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54 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
15th Amendment |
(1870) African American men could vote. The "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." |
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19th Amendment |
(1920) Women gained the right to vote. This amendment prohibits any US citizen from being denied the right to vote. |
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24th Amendment |
(1964) This amendment prohibits the use of poll taxes during elections. |
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26th Amendment |
(1971) This amendment gave citizens 18 years old and older the right to vote. |
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Representative Democracy |
A system of government in which elected officials represent a group of people. |
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Requirements to maintain fair election |
Independent Monitoring, Fixed Regular Intervals, Ease of Nomination, Universal Adult Sufferage, Secret Ballot, One Person. One Vote. |
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Independent Monitoring |
The observation of an election by one or more independent parties who record and report fraud. |
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Universal Adult Suffrage |
The right to vote for all adults |
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Secret Ballot |
A process in which an individuals vote is not disclosed, or it is "secret". |
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Legislative Mal-apportionment |
When the number of legislative seats given to a geographical unit is not proportional to its population. |
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Gerrymandering |
The redrawing of electoral district lines to benefit one party by either cracking or packing. |
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Cracking (Gerrymandering) |
Drawing electoral district lines to break up a political a political parity's territory. |
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Packing (Gerrymandering) |
Drawing electoral district lines in order to fill a district with a particular political party. |
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Poll tax |
A tax that must be paid in order to vote. |
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Hard money |
Money from political donations that are regulated by law through the Federal Elections Commission. |
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Soft money |
Money that is donated to a political part that is not regulated. |
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Independent expenditures |
A political campaign communication that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate. |
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17th Amendment |
Established that senators are to be elected by the people of the states. |
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Enumerated Powers |
Powers given to Congress by the Constitution, Article 1, Section8. |
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List of some of Congress's Enumerated Powers |
To tax, borrow money, regulate commerce, coin money, create post offices, pursue science and arts, declare war, build a Navy... |
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List of Leadership roles in Congress |
Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Whips |
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Role of the Whip |
Assists the floor leader, checks attendance, counts votes, communicates the position of the major party |
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Logrolling |
When legislative members trade favors (quid pro quo), such as a vote to obtain passage of bills of interest to each member. Common in Congress |
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Pork barrel politics |
Government spending for projects primarily to bring money to a representative's district. |
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Bicameral Legislature |
A when legislature is divided into 2 assemblies. For example: the United State's House of Representatives and Senate. |
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Quorum |
The minimum number of members of an assembly that MUST be present at any meeting |
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Impeachment |
When an official is removed from office for being unlawful. |
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Petition of Discharge |
An act that brings a bill out of committee without a report from the committee |
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Filibuster |
A long speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly. (Because the House has established time constraints, this happens in the Senate, but not in the House) |
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Cloture |
A procedure by which the Senate votes to place a time limit on the consideration of an action. Usually done to overcome a filibuster. |
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Regular Veto |
When the President returns unsigned legislation to the originating house of Congress within 10 days usually with a message of disapproval. This can be overridden by Congress with a 2/3 vote. |
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Pocket Veto |
When the president fails to sign a bill after Congress has adjourned and can no longer override this action. |
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Simple Majority |
More than half the ballots |
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Standing committees |
A committee that continues from one Congress to the next |
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Subcommittees |
A subset of a committee organized for a specific purpose |
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Presidential Electoral Term |
4 years |
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Requirement to run for president of the USA |
1) natural born citizen 2) at least 35 years old 3) lived in the US for 35 years |
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Executive Departments |
State, War, and Treasury Departments |
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Enumerated powers of the President |
Commander and Chief of Army and Navy (but can't declare war) Appoint Ambassadors, Judges, and Officials Pardon and Reprieve Negotiate Treaties Veto |
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Ectoral College |
the institution that officially elects the president and vice president. The number of electors representing each state is = the number of congressmen each state has. |
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Examples of Presidential Persuasion |
Presidential Mandate, State of the Union Address, Honeymoon period, Threat of Veto, Logrolling, Going Public |
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Exective Agreement |
No senate approval needed for this agreement. (Treaties do need senate approval). |
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War Powers Act |
This requires that the President notify Congress of military action within 48 hours. Military cannot remain in conflict for more than 60 days and after those 60 days, the military has another 30 days to withdraw. |
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Recess Appointments |
The president can fill up all vacancies while the senate is in recess |
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Signing Statements |
May be attached to a signed bill explaining the Presidents commentary on the bill, especially concerning its constitutionality. |
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The Hierarchy of the Federal Courts |
1) Supreme Court 2) Appellate Courts 3) District Courts |
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Supreme Court |
Highest Court. 9 Justices. Certiorari process. limited original jurisdiction. |
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Appellate courts |
13 regional "circuit" courts. no original jurisdiction. |
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District Courts |
Lowest Level court. 94 districts. no appellate jurisdiction. original jurisdiction for most cases. |
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Court's insulation from bias |
Life terms, absolute immunity, rulings made in private. |
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The rule of four |
Appeals process. An informal understanding that 4 justices of the Supreme court must confirm a cases importance before the court hears the case. |
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Precedence/Stare Decisis |
Abiding by prior rulings |
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Judicial Review |
The doctrine that puts legislative and executive action under review of the judiciary. |
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counter majority problem |
the problem that the judicial branch can overrule or counter mand laws that reflect the will of the majority |