Federal Government Exam 1

Front 1

Political Efficacy

Back 1

The belief that ordinary citizens can affect what government does, that they can make government listen to them.

Front 2

Representative democracy/ Republic

Back 2

A system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making.

Front 3

Equality of opportunity

Back 3

A widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential.

Front 4

Political equality

Back 4

The right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one vote"

Front 5

The three fifths compromise

Back 5

The agreement reached at the constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, every slave would be counted as 3/5's of a person.

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Judicial review

Back 6

The power of the courts to review and, if necessary, declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional; the supreme court asserted this in Marbury V. Madison.

Front 7

Supremacy clause

Back 7

Article Vl of the constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision.

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Full faith and credit clause

Back 8

Part of the constitution requiring that the states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state.

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Privileges and immunities clause

Back 9

Provisions of the constitution stating that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privileges.

Front 10

Dual federalism

Back 10

The system of government that prevailed in the US from 1789 to 1937, in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state governments.

Front 11

Grants-in-aid

Back 11

Programs through which congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purpose defined by the federal government.

Front 12

Writ of habeus corpus

Back 12

A court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention.

Front 13

Selective incorporation

Back 13

The process by which different protections in the Bill of Rights were incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment, thus guaranteeing citizens protection from state as well as national governments.

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Exclusionary rule

Back 14

The ability of courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

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Eminent domain

Back 15

The right of government to take private property for public use.

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Equal protection clause

Back 16

A provision of the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing citizens "the equal protection of the laws." This clause has been the basis for the civil rights of African Americans, women, and other groups.

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Civil war amendments

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Thirteenth Amendment- Abolish slavery

Fourteenth Amendment- Guaranteed equal protection and due process.

Fifteenth Amendment- Guaranteed voting rights for African American men.

Front 18

strict scrutiny

Back 18

Is a form of judicial review that courts use to determine the constitutionality of certain laws.

Front 19

intermediate scrutiny

Back 19

A test used by the supreme court in gender discrimination cases that places the burden of proof partially on the government and partially on the challengers to show that the law is in question is unconstitutional.

Front 20

The Great Compromise

Back 20

Was the agreement that gave each state equal numbers of senators regardless of its population. It linked representation in the House of Representatives to popuation. The compromise was not immediately satisfactory at first. 2 vocal members of the small state faction actually stormed out of the convention. However, most of the delegates preferred the compromise.

Front 21

Separation between church and state

Back 21

Many view separation of church and state as required by the First Amendment. The First Amendment allows citizens the freedom to practice any religion of their choice. It also prevents the government from officially recognizing or favoring any religion.

Front 22

Civil Rights and the Supreme Court: "Separate but Equal"

Back 22

In the school system there were water fountains for blacks and whites which meant there were separate water fountains and both provided water but deemed unconstitutional. In the decision of Brown versus Board of Education, in 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled separate but equal schools unconstitutional. This ruling was followed by several civil rights laws in the 1960s.