Government

Front 1

Describe the major changes in U.S. political culture since 1950:

Back 1

Less trust of government and institutions

Front 2

What is the most common criterion that people use when voting for a presidential candidate?

Back 2

Party identification

Front 3

What are the primary laws that helped protect the legal rights of women?

Back 3

Civil rights, etc…ERA didn’t pass!

Front 4

What type of committee assignment would a first-term member of the House from North Dakota want?

Back 4

Agriculture

Front 5

What has been the most important variable in determining the electoral success for a House member?

Back 5

Incumbency

Front 6

Why is the Rules Committee in the House so powerful?

Back 6

Determines open/close rules which regulates debate

Front 7

Describe the relationship between socioeconomic status and participation in politics:

Back 7

Directly related—income up, participation up

Front 8

What was the significance of the SC case U.S. v. Nixon?

Back 8

Executive privilege is limited

Front 9

How does “pork barrel” legislation help the reelection chances of a member of Congress?

Back 9

Builds constituent service

Front 10

Describe the pluralist theory of American politics:

Back 10

Many groups compete

Front 11

What types of groups would be the LEAST likely to maintain a national lobbying organization in D.C.?

Back 11

Dealing w/ poor

Front 12

Identify the factors that have affected the presidential election process since 1960:

Back 12

More independence=primaries more important

Front 13

In the original Constitution what office was the only one elected directly by citizens?

Back 13

House

Front 14

Describe the relationship between the SC and public opinion:

Back 14

Sensitive to and energized by public opinion

Front 15

What SC cases involved the principle of “one person, one vote”?

Back 15

Baker v. Carr

Front 16

What does debate of a bill in the House under a “closed rule” mean?

Back 16

No amendments can be added

Front 17

Describe the effects of reforms of the presidential nomination process over the past 20 years:

Back 17

More democratic (more females, minorities, etc.)

Front 18

Describe the reasons incumbents in the House enjoy an electoral advantage over challengers:

Back 18

More money, better known, bigger staffs, constituents

Front 19

Describe the function of the Office of Management and Budget:

Back 19

Preparing budget

Front 20

Who draws the boundary lines of congressional districts?

Back 20

State legislators

Front 21

What is the most common form of political activity undertaken by U.S. citizens?

Back 21

Voting (Presidential elections)

Front 22

Describe the feelings that most citizens have regarding the rights of free speech and assembly?

Back 22

Contradicting—good in abstract, bad in concrete

Front 23

The 14th Amendment to the constitution has been interpreted by the SC to:

Back 23

Incorporate bill of rights

Front 24

The legislative process at the national level reflects the intent of the framers to create a legislature that:

Back 24

Is cautious, deliberate, slow—gridlock etc.

Front 25

Describe the major consequences of the federal system in the U.S.:

Back 25

Federalism—division of power

Front 26

Describe the effects of divided party control of the presidency and Congress:

Back 26

Divided government now the norm—gridlock, etc.

Front 27

Describe the primary purpose of the Freedom of Information Act:

Back 27

Gives citizens access to gov’t info

Front 28

Describe the major effects of the electoral college system:

Back 28

Forces candidates to campaign only in competitive states

Front 29

The congressional system of standing (permanent) committees has resulted in what major trend among members?

Back 29

Expertise

Front 30

Describe the major differences between elections for the House of Representatives and the Senate:

Back 30

The size of constituent blocks

Front 31

In contrast to revenue sharing, categorical grants-in-aid provide state and local governments with:

Back 31

Clearly specified programs on which to spend their money

Front 32

What branch is empowered to create new federal courts and specify the number of sitting judges?

Back 32

Congress

Front 33

For what purpose was the War Powers Resolution (1973) created?

Back 33

To make congress stronger than the pres

Front 34

What is the primary reason for the current existence of only 2 major political parties?

Back 34

Winner-take-all electoral system

Front 35

Describe a scenario in which an interest group would likely have the greatest influence on policy matters:

Back 35

Very technical/narrow issue

Front 36

Describe the factors that have most influence on the outcome of a congressional election:

Back 36

Incumbency

Front 37

Describe recent trends about the voter turnout rate in the U.S.:

Back 37

Less voting

Front 38

Describe how some political scientists refute the argument that a realignment took place in the 1980’s:

Back 38

Congress still democratic

Front 39

Describe the major differences between voters in a general election vs. primaries:

Back 39

General-moderate voters, primaries-extreme

Front 40

Describe the SC rationale in upholding federal statutes that outlawed segregation in public facilities:

Back 40

Interstate commerce clause

Front 41

For what purpose was the clear-and-present-danger test devised by the SC?

Back 41

To limit free speech

Front 42

As originally ratified, the U.S. Constitution included provisions primarily designed to:

Back 42

Increase powers of central government (taxation, etc.)

Front 43

Describe the main difference between elite theories and pluralist theories of politics in the U.S:

Back 43

Elite-few single groups dominate, Pluralist-many groups compete

Front 44

A committee chair in the House of Representatives is always:

Back 44

Member of the majority party

Front 45

Describe how independent regulatory agencies are different from cabinet departments:

Back 45

Independent-free from presidential control

Front 46

Describe the major differences between the legislative process in the House and Senate:

Back 46

Debate in House limited, unlimited in Senate

Front 47

How does most communication between congressional representatives and constituents occur?

Back 47

Huge staffs-able to do constituent service

Front 48

The SC’s decision about abortion in Roe v. Wade was based on what legal rationale?

Back 48

Right to privacy

Front 49

Describe the major trends evident in presidential elections in the 1980’s?

Back 49

White south became Republican

Front 50

Describe how incumbent senators running for reelection are different from House incumbents:

Back 50

Senate incumbents not as high as in house

Front 51

The framers of the Constitution all believed that this was one of the primary functions of government:

Back 51

Protecting rights

Front 52

In the Federalist Papers, James Madison expressed this view about political factions:

Back 52

Undesirable but inevitable

Front 53

At least four justices on the Supreme Court must agree to:

Back 53

Hear a case (rule of 4)

Front 54

Describe the nomination process for federal judgeships:

Back 54

President appoints, Senate confirms

Front 55

Describe the influence of the news media on public opinion in the U.S.:

Back 55

Gatekeeper

Front 56

Presidents primarily seek staff members who display this attribute:

Back 56

Loyalty

Front 57

Describe factors the president considers when deciding to use the presidential veto:

Back 57

Very powerful, not used often, rarely overridden

Front 58

Describe major trends related to political action committees (PACs):

Back 58

Limited by law

Front 59

does a “cloture motion” passed in the Senate do?

Back 59

Ends a filibuster—needs 3/5 or 60% vote

Front 60

Describe the impact of using primaries instead of party conventions in selecting presidential candidates:

Back 60

Weakens parties—process is more democratic

Front 61

Describe the factors that led to the recent rise of interest groups and decline of political parties:

Back 61

Interest groups—specific, parties—vague

Front 62

Which demographic groups voted most heavily Democratic in pres. Elections 1964-1992?

Back 62

African-Americans

Front 63

Which law did Congress pass to enforce the Fourteenth Amendment more clearly?

Back 63

Civil rights act of 1964

Front 64

Describe how “elastic clause” has shaped American politics:

Back 64

Allows powers of Constitution to move beyond politics

Front 65

How do most criminal cases end?

Back 65

Plea bargain

Front 66

What is a term used to describe SC justices who defer to the elective institutions of government?

Back 66

Judicial restraint

Front 67

In what governmental area is Congress most likely to defer to the President?

Back 67

Foreign policy

Front 68

Describe how the President can be more successful than Congressional leaders in influencing legislation:

Back 68

Through the media

Front 69

What was the underlying intent of giving presidents line-item veto power?

Back 69

Control spending/budget

Front 70

Describe Congress’ role in executive agreements made between a President and another head of state:

Back 70

No role whatsoever *executive agreements=executive action that doesn’t require congressional approval