click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Government Test #1
Term | Definition |
---|---|
monarchy | an undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person, Great Britain is an example |
oligarchy | a form of government in which a small group of landowner, military officers, or wealthy merchants control most of the governing decisions |
democracy | a system of rule that permits the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials |
totalitarianism | a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it |
constitutionalism | adherence to government according to constitutional principles |
direct democracy | a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies |
indirect democracy | also known as representative democracy, when citizens elect officials to make laws on their behalf |
political culture | broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function. American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality, and democracy |
majority rule | the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters, but protects the interests of the minority |
constitution | the legal structure of a government which establishes its power and authority as well as the limits on that power |
bicameral legislature | the lawmaking body of a system of government where authority is shared between two separate houses, or chambers, that work together to make laws (ex. house of representatives/senate) |
republic | a state in which supreme power is held by the people and their supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch |
bill of rights | the first 10 amendments to the U.S. constitution, ratified in 1791, they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people |
federalism | a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional government and regional governments |
the articles of confederation | america's first written constitution; served as the basis for america's national government until 1789 |
national supremacy | the belief that a particular nation is inherently superior to superior to others |
separation of powers | the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making |
hyper partisanship | a sharply polarized situation in which political parties are in fierce disagreement with each other |
poll tax | a state imposed tax on voters as a prerequisite for registration, poll taxes were rendered unconstitutional in national elections by the twenty-fourth amendment, and in state elections by the supreme court in 1966 |
divided government | the condition in American government wherein the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of congress |
political machine | a political organization in which an authoritative boss or small group commands the support of a corps of supporters and businesses who receive rewards for their efforts |
citizens united vs. FEC | laws preventing corporations and unions from using general treasury funds for independent electioneering communications violate the first amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech (2010) |
Robert Reich | American political commentator, served under ford/carter administration, secretary of labor under Bill Clinton |
taft-hartley act | restricts the activities and power of labor unions |
federal election commision | an independent regulatory agency founded in 1975 to regulate the campaign finance legislation in the U.S. |
PAC | (political action committee) an organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaign for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation |
dark money | funds given to a nonprofit organization without reporting where the money came from |
lobbyist | an individual employed by an interest group who tries to influence government decisions on behalf of that group |
amendment 1 | freedom of religion, of speech, and of press |
amendment 2 | right to bear arms ( and a well regulated militia) |
amendment 3 | quartering of soldiers |
amendment 4 | security from unwarrantable search and seizure |
amendment 5 | rights of accused persons in criminal proceedings |
amendment 6 | right to speedy trial, witnesses, etc. |
amendment 7 | trial by jury in civil cases |
amendment 8 | bails, fines, punishments (no excessive bail, no cruel or unusual punishments) |
amendment 9 | reservation of rights of people |
amendment 10 | powers reserved to states or people |
article 1, section 1, clause 1 | all legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a congress of the united states, which shall consist of a senate and house of representatives |
article 1, section 2, clause 2 | job requirements for serving in the house, 25 years old, citizen for 7 years, live in the the state you want to represent in congress |
article 1, section 2, clause 3 | the more populous the state, the more seats it gets in the house, census must be taken every 10 years |
article 1, section 2, clause 4 | if a congressional seat becomes vacant in the middle of a term, the state governor is supposed to call an election to fill the vacancy |
article 1, section 2, clause 5 | the house of representatives has the power to choose its own leaders, the house of representatives is the only group that has the power to impeach executive and judicial officers deemed unfit for office |
article 1, section 3, clause 1 | each state, regardless of population, gets 2 seats in the senate, terms last 6 years |
article 1, section 3, clause 2 | 1/3 of the senate's seats are up for election every 2 years |
article 1, section 3, clause 3 | job requirements for senate, must be 30 years old, a citizen for 9 years, and a resident of the state you want to represent |
article 1, section 3, clause 4 | VP is the president of the senate, breaks the rare tie vote |
article 1, section 3, clause 5 | the VP's temp runs the show when the VP is not present (almost always) |
article 1, section 3, clause 6 | 2/3 of the senate must serve as judge and jury if the house of representatives wants to impeach |
article 1, section 3, clause 7 | the only punishments the senate is allowed to mete in an impeachment case is removal from office and banishment from future government service |
article 1, section 4, clause 1 | the constitution gives congress the power to set new rules for federal elections as it sees fit |
article 1 section 4, clause 2 | requires at least one session of congress to meet each year |
article 1, section 5, clause 1 | house and senate are given power to judge the qualifications of their own members |
article 1, section 5, clause 2 | house and senate have the power to set their own rules of parliamentary procedure, with 2/3 of the vote the house and senate can kick out their own members |
article 1, section 5, clause 3 | both chambers of congress must publish an official record of their proceedings |
article 1, section 5, clause 4 | neither the house nor senate can go out on an extended vacation while the other remains in business |
article 1, section 6, clause 1 | restricts congressmen from giving themselves raises, members of congress cannot be arrested unless they have committed treason or other serious crimes, so that the president cannot jail people that disagree with him |
article 1, section 6, clause 2 | people serving in congress cannot serve in the judicial or executive offices simultaneously, separation of powers, congressmen cannot resign from his seat in order to take another job to make more money, prevent corruption |
article 1 section 7, clause 1 | all tax/tariff legislation must originate in the house of representatives |
article 1, section 7, clause 2 | how a bill becomes a law, both houses of congress have to pass it, if the president signs it becomes a law, if the president vetoes, 2/3 of congress can override the veto, if the president does nothing, the bill will become a law within 10 days |
article 1, section 7, clause 3 | joint resolutions are resolutions passed by both the house and the senate |
article 1, section 8, clause 1 | the power to tax, congress has the power to levy tariffs |
article 1, section 8, clause 2 | congress is allowed to go into debt to pay for government programs and services |
article 1, section 8, clause 3 | regulates commerce with foreign nations, and among several states, and with the indian tribes |
article 1, section 8, clause 4 | congress has the power to set up a process for immigrants to become american citizens, congress has the power to set rules for hopelessly indebted people to declare bankruptcy |
article 1, section 8, clause 5 | congress controls the minting of money and sets its value |
article , section 8, clause 6 | don't counterfeit money |
article 1, section 8, clause 7 | the power to establish post offices and post roads |
article 1, section 8, clause 8 | congress has the power to set up a system of copyrights and patents, granting people the exclusive right to sell their creations |
article 1, section 8, clause 10 | congress has the power to punish pirates |
article 1, section 8, clause 11 | the power to declare war only congress can do so |
article 1, section 8, clause 12 | to raise and support armies, congress cannot fund military operations more than 2 years in the future |
article 1, section 8, clause 13 | to provide and maintain a navy |
article 1, section 8, clause 18 | "elastic clause", implies powers, used to justify a gradual expansion in the general power of congress |
article 1, section 9, clause 1 | blocks the international slave trade |
article 1, section 9, clause 2 | habeas corpus shall not be suspended, "you shall have the body" |
article 1, section 9, clause 8 | no title of nobility shall be granted |
article 1, section 10, clause 3 | states are not allowed to run their own armies or start their own wars |
article 2, section 1, clause 1 | gives president executive power, can only serve 2 terms |
article 2, section 1, clause 2 | establishes electoral college |
article 2, section 1, clause 4 | congress sets the date for presidential elections |
article 2, section 1, clause 5 | job requirements for president, born in the U.S., 35, live in the U.S. for 14 years |
article 2, section 1, clause 6 | gives procedure for if the the president of VP dies |
article 2, section 2, clause 7 | president makes $400,000 a year and a $50,000 expense account |
article 2 section 4 | if the president commits treason or bribery congress will impeach him |
article 4 section 1 | full faith and credit clause, state has to recognize the laws, records, and court rulings of the other states |
article 5 | the constitution can be amended |
article 6 section 2 | the constitution is the supreme law of the land |