Magruder's [US] American gov, chs 1-6 review
isolationism
a purposeful refusal to become generally involved in the affairs of the rest of the world
Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of Treasury under Washington, member of Continental Congress, mortally wounded by Aaron Burr in a _____
pocket veto
a type of veto a chief executive may use after a legislature has adjourned when the chief executive does not sign or reject a bill within the time allowed to do so
deterrence
the policy of making America and its allies so militarily strong that their very strength will discourage, or prevent, any attack
commutation
the power to reduce (commute) the length of a sentence or fine for a crime
spoils system
the practice of giving offices and other favors of government to political supporters and friends
recognition
the exclusive power of a President to legally
William Blackstone
English jurist who believed in so-called _____ law, the idea that legal decisions should be made on the basis of similar decisions made in the past
Alexander Pope
English poet, _____, translator of the Iliad and Odyssey, and figure of reason and the Enlightenment, author of Essay on Man and Essay on Criticism, which includes the line, "'Tis with our judgments as our watches, none Go just alike, yet each believes his own"
Articles of Confederation
Established a "firm league of _____" among states, which kept "sovereignty...power...and right...not...expressly delegated" to the United States
Glorious Revolution
Events that led in 1688 to Parliament's inviting William and Mary of Orange to peacefully replace King James II on condition they recognize the authority of Parliament and the rights of _____
George Mason
Virginia author of that state's Declaration of _____, which inspired Jefferson, in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights
Thomas Jefferson
Virginia delegate to Second Continental Congress, draftsman of Declaration of Independence, _____ US President, and engineer of the Louisiana Purchase
containment
a policy based in the belief that if communism could be kept within its existing boundaries, it would collapse under the weight of its internal weaknesses
cloture
a procedure to limit or end floor debate, especially during a filibuster
joint resolution
a proposal for action that has the force of law when passed; usually deals with special circumstances or temporary matters
concurrent resolution
a statement of position on an issue used by the House and Senate acting jointly; does not have the force of law and does not require the President's signature
whips
assistants to the floor leaders in the House and Senate, responsible for monitoring and marshaling votes
executive order
directive, rule, or regulation issued by a chief executive or subordinates, based upon constitutional or statutory authority and having the force of law
Albright, Madeleine (1937-)
served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 1993 to 1997. Later, President Bill Clinton nominated her to became the first woman to hold the Cabinet post of U.S. secretary of state. She held that position from 1997 to 2001; thereafter she became a speaker, consultant, and author.
Shay's Rebellion
Armed uprising of debtor farmers against western _____ government authority 1786-1787
Executive Article
Article II of the US Constitution, which establishes the _____
Marshall, George C. (1880-1959)
General of the Army and Army chief of staff during World War II. He later became secretary of state and then secretary of defense in the administration of Franklin Roosevelt. He was the author of a post-war European Recovery Program that became famously known as the Marshall Plan, for which he received the Nobel Prize for Peace.
Consensus
Generally, agreement among various groups on fundamental matters or broad agreement on public _____; specific to government, consensus makes decisions not by voting with majority rule, but by negotiation until all involved compromise and agree
Feudalism
Generally, the stage of government preceding monarchy: powerful war _____ culture in which the leader is a military figure who maintains power through force and is likely overthrown if considered weak
Interstate compacts
States' _____ among themselves and with _____ states
Bill of Rights
The first _____ amendments to the US Constitution
Oversight function
The process by which Congress, through its committees, checks to see that the _____ branch agencies are carrying out the polices that _____ has set by law
Impeach
To bring formal charges against a public official; in the US, the House has the sole power to impeach, or accuse, and the Senate has the sole power to _____, or judge, impeachment cases
Acquit
To find [someone] not guilty of a charge; both US Presidents who faced impeachment charges were acquitted by the _____
executive departments
often called the Cabinet departments, they are the traditional units of federal administration
chief diplomat
term for the President as the main architect
patronage
the practice of giving jobs to supporters and friends
Majority rule
A device used in democracy that the _____ will be right more often that it is wrong
Plebeians
Ancient Roman term for the _____ poor people of society
Reapportion
Re-_____, particularly seats in a _____
Prorogue
To adjourn a legislative session, a power given to the _____ by the Constitution only when the two houses cannot agree on a date for _____ (so never yet used)
Appropriate
To assign to a particular use; Congress appropriates tens of billions of dollars each year to support _____
Connecticut Compromise
_____ delegates suggested this so-called Great Compromise, which was a pivotal agreement between the competing Virginia and New Jersey plans; created a bi-cameral legislature with equal representation
Apportioned
_____, particularly seats in a _____
federal budget
a detailed financial document containing estimates of federal income and spending during the coming fiscal year
resolution
a measure relating to the business of either house of Congress or expressing an opinion; does not have the force of law and does not require the President's signature
president of the Senate
the presiding officer of a senate; in Congress, the Vice President of the United States; in a State's legislature, either the lieutenant governor or a senator president pro tempore the member of the United States Senate, or of the upper house of a State's legislature, chosen to preside in the absence of the president of the Senate
Speaker of the House
the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, chosen by and from the majority party in the House
Judicial review
The power of a court to determine the _____ of a government action
recognize
(establish formal diplomatic relations with) foreign states
NATO (North American Treaty Organization)
an alliance formed to protect the freedom and security of its members through political and military action
Grant, Ulysses S. (1822-1885)
18th President of the United States from 1869 to 1877. Grant won election after serving as the Union general who led the United States to victory over the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. Grant supported African American rights, Native American policy, and civil service reform; additionally, he supported the creation of a transcontinental railroad. He also executed a successful foreign policy and was responsible for improving Anglo American relations. grants-in-aid programs grants of federal money or other resources to States, cities, counties, and other local units grass-roots pressures on public officials from members of an interest group or the people at large
Garfield, James Garfield (1831-1881)
20th President of the United States, serving from March to September of 1881. He holds the record for the second-shortest time in office. A former major general in the Civil War and a member of the House Representatives from Ohio for nine consecutive terms, President Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau in 1881 after refusing to appoint Guiteau to a diplomatic post.
Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
26th President of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909. Nicknamed Teddy, he was a hunter, soldier, naturalist, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize who also secured the route for and began construction on the Panama Canal.
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (1882-1945)
32nd President of the United States from 1933 to 1945. He was the only President to be elected to the office four times. He led the country through the Great Depression and World War II and developed the system of government programs and reforms together known as the New Deal.
Lyndon Johnson
36th US President, from 1963 to 1969, assumed office after JFK was assassinated and, along with _____, waged undeclared war in Vietnam, resulting in Congress' enacting the War Powers Resolution
Ford, Gerald (1913-2006)
38th President of the United States from 1974 to 1977. After the Watergate scandal forced President Nixon from office in 1974, Vice President Ford became President and served the remainder of the second Nixon term. Ford acted vigorously to maintain United States power abroad and worked to prevent a new war in the Middle East. Ford lost the presidency in 1976 due to economic problems, the effects of Watergate, and his pardon of former President Nixon.
Carter, Jimmy Carter (1924-)
39th President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981. A former naval officer and governor of Georgia, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in 2002 and is the author of 27 books. During his presidency, Carter created the Department of Education, expanded the national park system, and established a relationship with the People's Republic of China.
Obama, Barack
44th US President, first African-American President, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and promoter of the _____ Care Act
Hudson River
A 315-mile long waterway that flows north to south through eastern New York state and which became important in the anti-monopoly case Gibbons v. _____, decided by the Supreme Court
Duty
A _____ on imports
Subpoena
A _____ order for a person to appear and to produce documents or other requested materials
Successor
A _____, a person who inherits a title or office
State
A body of people living in a defined territory who have a government with the power to make and enforce law without consent of any higher authority; a _____, independent government
Amendment
A change or addition to a _____ or law
Tax
A charge levied by government on persons or property to raise money to meet public needs, including protective tariffs on imports and licensing of _____
Presidential government
A form of government in which the _____ and legislative branches are separate, independent, and coequal
Parliamentary government
A form of government in which the executive branch is made up of a prime _____, or premier, and that official's cabinet; prime minister serves as both leader of majority party and chief executive
Dictatorship
A form of government in which the leader has absolute power and _____
Federal government
A form of government in which the powers are divided between a central government and several _____ governments
Democracy
A form of government in which the supreme authority belongs to the _____
Treaty
A formal agreement between two or more _____ states
Autocracy
A government in which a _____ person holds unlimited political power
Oligarchy
A government in which the power to rule is held by a _____ elite group, usually self-appointed
Patent
A license issued to an inventor granting the exclusive right to manufacture, use, or sell his or her invention for a limited amount of time; administered by the Patent and _____ Office
Citizen
A member of a _____ or nation who owes allegiance to it by birth or naturalization and is entitled to full civil rights
Executive agreement
A pact made by the President directly with the head of a _____ state
Territory
A part of the United States that is not a state and has its own system of government, including Puerto Rico, _____, and the Virgin Islands
Bill
A proposed _____ presented to a _____ body for consideration
John Marshall
A strong federalist, this Chief Justice wrote in the landmark McCulloch v. Maryland decision, "the [federal] government, though limited in its powers, is supreme within its action," settling the first clash between a national and a State _____
Samuel Alito
After George W. Bush _____ the nomination of Harriet Miers, he appointed this Supreme Court Justice, who had also served in several judicial positions during the Reagan and George H. W. Bush administrations
Bush, George H.W. (born 1924)
After graduating from Yale University, began a career in the oil industry of Texas. He served two terms as a representative to Congress from Texas, and was later appointed ambassador to the United Nations and Director of the CIA. Bush was Vice President under Ronald Reagan and was elected the 41st President, serving from 1989 to 1993.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
After this President was elected four times, the _____nd Amendment limited the number of terms to two
Public debt
All of the money borrowed by the government and not yet repaid, plus the accrued interest on that money; also called the national debt or federal debt, approximately $_____ trillion (as per textbook)
Unitary government
All powers held by the government belong to a single, central _____ that creates local units for convenience
Public policy
All those things a government decides to _____; the rules and laws of a government
Division of powers
Also called _____ (cf. separation of powers into 3 branches), this form of government divides powers between a federal government and several local (state, county, city) governments
Federalism
Also called division of powers (cf. separation of powers into 3 branches), this form of government divides powers between a federal or _____ government and several local (state, county, city) governments
Expressed powers
Also called the _____ powers, these powers are delegated to the federal government literally spelled out in the words of the Constitution
William Penn
An English Quaker who founded _____ in 1682, after receiving a charter from King Charles II the year before, and launched the colony as a "holy experiment" based on religious tolerance
Compromise
An _____ of opposing principles or systems by modifying some aspect of each; the process of blending and adjusting competing views and interests
Enabling Act
An act directing the people of the territory to frame a proposed State constitution, which is drafted by a territorial convention then put to a _____ in the proposed State
Confederation
An alliance of independent _____
Nixon, Richard (1913-1994)
An attorney before entering politics to serve as a representative and senator from California. He was Vice President under President Eisenhower, before being elected the 37th President in 1968. He served from 1969 to 1974. As President, he ended the draft and instituted a broad environmental program. Facing impeachment due to his involvement in the Watergate scandal, Nixon resigned in August 1974.
Mercantilism
An economic and political theory emphasizing money as the chief source of wealth, and establishing _____, industry, mining, and international trade
Free enterprise system
An economic system based on _____ or corporate ownership of capital goods, individual initiative, profit, and a free market
Aristotle
Ancient Greek, one of the world's great thinkers, author of influential works on politics, physics, logic, poetry, plus other sciences and humanities over _____ years ago
Commerce and slave trade compromise
Another _____ between the urban north and the rural south, this agreement protected slave owners and denied Congress any ability to tax exports or regulate slave trade
Legal Tender
Any kind of money that a creditor must, by law, accept in payment for debts, the creation of which was declared a properly _____ federal power
Supremacy clause
Article VI, Section 2 of the US Constitution, "This Constitution...the laws...and all Treaties...shall be the _____ law of the land"
King John
Ascended to the throne after his brother Richard the Lion-hearted died, basically forced to sign Magna Carta by nobles demanding _____ process
James Madison
Author of several Federalist Papers, main architect of Virginia Plan, sometimes referred to as the "father of the _____"
James Madison
Author of several _____ Papers, so-called father of the Constitution, 4th US President, and a federalist who understood the benefits of strong _____ governments
Division of powers
Basic principle of _____ in which governmental powers are divided on a geographical basis between the national/federal and the local/state levels
Reagan, Ronald (1911-2004)
Began his career as an actor, appearing in more than 50 films, later moved into politics, serving two terms as governor of California, before being elected the 40th President, serving from 1981 to 1989. Reagan was 69 when first elected President in 1980, making him the oldest candidate to win the office. During his presidency, he called for an era of national renewal and reduced reliance on government.
Due process
Belief that government must act _____, providing protection against the arbitrary taking of life, liberty, or property for all
Thomas Hobbes
Believed that without government to control selfish, even violent instincts, life would be "nasty, brutish, and _____"
4.6 Congress at work, making laws
Bill a proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration
James Bryce
British politician, ambassador to the USA 1907 to 1913, wrote favorable study The American _____
Daniel Shays
Captain in Massachusetts Regiment who later led rebellion against high taxes and lack of debt relief for _____
Formal amendment
Changes or additions to the written language of the Constitution itself, must be ratified by _____-_____ (38 of 50) of the State legislatures
Veto
Chief executive's power to _____ a bill passed by the legislature; may be over ridden by a supermajority
Franking privilege
Congressional benefit that allows them to mail letters and other materials postage free by substituting their signature (_____) for _____
Off-year elections
Congressional elections that occur in _____-Presidential years (that is, the so-called midterms, _____ Presidential elections)
Roger Sherman
Connecticut lawyer and judge, framer, patriot, proposed the _____ Compromise
Floor consideration
Considered and _____ upon by the _____ membership of the House or Senate
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Constitutional requirement that each state _____ the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
Full faith and credit
Constitutional requirement that each state _____ the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
Abraham Lincoln
Credited in the Gettysburg Address with the expression that US democracy is created "of the people, by the people, _____ the people"
Gerrymandering
Drawing electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group, so named after Elbridge _____'s efforts to persuade the _____ legislature to redraw districts in his favor
John Locke
English _____ who suggested we are born a tabula rasa, or blank slate, that is, our personalities are more influenced by nurture than nature
Checks and balances
Each of the three branches of government has certain powers with which it can _____ the operations of the other two
Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865)
Elected 16th President of the United States, entering office in 1861 at age 52. He is known for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that "all persons held as slaves... shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free..." He was assassinated in 1865.
Harrison, William Henry(1773-1841)
Elected as the 9th President in 1841, the first President to die in office. Born into an aristocratic Virginia planter family, he spent much of his time in the Northwest, obtaining title to Indian lands and leading efforts to repel Indian attacks. He contracted pneumonia and died after only four months in office.
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (1890-1969)
Elected to the presidency in 1953, brought with him the prestige of having been commanding officer of the Allied forces in Europe during World War II, a culmination of a long military career. As the 34th President, serving from 1953 to 1961, he advocated peace and supported desegregation in schools and the military.
At-large
Election of an officeholder by the voters of an _____ governmental unit (e.g., a State or county) rather than by the voters of a district or _____,
Single-member district
Electoral _____ from which one person is chosen by the voters for each _____ office, as most US House seats are arranged
Commerce Power
Exclusive power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade; the Constitution's few words on this have prompted the growth of the greatest open _____ in the world (as per textbook)
impeachment
Filing of formal charges against a public official
Clinton, Hillary Rodham (1947-)
First Lady of the United States when her husband Bill Clinton was elected to the presidency in 1993. In 2001, Clinton became a senator from New York State, during which time she made an unsuccessful bid for the presidency. In 2009, she was named secretary of state in the Obama administration, a position she held until her resignation in 2013. Clinton was nominated by the Democratic Party as its presidential candidate in 2016, but ultimately lost the election to Republican Donald Trump.
Washington, George Washington (1732-1799)
First President of the United States from 1789 to 1797 and a Founding Father. Prior to his presidency, he was a general and commander in chief during the American Revolution. weak-mayor government form of city government in which the mayor shares executive duties with other elected officials
Nancy Pelosi
First female _____ of the House (2007 to 2011), and member of the current 115th Congress, which includes the largest number of women and minorities in _____
Jamestown
First permanent _____ settlement in North America, established in 1607
Three-fifths Compromise
For determining population, and representation in legislature, all "free persons" would be counted and "three fifths of all other persons," or effectively, _____; this compromise (Article I, Section 2, Clause 3) was eliminated by the 13th Amendment
Rice, Condoleezza (1954-)
Foreign policy adviser for George W. Bush's presidential campaign. Once Bush was elected, she became the first woman to head the National Security Council. In 2005, Rice became the first African American woman to serve as secretary of state. Later, Rice returned to her position as a professor at Stanford University and is the author of numerous books.
Ratification
Formal _____, especially of a constitution or treaty
George Calvert, Lord Baltimore
Founded Maryland as a haven for _____; charter granted in 1632, shortly after his death
Samuel Adams
Founding father, leader of Boston politics, _____ to First and Second Continental Congress
John Marshall
Fourth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court who had strong opinions about the power of the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution and whose rulings, including _____ v. Ogden, have had a profound impact on American law to this very day
Baron de Montesquieu
French philosopher and Enlightenment figure whose _____ of Laws and concept of separation of powers influenced the framers
détente
French term meaning "a relaxation of tensions"
Continuous body
Governing body (e.g., the US _____) whose seats are _____ all up for election at the same time
Popular sovereignty
Government can exist only with the _____ of the governed.
Representative government
Government in which voters select representative for the _____ body
Limited government
Government is not all-powerful but restricted; individuals' rights are _____
Woodrow Wilson
Graduate and President of Princeton University, _____th US President, who believed it was good that the US Senate was less influenced by public opinion, "if only now and then and but for a little while, till other people have had time to _____"
Wilson, Woodrow Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924)
Graduate of Princeton and the University of Virginia School of Law, and president of Princeton in 1902. He was elected to be the 28th president in 1912. Wilson served from 1913 to 1921 and advocated for a "new freedom" which stressed individualism and States' rights.
Block grants
Grants made for _____ defined purposes (healthcare, or welfare, for example)) with fewer conditions _____
Project grants
Grants made to States, local governments, and sometimes _____ agencies that _____ to competitive programs, typically through departments concerned with promoting projects under their purview
Grants-in-aid programs
Grants of _____ money or other resources provided to the States and their _____ units
Categorical grants
Grants of funds made for specific, closely defined purpose, usually with _____ or so-called _____ attached
Electoral college
Group of persons chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make the formal _____ of the US President and Vice President
Sovereign
Having supreme power within its own territory; neither subordinate nor responsible to any other _____; independent, self-governing
Act of admission
If, after a territorial convention proposes and the territory votes to join the union, Congress agrees to Statehood, an act of this type is proposed, and if passed, sent to the President, whose signature _____ the new State
Magna Carta
In 1215, English nobles basically forced King John to sign this document guaranteeing _____ process
Theodore Roosevelt
In 1902, this soldier, naturalist, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and 26th US President nicknamed _____ maintained that a good citizen must be able to pull his own weight in society
Incumbent
In an election, the person who _____ holds the elected _____, challenged by the challenger
Khomeini, Ayatollah (1902-1989)
Iranian Shia (Muslim) leader and cleric. He led the revolution that overthrew the Shah (leader) of Iran in 1979. He later became the leader of Iran, dictating both political and religious law for ten years.
William and Mary of Orange
King William III and Queen Mary II ruled jointly as king and queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1689 tp 1702, as a result of the _____ Revolution's overthrowing James II
King George II
King of Great Britain from 1727 to 1760, _____ of George III
Jackson, Andrew (1767-1845)
Known as "Old Hickory" for his toughness and aggressive personality, he was the seventh President of the United States, serving from 1829 to 1837. His political movement is known as Jacksonian Democracy because he believed that the common man should have a say in government. He is the only President to have fought in both the Revolutionary War, as a young teenager, and in the War of 1812, where he gained military fame; he is also the first President to come from west of the Appalachian Mountains.
François-Marie Arouet
Known as Voltaire, this French philosopher was a major figure of the Enlightenment who advocated _____, freedom of religion, science, and human progress
Convene
Legislators' meeting to _____ a new _____ of Congress
Recess
Legislators' short _____ during which they temporarily _____ business (with or without a playground or nap)
Adjourn
Legislators' suspending Congress until its next _____, as it sees _____ (typically after meeting most of the year today)
Long, Huey
Long (1893-1935) was the governor of Louisiana and a U.S. senator. He started a Share-the-Wealth Society for distributing housing and income to American families as an alternative to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal program. Long ran for President in 1935 but was assassinated before the election could take place.
Inferior courts
Lower courts under the _____ Court
John Adams
Massachusetts lawyer, legislator, diplomat, _____ US President
Truman, Harry (1884-1972)
Missouri farmer, a judge, a senator, and Vice President for a few months under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He became the 33rd President on April 12, 1945, when Roosevelt suddenly died. During his presidency, from 1945 to 1953, Truman saw Victory in Europe Day and ordered atomic bombs dropped on Japan.
Truman, Harry Harry Truman (1884-1972)
Missouri farmer, a judge, a senator, and Vice President for a few months under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He became the 33rd President on April 12, 1945, when Roosevelt suddenly died. During his presidency, from 1945 to 1953, Truman saw Victory in Europe Day and ordered atomic bombs dropped on Japan.
New Jersey Plan
New Jersey delegates to the Constitutional Convention proposed this alternative to the Virginia plan; would have created a unicameral legislature with each state _____ represented
Privileges and Immunities Clause
No State can draw _____ distinctions between its own residents and those who happen to live in another State but must allow all citizens to use its courts; make contracts; buy, own, rent, or sell property; or _____ within its borders
Colonialism
One nation's _____ of lands abroad; empire building
Andrew Johnson
One of only two Presidents (including Clinton) who have been _____ by the House of Representatives; acquitted by the Senate (as was Clinton)
Liberal constitutionalist
One who argues for a broad interpretation of the Constitution's provisions, particularly those granting powers to the Federal government, led by _____ and the Federalists
Strict constitutionalist
One who argues for a narrow interpretation of the Constitution's provisions, particularly those granting powers to the Federal government, led by _____ and the Anti-federalists
Unicameral
One-house _____
Special session
Only the President may call one of these unusual meetings of Congress, and only _____ have been called, the most recent by Harry _____
Framers
Organizers, architects, designers; especially the group of delegates who attended the _____ Convention
Petition of Right
Parliament convinced King _____ I to sign this document further limiting royal power, prohibiting imprisonment without charge, martial law during peace, or quartering of troops
English Bill of Rights
Parliament convinced William and _____ of England to sign this document in 1689 still further establishing individual rights
1.3
Patricians Ancient Roman term for the rich, _____ aristocratic upper class of society
James Wilson
Pennsylvania lawyer, author of Considerations of the Nature and Extent of the _____ Authority of the British Parliament, which proposed England had no authority to govern the colonies
Proprietary
Person granted land by the king; Maryland, Pennsylvania were established by Lord _____ and William Penn
Politicos
Politicians who attempt to combine and balance the often _____ elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan _____
Trustees
Politicians who believe that each question they face must be decided on its _____, using the conscience and judgement as _____, regardless of their party or constituents' differing opinions
Partisans
Politicians who believe they owe their first duty to their party, and they _____ their votes in line with the party platform and leadership, very common among studies of voting _____
Delegates
Politicians who see themselves as agents of the electorate, willing to _____ their own views, ignore their party's _____, special interests, and colleagues' pressure if their constituents differ
Reserved powers
Powers neither granted to the federal government nor denied to the States, a huge scope, most of what government _____ in the country today
Inherent powers
Powers not expressly stated in the Constitution but those which, over time, all national governments come to _____, including regulating immigration, acquiring territory, and defending the country against rebellion or invasion
Implied powers
Powers not expressly stated in the Constitution, but reasonably _____
Concurrent powers
Powers that both the federal and state governments possess and _____
Exclusive powers
Powers that can be exercised only by the federal government, such as coining money, making treaties, taxing imports, and regulating _____ commerce
Inherent powers
Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community (for example the power to control a nation's _____)
John Jay
President of Second Continental Congress, federalist who supported ratification of the Constitution, first Chief _____
Milosevic, Slobodan (1941-2006)
President of Serbia from 1989 to 1997. A radical nationalist, he instituted policies that led to the breakup of the socialist Yugoslav federation and instigated a series of bloody conflicts with other Balkan states, including Kosovo, Bosnia, and Croatia.
Monroe, James (1758-1831)
President of the United States from 1817 to 1825. During his leadership, Monroe minimized partisan tensions leading to the "Era of Good Feelings." Monroe gained Florida from Spain in 1821 and declared that European action to colonize any part of the Americas would call for the intervention of the United States. Years later, this declaration formed the basis of the Monroe Doctrine, arguably the President's most significant contribution.
Winston Churchill
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during most of WWII, credited with the statement that "Democracy is the _____ form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried"
Albany Plan of Union
Proposed by Benjamin Franklin, this plan would have established a _____ of colony delegates; rejected by both king and colonies
Virginia Plan
Proposed by Virginia delegates, this plan called for a three-branch government with a bi-cameral legislature determined by _____
Alexander Hamilton
Secretary of State under Washington, a _____ constructionist in opposition to many of Jefferson's ideas, and the mortally wounded dueling opponent of Aaron Burr
Tyler, John (1790-1862)
Served in the State legislature and as Virginia governor. As a U.S. senator, his strict interpretation of the Constitution led him to resign over what he viewed as illegal actions by President Andrew Jackson regarding nullifying acts of Congress. Vice President when President William Henry Harrison died in office, he succeeded to the presidency in 1841. During his term, he approved statehood for Texas and Florida, but fought bitterly with his own Whig party over a national bank system. All but one member of his Cabinet resigned. During the Civil War, he was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives, but he died before he could serve.
McKinley, William (1843-1901)
Seven term Ohio US House of Representative, who championed tariffs (taxes on imported goods) as a way to protect American businesses. Elected President in 1897, he led the U.S. into the Spanish-American War, which ended with the victorious U.S. receiving territory in Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. McKinley also supported statehood for Hawaii. He was assassinated during his second term as President.
Balkans
Sometimes called Balkan Peninsula, is a geographic area in Central Europe that usually includes Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, and Moldova. The term may have different interpretations of the geography, culture, and history.
Neil Gorsuch
Supreme Court Justice appointed by Donald Trump, and a Harvard University graduate, confirmed only after the Senate resorted to the so-called "_____ option"
Antonin Scalia
Supreme Court Justice who was appointed by Reagan, and after he died while serving, the _____-led Senate refused to hold hearings, intentionally blocking Obama's nomination
Jean Jacques Rousseau
Swiss-born philosopher whose Social Contract inspired leaders of the French Revolution to believe that humans are essentially free but that _____ encourages subservience and dependence
Abraham Lincoln
The 16th US President known for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, delivering the Gettysburg Address, and for being assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theatre in April of _____
Andrew Johnson
The 17th US President, Vice-President under Lincoln who succeeded the office upon Lincoln's assassination and tried to carry out his predecessors' conciliatory _____ policies, but became one of only two (as of fall 2019) formally impeached by Congress
Arthur, Chester
The 21st President of the United States, serving from 1881 to 1885, Arthur (1829-1886) took office after the assassination of President James Garfield. Arthur signed the Pendleton Act, which eliminated the spoils system and established merit as the basis for jobs in the federal workforce.
Richard Nixon
The 37th US President, Vice-President under Eisenhower, who ended the draft and established the EPA, then resigned in shame while facing impeachment over _____ crimes and coverup attempts
Thomas Jefferson
The 3rd US President, a _____ constructionist, credited with authoring The [US] Declaration of Independence and the Louisiana Purchase
Bill Clinton
The 42nd President, serving from 1993-2001. During his administration, the United States largely enjoyed a period of peace and economic growth, including four straight years of budget _____ from 1998 to 2002
Clinton, William Jefferson
The 42nd President, serving from 1993-2001. During his administration, the United States largely enjoyed a period of peace and economic growth, including four straight years of budget _____ from 1998 to 2002
George W. Bush
The 43rd US President, son of the 41st US President (only the second time the son of a President also became President), whose nomination of John Tower was rejected by the _____
Barack Obama
The 44th US President, first African-American President, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and promoter of the _____ Care Act
John Quincy Adams
The 6th US President, son of the 2nd US President, author of the Monroe Doctrine, and Congressman after his Presidency, selected by the House when no candidate received a majority of the _____ votes
Legitimacy
The belief that government has the _____ to make public policy
Constituencies
The _____ and interests that an elected official _____
Quorum
The _____ number of members required to be present in order to conduct business
Perjury
The act of lying under oath; _____ was charged with perjury by the House
Divine rights of kings
The belief that God had granted kings the authority as part of the natural order, so kings claimed they did not have to answer to the people and that it was a _____ for the people to disobey
Boston
The capital and largest city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where a post office was established in _____ by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
District of Columbia
The capital of the United States, the only portion of the country directly taxed by Congress since _____ (except for the income tax)
Copyright
The exclusive, legal right of a person to reproduce, publish, and sell his or her own literary, musical, or artistic creations, which may be assigned, or _____, to another, such as a publishing company
Delegated powers
The federal government has only those powers _____ to it by the Constitution (three distinct types: expressed, implied, and inherent)
Cabinet
The fifteen executive departments that _____ the President, including the department heads of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veteran Affairs
Necessary and proper clause
The final clause of Article I, Section 8 of the US Constitution, which gives Congress the power to make all laws "necessary and proper," informally referred to as the "_____ clause"
George Washington
The first US President, founding father, general and Commander in _____ during the US Revolution
Rule of law
The government and its officers, in all that they do, are always subject to, never _____, the law
Thurmond, Strom
The governor of South Carolina and a U.S. senator for 48 years, Thurmond (1902-2003) was a staunch opponent of school desegregation and civil rights who ran unsuccessfully for President in 1948. He later switched party affiliation from Democratic to Republican.
Government
The institution through which a society makes and _____ its public policies
Philadelphia
The largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where a postal system was established by William _____ in 1683
Bankruptcy
The legal proceeding by which a bankrupt person's assets are distributed among those to whom he or she owes debts; nearly all bankruptcy cases are now heard in _____ courts
Extradition
The legal process by which a _____ from justice in one State can be _____ to that State
Naturalization
The legal process by which citizens of one country become citizens of another, contained within _____ I, Section 8
Harry Truman
The most recent US President to call a _____ session of Congress, to consider anti-_____ and welfare measures in the aftermath of WWII
Lyndon Baines Johnson
The most recent Vice President to succeed a President who _____ in office (in his case, following JFK's 1963 assassination)
Session
The period of time during which, each year, Congress _____ and conducts _____
Eminent domain
The power of a government to take private property for public use, only allowed by the Constitution for 1) public use, with 2) fair notice to the owner, and 3) for a fair _____
Unconstitutional
The power of the court to declare illegal, _____, and void, of no force or effect, a governmental action found to violate some provision in the Constitution
Judicial power
The power to _____ laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within the society
Executive power
The power to execute, enforce, and administer _____
Legislative power
The power to make law and frame _____ policy
Separation of powers
The powers of the federal government are distributed among the _____ branch (Congress), the executive branch (President and Cabinet), and the judicial branch (Supreme and lower courts)
Deficit financing
The practice of funding government by borrowing to make up the difference between government spending and revenue, used by US government in all but _____ years from 1930 to 1998
Constitutionalism
The principle that government must be conducted according to _____
Bicameral
Two-house _____
William Howard Taft
This 27th US President, who was the only person to have also held the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, _____ Arizona's proposed Constitution until they removed a recall of the State judiciary by popular vote section (which they later added again almost immediately after _____)
Term
Two-year period of Congress, corresponding with House election, beginning and ending at noon on January 3rd, and numbered _____ from the 1st (1789-1791) to the current 116th (2019-2020)
Expressed Powers
Those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution; also called the "enumerated powers," mostly found in _____ I, Section 8
Implied Powers
Those delegated powers to the National Government that are suggested by the expressed power set out in the Constitution; those "necessary and proper" to carry out the expressed powers (based on these powers, Congress has created a minimum wage for _____ workers)
Federalists
Those who favored ratification of the Constitution to create a _____ government
Anti-federalists
Those who rejected ratification of the Constitution and the idea of _____ power trumping states' rights
Censure
To issue a formal condemnation; some House members pressed for _____ to be censured rather than impeached
Benjamin Franklin
US American author, inventor, diplomat, and legislator who proposed the Albany Plan of Union, signed the Declaration of Independence, helped frame the Constitution, and generally recognized as the father of the present-day _____ system
Luther Patrick
US House Rep (1937 to 1943 and 1945 to 1947) who believed that Congress has become involved in "so many good causes...it is getting harder every day to find time to properly study _____--the very business we are primarily here to _____"
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
US Supreme Court Justice credited with the comment that, "The right to swing my _____ ends where the other man's nose begins"
Senatorial courtesy
Unwritten rule that the Senate will only approve Presidential appointees who are acceptable to the Senator or Senators of the President's party from the _____ involved
Robert C. Byrd
West Virginia House Rep (1953-1959) and Senator (1959-2010), _____ than any other member of _____ in US history
Donald Trump
When elected in 2016, this 45th US President's party kept their _____ in the House and Senate, resulting in a rare case of one party controlling both Congress and the White House
Donald Trump
When elected in 2016, this 45th US President's party kept their _____ in the House and Senate, resulting in a rare case of one party controlling both houses of Congress and the White House
Charter
Written grant of authority or license (from the king to establish a _____)
Madison, James (1751-1836)
Wrote several of the Federalist Papers and was a major figure in the movement to replace the Articles of Confederation. It is his Notes on the Debates in the Federal Convention that have given us a clear understanding of what occurred during those debates. During the convention, Madison was the main architect of the Virginia Plan and had a strong influence on the entire meeting. In fact, he has been referred to as the "Father of the Constitution." At that time, he favored a strong National Government but later saw the benefits of stronger State governments.
Kennedy, John F. (1917-1963)
Youngest person ever elected President. His inaugural address in 1963 urged citizens to "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." On November 22, 1963, Kennedy was assassinated in Texas.
Delegate
_____, substitute
Security Council
a 15-member panel that bears the UN's major responsibility for keeping international peace sedition crime of attempting to overthrow the government by force or to disrupt its lawful activities by violent acts
Pearl Harbor
a U.S. naval base located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii
Amnesty
a blanket pardon offered to a group of law violators
party caucus
a closed meeting of a party's house or senate members; also called a party conference
foreign policy
a group of policies made up of all the stands and actions that a nation takes in every aspect of its relationships with other countries; everything a nation's government says and does in world affairs
Bureaucracy
a large, complex administrative structure that handles the everyday business of an organization
passport
a legal document issued by a state that identifies a person as a citizen of that state and permits travel to and from that state
foreign affairs
a nation's relationships with other countries
foreign affairs
a nation's relationships with other countries isolationism a purposeful refusal to become generally involved in the affairs of the rest of the world
cold war
a period of more than 40 years during which relations between the two superpowers (United States and Soviet Union) were at least tense, and often hostile; a time of threats and military build-up
visa
a permit to enter another country, obtained from the country one wishes to enter
bureaucrat
a person who works for a bureaucratic organization
independent agencies
additional agencies created by Congress located outside the Cabinet departments
independent executive agencies
agencies headed by a single administrator with regional subunits but lacking Cabinet status civil service those civilian employees who perform the administrative work of government
staff agency
agency that supports the chief executive and other administrators by offering advice and other assistance in the management of an organization
foreign
aid economic and military aid to other countries
domestic affairs
all matters not directly connected to the realm of foreign affairs
regional security
alliances treaties in which the United States and other countries involved have agreed to take collective action to meet aggression in a particular part of the world
secretary
an official in charge of a department of government
reprieve
an official postponement of the execution of a sentence
ambassador
an official representative of the United States appointed by the President to represent the nation in matters of diplomacy
Executive Office of the President
an organization of several agencies staffed by the President's closest advisors executive power the power to execute, enforce, and administer laws
United Nations
an organization with 193 members that accept the obligations of the United Nations Charter, a treaty drafted in 1945
persona non grata
an unwelcome person; used to describe recalled diplomatic officials
veto
chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature; literally (Latin) "I forbid"
draft
conscription, or compulsory military service
government corporations
corporations within the executive branch subject to the President's direction and control, set up by Congress to carry out certain business-like activities
discharge petition
enables members to force a bill that has remained in committee 30 days (7 for the Rules Committee) onto the floor for consideration
pigeonholed
expression describing how most bills introduced in each session of Congress are buried, put away, or never acted upon
floor leaders
members of the House and Senate picked by their parties to carry out party decisions and steer legislative action to meet party goals
Hoover, Herbert Hoover (1874-1964)
graduated from Stanford as a mining engineer and began his career in China. He later served in various humanitarian posts abroad, including head of the American Relief Administration in Europe. He was elected the 31st President in 1928, just months before the 1929 stock market crash that sent the nation into a deep depression.
clemency
mercy or leniency granted to an offender by a chief executive
Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton (1755 or 1757-1804)
immigrated to North America in 1772 from the British West Indies. He entered the Continental Army in 1776 and served under General Washington. He held a number of positions in government, including as a member of the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention. He studied law and practiced in New York City. Hamilton was Secretary of the Treasury in President Washington's Cabinet. He was mortally wounded in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804.hard money contributions that are given directly to candidates for their campaigns, are limited, and must be reported to the government
independent regulatory commissions
independent agencies created by Congress, designed to regulate important aspects of the nation's economy, largely beyond the reach of presidential control government corporations corporations within the executive branch subject to the President's direction and control, set up by Congress to carry out certain business-like activities
Powell, Colin (1937-)
is a four-star general who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993. In 2001, he became secretary of state under George W. Bush; he served in that capacity until 2005. Powell was the first African American to hold either of these Cabinet-level positions. precedent court decision that stands as an example to be followed in future, similar cases
Presidential Succession Act of 1947
law specifying the order of presidential succession following the Vice President preventive detention law that allows federal judges to order that an accused felon be held, without bail, when there is good reason to believe that he or she will commit yet another serious crime before the trial
joint committee
legislative committee composed of members of both houses
select committee
legislative committee created for a limited time and for some specific purpose; also known as a special committee
committee chair
member who heads a standing committee in a legislative body
Tillerson, Rex
native of Texas, appointed secretary of state by President Donald Trump in 2017 and confirmed by the Senate with a vote of 56-43. Prior to entering government service, Tillerson (born 1952) earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and his first job was as a production engineer. This was followed by a long career in business, culminating in his becoming chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman of Exxon/Mobil, a global energy company.
civilian
nonmilitary
standing committee
permanent committee in a legislative body to which bills in a specified subject area are referred; see select committee
omnibus measure
one bill that contains numerous issues and topics
ordinance power
power of the President to issue executive orders; originates from the Constitution and acts of Congress original jurisdiction the power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court
pardon
release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime, by the President (in a federal case) or a governor (in a State case)
presidential succession
scheme by which a presidential vacancy is filled
conference committee
temporary joint committee created to reconcile any differences between the two houses' versions of a bill
chief legislator
term for the President as architect of public policy and the one who sets the agenda for Congress
chief administrator
term for the President as head of the administration of the Federal Government
chief economist
term for the President as monitor of the nation's economic condition
chief of state
term for the President as the ceremonial head of the United States, the symbol of all the people of the nation
chief of party
term for the President as the leader of his or her political party
chief citizen
term for the President as the representative of the people, working for the public interest of foreign policy and spokesperson to other countries
chief executive
term for the President as vested with the executive power of the United States
fiscal year
the 12-month period used by a government and the business world for its record-keeping, budgeting, revenue-collecting, and other financial management purposes
Taft, William Howard (1857-1930)
the 27th President of the United States from 1909 to 1913. He later became the tenth Chief Justice of the United States, making him the only person to have served in both offices.
executive privilege
the President's power to refuse to disclose information
First Lady
the President's wife
majority leader
the floor leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in each house of Congress
attorney general
the head of the Department of Justice
collective security
the keeping of international peace and order
president pro tempore
the member of the United States Senate, or of the upper house of a State's legislature, chosen to preside in the absence of the president of the Senate
Isthmus of Panama
the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean in Panama; it is the location of the Panama Canal
administration
the officials in the executive branch of a government and their policies and principles
line-item veto
the power many governors have to reject one or more items in a bill without rejecting the entire measure; used most often on spending measures; the U.S. Congress gave this power to the President in 1996, but that law was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1998
right of legation
the right to send and receive diplomatic representatives
rider
unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so it will "ride" through the legislative process
seniority rule
unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving the top posts in each chamber, particularly committee chairmanships, for members with the longest records of service
sovereignty
utmost authority in decision-making and maintaining order in a state
balance the ticket
when a presidential candidate chooses a running mate who can strengthen his chance of being elected by virtue of certain ideological, geographical, racial, ethnic, gender, or other characteristics
diplomatic immunity
when ambassadors are not subject to the laws of the state to which they are accredited