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59 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Realignment |
A process in which a substantial group of voters switches party allegiance, producing a long-term change in the political landscape. |
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Judicial Activism |
A doctrine holding that the Supreme Court should take an active role by using its powers to check the activities of governmental bodies when those bodies exceed their authority |
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Judicial Restraint |
A doctrine holding that the Supreme Court should defer to the decisions made by the elected representatives of the people in the legislative and executive branches |
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Bicameralism |
The division of a legislature into two separate assemblies |
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The Voting Rights Act of 1965 |
Suspended literacy tests, empowered federal officials to register voters, empowered federal officials to ensure that citizens could vote, empowered federal officials to count ballots, prohibited states from changing voting procedures without federal permission |
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Grandfather Clause |
A clause in registration laws allowing people who do not meet registration requirements to vote if they or their ancestors had voted before 1867. |
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Devolution |
The transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states |
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Ticket Splitting |
Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election |
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Supremacy Clause |
Contained in Articles IV of the Constitution, the clause gives national laws the absolute power even when states have enacted a competing law |
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Judicial Review |
Power of the courts to declare laws of congress, laws of the states, and actions of the president unconstitutional and invalid. |
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Regulatory Policy |
Efforts by government to alter the free operation of the market to achieve social goals such as protecting workers and the environment. |
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Gerrymandering |
The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent. |
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Discretionary Spending |
Spending set by the government through appropriations bills, including operation expenses & salaries of government employees |
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Stare Decisis |
To stand on decided cases; the judicial policy of following precedents established by past decisions |
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Amicus Curiae |
A brief filed by a third party |
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Writ of Certiorari |
An order issued by a higher court to a lower court to send up the record of a case for review |
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Social Contract Theory |
Theory that addresses the questions of the origins of society and the legitimacy of the authority of the state over the individual |
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Pork Barreling |
Appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district. |
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Linkage Institution |
Transmit America's preferences to policy makers in the government |
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Filibuster |
A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill. |
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Cloture |
A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate. |
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Executive Agreements |
An international agreement made by the president, without senatorial ratification, with the head of a foreign state. |
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Roe v Wade |
Established national abortion guidelines |
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Texas v Johnson |
Struck down Texas law that banned flag burning, which is protected form of symbolic speech. |
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Brown v Board of Education |
School segregation unconstitutional |
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Citizens United v Federal Election Commision |
Donating to campaigns is a form of free speech. Can give as much as they want |
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What did the War Powers Act do? |
Requires the President, upon sending troops into military action, to notify Congress within 48 hours that he has done so. Congress has the power to declare war |
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Unique powers of the 2 houses of congress |
House-Propose all tax bills, Impeach a federal official Senate-Approve presidential appointments to key federal offices, Confirm all federal judicial appointments, Ratify treaties, Try impeached officials |
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James Madison on how to control Factions |
A large society under a representative form of government where the government would check the power of factions by balancing one against the other. |
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Ways Congress can control executive bureaucracy |
1. Confirm nominations made by the president to appoint people to departments 2. Appropriate money 3. Create and pass the legislation needed to create these departments 4. Investigate the administration 5. Shape the laws that would be executed by that administration |
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How does the existence of single-member legislative districts affect the 2 party system? |
There is a Winner Takes All Effect so it reinforces it |
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Why doesn't the President rely solely on his Cabinet to make decisions? |
The decision is ultimately up to the President alone and must go with what they believe |
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What would be the general strategy for a presidential candidate trying to win an election? |
To become a public figure, use opinion polls and focus groups and get lots of financing. Focus on swing states |
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Why is it hard to reduce Social Security Benefits? |
Older populations require greater expenditures for medical care and medical expenditures is increasing in price and the elderly outvote youth |
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What is the difference between a Confederacy, a Federal Government and a Unitary Government? |
Unitary systems are central government controlled, confederacy is run by independent states and federal is run by divided powers between state and central |
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Identify sources of political socialization |
Family, School and Media
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Who are the leaders of both houses of Congress? |
Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader |
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What are some tactics used by interest groups? |
Lobbying, PACs, Grass-roots, Public Pressure, Climate Control |
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What does the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System do? |
It is charged with overseeing the Federal Reserve Banks and with helping implement monetary policy of the United States.
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How do most Americans participate politically? |
Voting |
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What is the role of the House Rules Committee in the Legislative process? |
Decides for how long and with what rules the bill will be debated under |
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What does the Federal government spend most of its budget on? |
Social Services |
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What is the length of terms for Senators, Representatives, Federal Judges and the President? |
Senators- 6 years Representatives- 2 years Federal Judges- No Limits President- 4 years |
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What does the Senate Judiciary Committee do? |
In charge of conducting hearings prior to the Senate voting on confirmation of federal judges nominated by the president.
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How does the media influence public opinion? |
Mass media frame the details of the story, communicates the social desirability of certain ideas, and sets the news agenda.
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What's the difference between political parties and interest groups? |
An interest group is different from political parties in that they do not run their own candidates for office, and they typically seek more specific policy goals than parties.
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How do all federal judges and most bureaucratic employees get their jobs? |
They are appointed to their positions |
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Which Demographics are more likely and least likely to vote? |
Older people and those with higher educations are more likely to vote. Younger people and those with lower educations are less likely to vote |
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Why is it easier to get congressional support for foreign policies than domestic policies? |
The constituents that they are representing generally do not care as much about foreign policy so they have greater free reign |
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How can the Electoral College exaggerate the margin of victory for a presidential winner? |
It magnifies small changes in popular vote to appear much larger with electoral votes |
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Know the differences between the Virginia Plan, New Jersey Plan and the Great Compromise |
Virginia Plan-Derived from population
New Jersey Plan- Based on equal votes for each state Great Compromise-2 branches- one based on population one on equal votes |
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Know the President's role in the legislative process |
Signs or vetoes bills
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What does the Supreme Court have to say about School Prayer? |
There should not be teacher led prayer, but students are able to individually pray |
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Know the 3 different types of legislative committees |
Standing Committee- Permanent Select Committee- Specific Roles Joint Committee- House and Senate Conference Committee-2 versions of a bill |
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How is the constitution normally amended? |
Two-thirds of the House and Senate approve of the proposal and send it to the states for a vote. Then, three-fourths of the states must approve
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Why doesn't the Death Penalty constitute Cruel and Unusual punishment? |
Is not cruel and unusual if the criminal has killed or attempted to kill someone or other terrible crimes
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Know the differences between categorical and block grants |
Categorical Grants must be spent on something within a certain group. Block Grants support wide needs
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Explain the Iron Triangle |
The iron triangle is the relationship between the bureaucracy, congressmen, and lobbyists that results in the mutual benefit of all three of them
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What is the demographic make-up of the two major parties? |
Democratic- Women, Minorities, Younger
Republican-White, Men, Old |
