Vocabulary Flashcards
1
Q
Amendment 25
A
Discusses the succession of the President and Vice President
2
Q
Amendment 15
A
Guarantees the rights of all men, regardless of color to vote
3
Q
Amendment 3
A
No one will be forced to house soldiers during peacetime
4
Q
Amendment 20
A
Deals with specifics of when presidential and congressional terms begin
5
Q
Amendment 18
A
Prohibits the making, selling and transporting of alcohol
6
Q
Roe v. Wade covered what issue?
A
Determined that the government can not restrict a woman’s ability to get an abortion after the first trimester
7
Q
Amendment 23
A
Allows the District of Columbia the right to vote for president
8
Q
Checks and Balances
A
Having two parties compete for the same power to keep each in line
9
Q
Lobbyists
A
Paid individuals whose job is to convince Congress members to vote one way or another on bills
10
Q
Mugwumps
A
Voters who do not identify with any one party
11
Q
Amendment 1
A
Freedom of
- Speech
- Press
- Religion
- Assembly
- Petition the government for a change
12
Q
Mapp v. Ohio
A
- The Supreme Court ruled that evidence obtained illegally was. It admissible in court
13
Q
Miranda v. Arizona
A
Stated that individuals who were arrested were supposed to be informed of their Constitutional rights
14
Q
Brown v. Board of Education
A
- The Supreme Court declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional
15
Q
Legislative Powers
A
The legislative branch is the sole law making body. They also declare war, impeach the president, and review presidential appointments
16
Q
Lemon Test
A
A set of requirements addressing legislative actions involving religion
17
Q
Amendment 6
A
The rights of each citizen to a public trial
18
Q
Amendment 2
A
Right to bear arms
19
Q
Browsher v. Synar
A
- 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
20
Q
Executive Powers
A
The power of the executive branch lies with the President. His responsibility is to implement and enforce laws
21
Q
Bowers v. Hardwick
A
- The Supreme Court upheld a law which made even private practice of homosexual acts illegal. The decision was later overturned
22
Q
Schenck v. United States
A
Limited the right of freedom of speech by stating that those rights did not apply to speech which created a “clear and present danger”
23
Q
Whips
A
Deputies who hold an administrative position in each of the two main parties
24
Q
Categorical Grant
A
Money awarded to a specific state by Federal Government with specific provisions and extensive restrictions on how it is to be spent
25
McCulloch v. Maryland
1819. 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.
26
Reapportionment
Redistribution of Congressional seats after each census
27
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.
28
Realignment
Shifts or changes in public opinion
29
Soft Money Contributions
Money which is donated to political parties for "party building" purposes, often used by candidates to evade hard money limitations
30
Bill of Rights
The first ten Amendments of the US Constitution
31
Hard Money Contributions
Money legally donated to a specific candidate used for the purpose of campaigning. Maximum hard money donations are limited by law.
32
Comity Clause
Explains that citizens of one state have the same rights as citizens of other states
33
Express powers
Powers which are specifically stated or authorized by law
34
Amendment 19
Gives women the right to vote
35
Elastic Clause
Allows Congress to pass laws considered "Necessary and Proper" to perform their responsibilities. Also called the Necessary and Proper Clause
36
Amendment 7
Guarantees the right to a jury trial in all cases involving more than $20
37
Eminent Domain
The power of the government to take private property for public use after providing fair compensation
38
Amendment 21
Repeals Amendment 18 (prohibition)
39
Baker v. Carr
"One man, one vote"
40
Judicial Powers
To oversee court systems, interpret the constitution, laws and treaties and apply these interpretations to cases
41
Gibbons v. Ogden
1824. The Supreme Court affirmed that Congress had the right to regulate interstate commerce
42
Amendment 16
Gives the government the right to collect income tax
43
Amendment 13
Abolished Slavery
44
Amendment 11
Prohibits a citizen of one state from suing another state and prevents foreign citizens from suing states
45
Uniformity Clause
Declares that al taxes must be uniform throughout the United States
46
Gideon v. Wainwright
1963. The Supreme Court ruled that states are required to provide an attorney in criminal cases where the defendant cannot afford one
47
Amendment 27
Places a limit on how often Congress can vote to raise their pay
48
Block Grant
Money awarded to a specific state by the Federal Government with general provisions on how it is to be used
49
Federalism
A governmental system in which each citizen is subject to two governments. In the United States it's the Federal and state government
50
Supreme Court
Interprets the meaning of the Constitution and applies it to actual situations
51
Amendment 8
Protects individuals from "cruel or unusual punishment" and from excessive bail
52
We the People Clause
Another name for the Preamble to the Constitution
53
Which office requires the elected to be a natural born citizen?
President
54
What are the three branches of government?
Legislative, Executive, Judiciary
55
General Welfare Clause
Allows Congress to collect taxes for the protection and general welfare of citizens
56
Amendment 12
Discusses the election process for President and Vice President
57
Plussy v. Ferguson
Supported the idea of "separate but equal" in relation to segregation
58
Amendment 9
Explains that even though some rights are not listed in the Constitution that does not mean individuals do not have those rights
59
Lemon v. Kurtzman
Established the Lemon Test to which can be used to determine the Constitutionality of acts related to education and religion
60
What was the decision of Roth v. United States?
Determined that obscene material is not protected by the First Amendment
61
Lochner v. New York
1905. 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
62
Commerce Clause
Allows Congress to regulate trade with foreign nations and between individual states
63
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
1964. The Supreme Court ruled that actual malice must be proved for a printed criticism of a public official to be considered libel
64
Amendment 14
Guarantees citizenship for people born in the United States or for people who go through the naturalization process
65
Amendment 22
Prevents a president from serving more than two terms
66
Amendment 17
Allows for the direct election of Senators
67
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.
68
Federalist papers
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
John Jay
69
Nix v. Hedden
Determined that a tomato was classified as a vegetable, not a fruit.
70
Amendment 26
Allows people to vote at 18 vice 21
71
Garcia v. San Antonio Transit Authority
1985. The Supreme Court affirmed that Congress has the right to impose minimum wage and overtime pay
72
Marbury v. Madison
Power of Judicial Review
73
Establishment Clause
Prohibits Congress from passing laws "respecting an establishment of religion"
74
Majority Leader
Second or principle deputy to the Speaker of the House
75
Writ of Habeas Corpus
Protects individuals from being held without charge
76
Implied Powers
Powers which a person takes to be implied or allowed due to the express powers they hold
77
Reserved Powers Clause
Declare that powers and rights not given to Congress by the Constitution are held by the states and citizens
78
Gerrymandering
Redrawing voting districts to give one party or person an unfair advantage
79
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
80
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
1978. The Supreme Court ruled that specified quota requirements based on race are unconstitutional
81
Amendment 10
Gives power to the states to deal with anything that is not covered by the Constitution
82
Incumbent
A person who currently holds office
83
Litigation
The process and legal proceedings of a lawsuit
84
Ferguson v. Skrupa
1963. 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
85
Casework
Congressional representatives efforts to help a constituent resolve a problem with the Federal bureaucracy
86
Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff
1984. The Supreme Court affirmed the right of eminent domain in cases that would benefit the general public
87
Amendment 24
Prohibits the charging of poll tax
88
Jim Crow Laws
A series of laws passed in the South after the Civil War which promoted segregation and racism
89
Logrolling
When two Congress members agree to vote for one another's unrelated bills
90
Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
Due Process
91
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."
92
Amendment 4
Protects citizens against "unreasonable searches and seizures"
93
Guarantee Clause
Guarantees Republican governments in each state
94
Korematsu v. United States
1944. The Supreme Court upheld the government's right to order Japanese citizens into internment camps during WW II
95
Minority Leader
Leader of the party of opposition in the House
96
Dred Scott v. Sanford
1857. The Supreme Court ruled that Scott, a slave, had no right to sue in court because he was property
