Half Of Political Science Midterm Terms

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Supreme Court

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the highest judicial court in a country or state, nine justices

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Federal judges

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judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate

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Stamp Act

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an act of the British Parliament (1765) for raising revenue in the American colonies by requiring that documents, newspapers, etc., bear an official stamp. Not including postage stamps

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Boston Tea Party

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An act of defiance toward the British government by American colonists, The government in London had given a British company the right to sell tea directly to the colonies, thereby undercutting American merchants. Americans dumped several hundred chests of tea in the Boston Harbor

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Intolerable Acts

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Also known as the Coercive Acts, designed to punish the Massachusetts colonists for the Boston Tea Party. Included the Quebec, quartering, Boston Port, Massachusetts bay Regulating and Impartial Administration of Justice Act

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Tea Act

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Act of the Parliament of Great Britain. Its principal over objective was to reduce the massive surplus of tea held by the financially troubled British East India Company in its London warehouses and to help the struggling company survive.

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Laissez Faire

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abstention by governments from interfering in the workings of the free market, a policy or attitude of letting things take their own course, without interfering

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Due Process

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legal proceedings of fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.

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Prospectivity

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Relates to potential of an area to host economic minerals

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Prima Facie

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based on the first impression; accepted as correct until proved otherwise.

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Majority

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a number of votes that is more than half of the total number(political party), the age at which full civil rights are accorded, considered full adult, age 18 or 21

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Plurality

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the number of votes cast for a candidate who receives more than any other but does not receive an absolute majority.

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Courts of Appeal

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designed as part of the system of due process. Cases may be presented to these courts if a party is dissatisfied with the original court's decision. 12 courts.

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Federal District Courts

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Just about every civil or criminal case heard in the federal courts starts at the district court level. District court judges review petitions, hear motions, hold trials, issue injunctions, and keep the wheels of justice spinning. Trial courts, 94 courts.

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Indictment

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a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime. a thing that serves to illustrate that a system or situation is bad and deserves to be condemned.

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Grand Jury

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a jury, normally of twenty three jurors, selected to examine the validity of an accusation before trial.

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Writ of Certiorari

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a writ by which a superior court can call up for review the record of a proceeding in an inferior court

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Presidential Pardons

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President "shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States,except in Cases of Impeachment."

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Implied Powers

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power that is not specifically authorized in writing, but is assumed because of similar powers which have already been granted in writing.

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Imposts

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a tax or similar compulsory payment or A tax levied on imports

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Filibuster

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an action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures. Or a person engaging in unauthorized warfare against a foreign country

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Cloture

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(in a legislative assembly) a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote

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Speaker of the House

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The presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives. The Speaker, a member of the House, is elected by a majority party caucus. Under vice president

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Enumeration

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collection of items that is a complete, ordered listing of all of the items in that collection. Votes

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Redistricting

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divide or organize (an area) into new political districts, process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, States control this within their own

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Gerrymandering

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manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class. achieve (a result) by manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency. Related to redistricting

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Impeachments

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formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as criminal or civil punishment.

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Shays rebellion

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armed uprising that took place in Massachusetts, they were dissatisfied with the state and federal governments, able to shut down court system, many revolted also because of other financial problems like debt

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Pontiac's rebellion

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Indians of the Great Lakes region against British rule after the French and Indian War. The Indians, who had formed alliances with the defeated French, were dissatisfied with treatment from British officials. Also, English started trespassing on their land

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Bacon's rebellion

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armed rebellion in 1676 by Virginia settlers led by Nathaniel Bacon against the rule of Governor William Berkeley. The immediate cause of the rebellion was Governor William Berkeley's recent refusal to retaliate for a series of Native American attacks on frontier settlements

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Whiskey rebellion

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tax protest during the presidency of George Washington The rebellion was provoked by the imposition of an excise tax on distilled drinks (alcohol). The new excise was a part of treasury secretary Alexander Hamilton's program to fund war debt incurred during the Revolutionary War.

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EX Post Facto

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with retroactive effect or force. laws adopted after an act is committed making it illegal although it was legal when done. In Art. 1 section 9

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Bills of Attainder

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A legislative act pronouncing a person guilty of a crime, usually treason, without trial and subjecting that person to capital punishment and attainder. Such acts are prohibited by the U.S. Constitution. In Article 1 Section 9 and 10

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Necessary and Proper Clause

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in Article 1 Section 8, enables Congress to make the laws required for the exercise of its other powers established by the Constitution. grants Congress the powers that are implied in the Constitution, but that are not explicitly stated

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Great Compromise

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aka Connecticut Compromise, agreement that large and small states reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution. retained the bicameral legislature, Each state would have two Senates in the upper house and proportional representation in lower house(house of Representatives).

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Virginia Plan

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proposal by Virginia delegates for a bicameral legislative branch. The plan was drafted by James Madison

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Inalienable Rights

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a right according to natural law, a right that cannot be taken away,denied, or transferred

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Federalist Paper 10

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arguing for the ratification of the United States Constitution, addresses the question of how to guard against "factions", or groups of citizens, with interests contrary to the rights of others or the interests of the whole community, argued that a strong, big republic would be a better guard against those dangers than smaller republics

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Federalist Paper 51

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addresses means by which appropriate checks and balances can be created in government and also advocates a separation of powers within the national government. "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition". maintain the separate branches of government, and to protect the rights of the people and of the country

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Anti Federalist

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group of diverse individuals that formed to oppose the ratification (passage) of the new federal Constitution in 1787. They were united by their fear of a powerful and potentially oppressive national government, a government dominated by wealthy aristocrats, and the absence of a bill of rights in the new Constitution.

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Aristocracy

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a form of government in which power is held by the nobility. a government in which power is vested in a minority consisting of those believed to be best qualified

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Arete

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the aggregate of qualities, as determination and virtue, making up good character. a sharp mountain ridge.

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Tyranny

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cruel and oppressive government or rule. cruel, unreasonable, or arbitrary use of power or control.

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Sovereignity

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the authority of a state to govern itself or another state. ultimate authority in the decision making process of the state and in the maintenance of order

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Mercantilism

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belief in the benefits of profitable trading; commercialism. theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances, which a government should encourage by means of protectionism.

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Generality

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a statement or principle having general rather than specific validity or force. the majority. not specific or detailed

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bicameralism

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having two branches, chambers, or houses, as a legislative body. Senate and Representative

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Consent

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permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.

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Proclamation of 1763

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by King George III following Great Britain's acquisition of French territory in North America after the end of the French and Indian War/Seven Years' War, in which it forbade settlers from settling past a line drawn along the Appalachian mountains

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Declaration of Independence

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formal statement written by Thomas Jefferson declaring the freedom of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain. Second Continental Congress declared it. Signers included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Jefferson

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Treaty of Paris 1783

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ended the American Revolutionary War between Great Britain and the United States of America. France, Spain and the Dutch Republic had separate agreements. Its territorial provisions were "exceedingly generous" to the United States in terms of enlarged boundaries.

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Articles of Confederation

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the original constitution of the US, ratified in 1781, which was replaced by the US Constitution in 1789. foundation for the constitution, 13 Articles

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Treaty of Paris 1763

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signed on 10 February 1763 by the kingdoms of Great Britain, France and Spain, with Portugal in agreement, after Britain's victory over France and Spain during the French and Indian War. Britain got Canada. Havana(Cuba), area from Mississippi River to Appalachian Mountains, Florida and other territories

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3/5's Compromise

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3/5s of slaves would be counted when determining a state's total population for constitutional purposes like taxation and representation, proposed by James Madison

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20 years Compromise

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made by Mr. James Madison, legislative branch would have to leave slave trade untouched for twenty years, but then may impose taxes on the trade in 1808.

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Article 1 Sec 9

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places limits on Congress' powers: Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus , No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed, No Capitation, or other direct, Tax shall be laid, No Tax or Duty shall be laid on Articles exported from any State No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States , The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit(slaves, 20 years compromise), No Preference shall be given by any Regulation of Commerce or Revenue to the Ports of one State over those of another

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Article 1 Section 7

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Bills, All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills, Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States( Presentment Clause),two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, approved by two thirds of that House, then law, Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law,

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Article 2

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Executive branch(President), Vice President, Senate and Representatives, how they are chosen, requirements, how many, removal/impeachment, President power

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Article 3

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Judicial Branch(courts, judges etc.)power, State relationships in judicial branch, judicial review, writ of certiorari, no attainder of treason shall work Corruption of Blood(family), 2 witnesses for treason, no jury only for impeachments

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Article 4

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Relationships between states and Powers, it establishes equal treatment and freedom of movement for the free inhabitants of each state to pass unhindered between the states, excluding "paupers, vagabonds, and fugitives from justice." If a crime is committed in one state and the perpetrator flees to another state, he will be extradited to and tried in the state in which the crime was committed.

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Article 5

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Proposing and ratifying amendments, 2/3 for proposing(States or House common), ¾ for ratifying(States common, house)

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Article 6

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Federal powers, The Constitution and federal laws are higher than state and local laws. All laws must agree with the US Constitution. Debts, oaths and Treaties for government. Only the central government is allowed to conduct foreign political or commercial relations and to declare war.

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Article 7

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Ratification of Constitution for states, must be ratified by nine states, on Spetmenber17 1787, Unanimous Consent, all signed except Rhode Island,

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Preamble

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The Preamble lists the reasons that the 13 original colonies separated from their mother country, and became an independent nation.

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Article 1 Section 8

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Enumerated(numbered) powers of congress, like Necessary and proper clause, declare War, punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, coin Money, lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, etc.

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Article 1 Section 3

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Composition; Election of Senators, two Senators from each State for six years, one vote, Vacancies(expiration every 2 years), Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided. Senate may elect a President pro tempore to act in the Vice President's absence. The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments

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Article 1 Section 2

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Composition and election of House of Representatives, chosen every second Year by the People of the state, Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, Inhabitant of that State, 3/5s compromise, When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies. he House of Representatives shall choose [sic] their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

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House of Burgesses

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first legislative assembly of elected representatives in North America the lower house of the colonial Virginia legislature. established by the Virginia Company in Jamestown

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Natural law

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a body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct, system of right or justice common to all humankind, can be traced to Aristotle, Declaration of Independence refer only briefly to “the Laws of Nature” before citing equality and other “unalienable” rights as “self evident.”

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Natural Rights

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Rights that people supposedly have under natural law. The Declaration of Independence of the United States lists life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as natural rights.

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Oligarchy

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a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution, a state or organization so ruled, Our government is a bit oligarchic