Unit 1 Flashcards
What does the government do to control the economic system?
taxes
creating a national currency
encouraging trade
How does a government maintain social order?
police
public courts
require taxes and enrolling in the army
What are examples of public services?
roads dams parks expressways public healthcare food inspectors busses education
How is national security ensured?
create treaties
have military
air port security
What are the systems of government?
unitary, federal confederate
What is an example of a unitary government?
North Korea
What is an example of a confederate government?
the confederacy of the united states
What is an example of a federal government?
united states
What are the types of government?
authoritarian
democracy
What are some characteristics of an authoritarian government?
gov. not limited
rule of law applies to some
rights are not guaranteed
no voting
What is the difference between a direct and representative democracy?
direct- everyone votes on decision
representative- people vote for people to represent them
What are the four economic systems?
traditional
command
market
mixed
What are the three basic economic questions?
What to produce?
How to produce it?
For whom?
What is scarcity?
lack of resources
What is opportunity cost?
the next best choice you could have made
What are the four major purposes of government?
economic system
social order
provide public services
national security
What are rules or beliefs governing morally correct behavior and attitudes?
principles
What is the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something?
value
What is the overall size of the house and the senate?
435, 100
What is the representation per state of the house and the senate?
based on population, 2 per state
What is the term length of the house and the senate?
2 years, 6 years
What are the exclusive functions of the house and the senate?
- All revenue bills originate here
- Impeach Civil Officers
• Ratify Treaties
• Confirm Public Officials Appointed by the President
(SC Justices,
Ambassadors, etc.)
• Conduct Impeachment Trials
What are the age requirements of the house and the senate?
25, 30
What is the length of citizenship requirement of house and the senate?
7, 9
What is the residence requirement for the house and the senate?
time of election
Who are the constituents of the house and the senate?
counties, state
What is the salary for the house and the senate?
175,000 , 190000
What are the Constitutional Requirements for POTUS?
- President must be 35 years old
- Natural Born Citizen
- 14 year resident
How many electors are in the electoral college?
538
How many votes are needed to win the electoral college?
270
What are executive orders?
Legally binding orders given by the president acting as the head of the executive branch to Federal Administrative Agencies
Where is authority for executive orders found ?
Article 2 Section 1
What can congress do to change an executive order?
- rewrite or amend a previous law, or spell it out in greater detail how the Executive Branch must act
- the President has the right to veto the bill if he disagrees with it, so, in practice, a 2/3 majority if often required to override an Executive Order.
What are the six functions of political parties?
- Recruiting candidates
- Educating the public about important issues
- Operating the Government- political parties play a role in running and staffing the government
- Dispensing patronage
- The loyal opposition
- The reduction of conflict
When did the first televised ads appear?
• The first televised ads appeared in 1952 in the election between Dwight and Adlai Stevenson
What are some major impacts of the media on presidential elections?
- Candidates must be telegenic- and be able to afford expensive ads
- TV shows who’s ahead focuses on front-runners
- Use spot advertising on TV- (quick ads with frequent positive descriptions) communicate differently with voters
- Television has weakened the role of political parties as the key link between politicians and the voters in national politics
What is the name for someone who advocates extreme measures to retain or restore political power?
Radical
What is the name for someone who believes the national government should be active in helping individuals?
Liberal
What is the name for someone who holds beliefs that fall between liberal and conservative?
Moderate
What is the name for someone who believes the role of government in society should be very limited and that individuals should be responsible for their own well being?
Conservative
What is the name for someone who believes established liberal institutions are at fault for current social ills?
New Right
What is the name for someone who holds ultra-conservative political ideas?
Reactionary
What are the powers of the county executive?
• Maintain roads, register votes, supervise elections, keep voting records, keep birth and death and property records, assessing and levying taxes, issuing hunting, fishing, and marriage licenses
What is a political platform?
a statement of a party’s principles beliefs and positions on vital issues
What are things that divide people on political platforms called?
planks
What are the responsibilities of a state comptroller?
- Elected by popular vote
- Oversees the state budget (which can amount to billions of dollars) and audits state finances
- Ensures that the state’s tax dollars are being well-spent and not wasted through fraud and abuse
- Pays state employees and oversees their pension funds
- Prepares financial reports for the state
- Examines government contracts
- Collects taxes and funds to pay for state programs
- Educates the state’s citizens about tax issues
What are some similarities in powers of governors and potus?
- Commander in chief of land and naval forces
- Laws are all faithfully executed
- Nominate with the consent of senate all officers of state
- Convene legislature
- Veto power
- Examine the bank and other account books with the treasurer and comptroller
- Grant reprieves and pardons
