constitution?
Background of British rule and weak central government under the Articles of Confederation. The desire for a more democratic and limited government than the British monarchy led to the federal system.
What are static and dynamic limits on central government?
Static: Specific provisions (right to trial by jury for disputes over $20); Dynamic: Tied to competitiveness and outside choices (leaving decisions up to state govt)
what limits does the constitution put on the gov’t
separation of powers, checks and balances, separation of personnel (setting ambition against ambition relying on human competitiveness), separation of constituency (ex. separating pres from party)
What is the main point of Federalist 10?
The danger of factions and the federal system is the best solution
What is the structure and function of Congress as outlined in Article One?
Bill introduction, committee hearings, floor debate, vote
legislating, government administration, and informing the public.
representational role of house vs senate
house: represents public, chosen by general elections
senate: represents states, chosen by state legislatures
leaders of congress
house: Speaker of the House
senate: vice pres
What are the major roles of the President defined in the Constitution?
Commander in Chief, executive powers, foreign affairs, appointments, emergency powers
andrew jackson key contributions
veto, spoils, kitchen cabinet, will of the ppl
What was Abraham Lincoln’s major contribution as President?
Domestic power as Commander in Chief and preserving the Union
federal court organization
Dual system (state/federal) and civil/criminal organization
Federal courts operate alongside state courts.
levels of federal courts?
trial and appeals
What is judicial review?
The Supreme Court can review the constitutionality of congressional acts
amendments 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8
Freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition
bear arms and militia
search and seizure
grand jury
speedy and public trial
no excessive bail
What is the significance of Barron v. Baltimore?
Established that the Bill of Rights does not apply to states. the 14th Amendment later reversed this but not clearly.
What is the difference between selective and total incorporation?
Selective incorporation applies through due process, case by case on what rights are essential; total incorporation applies all amendments
What is the Palko test?
Formalized using due process/selective incorporation - case by case, any 1st Amendment right essential to liberty must also apply to states.
What does the exclusionary rule state?
Evidence obtained in violation of rights is not admissible at trial
What are key characteristics of federal bureaucracy?
Division of tasks, specialization, hierarchical control, standard operating procedures, institutional memory. enhance efficiency for routine tasks but can hinder novel tasks.
What are the sources of power for federal bureaucracy?
Policy implementation, expertise, longtime horizon, close connection to Congress and industry experts
federalist paper 51
separation of powers and checks and balances that the constitution provides to protect liberty.
washington key developments
above politics, head of state
teddy roosevelt changes
expanded scope
