US Government Flashcards

1
Q

What amendment was repealed?

A

18th amendment - Prohibition

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2
Q

Name an example of an interpretive amendment through judicial review

A

Roe v. Wade 1973 legalised abortion

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3
Q

What is needed to approve an amendment

A

2/3 approval in proposal, as well as 3/4 of states in ratification

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4
Q

Name an example of ‘dead-hand control’ in the constitution

A

2nd Amendment - guns - have become more advanced

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5
Q

Name 3 examples of hyperpartisanship affecting the effectiveness of checks and balances

A

Gridlock (2018 federal gov. shutdown over wall funding)

Ketanji Brown Jackson poorly treated

Trump 2020 impeachment trial for obstruction of Congress was nearly fully along party lines

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6
Q

Name a modern case that questions whether original intent can be applied to modern day issues

A

Carpenter v. US (2018) - searching phone records violates 4th Amendment

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7
Q

Name 3 examples of federal government weakening state powers

A

Obama medicaid: states forced to participate or lose funding

Education ‘race to the top’

Increased international role

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8
Q

Name 2 examples of federalism not being eroded

A

Varied state response to COVID

SC ruled if a state chooses not to participate in the Medicaid expansion, the federal government
cannot take away existing Medicaid funds.

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9
Q

Name an example of ratification of an international treaty and ratification being rejected

A

Ratification: 2010 New START treaty with Russia

Rejection: UN 2012 Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities rejected, Treaty of Versailles

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10
Q

Name an example of Congress using their power of investigation

A

In January 2021 the House Committee on Oversight and Reform requested information regarding the purchase of $70 million worth of potentially ineffective ventilators, to investigate potential fraud

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11
Q

Name an example of a supreme court nomination being confirmed, and one being rejected

A

Confirmed: Amy Coney Barratt

Rejected: Merrick Garland

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12
Q

Name an example showing that Congress’ power of impeachment isn’t effective

A

Trump impeached twice but not removed or disqualified from running from office again, popularity peaked after 1st impeachment

Usually along party lines

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13
Q

What % of bills introduced were actually inacted in the 2017-18 period, and what does this say about the legislative process?

A

3.3%

Shows there is a ‘legislative labryinth’ - very complex

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14
Q

Name 2 examples of filibusters

A

June 2016: two senators spoke for 15hrs to press for tighter gun control

Republicans prevented 2021 Freedom to Vote act from getting to floor for debate

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15
Q

Name an example of a President signing bills into law

A

Obama Affordable Care Act

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16
Q

Name an example of a Pres. veto being rejected

A

Obama - Justice against sponsors of terrorism act

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17
Q

Name an example of emergency powers being used by president to bypass power of the purse

A

trump declared emergency for mexico wall

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18
Q

Name a recent act passed that shows a decrease in partisanship in times of crisis

A

COVID CARES act - financial stimulus

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19
Q

Name 2 examples of caucuses in Congress

A

Problem solvers’ caucus - set up to promote bipartisanship

House Freedom caucus - tea-party movement, very right wing

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20
Q

Name an example of pork-barrel politics

A

2015 aid bill to help with Hurricane Sandy gave aid to Alaska, depsite hitting the East coast

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21
Q

How many amendments have been proposed, and how many have been enacted?

A

Over 11000 proposed, 27 enacted

22
Q

Where are enumerated Presidential powers granted?

A

In Article 2 of the constitution

23
Q

Name 3 examples of Congress checking Presidential power

A

Rejecting treaties - UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons 2012

Obama nomination of Garland to SC rejected

Obama veto overriden

24
Q

How many vetoes did Obama use, and which one was overridden and when?

A

12, Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act 2016

25
Q

What did Biden sending troops to the Ukrainian border show? (2)

A

Commander-in-chief

Executive departments working to achieve President’s objective (department of Defence)

26
Q

Name a person Trump pardoned, and when

A

2021 - pardoned former advisor Steve Bannon who was charged with fundraising fraud

27
Q

Name an example of Biden using his informal powers

A

Attending G7 in Cornwall - world leader

Speech on anniversary of Capitol riots - setting agenda

28
Q

Name an example of an executive order that was overriden, and who created and overrode it

A

Paris Agreement: Obama/Trump

29
Q

Name an example of divided government making it harder for the President to pass legislation

A

Obama after sandy hook - assault weapons ban failed to pass

30
Q

Name an example of Congress exercising it’s power of the purse, and what this led to

A

Withheld emergency funding for Trump’s wall, led to gov. shutdown

31
Q

Name an example of Obama’s power waxing and then waning (3)

A

In 2010 passed Affordable Care Act

Resorted to executive orders e.g Libya in last 2 terms

Merrick Garland nomination rejected

32
Q

What act limits the President’s power as commander-in-chief, increasing the imperilled presidency theory?

A

War Powers Act 1973

33
Q

Give 2 examples of the President interacting with other institutions

A

Obama: increased no. of federal employees by 8%

Trump: disbanded Pandemic response office in 2018

34
Q

Name an example of a recent SC ruling, influenced by the current 6:3 conservative:liberal balance

A

2022 ruling rejected new Wisconson districts, preventing reform of gerrymandering

35
Q

Name an amendment that has overruled an SC case, and the case it overruled

A

26th Amendment - overruled Oregon v. Mitchell which ruled Congress couldn’t lower voting age for state and local elections

36
Q

Name an example of SC acting as guardian of constitution, and which case established this

A

Clinton v. New York said that it was unconstitutional for a President to veto parts of bills.

Marbury v. Madison 1803

37
Q

Name 3 examples of the SC acting as a guardian of citizens’ rights, their date, and which amendment they all violated

A

Obergefell v. Hodges 2015

Brown v. Board 1954

Roe v. Wade 1973

14th Amendment

38
Q

Name a case where the SC has protected 1st Amendment rights, and what this was

A

Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores 2014, Freedom of religion, abortion healthcare

39
Q

Name a ruling where the SC has protected the 2nd amendment rights and what this involved

A

District of Colombia v. Heller, is it constitutional to ban certain guns in the home, no as it violates 2nd amendment

40
Q

Name 4 examples of the Court becoming increasingly politicised

A

Quasi-legislative effect e.g Roe v. Wade

Rule on key election issues e.g abortion, civil rights, gun control

Bush v. Gore: court decided election

Nomination + confirmation is v. partisan e.g Amy Coney Barratt

41
Q

Name 3 examples of the US SC being less politicised

A

Cannot be a member of a party

Judges shift lean e.g Roberts and June Medical Services v. Russo (found a law restricting abortions was unconstitutional)

Rulings not approved by another branch (e.g in contrast to Congress)

42
Q

Name an example of a judge avoiding impeachment

A

Abe Fortas resigned in 1969 after threats of impeachment due to financial misconduct

43
Q

Name an example of other branches impacting the influence of SC rulings

A

‘Chipping away’ at Roe v. Wade: Gonzalez v. Carhart 2007 - upheld ban on late stage abortion

44
Q

What did Planned Parenthood v. Casey 1992 rule?

A

States could regulate abortion in early stages, so long as it wasn’t an ‘undue burden’

45
Q

What did Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt (2016) rule?

A

Delcared 2 Texas laws restricting abortion access unconstitutional

46
Q

How has Roe v. Wade been ‘chipped away’ under Trump’s conservative court?

A

Roe V Wade Overturned in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organisation

47
Q

Name an example of Congress using its Investigation power of during oversight

A

Jan 2021 investigation into fraudulent COVID@19 ventilator purchses

48
Q

Name an example of Congress using its Confirmation power of during oversight

A

2020 approved Amy Coney Barratt, 2016 rejected Merrick Garland

49
Q

Name an example of Congress using its Impeachment power of during oversight

A

2020 + 2021 Trump

50
Q

Name an example of Congress using its Ratification power of during oversight

A

2012 Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities not ratified