Gov. Final

Front 1

define Articles of Confederation

Back 1

First constitution of the United States, adopted during the last stages of the revolutionary war where the power was in the states not central gov.

Front 2

Define Anti-Federalists

Back 2

Opponents of the constitution during the fight over ratification

Front 3

Define Confederation

Back 3

A loose association of states or territorial divisions in which very little power is lodged in the central government

Front 4

Define Constitution

Back 4

the basic framework of law that prescribes how government is to be organized, how decisions are to be made, and what powers and responsibilities it shall have.

Front 5

Define Connecticut Compromise

Back 5

Called the great compromise, between new jersey and Virginia creating the two houses bases on both population and equal state representation

Front 6

Define Checks and Balances

Back 6

principle that the gov. power shall be divided and that the fragments should balance and check each other to prevent tyranny.

Front 7

Define Electoral College

Back 7

elected representatives of the states whose votes formally elect the president of the united states

Front 8

Define the Elastic Clause

Back 8

Article 1 section 8 also called the necessary and proper clause give congress to pass whatever laws needed to do its job

Front 9

Define the Bill of Rights

Back 9

the first 10 amendments of the constitution, pertaining to the protection of basic liberties

Front 10

Define Federal

Back 10

Describing a system of which significant governmental powers are divided between a central government and smaller territorial units, such as states

Front 11

Define Federalists

Back 11

proponents of the constitution during the ratification fight, also the political party of hamiliton, washington and adams

Front 12

Define Separation of Powers

Back 12

distribution of powers amond the legislatvie, executive and judicial branches

Front 13

Define New Jersey Plan

Back 13

proposal by the smaller states at the constitutional convention to create a legislature with equal representation by state not population

Front 14

Define Social contract

Back 14

ideology where a government is not legal unless voted on by the citizens

Front 15

Define Tyranny

Back 15

a government that systematically violates the rights of its citizens

Front 16

Define supremacy clause

Back 16

section 6 that states that itself and the laws of the US take precedence over state

Front 17

Define Unicameral

Back 17

Legislative body with a single chamber

Front 18

Define Virginia Plan

Back 18

proposed by the large states at the const. convention to create a leg. based on population of states

Front 19

Define bicameral

Back 19

a legislative body comprising of 2 houses or chambers

Front 20

Define Constituent

Back 20

a citizen who lives in the district of the elected official

Front 21

define Constituency

Back 21

district of a legislator

Front 22

Define Casework

Back 22

services performed by members of congress for constituents

Front 23

Define Delegate

Back 23

When legislator acts on behalf of constituents

Front 24

Define Enumerated Powers

Back 24

powers of the federal government specifically mentioned in the constitution

Front 25

Define Elastic Clause/Implied Powers

Back 25

Gives congress the ability to make whatever laws needed in order to do their job

Front 26

Define Filibuster

Back 26

Stall tactic in the senate used to talk a bill to death

Front 27

Define Franking Privilege

Back 27

public subsidization of mail from the members of congress to their constituents

Front 28

Define Gerrymandering

Back 28

redrawing of district lines to give that party an advantage

Front 29

Define Hopper

Back 29

The box in the house of representative in which proposed bills are placed.

Front 30

Acquisition by Capture

Capture of Wild Animals

Back 30

If you catch it, you keep it – “first in time rule” applies.

General Rule: a person who first captures otherwise unowned resources is entitled to the resources.

If wild animals are captured the belong to captor. Capture is required, pursuit alone is not enough.

Front 31

Define majority-minority districts

Back 31

districts redrawn to give minorities the majority vote

Front 32

Define Oversitght

Back 32

congressional power to oversee the executive branch and personel to make sure they conform to federal rules

Front 33

Define Pocket Veto

Back 33

bill is rejected if the president takes no action for 10 days

Front 34

Define Partisan

Back 34

committed member of a party seeing things only from the single party's view

Front 35

Define Pork

Back 35

projects meant to bring jobs and credit to the constituency of a congressman

Front 36

Define Redistricting

Back 36

redrawing the district lines to create equal population inside them

Front 37

Define Reciprocity

Back 37

deferral by members of congress to the judgment of subject-matter specialists, mainly on minor bills

Front 38

Define Standing Committee

Back 38

relatively permanent congressional committees that address specific areas of legislation

Front 39

Define Seniority

Back 39

principle that one attains a position on length of service

Front 40

Define Trustee

Back 40

when a legislature votes according to what he thinks is best, not his constituents

Front 41

Define Veto

Back 41

presidential disapproval of a bill that has been passed by both house and senate, can be overridden with a 2/3 vote in both houses

Front 42

Define whip

Back 42

party sub leader who rounds up votes for bills and checks for votes before the actual vote

Front 43

Define Habeas Corpus

Back 43

legal doctrine that a person who is arrested must have a timely hearing before a judge

Front 44

Define Executive Order

Back 44

a rule put in place by president that has the authority of law during his term

Front 45

Define Executive Agreement

Back 45

Presidents agreement with another country that has the force of law like a treaty but without the backing of the senate

Front 46

Define Divided Government

Back 46

When the two houses of the legislative branch are controlled by apposing parties

Front 47

Define Judicial Review

Back 47

Ability of judicial branch to decide if actions by other branches are unconstitutional

Front 48

Define Appellate Courts

Back 48

courts that hear cases on appeal from other courts

Front 49

Define Briefs

Back 49

documents setting out the arguments in legal cases, prepared by attorneys and given to the court

Front 50

Define Concurring Opinion

Back 50

agreeing with the opinion but for different reasons

Front 51

Define Dissenting opinion

Back 51

disagreeing with the majority

Front 52

Define Grand Juries

Back 52

groups of citizens who decide whether there is sufficient evidence to bring an indictment against the accused

Front 53

Define opinion

Back 53

explanation of the majority's reasoning that accompanies a court decision

Front 54

Define opinion of the court

Back 54

majority opinion that accompanies supreme court decision

Front 55

Define original jurisdiction

Back 55

the ability of a court to see a particular type of case first

Front 56

Define plaintiff

Back 56

one who brings suit in a court

Front 57

Define Precedents

Back 57

Rulings by courts that guide judicial reasoning in subsequent cases.

Front 58

Define Standing

Back 58

authority to bring legal action because one is directly affected by the issue at hand

Front 59

Define Test Case

Back 59

a case brought to force the constitutionality of some law

Front 60

What were the three themes of the Declaration of Independence

Back 60

Social Contract theory, Human right, that the gov was created to protect those rights

Front 61

Articles of the confederation

Back 61

Was the joining of the states but not powerfull, states could pretty much do what they wanted

Front 62

What were the 5 shortcoming of the Articles of the confederation

Back 62

would not finance its own activities, could not defen americas interest in foreign affairs, states had power to veto central gov., couldnt deal with foriegn policy, couldnt prevent commercial battles

Front 63

How did the founders stop tyranny

Back 63

elected officials, limited government, limiting influence of majority by making road blocks

Front 64

What is republicanism

Back 64

advocating limited government to protect against tyranny

Front 65

Why were founders worried

Back 65

conventions to keep tabs on legislature were being created in states, unicameral system, property rights threatened

Front 66

What are the congressional powers

Back 66

Enumerated, Implied

Front 67

what were the constraints on congress

Back 67

republicanism, bicameralism, prohibited bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, suspension of writs of habeas corpus, granting titles of nobility

Front 68

What are the qualifications for Texas Governor

Back 68

30, live in texas 5 years, its a 4 year term

Front 69

Requirements to become president

Back 69

resident for 14 years, naturally born citizen, 35

Front 70

What are the roles of the president

Back 70

Commander and Chief, Chief Executive, Chief of State, Foreign Policy Leader, Legislative Leader, Party Leader

Front 71

What is significant about Marbury vs Madison

Back 71

it gave the judicial branch the power of Judicial Review