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73 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
federalism |
Describes the fact that some powers are delegated (federal) while others are reserved (states)
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Marbury v. Madison |
established the Supreme Court's power of JUDICIAL REVIEW |
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popular sovereignty |
The words "We the people" in the Preamble establish the Constitution's authority on the basis of this |
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the people |
According to the doctrine of popular sovereignty, supreme power rests with these |
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divine right theory |
Social contract theory was developed during the Enlightenment as a reaction against this idea |
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social contract theory |
According to this theory, the state exists to serve the will of the people. |
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John Locke |
Philosopher most closely associated with American ideas about social contract theory of government |
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personal income tax |
Most of the federal government's revenue comes from this |
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free enterprise |
Private ownership, competition, and profit are key elements of this |
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the Bill of Rights |
Its purpose is to guarantee the rights of individuals |
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separation of powers |
Describes the fact that power is spread over three distinct branches of government |
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checks and balances |
When the president vetos an act of congress, he/she engages does this to the legislative branch. |
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right to privacy |
right which not explicitly protected in the Constitution's Bill of Rights |
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the Great Compromise, AKA: the Connecticut Compromise |
decided the question of how large and small states would be represented in Congress |
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free press |
When Jefferson said he'd prefer to have newspapers without government rather than the reverse, he was emphasizing that a _________ is vital to a healthy republican democracy. |
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dissent |
In Federalist #10, James Madison argues that political division and ____ are normal and to be expected in democracies. |
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division of power |
Federalism is the term which described the _______ between the central (national or federal) government and the states. |
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concurrent power |
The power to collect taxes, which can be exercised by both state and federal governments, is an example of this type of power. |
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Federalists and Anti-federalists |
The American two-party system evolved mainly out of conflicts between the _____ & _____ over the ratification of the Constitution. |
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people and ideas |
The biggest contribution of third parties to our system is the fact that they include _____ and ____ which are being ignored by the major parties, forcing them to involve and co-opt them |
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two |
number of senators from each state |
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17th Amendment |
provided for popular election of senators, extending the idea of popular sovereignty to the U.S. Senate |
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the House of Representatives |
members are apportioned to the States on the basis of population every 10 years after the census |
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the States |
have powers reserved to them by the 10th Amendment |
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bicameralism |
the Congress is structured this way to allow fair representation to both small and large states |
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loose construction |
Teddy Roosevelt's advocacy of a vigorous and assertive executive who exercises broad powers not specifically denied by the Constitution is an example of this kind of interpretation of the Constitution. |
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question |
For democracy to work, citizens must think for themselves and ____ information presented in the media. |
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the House of Representatives |
has exclusive power to impeach the president or federal judges |
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the Senate |
has the power to try impeached officials |
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bankruptcy |
The Constitution gives Congress power over this to establish uniform procedures for dealing with insolvent debtors. |
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Declare war and fund and oversee the military |
Congressional war powers |
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full congresssional committee |
Bills are reported out from subcommittees to the _________. |
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floor of the chamber |
Bills are reported out from the full congressional committee to the ______. |
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the other house of Congress |
Bills passed by one house become an act of that house and are then sent to |
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standing committees of Congress |
created to divide the congressional workload and to allow for specialization |
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filibuster |
used by Senate minority to prevent action on a bill |
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veto |
If the president wants to prevent an Act of Congress from becoming law, he/she can do this. |
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pocket veto |
how a bill fails if the president leaves a bill on his desk ten days and congress adjourns |
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becomes a law without the president's signature |
It's what happens to a bill that sits on the president's desk for ten days while Congress is still in session |
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12th Amendment |
added to the Constitution to clean up problems in the presidential election process after the debacle which occurred in the presidential election of 1800 |
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more electoral votes |
Why a presidential candidate might choose to spend more time campaigning in NY, CA, TX, or FL than in WY, RI, or Alaska |
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2/3 vote in each house |
required for Congress to propose a Constitutional amendment |
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the oath of office and the Constitution |
give the president power to execute federal statutes and to defend the Constitution |
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the Monroe Doctrine |
Its application in Latin America was an early step which the United States took toward becoming a major world power. |
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checks and balances |
If men were angels, we wouldn't need government, but --according to the Federalist Papers -- since men who govern are not angels, it's not enough to separate powers over three branches of government. You've got to build in _______, as well, to keep one branch from overpowering another. |
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the Electoral College system |
It's complex and largely misunderstood by the American public. |
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1st Amendment rights |
freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition |
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5th Amendment
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guarantees the right against self-incrimination |
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Miranda v. Arizona |
Case which established that your confession can't be used unless you were read your rights |
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voting |
the most common form of political participation |
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symbolic speech |
The Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution protects including _______, like wearing an armband or burning an American flag. |
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Texas v. Johnson |
case in which SCOTUS ruled that flag burning is a symbolic form of protected political speed |
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either state or federal court |
where a case may be tried in the dual court system if jurisdiction is CONCURRENT |
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appointed by president & confirmed by Senate |
how one becomes a federal judge or a federal prosecutor |
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dissenting opinion |
An opinion which disagrees with the majority holding and explains why |
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1st Amendment's Establishment Clause |
Guarantees that the U.S. government cannot set up a national church and make you join or pay |
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protest |
Your right to march in _________ against government action or inaction and/or carry signs criticizing a Supreme Court ruling is protected by the 1st Amendment. |
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14th Amendment's Due Process Clause |
Guarantees no state can deny you basic rights and must follow established legal procedures |
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the family |
The most important agent of political socialization |
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parties to the case and case subject matter |
Federal court jurisdiction depends upon these |
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prayer |
In Engle v. Vitale, SCOTUS ruled that the state cannot sponsor or require this |
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Roe v. Wade |
The controversial abortion case which is based on a constitutional right to privacy |
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the 2nd Amendment |
Because states need a "well-regulated militia," it guarantees the right to bear arms. |
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the G.I. Bill |
It contributed substantially to the growth of a large American middle class. |
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the 6th Amendment |
It guarantees you the right to a speedy and public trial and the right to counsel |
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a poll tax |
You can NOT be required to pay this in order to vote in the United States. |
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the Civil Rights Act of 1964 |
It prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and hiring. |
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the 5th and 14th Amendments |
The Constitution's two Due Process clauses are found in these |
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a "clear and present danger" |
In Shenck v. U.S., SCOTUS ruled that shouting "Fire!" when there is none in a crowded theater presents this, and is, thus, NOT protected speech. |
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reserved to the states |
Most police powers which involve public safety -- like requiring child protective seats or the use of seat belts -- falls under the 10th Amendment and is _____________. |
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accountable |
The argument for election of state judges is that election makes them more ______ to the people. |
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independence |
The argument against election of state judges is that it interferes with judicial ______ by involving them in politics. |
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executive orders and actions of executive agencies |
In addition to state and congressional statutes, these fall under judicial review and can be declared unconstitutional by the courts. |