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General > US Gov. A Review > Flashcards

US Gov. A Review Flashcards

Get ready for finals

1
Q

The absence of government authority is called…

A

Anarchy!

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2
Q

In today’s world, most people are organized into large political groups called…

A

States!

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3
Q

The characteristics of a state are…

A

Population, sovereignty, some kind of government, and some land to put it all on

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4
Q

Name that term! People giving up some power to the government for the common good.

A

Social Contract

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5
Q

Name that term! Government by the people through elected representatives

A

Republic

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6
Q

Name that term! A form of government where the government has all the power

A

Totalitarianism

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7
Q

What is the power to make laws?

A

Legislative power

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8
Q

In a parliamentary system of government, who chooses the chief executive?

A

The legislature

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9
Q

How is power distributed in a federal system of government?

A

Power is divided between the federal government and local state governments

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10
Q

Which government system works better for large countries? Federal or central?

A

Federal

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11
Q

Which government system works better for small countries?

A

Central

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12
Q

In a democracy, should the majority always get what they want?

A

NO. Democracy should protect both majority rule and minority rights.

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13
Q

What concepts did the Magna Carta establish?

A

No one is above the law, citizens deserve a trial by jury, and it formed the beginnings of Parliament.

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14
Q

What natural rights did John Locke believe in?

A

Life, Liberty, and Property

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15
Q

Which historic American document listed grievances against the king?

A

The Declaration of Independence

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16
Q

Which historic American document established a new government in which the States were sovereign?

A

The Articles of Confederation

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17
Q

What was wrong with the Articles of Confederation?

A

A lot, but in essence, the States were too strong and the federal government was too weak.

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18
Q

What does it mean to ratify something?

A

To approve or make official

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19
Q

Which historic American document established a government with three branches to check and balance each other?

A

The Constitution

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20
Q

Which historic American document specifically spells out your rights, and was written to limit the federal government?

A

The Bill of Rights

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21
Q

What two methods can be used to propose a new Amendment?

A

Either the Amendment is approved by a 2/3rds majority in both houses of Congress, or 2/3rds of the States call a convention.

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22
Q

What two methods can be used to ratify a new Amendment?

A

Either 3/4 of State governments approve, or 3/4 of State conventions approve.

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23
Q

People voting and making their voices heard would be an example of…

A

Popular sovereignty

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24
Q

The Bill of Rights protecting citizens from government abuse would be an example of…

A

Limited government

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25
Q

What amendment makes it so that the President and the Vice President run together?

A

The 12th Amendment

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26
Q

What amendment abolished slavery?

A

The 13th Amendment

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27
Q

What amendment makes us citizens by birth, and entitles us to equal protection under the law?

A

The 14th Amendment

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28
Q

What amendment guaranteed the right to vote, regardless of race?

A

The 15th Amendment

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29
Q

What amendment was used to incorporate the Bill of Rights into the states?

A

The 14th Amendment

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30
Q

What two amendments deal with Prohibition?

A

The 18th and the 21st Amendments

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31
Q

What amendment gave women the right to vote?

A

The 19th Amendment

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32
Q

What amendment blocked poll taxes?

A

The 24th Amendment

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33
Q

What amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

A

The 26th Amendment

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34
Q

What idea is behind the division/sharing of powers between the federal and state governments?

A

Federalism

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35
Q

What are some of the powers expressly delegated to the federal government?

A

Coining money, war powers, interstate issues, foreign affairs, post offices

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36
Q

What are some of the powers left to the states?

A

Education, marriage laws

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37
Q

What do you call powers shared between the federal and state governments?

A

Concurrent powers

38
Q

How long do Supreme Court justices and federal judges serve for?

A

Life.

39
Q

What is one presidential check on the federal government?

A

The President appoints Supreme Court justices and federal judges, only with Senate approval though.

40
Q

What is the lowest U.S. Court with original jurisdiction over most federal cases?

A

A U.S. District Court

41
Q

What Supreme Court case desegregated public schools?

A

Brown v Board of Education

42
Q

Which Supreme Court case guarentees you a defense attorney even if you can’t afford one?

A

Gideon v Wainwright

43
Q

In what governmental system is power concentrated into the hands of a single, central government?

A

Unitary government

44
Q

What are the six fundamental principles of the Constitution?

A

Popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism

45
Q

What are the five freedoms protected by the 1st Ammendment?

A

Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of association, and freedom to PEACEABLY protest

46
Q

What is eminent domain?

A

The power of the government to take private property for public use, in exchange for “just compensation”

47
Q

What requirements must you be able to fulfill to be able to serve jury duty?

A

You must be 18, a legal citizen, have lived in the district in question for at least a year, proficient in English, not a felon, and not have any disqualifying mental/emotional conditions

48
Q

What freedoms does the 8th Amendment guarantee?

A

No excessive bail or fines, and no cruel and unusual punishment

49
Q

What is the writ of habeas corpus?

A

Legal protection for people imprisoned - it requires the courts to have a valid, legal reason for locking you up.

50
Q

Under what circumstances can habeas corpus be suspended?

A

In cases of rebellion or invasion

51
Q

What rights does the 6th Amendment guarantee?

A

A speedy and public trial, tried by an impartial jury in the (legal) state and district where the crime took place. In addition, you must be informed of the charges against you, and you have the right to confront the accusers in court, to subpoena witnesses for your defense, and to have legal counsel for your defense.

52
Q

What does indictment mean?

A

It means that you have been formally charged by a grand jury. This only applies “high crimes”.

53
Q

What are the four theories of the origin of the state?

A

Evolution, force, divine right, and social contract.

54
Q

Who elects the executive figure in a presidential system?

A

The people do.

55
Q

What is the difference between pure democracy and indirect democracy?

A

In a pure democracy, the people vote on every legal thing. In an indirect democracy - better known as a republic - the people vote on elected representative, who vote on legal things. Governments generally use a blend of both.

56
Q

How many amendments are there?

A

27

57
Q

What are some powers reserved to the states/people?

A

Traffic laws, education, drugs, tattoos, casinos and gambling, etc

58
Q

What are some concurrent powers?

A

Taxes, voting, drinking, health and safety

59
Q

What part of the Constitution decrees it the Supreme law of the land?

A

Article 6, Section 2

60
Q

What does the 10th Amendment say?

A

All powers not listed in the Constitution belong to the states and/or the people

61
Q

What is the highest state law?

A

A State’s constitution

62
Q
A
63
Q

What did the landmark case Marbury v. Madison accomplish?

A

It struck down an act of Congress that would have changed the Court’s functions, establishing the doctrine of judicial review

64
Q

What did the landmark case Dred Scott v. Sandford determine?

A

Slaves transported from a slave state to a free state cannot be freed, because black people cannot be citizens of the United States. It was effectively erased by the 13th and 14th Amendments

65
Q

What did the landmark case Plessy v. Ferguson do?

A

It established the doctrine of “separate but equal”, legalizing segregation in public facilities.

66
Q

What did the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education do?

A

Overturned the previous ruling, Plessy v. Ferguson, and struck down the “seperate but equal” doctrine as unconstitutional.

67
Q

What did the landmark case Gideon v. Wainwright establish?

A

Everyone is entitled to a defense lawyer, even if they cannot afford one (then they get one appointed by the state)

68
Q

What did the landmark case Miranda v. Arizona establish?

A

The police are required to read your rights to you when they are going to question you. (now known as “the Miranda rights”)

69
Q

What did the landmark case Roe v. Wade establish?

A

Abortion must be legal in all fifty states. Justified by an inherent right to privacy implied by the Constitution (the right I agree with, this particular use I don’t)

70
Q

What did the landmark case Dobbs v. Jackson establish?

A

The right to privacy, nor any other right in the Constitution, justifies abortion. States may deal with it as they like.

71
Q

What did the landmark case U.S. v. Nixon establish?

A

No one is above the law, including the president. That, and not all the president’s communications are confidential, because he is a public figure.

72
Q

What did the landmark case Citizens United v. FEC establish?

A

Corporations do not have a limit on how much money they can spend on politics. (It gives them a huge say in politics)

73
Q

What does the 3rd Amendment guarantee?

A

That citizens will never be forced to quarter troops on their own property

74
Q

What rights does the 4th Amendment guarantee?

A

No searches and seizures without a warrant naming who is to be searched, or what is to be seized. That, and a warrant cannot be obtained without probable cause.

75
Q

What is probable cause?

A

Sufficient reason based on known facts

76
Q

What is the exclusionary rule?

A

The rule that illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court.

77
Q

Under what circumstances do you NOT need a warrant?

A

If you consent to a search, if the evidence is in plain view, if you are being arrested, if they are searching a vehicle, or if there is an imminent threat to safety.

78
Q

What rights does the 5th Amendment guarantee?

A

You can’t be tried for a capital or infamous crime without first being indicted by a grand jury (unless you are on active duty in the military during a war), you can’t be tried twice for the same crimes (known as double jeopardy), you cannot be compelled to witness against yourself, or deprived of life/liberty/property without due process of law, and the government can’t take your private property for public use without “just compensation”.

79
Q

What rights does the 7th Amendment guarantee?

A

In criminal cases, and civil cases where the value in controversy is greater than 20 dollars, the defendant is guaranteed a trial by jury. In addition, the verdict of the jury cannot be overturned.

80
Q

What does the 9th Amendment say?

A

Just because the Constitution spells out some rights does NOT mean that those are ALL of our rights - we have rights “not enumerated”.

81
Q

What are some of the key philosophies of John Locke?

A

Governments are instituted to protect our natural, God-given rights: Life, liberty, and property. These governments are by the people for the people, so if and when they violate their social contract consistently and egregiously.

82
Q

What is our highest court?

A

The Supreme Court

83
Q

What are the three levels of federal courts?

A

US District Courts, followed by the US Courts of Appeals, and then the Supreme Court at the head.

84
Q

What are the four levels of state courts?

A

State Trial Courts, followed by Intermediate Appellate Courts, then State Supreme Courts, then the US Supreme Court at the head.

85
Q

What does Article 4 of the Constitution state?

A

Legal actions performed in one state are (almost always) valid in the other states; States must treat people from other states equally; criminals who flee justice from one state must be sent back; and new states must be admitted by Congress, and cannot be formed out of other states without their permission (plus more approval from congress)

86
Q

How many legislative districts are there in Idaho?

A

35

87
Q

True or False; Reservations follow state laws

A

False! Reservations are bound by federal and tribal laws, but not state laws

88
Q

What Article of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court?

A

Article 3

89
Q

What is a confederation?

A

A form of government where power belongs to the states, with a weak federal government on top.

90
Q

How can you amend the Constitution?

A

Method 1: Congress proposes the amendment by having it pass a supermajority in both houses, then 3/4s of the state legislatures have to ratify it, or Method 2: 2/3rds of the states demand a convention, and then 3/4s of the states still have to ratify it.

General (6 decks)

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