Unit 2 AP GOV Test

President's Powers

- commander and chief of the army and navy, - declare and raise money for war, - oversees people working in the executive branch - has the power to make foreign policy although this r responsibility is shared with the senate

Virginia plan

3 branch government plan with bicameral legislature where more populous states would have more representation in congress

Which of the following is NOT a trait of a liberal democracy?

Achieving income equality

social contract

An agreement between the people and their government signifies their consent to be governed and if the government breaks the contract by violating natural rights then people must replace the unjust government (this is just a belief)

All of the following are ways that the legislative branch can check the powers of the executive branch EXCEPT:

Congress may pass a law declaring a presidential action unconstitutional.

In May of 2015, a federal appeals court ruled that the National Security Agency's collection of Americans' phone records was in violation of the USA PATRIOT Act. Which of the following debates is at the center of the national conversation regarding the surveillance program referred to in this scenario?

Liberty versus stability and order

unicameral

One house legislature (Articles of Confederation)

constitutional republic

a democratic system with elected representatives in which the Constitution is the supreme law

Dual Federalism

a form of American federalism in which the states and the nation operate independently in their own areas of public policy

Cooperative Federalism

a form of American federalism in which the states and the national government work together to shape public policy

republic

a government ruled by representatives of the people

shay's rebellion

a popular uprising against the government of Massachusetts, led to a sense of urgency in improving the government

republicanism

a system in which the government's authority comes from the people

federal system

a system where power is divided between the national and state governments

unitary systems

a system where the central government has all of the power over subnational governments

confederal system

a system where the subnational governments have most of the power

pluralist theory

a theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process

elitist theory

a theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process

Participatory Government

a theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government

Voltaire believed in what?

advocating for the freedom of thought, speech, politics, and religion. Expressed his views indirectly through fictional characters.

implied powers

authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers (may not be specifically said but still implied)

Baron de Montesquieu

believed government should have separation of powers, Thomas Jefferson used his beliefs when writing Declaration of Independence.

john locke

believed in not having an absolute king who rules, argued people were born with natural rights, and believed in a social contract between people and government. Thomas Jefferson also used his ideas in Dec. of Independence.

Great (Connecticut) Compromise

bicameral legislature with a house of representatives and a senate where all branches are equal

other branches powers on the judical branch

congress has authority to create the lower federal courts, congress determines the number of supreme court justices, and senate has power to confirm justices (by majority vote), justices nominated by president

Full Faith and Credit Clause

constitutional clause requiring states to recognize the public acts, records, and civil court proceedings from another state

supremacy clause

constitutional provision declaring that the Constitution and all national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land (federal courts superior to state courts and laws)

Three-Fifths Compromise

each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining state's representation

executive branch

executes or carry's out the laws that have been passed by congress, run by president

grants-in-aid

federal money provided to states to implement public policy objectives

Diversity of public policy throughout the United States is primarily a consequence of

federalism

commerce clause

grants Congress the authority to regulate interstate business and commercial activity

categorial grants

grants-in-aid provided to states with specific provisions on their use (used to have most control over states)

civil society groups

independent associations outside the government's control

necessary and proper clause or elastic clause

language in Article I, Section 8, granting Congress the powers necessary to carry out its enumerated powers

Articles of Confederation and perpetual union

led to a weak national government with few structures to make states work together

Legislative Branch

makes the laws, Congress (Senate and the House of Representatives)

house of representatives

members are directly elected by the people every two years, supposedly more responsive to the people.

judical review

not mentioned in constitution, established by supreme court in Mabury v. Madison

democracy

power is held by the people

concurrent powers

powers granted to both states and the federal government in the Constitution

reserved powers

powers not given to the national government, which are retained by the states and the people

exclusive powers

powers only the national government may exercise EX: power to coin money, declare war, make treaties

veto powers

president has power to veto a piece of legislature from congress but congress can override the veto with a 2/3rds votes in each of the two houses

Privileges and Immunities Clause

prevents a state from treating citizens of other states in a discriminatory manner.

After a constitutional amendment has been proposed by both houses of Congress, its adoption requires

ratification by three-fourths of the states

Enumerated powers of the federal government include all of the following EXCEPT the power to

regulate intrastate commerce

10th Amendment

reserves powers not delegated to the national government to the states and the people; the basis of federalism

devolution

returning more authority from the federal government to state or local governments, also just transferring power to a lower level (Ex: say the central gov. gives the power to local or regional admin)

Sovereignty

right of government to rule

inalienable rights

rights that cannot be taken away Ex: natural rights

senate/senators

serve 6 year terms and are staggered so that about 1/3 of senators are up for election every election year

federalism

sharing of power between the federal and state governments

expressed or enumerated powers

specific powers granted to the Constitution in Article I of the constitution

Declaration of Independence

statement of political philosophy not a government document

judical branch

system of federal courts, constitution is not very specific about this branch,

Which of the following procedures results in the removal of the President from office?

the House votes for impeachment, and the Senate conducts a trial and reaches a guilty verdict.

fiscal federalism

the federal government's use of grants-in-aid to influence policies in the states

popular sovereignty

the idea that the government's right to rule comes from the people

Extradition

the requirement that officials in one state return a defendant to another state where a crime was committed

natural rights

the right to life, liberty, and property the government cannot take away ("property" was changed to "the pursuit of happiness" in the Declaration of Independence)

Political Institutions

the structure of government, including the executive, legislature, and judiciary

why couldn't the national government raise an army if they had the power?

they had no money due to the lack of taxation power they had under the articles of confederation, so they had to ask states for money which often didn't work

federal court powers

they have jurisdiction over all disputes between states and the national government, between two or more states, and between citizens of different states.

how did states make it hard to cultivate a national economy

they placed trade restrictions on each other

Thomas Hobbes beliefs

thought the worst of people and therefore they need strict social control and absolute power

block grant

tries to increase state, local, and regional authority in how that grant money is spent and lesson federal influence (states like because less discretion)

New Jersey Plan

unicameral legislature with equal votes for each state (response by smaller states as they were scared of Virginia plan and losing representation)

All of the following issues were decided at the Constitutional Convention EXCEPT

voting qualifications of the electorate

welfare reforms says what?

you have to be trying or training to get a job in order to receive welfare