Vocabulary Flashcards
Amendment 25
Discusses the succession of the President and Vice President
Amendment 15
Guarantees the rights of all men, regardless of color to vote
Amendment 3
No one will be forced to house soldiers during peacetime
Amendment 20
Deals with specifics of when presidential and congressional terms begin
Amendment 18
Prohibits the making, selling and transporting of alcohol
Roe v. Wade covered what issue?
Determined that the government can not restrict a woman’s ability to get an abortion after the first trimester
Amendment 23
Allows the District of Columbia the right to vote for president
Checks and Balances
Having two parties compete for the same power to keep each in line
Lobbyists
Paid individuals whose job is to convince Congress members to vote one way or another on bills
Mugwumps
Voters who do not identify with any one party
Amendment 1
Freedom of
- Speech
- Press
- Religion
- Assembly
- Petition the government for a change
Mapp v. Ohio
- The Supreme Court ruled that evidence obtained illegally was. It admissible in court
Miranda v. Arizona
Stated that individuals who were arrested were supposed to be informed of their Constitutional rights
Brown v. Board of Education
- The Supreme Court declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional
Legislative Powers
The legislative branch is the sole law making body. They also declare war, impeach the president, and review presidential appointments
Lemon Test
A set of requirements addressing legislative actions involving religion
Amendment 6
The rights of each citizen to a public trial
Amendment 2
Right to bear arms
Browsher v. Synar
- The Supreme Court ruled that the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act was unconstitutional because it gave Congress the power to dismiss a member of the executive branch (the Comptroller General) through a process other than impeachment
Executive Powers
The power of the executive branch lies with the President. His responsibility is to implement and enforce laws
Bowers v. Hardwick
- The Supreme Court upheld a law which made even private practice of homosexual acts illegal. The decision was later overturned
Schenck v. United States
Limited the right of freedom of speech by stating that those rights did not apply to speech which created a “clear and present danger”
Whips
Deputies who hold an administrative position in each of the two main parties
Categorical Grant
Money awarded to a specific state by Federal Government with specific provisions and extensive restrictions on how it is to be spent
McCulloch v. Maryland
- The Supreme Court ruled that Maryland did not have the right to tax the national bank. This promoted the supremacy of the Federal Government over state governments.
Reapportionment
Redistribution of Congressional seats after each census
Amendment 5
Protects citizens from behind held without criminal charges, from having to testify against themselves, from being tried for the same crime twice (double jeopardy), and from being of their rights without due process.
Realignment
Shifts or changes in public opinion
Soft Money Contributions
Money which is donated to political parties for “party building” purposes, often used by candidates to evade hard money limitations
Bill of Rights
The first ten Amendments of the US Constitution
Hard Money Contributions
Money legally donated to a specific candidate used for the purpose of campaigning. Maximum hard money donations are limited by law.
Comity Clause
Explains that citizens of one state have the same rights as citizens of other states
Express powers
Powers which are specifically stated or authorized by law
Amendment 19
Gives women the right to vote
Elastic Clause
Allows Congress to pass laws considered “Necessary and Proper” to perform their responsibilities. Also called the Necessary and Proper Clause
Amendment 7
Guarantees the right to a jury trial in all cases involving more than $20
Eminent Domain
The power of the government to take private property for public use after providing fair compensation
Amendment 21
Repeals Amendment 18 (prohibition)
Baker v. Carr
“One man, one vote”
Judicial Powers
To oversee court systems, interpret the constitution, laws and treaties and apply these interpretations to cases
Gibbons v. Ogden
- The Supreme Court affirmed that Congress had the right to regulate interstate commerce
Amendment 16
Gives the government the right to collect income tax
Amendment 13
Abolished Slavery
Amendment 11
Prohibits a citizen of one state from suing another state and prevents foreign citizens from suing states
Uniformity Clause
Declares that al taxes must be uniform throughout the United States
Gideon v. Wainwright
- The Supreme Court ruled that states are required to provide an attorney in criminal cases where the defendant cannot afford one
Amendment 27
Places a limit on how often Congress can vote to raise their pay
Block Grant
Money awarded to a specific state by the Federal Government with general provisions on how it is to be used
Federalism
A governmental system in which each citizen is subject to two governments. In the United States it’s the Federal and state government
Supreme Court
Interprets the meaning of the Constitution and applies it to actual situations
Amendment 8
Protects individuals from “cruel or unusual punishment” and from excessive bail
We the People Clause
Another name for the Preamble to the Constitution
Which office requires the elected to be a natural born citizen?
President
What are the three branches of government?
Legislative, Executive, Judiciary
General Welfare Clause
Allows Congress to collect taxes for the protection and general welfare of citizens
Amendment 12
Discusses the election process for President and Vice President
Plussy v. Ferguson
Supported the idea of “separate but equal” in relation to segregation
Amendment 9
Explains that even though some rights are not listed in the Constitution that does not mean individuals do not have those rights
Lemon v. Kurtzman
Established the Lemon Test to which can be used to determine the Constitutionality of acts related to education and religion
What was the decision of Roth v. United States?
Determined that obscene material is not protected by the First Amendment
Lochner v. New York
- The Supreme Court ruled that states could not limit hours worked a week because they couldn’t interfere with a persons right to enter into an employment contract
Commerce Clause
Allows Congress to regulate trade with foreign nations and between individual states
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
- The Supreme Court ruled that actual malice must be proved for a printed criticism of a public official to be considered libel
Amendment 14
Guarantees citizenship for people born in the United States or for people who go through the naturalization process
Amendment 22
Prevents a president from serving more than two terms
Amendment 17
Allows for the direct election of Senators
Constitutional Convention
A 1787 gathering in Independence Hall of representatives from the states which abolished the Articles of Confederation and wrote the Constitution. It created the federal system, three branches of government, two chamber legislation and 3/5 representation of slaves.
Federalist papers
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
Nix v. Hedden
Determined that a tomato was classified as a vegetable, not a fruit.
Amendment 26
Allows people to vote at 18 vice 21
Garcia v. San Antonio Transit Authority
- The Supreme Court affirmed that Congress has the right to impose minimum wage and overtime pay
Marbury v. Madison
Power of Judicial Review
Establishment Clause
Prohibits Congress from passing laws “respecting an establishment of religion”
Majority Leader
Second or principle deputy to the Speaker of the House
Writ of Habeas Corpus
Protects individuals from being held without charge
Implied Powers
Powers which a person takes to be implied or allowed due to the express powers they hold
Reserved Powers Clause
Declare that powers and rights not given to Congress by the Constitution are held by the states and citizens
Gerrymandering
Redrawing voting districts to give one party or person an unfair advantage
Declaration of Independence
A document passed by the Second Continental Congress in 1776 declaring the Independence of the 13 colonies and creation of the United States
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
- The Supreme Court ruled that specified quota requirements based on race are unconstitutional
Amendment 10
Gives power to the states to deal with anything that is not covered by the Constitution
Incumbent
A person who currently holds office
Litigation
The process and legal proceedings of a lawsuit
Ferguson v. Skrupa
- The Supreme Court ruled that Kansas had the right to determine the legality of “debt adjusting” because its legality was a legislative issue not a judicial one
Casework
Congressional representatives efforts to help a constituent resolve a problem with the Federal bureaucracy
Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff
- The Supreme Court affirmed the right of eminent domain in cases that would benefit the general public
Amendment 24
Prohibits the charging of poll tax
Jim Crow Laws
A series of laws passed in the South after the Civil War which promoted segregation and racism
Logrolling
When two Congress members agree to vote for one another’s unrelated bills
Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Due Process
Supremacy Clause
Clause in the Constitution which declares that the Constitution and laws made by the Federal Government are the “supreme law of the land.”
Amendment 4
Protects citizens against “unreasonable searches and seizures”
Guarantee Clause
Guarantees Republican governments in each state
Korematsu v. United States
- The Supreme Court upheld the government’s right to order Japanese citizens into internment camps during WW II
Minority Leader
Leader of the party of opposition in the House
Dred Scott v. Sanford
- The Supreme Court ruled that Scott, a slave, had no right to sue in court because he was property
