Final

Question 1

Entitlements

Answer 1

Payments made automatically when legal requirements are met.

• can be made to individuals or lower levels of govt
• ex: social security

Question 2

Bicameral

Answer 2

2 houses

• the 2 houses are nearly equal in power
• result of large and small state compromise = the “Great Compromise”

Question 3

Judicial Review

Answer 3

The power of the courts to declare a legislative act constitutional or unconstitutional.

Question 4

Impeachment

Answer 4

A formal accusation of wrongdoing against a public official. According to the United States Constitution, the House of Representatives can vote to impeach an official, but the Senate actually tries the case.

Question 5

Political Party

Answer 5

A political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within a government (usually by participating in electoral campaigns).

Question 6

Party Platform

Answer 6

List of support for, or opposition to, specific topics. Purpose is to help party’s candidates get voted into office.

Question 7

Non-Partisan

Answer 7

No official political parties exist/are identified (on ballot).

• sometimes this reflects legal restrictions on political parties.
• each candidate is eligible for office on his/her own merits
• Nebraska
• Local elections are non-partisan

Question 8

Coalition Government

Answer 8

Alliance of 3+ political parties.

Question 9

Original Jurisdicion

Answer 9

• First time case is heard
• entry into court system
• right to jury trial
• guilty vs. innocent or right vs. wrong
• merits

Question 10

Appellate Jurisdicion

Answer 10

• reviewing procedure for errors
• NOT merits
• only hear cases that have been appealed
• judges

Question 11

Tax & Spend Clause

Answer 11

• Art 1, Sec 8
• to lay and collect taxes to PAY DEBTS and provide for the commoner defense and WELFARE of the US.
• only Congress
• power to set a budget

Question 12

What are the 3 main activities of Congress??

Answer 12

Tax and spending, casework/constituent services, oversight.

Question 13

Case work (constituents services)

Answer 13

Personal services provided to constituents.

Helping people navigate the bureaucracy of the fed govt

Question 14

Congressional oversight

Answer 14

Congress is charge with overseeing not the activities of the executive branch.
Done through:
Budgeting process
Committee investigations