Shannon's Mid-Term Exam Review
What are the 10 Amendments in the Bill of Rights?
1. Guarantees the freedom to peacefully assemble and petition. 2. Protects our right to possess firearms. 3. The government can't require citizens to house soldiers during peace time. 4. Protects people against unreasonable search and seizure. 5. Guarantees our right to life, liberty property, and the due process of law. 6. Guarantees the right to a trial by jury in most criminal cases. 7. Guarantees the the right to a trial by jury in civil cases. 8. Protects people against cruel and unusual punishment. 9. Declares that powers not given to the Constitution belong to the people. 10. Protects people against unreasonable search and seizure.
Who is next in line if something happens to the President?
1. vice President 2. Speaker Of The House 3.House Of Representatives
what is the length of one term for a representative
2 years
what is the minimum age requirement for a representatives
25 years old
How many amendments are there in the constitution?
27 amendments
what is the minimum age requirement for a senator
30 or over
what is the minimum age requirement for a president
35 years
what is the length of one term for a president
4 years
How many electoral votes are there in the u.s.?
538 electoral votes
what is the length of one term for a senator
6 years
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
9
what is a plank
A SPECIFIC ISSUE that is a part of a parties' or candidates platform
Census
A complete enumeration of a population.
What was the 3/5 compromise?
A decision counting slaves as 3/5 of a person when determining state population.
What is a republic?
A government in which citizens rule through elected representatives
what is a charter?
A legal document giving certain rights to a person or company
Caucus
A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.
Filibuster
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.
Cloture
A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.
What is federalism?
A sharing of power between states and national government
pocket veto
A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.
Precinct
A voting district
hat is the Senate's role in the impeachment process?
After hearing the charges, the Senate usually deliberates in private. The Constitution requires a two-thirds super majority to convict a person being impeached. The Senate enters judgment on its decision, whether that be to convict or acquit, and a copy of the judgment is filed with the Secretary of State.
presidents judicial role
Among the president's constitutional powers is that of appointing important public officials; presidential nomination of federal judges, including members of the Supreme Court, is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
What's the Great Compromise?
An agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 between delegates of the states with large and small populations that defined the structure of Congress and the number of representatives each state would have in Congress according to the United States Constitution
judical activism
An effort by judges to take an active role in policy making by overturning laws relatively often
Speaker of the House
An office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.
What are the 7 articles of the Constitution?
Article 1: Legislative Branch Article 2: Executive Branch Article 3: Judicial Branch Article 4: National Unity and Power Article 5: Amending the constitution Article 6: National Supremacy Article 7: Ratification
what is the title of the leader of the department of justice called
Attorney General
describe the 24th amendment
Banned poll taxes in primary and general elections for national office.
who came up with the idea of separation powers?
Baron de Montesquieu
What is discrimination?
Biased actions against an individual or group
What did the Anti-Federalists want?
Bill of Rights
Chief of State
Ceremonial head of government
Describe the 17th Amendment.
Direct election of senators
What does the executive branch do?
Enforces the laws passed by Congress. President, Governor.
describe the 18th amendment
Established Prohibition by making it illegal to make, transport, or drink alcohol.
Describe the 12th amendment
Featured snippet from the web The Twelfth Amendment stipulates that each elector must cast distinct votes for President and Vice President, instead of two votes for President.
primary
First or most significant
describe the 19th amendment
Gave women the right to vote
Patronage
Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support
What did the Roger Williams case deal with?
He had the right of freedom of religion the first amendment
what is the preamble?
Introduction to the Constitution
Describe the 13th amendment
It abolished slavery
describe the 15th amendment
It gave black men the right to vote
Describe the 14th amendment
It gave freed slaves rights as citizens
When is the president inaugurated?
January 20th
what is natural rights?
Life, Liberty, and Property
what are three unalienable rights listed in the deceleration of independence
Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness
what is quartering?
Lodging for soldiers
What does the legislative branch do?
Makes laws
Describe the 20th Amendment.
Moved inauguration day to January 20th (FDR was the first to be inaugurated on this new day in 1936)
Describe the 22nd Amendment
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.
President Pro Tempore
Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president
whats the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction courts?
Original jurisdiction means that the court has the right to hear the case first. Appellate jurisdiction means that the court hears an appeal from a court of original jurisdiction
Whips
Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party.
what were the charges that the house of representatives brought against president Trump, did they pass these charges?
Plosive accused Trump of betraying his oath of office, U.S. national security, and the integrity of the country's elections. The six committees charged with the task are those on Financial Services, the Judiciary, Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, Oversight and Reform, and Ways and Means, yes
What are reserved powers?
Powers given to the state governments
What are implied powers?
Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution
why did Nixon refuse to release the secret tapes of his white house conversations
President Nixon initially refused to release the tapes, for two reasons: first, that the Constitutional principle of executive privilege extends to the tapes and citing the separation of powers and checks and balances within the Constitution, and second, claiming they were vital to national security.
Describe the 21st Amendment
Repealed the 18th Amendment - Prohibition; alcohol was then taxed to raise revenue
what is usually the title of the leaders of the executive department
Secretary's
why was the government divided into three branches
So no branch can gain too much power and influence, thus reducing the opportunity for tyrannical government.
What is a witness?
Someone whose life gives testimony to his or her beliefs
What is a constitution?
Supreme law of the land
Describe the 23rd Amendment
The 23rd amendment gives residents of Washington DC the right to vote for representatives in the Electoral College
Describe the 27th Amendment
The 27th amendment deals with pay raises or decreases for members of Congress. Changes to Congressional pay must take effect after the next term of office for the representatives. This means that another election would have had to occur before the pay raises can take effect
what were the reasons that the colonists wanted freedom from english rule
The Colonists wanted independence from Great Britain because the king created unreasonable taxes
which group of the government makes the final decision to remove a president from office?
The Constitution gives Congress the authority to impeach and remove "The President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States" upon a determination that such officers have engaged in treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Describe the 11th amendment
The Eleventh Amendment restricts the ability of individuals to bring suit against states in federal court.
What did the John Peter Zinger case deal with?
The First Amendment freedom of speech
What is the House's role in the impeachment process?
The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment. ... The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation.
how can the senate check the power of both the president and supreme court
The Senate also checks the President by having the power to approve or not approve the treaties he makes with other nations. The Senate also approves the appointments that the President makes to his Cabinet, ambassadors, federal judges, and all civilian employees of the government who are not covered by another area
what did the Brown v. Board of ed case deal with?
The Supreme Court held that "separate but equal" facilities are inherently unequal and violate the protections of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
what did the Tinker case deal with?
The Supreme Court held that the armbands represented pure speech that is entirely separate from the actions or conduct of those participating in it. The Court also held that the students did not lose their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech when they stepped onto school property.
why were charges brought against president Clinton? Did the house pass these charges
The charges stemmed from a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Clinton, two passed, making Clinton the second president to be impeached, after Andrew Johnson in 1868.
What are the Bill of Rights?
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution
When do federal elections take place?
The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November
Constitutents
The people that a Congressman/Congresswoman represents. (us)
What is seperation of powers?
The powers of the national government are separated into three separate branches to help prevent the misuse of the power.
what reasoning did Jefferson use in order for him to purchase Louisiana
The reasons included future protection, expansion, prosperity and the mystery of unknown lands.
Describe the 26th Amendment
The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age.
Chief Executive
The role of the president as head of the executive branch of the government.
Chief Diplomat
The role of the president in recognizing foreign governments, making treaties, and effecting executive agreements.
What are checks and balances?
The system in which it is made sure that no branch has more power than the other.
What did the Dred Scott case deal with?
They ruled that slaves were property under the Fifth Amendment, and that any law that would deprive a slave owner of that property was unconstitutional.
what is delegated powers
Those powers, expressed, implied, or inherent, granted to the National Government by the constitution
What is a bicameral legislature?
Two house legislature
What is a direct democracy?
Voting "directly" for leaders/laws
straight ticket
Voting for candidates who are all of the same party
When can the Vice President vote in the Senate?
When there is a tie
what did the supreme court decide in the case of Truman vs. steel mills
a United States Supreme Court decision that limited the power of the President of the United States to seize private property.
What is an idictment?
a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime
What is a unicameral legislature?
a lawmaking body with a single house of elected representatives
What Is Alien?
a non-citizen
bill
a proposed law
judicail restraint
a theory of judicial interpretation that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power
how do third parties influence an election?
a third party is any party contending for votes that failed to out poll either of its two strongest rivals
describe the 16th amendment
allows the federal government to impose direct taxes on citizens' incomes
What is affirmative action?
an action or policy favoring those who tend to suffer from discrimination, especially in relation to employment or education; positive discrimination.
What is a compact?
an agreement, or contract, among a group of people
precedent
an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action
What is prohibition?
banning of alcohol
Why was the civil service system created?
because government jobs used to be given to friends and supporters of the President (loyalty was more important than skill) - the President chooses less than 1% of the executive branch workers
who does the president deliver the state of the union address to
congress
What did the Skokie case deal with?
denied a stay for an injunction depriving the Nazi Party of protected First Amendment rights
What did Shays Rebellion show about the articles of confederation
it showed the weakness of the articles of confederation
can executive privilege be used to hide a possible crime
no
how many presidents have been removed from office through impeachment
none
which presidents have officially been impeached
none
incumbent
obligatory, required, one who holds a specific office at the time spoken of
what is ratification
official approval
what type of bills can only be introduced in the house of representatives
only Members of Congress can introduce a bill in Congress. Bills can be introduced at any time the House is in session. There are four basic types of legislation: bills; joint resolutions; concurrent resolutions; and simple resolutions.
what is a representative?
person chosen by the people to make decisions for them
Lobbyist
persuader of legislators
What are enumerated powers?
powers belonging only to the federal government
What are inherent powers?
powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it
What are concurrent powers?
powers shared by the federal and state governments
What does the judicial branch do?
reviews laws explains laws resolves disputes (disagreements) decides if a law goes against the Constitution
What is segregation?
separation of the races
What did the Federalists want?
strong central government
Chief Legislator
term for the president as architect of public policy and the one who sets the agenda for congress
Commander in Chief
term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces
Chief of Party
term for the president as the leader of his or her political party
how are the numbers of representatives for each state chosen
the House of Representatives are apportioned among the states by population, as determined by the census conducted every ten years. Each state is entitled to at least one representative, however small its population.
describe the 25th amendment
the President becomes unable to do their job, the Vice President becomes the President.
what is the presidents role in congress?
the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress.
who gave us the idea of a republic?
the Romans
what did the California v. Bakke case deal with
the court minimized white opposition to the goal of equality, while with holding the fourteenth amendment
What are platforms?
the declared policy of a political party or group.
Who gave us the idea of direct democracy?
the earliest known of direct democracy was Athens
judical review
the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional
what is naturalization?
the process of becoming a citizen
What is double jeopardy?
the prosecution of a person twice for the same offense.
What is suffrage?
the right to vote
what did the Plessy v. Ferguson deal with?
they conceded that the 14th Amendment intended to establish absolute equality for the races before the law, but held that separate treatment did not imply the inferiority of African Americans.
what does it mean to impeach someone?
to accuse them, remove them from office
canvass
to go through an area in order to procure votes, sales, or opinions; to go over in detail; to discuss
what does it mean to veto?
to reject
split-ticket voting
voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election
What did the Phillips v. Martin Marietta corp case deal with?
women are included in the civil rights movement, and refusal to hire women with preschool-age children