Midterm Flash Cards

Front 1

Define Filibuster.

Back 1

rule unique to the U.S. Senate that allows any senator to hold the floor indefinitely and thereby delay a vote on a bill to which he or she objects.

Front 2

What is a Legislative hold?

Back 2

An informal way for a senator to object to a bill or other measure to reaching the Senate floor.

Front 3

Descriptive Representation vs. Substantive Representation.

Back 3

Descriptive Representation: measures the extent to which they look like the people they represent such as race, ethnicity, age, national origin, etc.

Substantive Representation: sharing views about political issues.

Front 4

Delegate view of Representation vs. Trustee view of Representation.

Back 4

Delegate view: "I am more apt to be a delegate and take my voting instructions directly from my constituents."

Trustee view: "I am more inclined to be a trustee and do what I believe to be the right thing on my behalf of my constituents."

Front 5

What is Reapportionment?

Back 5

Reorganization of the boundaries of House and districts, a process that follows the results of the U.S. census, taken every ten years.

Front 6

Whale vs. Minnows.

Back 6

Lyndon Johnson divided colleagues into two camps:

Whales; who could influence landmark legislation.

Minnows; who dutifully followed others.

Front 7

House and Senate Committees.

Back 7

House Committees: Agricultural, Budget, Education and Labor, Foreign Affairs

Senate Committees: Armed Services, Finance, Foreign Relations, Health

Front 8

What is an earmark?

Back 8

A legislative item, usually included in spending bills, that directs Congress to fund a particular item in one House district or senator's state.

Front 9

What is a veto, and who has the powers?

Back 9

Veto is to reject; The President and Congress have the powers.

Front 10

Define a Republic.

Back 10

A government in which citizens rule indirectly. They make decisions through elected representatives.

Front 11

Define a Democracy.

Back 11

For the people by the people (people are suppose to have a say; governed by the people).

Front 12

Define Military Industrial Complex.

Back 12

A network of influence and money flowing among defense contractors, military figures in the Pentagon, and defense policy officials in Congress and the White House.

Front 13

What is the Electoral College?

Back 13

The system established by the Constitution to elect the President; each state has a group of electors.

Front 14

What is the system of Checks and Balances?

Back 14

The principle that each branch of government can block any other branch.

Front 15

What are the four "I"s

Back 15

Ideas, Institutions, Interests, Individuals.

Front 16

Define Freedom.

Back 16

The ability to pursue one's own desires without interference from others.

Front 17

Negative Liberty vs. Positive Liberty

Back 17

Negative Liberty: freedom is the absence of constraints

Positive Liberty: the freedom to pursue one's goals

Front 18

What is a Libertarian?

Back 18

People who believe in minimal government; politics should only defend borders, prosecute crime and protect property.

Front 19

Conservative vs. Liberal

Back 19

Conservative: Americans who believe in reduced government spending, personal responsibility, traditional moral values, and a strong national defense. Also known as right or right-wing.

Liberal: Americans who value cultural diversity, government programs for the needy, public intervention in the economy, and individuals’ right to a lifestyle based on their own social and moral positions. Also known as left or left-wing.

Front 20

Referendum and Initiatives

Back 20

Referendum: An election in which citizens vote directly on an issue.

Initiatives: A process in which citizens propose new laws or amendments to the state constitution.

Front 21

Define Equality.

Back 21

All citizens enjoy the same privileges, status, and rights before the laws.

Front 22

Social equality? Political equality? Economic equality?

Back 22

Social equality: All individuals enjoy the same status in society.

Political equality: All citizens have the same political rights and opportunities.

Economic equality: A situation in which there are only small differences in wealth among citizens.

Front 23

Equal Opportunity vs. Equal Outcome

Back 23

Equal Opportunity: Idea that everyone has an equal chance to achieve economic success.

Equal Outcome: Idea that citizens should have equal economic circumstances.

Front 24

Who was Crispus Attikas?

Back 24

He was the first sailor to die in the Boston Massacre, and he is thought to have escape slavery 20 years before.

Front 25

Declaration of Independence.

Back 25

Philosophy: Right to life, liberty, and property.

27 Grievances against King George III.

Front 26

Colonists broke away from England on _________.

Back 26

July 4, 1776

Front 27

What is a confederation?

Back 27

An alliance of independent states.

Front 28

What was the Constitutional Convention?

Back 28

James Madison, Virginia Plan, NJ Plan, Connecticut Compromise.

Front 29

Virginia Plan.

Back 29

Madison's plan, strengthen national government relative to state governments.

Front 30

The New Jersey Plan.

Back 30

A plan the focused on strengthening the Articles of Confederation. It put forward at the Constitutional Convention by the small states. Left most gov. authority with the state governments.

Front 31

Connecticut Compromise.

Back 31

an 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

Front 32

Define Bicameral.

Back 32

Having two legislative house/ chambers.

Front 33

What was the 3/5 Compromise and the arguments behind it.

Back 33

South was behind it, counted slaves as 3/5 a person.

Front 34

What are the Articles of Confederation?

Back 34

The first constitution in America.

Front 35

What is the Constitution?

Back 35

The Constitution is the supreme law of the land in the United States.

Front 36

What are Bill of Rights?

Back 36

First ten Amendments of the Constitution.

Front 37

What is a Unitary government?

Back 37

A national polity governed as a single unit.

Front 38

Granted Powers.

Back 38

National government powers set out explicitly in the Constitution.

Front 39

What is federalism?

Back 39

Power divided between national and state government. Each has its own independent authority and its own duties.

Front 40

Necessary and Proper Clause.

Back 40

allows Congress "To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the [enumerated] Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof."

Front 41

Inherent Powers.

Back 41

national government implied, but not specifically named in, the Constitution.

Front 42

What is a Supremacy Clause?

Back 42

declaration that the national governments prevails over any state or local government.

Front 43

What are reserved powers?

Back 43

The guarantee that the states retain gov authority not explicitly granted to the national government

Front 44

What are concurrent powers?

Back 44

Government authority shared by national and state governments, such as the power to tax residents.

Front 45

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Back 45

Requirement that each state recognizes and upholds laws passed by any other state.

Front 46

Grants in Aid

Back 46

National gov funding provided to state and local governments.

Front 47

New Federalism

Back 47

Version of cooperative federalism, stronger emphasis on state and local government activity versus national government.