U.S. Government Flashcards
A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch
Republic
A document, ratified in 1788, outlining the overarching laws and division of powers among governmental organizations
The United States Constitution
refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another. The intent is to prevent the concentration of power and provide for checks and balances.
Separation of Power
refers to a system that ensures that one branch does not exceed its bounds
checks and balances
refers to a type of government where powers are divided between two levels of government; like in the U.S. where power is divided between federal and state.
federalism
political powers held for state governments rather than the federal government (examples: issuing licenses, creating local governments, regulating industry)
states’ rights
refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another. The intent is to prevent the concentration of power and provide for checks and balances.
Separation of Powers
The Legislative Branch includes these two branches of Congress
the House of Representatives and the Senate
Lower part of Congress responsible for making and passing federal laws. The number of those able to vote is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states.
With four times the membership of the Senate, the House follows procedures closely and limits
debate.
The House of Representatives
Upper part of Congress that includes 100 members.
Takes action on bills, resolutions, amendments, motions, nominations, and treaties by voting. Has the sole power to confirm those of the President’s appointments that require consent, and to provide advice and consent to ratify treaties.
With a smaller number of members, they can take their time to carefully consider and debate issues.
Senate
The head of state of the United States, the chief executive of the federal government, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
President of the United States (POTUS)
The highest federal court in the country and the head of the judicial branch of government. Made up of nine justices and has the power to check the actions of the other two branches of government.
The justices are nominated by the president and confirmed/denied by the Senate.
Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)
The Supreme Court’s ability to declare a legislative or executive act to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The best-known Supreme Court power.
Judicial Review
What are the five steps of the U.S. Presidential Electoral Process?
1) Primary and Caucus
2) National Conventions
3) Election Campaigning
4) General Election
5) Electoral College
Electors, appointed by the states, that formally elect the president and vice president of the United States. Total of 538 electors.
Electoral College
State government is modeled after what?
the federal government’s three branches
The public administration of towns, cities, counties, and districts. This type of government includes both county and municipal government structures. (i.e., libraries, parks & rec, public works)
Local Government
A group of voters in a specified area who elect representatives to legislative bodies.
Constituency
Drawing political boundaries to gain advantage over opponents
Gerrymandering
Also known as “pure democracy.” In this system, the people decide on policies directly. Example: ancient Athens.
Direct Democracy
In this system, people elect representatives to decide on policies on their behalf.
Representative Democracy
A government with a chief of state who is usually a president, not a monarch. Power ultimately resides with the citizens, who elect representatives to govern on their behalf and according to rule of law.
Republic
Undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person. They come to power by marriage or offspring. Example: Saudi Arabia.
Absolute Monarchy
This type of monarchy is known as the “limited monarchy” because the monarch’s power is limited, and the power to alter legislation resides with the Parliament. Example: Britain.
Constitutional Monarchy
Single political party, based on the ideology of Marxism-Leninism. These systems call themselves “socialist states” because they aimed to establish a socialist society.
Communist State
An authoritarian form of government that has a single leader or group of leaders. It is the opposite of a democracy.
Dictatorship
A situation where there is no government. (Can happen after a civil war in a country).
Anarchy
A form of government where the rulers claim to be ruling based on religious beliefs and ideals.
Theocracy
A form of government that consists of rule by an elite group who rules in its own interests.
Oligarchy/Plutocracy
When dictators use propaganda to present themselves as saviors and heroes to be admired and loved by the people of their country
Cult of Personality
What does the Declaration of Independence (1776) outline?
That government is no more powerful than man. If government is tyrannical, people have the right to rebel and start over.
What do the Federalist Papers outline?
Made the case for checks and balances and separation of powers.
What do the Articles of Confederation outline?
Functioned as the first constitution of the United States. Officially established the government that united the 13 colonies as one union.
What does the Constitution outline?
Articles I-III outlined:
I. Legislative Branch
II. Executive Branch
III. Judicial Branch
(in that order!)
What does the Bill of Rights outline?
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Provides unalienable rights of citizens.
First Amendment
Freedom of Religion/assembly, Speech, and the Press
Second Amendment
The Right to Bear Arms (to own a firearm)
Third Amendment
The Housing of Soldiers (prevents government from forcing homeowners to allow soldiers to use their homes)
Fourth Amendment
Protection from Unreasonable Searches and Seizures (states that the govt. cannot search or seize a person or their property without just cause)
Fifth Amendment
Protection of Rights to Life, Liberty, and Property provides several protections for people accused of crimes. (States that serious criminal charges must be started by a grand jury; a person cannot be tried twice for the same offense (double jeopardy) or have property taken away without just compensation.) People have the right against self-incrimination and cannot be imprisoned without due process of law.
(I plead the fifth!)
Sixth Amendment
Rights of Accused Persons in Criminal Cases (additional protections to people accused of crimes, such as the right to a speedy and public trial, trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases, and to be informed of criminal charges.
Seventh Amendment
Rights in Civil Cases (extends the right to a jury trial in federal civil cases)
Eighth Amendment
Excessive Bail, Fines, and Punishments (bars excessive bail and fines and cruel and unusual punishment)
Ninth Amendment
Other Rights kept by the people (states that listing specific rights in the Constitution does not mean that people do not have other rights that have not been spelled out)
Tenth Amendment
States’ Rights (says that the Federal Government only has those powers delegated in the Constitution. If it is not listed, it belongs to the states or to the people)
Thirteenth Amendment (ratified 1865)
constitutional amendment to abolish slavery
Fourteenth Amendment
reversed the Supreme Court’s decision in 1857’s Dred Scott v. Sandford by stating that anyone born in the United States is a citizen.
repealed the three-fifths clause of the original Constitution, which held that each enslaved person counted for three-fifths of a person.
Fifteenth Amendment
this Amendment outlaws discrimination in voting rights on the basis of race, color or previous condition of servitude
Nineteenth Amendment
forbidding the United States or any state from denying or abridging the right to vote to any citizen “on account of sex”
An isolation policy that stated in order for America to develop, Europe and the US must stay out of each other’s affairs. This policy of isolationism would last until WWI.
Monroe Doctrine (1823)
Reoriented US foreign policy by establishing that the US would provide political, military, and economic assistance to all democratic nations.
Truman Doctrine (1947)
Officially called the European Recovery Program, this was an American initiative to help Western Europe to rebuild the European economic system after WWII.
Marshall Plan (1949)
A military alliance, also called the Washington Treaty. Sought to create a counterweight to Soviet armies atationed in Central and Eastern Europe.
In response to this alliance, the Soviet Union created the Warsaw Pact.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), (1949)
Foreign policy to counter the expansionist policy of the Soviet Union
Containment (1940s and early 1950s)
A theory or position in the US foreign policy that if one state goes communist, there is a threat that communism will spread. (authored by President Dwight D. Eisenhower).
Domino Theory (1954)
Policy of implementing diplomacy through foreign aid, authored by President John F. Kennedy
Foreign Assistance Act and USAID
Which president gave a speech in West Berlin in 1987 with a message to Mikhail Gorbachev to open the Berlin Wall.
President Ronald Raegan
Which President’s inauguration speech in 1961 addressed the importance of civic action and public service: “ask not what your country can do for you”
President John F. Kennedy
Which President’s inauguration speech in 1933 addressed the economic crisis and described the plan to declare war on the Great Depression. He says “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
President Franklin D. Roosevelt
