Structure and functions and Human Systems Flashcards
Progressivism
the political ideology that supports the advocating of social change through government action, took root in the late 19th and early 20th Century and is best reflected in the administration of Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Four key new deal policies and who did the new deal? When was it?
Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933-1936
regulating how much a farmer could produce
allowing companies to collaborate with price fixing
the elimination of the gold standard
the creation of the welfare society through unemployment benefits and Social Security
Civil Rights Act of 1964 did what?
This desegregated schools, ended the double standard of voting registration between whites and blacks, and furthered women’s rights.
War Powers Act in 1973
to restrain the ability of presidents to commit military troops without congressional approval.
While initially designed as a check on the power of the Executive, the evolution of how the act has been interpreted has actually allowed many presidents to conduct military actions, largely without the scrutiny or accountability of the other branches as long as war is not officially declared.
Interstate Commerce,
commerce between the states or between any state and a foreign government.
Necessary and Proper Clause
This clause gives Congress the power to make any laws necessary and proper to carry out its other powers. What is necessary and proper is not clearly defined by the Constitution,
Marbury v. Madison enacted what?
“Judicial Review” - the idea that the Supreme Court has the ability to declare laws passed by Congress to be in violation of the Constitution and to overturn unconstitutional legislation.
filibuster
a process by which debate can continue indefinitely on an issue and prevent a vote unless the debate is closed by 60 members of the Senate.
This has inadvertently led to the filibuster being used to kill controversial legislation rather than as a means to exhaustively cover a topic.
How are state governments set up?
State governments are set up similarly to the federal government with its own constitution and an executive, legislative, and judicial branch:
The executive is headed by a governor. The power of the governor varies from state to state.
The legislature passes laws.
The judicial branch manages statewide and county-wide courts.
United Nations (The U.N.).
The United Nations was founded to promote human rights and to address issues of poverty and violence on a global scale
Security Council
When the Allies formed the UN at the end of World War II, they created an executive branch separate from the General Assembly. This branch was tasked with maintaining international peace and security, accepting new members to the United Nations, and approving any changes to the charter.
Bicameral
The split of the legislative branch into two houses, each with a different set-up and focus
Veto
Ability of the president to reject laws passed by Congress. Congress can overturn a veto with a 2/3 vote.
Executive Privilege
the power of the President to resist certain legal subpoenas and investigations by the legislative and judicial branches
Marbury v. Madison
1803: Established Judicial Review, which allows the Supreme Court to rule a law unconstitutional and void the law
Pork Barrel Spending
The act of increasing spending for a member’s district as a means of gaining local support
A U.S. Representative adds an amendment on a transportation bill to rebuild an old bridge in his district.
Constitution: Article 3
The Powers, Eligibility Requirements and Limitations of the Judicial Branch
Commerce Clause
A key clause of the Constitution. Regulates interstate commerce. This power has been used to justify the expansion of the legislature over nationwide issues, since they could impact interstate commerce.
Great Compromise / Connecticut Compromise
An agreement between all states to use two different forms of representation for the two houses of Congress
Texas has the same amount of senators as New Hampshire.
United Nations
A global organization established in 1945 following World War II. Dedicated to international peace and stability.
Constitution: Article 1
The Powers, Eligibility Requirements and Limitations of the Legislative Branch
Proportional Representation
a model in which parties gain seats based on the proportion of the vote received
Constitution: Article 6
Maintenance of Previous Debts, Supremacy of the Constitution, and Oaths of Office
Congressional Conference Committee
A group of both House and Senate members who work together to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill and produce a unified version that can be passed by both chambers and sent to the President for approval.
President Pro Tempore
The most senior member of the majority party who leads the Senate when the Vice President is absent
Governor
The head of the executive branch in each state.
The governor of Texas.
War Powers Act
restrains the ability of presidents to commit military troops without congressional approval
Constitution: Article 5
The Amendment Process
Constitution: Article 4
The roles, rights, and privileges of the States and Their Citizens
Constitution: Article 2
The Powers, Eligibility Requirements and Limitations of the Executive Branch
Constitution: Article 7
The Ratification Process
Supreme Court
The highest court in the land, established by the Constitution. Justices to the Supreme Court are appointed by the President, approved by the Senate, and serve for life or until retirement.
Minority Leader
The leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives
Electoral College
The system for electing the President by using electors from each state based on the number of Congressional representatives the state has
Security Council
A permanent standing committee of the United Nations, charged with ensuring peace and security in the world. Currently composed of 5 permanent members and 10 rotating member seats
House of Representatives
One house of Congress with proportional representation
In the United States, all federal tax legislation must originate in which body of government?
A
the Supreme Court
B
the House of Representatives
C
the media
D
the Executive Branch
the House of Representatives
Option b is the correct answer.
Explanation:
The House was originally the only directly-elected branch of national government, so the writers of the Constitution felt it right that all tax legislation must originate in the House.
The legislative branch, a name for the body responsible for drafting all national bills and laws, refers to which of the following?
A
Congress
B
the Supreme Court
C
the president
D
political parties
A
Congress
correct
Option a is the correct answer.
Explanation:
All legislation must originate from one of the houses of Congress, be passed by both and signed by the president to become law.
What power does the elastic clause grant to congress?
A
the power to regulate interstate commerce
B
the power to override state law
C
the power to override a presidential veto
D
the power to create all laws that are “necessary and proper”
D
the power to create all laws that are “necessary and proper”
correct
Option d is the correct answer.
Explanation:
The elastic clause states that Congress has the power to create all laws that are “necessary and proper.” This is the clause that is used by congress to extend beyond listed powers to implied powers.
Feedback Loop (In Systems)
the part of a system in which some (or all) of the system’s output is used as input for future operations
body temperature regulation - the body temperature is achieved and then measured for future changes needed
Assembly Line
Refined by Henry Ford in 1909 to improve the process of mass production.
Greenhouse Gases
gases which, when present in elevated quantities in Earth’s atmosphere, trap solar radiation and cause the planet to warm
carbon dioxide
Mortality Rate
The number of deaths per 1000 individuals in a population per year
Cultural Convergence
occurs when two distinct cultures become more similar due to increased contact
Sociological Structures
The organization and relationships in social institutions that guide individuals in the way they behave and interact with each other.
Schools must have expected social structure in order for students to have the best opportunity to learn.
Social Stratification
The ranking of people in a society into various levels, often based on wealth or power. It is basically social status.
Real estate moguls are at a higher stratification level than a person who rents a house.
Reclamation
creating new, useable land or returning land to a former use
reforestation, reclaiming submerged land
Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
Describes historical population trends over time based on birth rate and death rate
Erie Canal
A man-made navigable water route from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean (via New York City’s Hudson River)
Telephone
Invented in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell. Allowed instantaneous voice communication over a long distance for the first time
Equal Employment Opportunity Act
Prohibits discrimination in jobs and education for any kind of discrimination including: race, religion, sex including sexual orientation, gender, maternity status, or disability.
Women are now taking on more jobs that men previously held due to the Equal Employment Opportunity Act.
Surface Mining
extracting resources from near the surface of the earth
open-pit mining, strip mining, highwall mining
Transcontinental Railroad
Built between 1863 and 1869 and connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
Airplane
Invited in 1903 by the Wright Brothers. Sped up travel over long distances.
Baby Boomers
The generation born following WWII (1940s). This population bubble has had a significant impact on American culture, economy, and politics as the baby boomers have aged. Their concerns became the primary concerns of the nation.
Fertility Rate
The average number of children that will be born to 1000 woman in a population per year
Panama Canal
A man-made waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.
Suez Canal
A man made navigable water route from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea
Cultural Adaptation
Immigrants to a new community adjust to the norms of the new culture, and adopt them as their own
Adaptation refers to a change in practices to acclimate to a new physical or social environment.
Assimilation
A process in which existing schemas are applied to new objects or situations
Which of the following activities can contribute to an increase in the carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere?
I. the burning of fossil fuels
II. volcanic activity
III. condensation
I and II
correct
Option d is the correct answer.
Explanation:
The amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere can be increased by the burning of fossil fuels and by volcanic activity.
The British people’s embrace of tea drinking is an example of
a
assimilation
b
diffusion
c
adaptation
d
culture
Diffusion
Option b is the correct answer.
Explanation:
Diffusion is the process by which ideas and practices spread, including cultural norms. The British didn’t drink tea until they encountered it in China.
Which of the following describes a way that demographers use population pyramids?
a
to predict changes in rates of immigration and emigration
b
to determine the causes of fluctuations in a population
c
to evaluate how the needs of a population will change in coming years
d
to predict behavioral changes in a population
C. to evaluate how the needs of a population will change in coming years
Option c is the correct answer.
Explanation:
Population pyramids show the distribution of a population by age and gender. This information can be used to prepare for changes like the number of schools and teachers that will be needed in the coming years, and the number of hospitals and retirement homes that will be needed as the population ages.
The Matrix of Domination is based on which concept?
a
the achievement gap
b
globalization
c
intersectionality
d
the glass ceiling
c
intersectionality
Option c is the correct answer.
Explanation:
Intersectionality is the basis for the Matrix of Domination – a tool for analyzing the social effects of race, gender, class, and other identity markers. The matrix hinges on the belief that the social effects of these identifiers cannot be understood separately but must be analyzed as a matrix of interrelated effects.
Which of the following geographic features most likely contributed to the lack of cultural consistency and political unity among the Greek city-states?
a
competition among fisherman at seaports
b
diverse economic resources resulting in city-states specializing in one production area
c
importance of kinship bonds in Greek culture
d
the mountainous terrain of Greece
d
the mountainous terrain of Greece
Option d is the correct answer.
Explanation:
The mountainous terrain encouraged each Greek city to be self-contained and isolated from other cities, because communication and trade with other city-states was so difficult, due to the mountains dividing the cities. The isolation of cities led to a diverging of cultures as each city developed its own politics and societal norms. Geographic areas tend to have similar cultures because trade and travel are so prevalent between areas, such as the common cultural characteristics in the United States. The lack of trade and travel in ancient Greece, caused by the mountainous terrain, resulted in each city-state having a unique political structure and varying societal norms.
The process in which a minority group or culture is absorbed into or comes to resemble a majority group’s values, behaviors, and beliefs is called:
a
cultural assimilation.
b
cultural anthropology.
c
cultural relativism.
d
cultural diffusion.
a
cultural assimilation.
correct
Option a is the correct answer.
Explanation:
Cultural assimilation occurs when a minority group or culture takes on the behaviors, values, traditions, and beliefs of a society’s majority group. The term is often used to describe what happens when immigrant groups move to new locations. It can also be used to discuss the effects of migration and settlement on indigenous groups.
What are sociological structures based upon?
a
religious celebrations
b
cultural values
c
geographic proximity
d
political parties
b
cultural values
correct
Option b is the correct answer.
Explanation:
Sociological structures are based upon cultural values and the specific rules that organize the culture.
Diffusion is best understood as:
a
the spread of culture, ideas, and customs.
b
the process by which one nation takes control of another.
c
the movement of people from one place to another.
d
an economic activity involving moving goods from one place to another.
a
the spread of culture, ideas, and customs.
Option a is the correct answer.
Explanation:
Diffusion is the movement of culture, ideas, and customs, which often happens through trade or migration.
About 20,000 years ago, the Americas were populated by migrations from where?
a
Eurasia
b
Polynesia
c
Africa
d
Europe
a
Eurasia
Option a is the correct answer.
Explanation:
After crossing the land bridge that once existed between Eurasia and the Americas, Paleo-Indians settled what is modern-day Alaska.
