American Government Final Exam Study Guide

Front 1

US Government

Back 1

our government is a representative democracy in which the people are sovereign. we are also a federal republic

Front 2

limited government

Back 2

government limited by a written document or by wide public understanding, characterized by checks between powers to make sure that the government serves the public rather than private interests

Front 3

articles of confederation

Back 3

a document that proposed the first type of government considered by the founding fathers- a voluntary association of independent states with limited restraints on their freedom of action

Front 4

powers of congress under the Articles of Confederation

Back 4

1) declare war and make peace
2) enter into treaties and alliances
3) establish and control armed forces
4) requisition men and money from states
5) regulate coinage
6) borrow money and issue bills of credit
7) standards of weight and measurement
8) create a postal system
9) solve disputes between states upon state petition

Front 5

congress lacked the power under the articles of confederation to..

Back 5

collect taxes, organize a militia, retain funds, regulate interstate and foreign commerce

Front 6

shay's rebellion

Back 6

showed that the articles of confederation were too weak to support the people

Front 7

the great compromise

Back 7

compromise between the New Jersey and Virginia plans that created two chambers of congress- one based on population and another representing each state equally

Front 8

amdendments

Back 8

changes to the constitution

Front 9

how are amendments proposed?

Back 9

a two thirds vote in each chamber of Congress- OR- a national convention called by congress at the request of two thirds of the state legislatures

Front 10

how are amendments ratified

Back 10

a positive vote in three fourths of the legislatires of states- OR- special conventions called by the states to ratify the amendment and a positive vote in three fourths of them

Front 11

federalism

Back 11

government that shares powers between local, state, and national government

Front 12

why is federalism good?

Back 12

1) it allows functions to be "farmed out" by the central government to the states or provinces
2) keeps the powers spread out so that it is not all located in one place
3) brings the government closer to the people

Front 13

why is federalism bad?

Back 13

1) powerful state and local interests can block progress and impede national plans
2) smaller units can be dominated by a single political group
3) inequalities across states

Front 14

supremacy clause

Back 14

makes the Constitution and federal laws superior to all conflicting state and local laws

Front 15

commerce clause

Back 15

gives Congress the power to regulate trade among states and with foreign countries (Gibbons V. Ogden)

Front 16

necessary and proper clause

Back 16

provides flexibility to the Constitutional system- ggives congress the power to do whatever is necessary to execute its specifically delegated powers

Front 17

fiscal federalism

Back 17

when the central government gives money to state and local governments to carry out national policy

Front 18

grants in aid

Back 18

grants given by the central government to state and local governments

Front 19

categorical grants in aid

Back 19

federal grants-in-aid to states or local governments that are intended for very specific programs or projects

Front 20

block grants

Back 20

grants given to state and local governments for general functional areas

Front 21

civil liberties

Back 21

personal freedoms that are protected for all individuals- what the government cannot restrict

Front 22

civil rights

Back 22

rights guaranteed in the 14th amendment, what the government must do for the people

Front 23

rights guaranteed in the first amendment

Back 23

1- freedom of religion
2- freedom of speech
3- right to petition the government
4- freedom of assembly
5- freedom of press

Front 24

freedom of religion

Back 24

protected under the first amendment- the government guarantees the free exercise of religion and the separation of church and state

Front 25

symbolic speech

Back 25

nonverbal expression of beliefs

Front 26

New York Times V. United States

Back 26

the NYT illegally acquired the Pentagon Papers but the Supreme Court said that they would not stop the article from being printed because of the "no prior restraint"

Front 27

privacy

Back 27

implied in the constitution in the 9th amendment

Front 28

miranda v. arizona

Back 28

ruling: convicted must be informed of their rights

Front 29

exclusionary rule

Back 29

evidence that has been obtained improperly or illegaly cannot be used in a court of law

Front 30

plessey V. ferguson

Back 30

upheld the "separate but equal" doctrine