8 - United States Government Flashcards
This deck explores the development of key founding documents, the Constitution, landmark Supreme Court cases, and the structure and functions of the U.S. government.
Identify:
The 3 Founding Documents.
- Declaration of Independence
- Constitution
- Bill of Rights
Identify:
3 important documents that influenced American democracy.
- The Mayflower Compact (1620): Significant early example of self-governance in America.
- The Articles of Confederation (1777): The first constitution of the United States, it established a weak central government and highlighted the need for a stronger federal government.
- The Federalist Papers (1787-1788): A series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to promote the ratification of the Constitution.
Explain:
How does the Declaration of Independence represent popular sovereignty?
It supports a government “by the people, for the people.”
As a legal doctrine, it emphasizes the importance of citizens having the ultimate power, in contrast to the British monarchy, which vested power in a queen or king.
Explain:
Development of the Declaration of Independence.
- Growing tensions between the American colonies and Great Britain, fueled by taxation without representation and other grievances, led to a growing movement for independence.
-
3 major events:
- The Boston Tea Party (1773): A protest against British taxes on tea.
- The First Continental Congress (1774): A meeting of colonial delegates to coordinate a response to British policies.
- The Second Continental Congress (1775): The formation of the Continental Army and the appointment of George Washington as commander-in-chief.
Describe:
Significance of Articles of Confederation.
- First constitution of the United States,
- Established a “league of friendship” among the 13 sovereign states.
- Adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into effect on March 1, 1781.
- Created a weak central government with limited powers, prioritizing the sovereignty of individual states.
- No Executive or Judicial Branches
Explain:
Challenges under Articles of Confederation.
- Central government’s inability to enforce laws and collect taxes hindered its ability to address national issues.
- The Articles did not regulate interstate commerce, leading to trade disputes and economic instability.
- Amending the Articles required unanimous consent from all 13 states, making it nearly impossible to address the document’s shortcomings.
Explain:
How did the Articles of Confederation lead to Constitution?
- The weaknesses became increasingly apparent, leading to a growing desire for a stronger central government.
- The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was convened to address these issues and draft a new constitution.
- The resulting Constitution established a federal system with a stronger central government, divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
This new framework provided a more effective and stable government for the United States.
Identify:
3 main parts of the Constitution.
- The Preamble
- The Articles
- The Amendments
Explain:
Significance of the Preamble.
- Outlines the goals of the Constitution, such as forming a more perfect union, establishing justice, and securing liberty.
- Serves as a moral and ethical compass for the nation, guiding policymakers and citizens.
- Embodies shared values and aspirations, fostering a sense of national unity and purpose.
The opening words “We the People” emphasize that the Constitution derives its authority from the people themselves, making it a document of popular sovereignty.
Identify:
7 Articles in Constitution.
- Article I: Legislative Branch
- Article II: Executive Branch
- Article III: Judicial Branch
- Article IV: Relations Among the States
- Article V: Amendment Process
- Article VI: Supremacy Clause
- Article VII: Ratification
Explain:
Significance of Article I in the U.S. Constitution.
- Creates the bicameral legislature (Congress) composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
- Outlines the powers of Congress, including the power to make laws, declare war, and levy taxes.
Explain:
Significance of Article II in the U.S. Constitution.
Establishes the presidency and defines the powers and duties of the president, such as being commander-in-chief of the armed forces, signing bills into law, and conducting foreign policy.
Explain:
Significance of Article III in the U.S. Constitution.
- Creates the Supreme Court and gives Congress the power to establish lower federal courts.
- Defines the jurisdiction of federal courts and grants the Supreme Court the power of judicial review.
Explain:
Significance of Article IV in the U.S. Constitution.
Outlines the relationship between states, including:
- the Full Faith and Credit Clause
- the Privileges and Immunities Clause
- the Extradition Clause
Explain:
Significance of Article V in the U.S. Constitution.
Describes the process for amending the Constitution, requiring approval by two-thirds of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states.
Explain:
Significance of Article VI in the U.S. Constitution.
Declares the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties to be the supreme law of the land.
Explain:
Significance of Article VII in the U.S. Constitution.
Specifies that the Constitution would go into effect once ratified by nine of the thirteen states.
Explain:
Why is the Amendments section of the Constitution important?
- Allows the Constitution to evolve and adapt to changing times and societal needs.
- The Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments) guarantees fundamental rights and liberties, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly.
- Subsequent amendments have expanded voting rights to include more citizens, such as women, African Americans, and young adults.
Explain:
Significance of the Bill of Rights.
- Guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition; the right to bear arms; protection against unreasonable searches and seizures; due process of law; and protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
- Restricts the power of the government and ensures that it cannot infringe upon the rights of individuals.
Identify:
First 10 amendments (Bill of Rights).
- Amendment 1 - Freedoms, Petitions, Assembly
- Amendment 2 - Right to bear arms
- Amendment 3 - Quartering of soldiers
- Amendment 4 - Search and arrest
- Amendment 5 - Rights in criminal cases
- Amendment 6 - Right to a fair trial
- Amendment 7 - Rights in civil cases
- Amendment 8 - Bail, fines, punishment
- Amendment 9 - Rights retained by the People
- Amendment 10 - States’ rights
Explain:
3 outcomes of Constitutional Convention (1787).
- The Constitution established a federal system with three branches of government and a system of checks and balances.
- Delegates made compromises on representation, slavery, and the election of the president.
- The Constitution granted the federal government more power and established it as the supreme law of the land.
Define:
The Great Compromise
(or Connecticut Compromise)
Settled the dispute over representation in Congress, creating a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state.
Define:
Three-Fifths Compromise
Compromise reached among state delegates during the 1787 Constitutional Convention that determined that three out of every five slaves were counted when determining a state’s total population for legislative representation and taxation.
Explain:
Compromise concerning Electoral College.
- System was created as a compromise during the 1787 Constitutional Convention, where delegates struggled to agree on how to elect the president.
- Some wanted Congress to choose the president, while others feared a direct popular vote.
- The resulting compromise established electors who would cast the ballots for president, with each state appointing a number of electors equal to its Congressional representation.
The Electoral College’s origins were influenced by concerns over executive power and slavery. The Three-Fifths Compromise allowed slave states to count enslaved people as part of their population for allocating electors, giving those states more influence. Over time, however, the system’s assumptions about electors voting independently and the role of the House of Representatives in deciding elections became outdated.
Identify:
How many amendments to the U.S. Constitution are there?
27
Identify:
Reconstruction Amendments
- 13th Amendment - Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, with the exception of those convicted of a crime.
- 14th Amendment - Established birthright citizenship, guaranteed equal protection of the laws, and protected citizens from state abuses of rights.
- 15th Amendment - Prohibited discrimination in voting based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Amendments 13-15 are called the Reconstruction Amendments both because they were the first enacted right after the Civil War and because all addressed questions related to the legal and political status of the African Americans.
Explain:
How has the interpretation and application of the 14th Amendment evolved over time, particularly in relation to its impact on civil rights and equal protection under the law?
- Evolved to significantly expand civil rights and equal protection under the law, influencing landmark Supreme Court decisions on issues such as racial segregation, gender discrimination, and same-sex marriage.
- Initially focused on protecting the rights of formerly enslaved people, the 14th Amendment’s scope has broadened over time to address a wide range of civil rights issues, reflecting changing societal values and legal principles.
Describe:
Significance of 19th Amendment.
Granted women the right to vote.
Describe:
Significance of 26th Amendment.
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
Identify:
Important SCOTUS cases in American history.
- Marbury v. Madison (1803)
- McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
- Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
- Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
- Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
- Schenck v. United States (1919)
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
- Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
- Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
- Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)
- Roe v. Wade (1973)
- Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
- Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022)
- Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (2023)
Explain:
Importance of Marbury v. Madison.
(1803)
- Established the principle of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional.
- By striking down a law as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court asserted its power to interpret the Constitution and to check the legislative and executive branches.
This decision significantly enhanced the power of the judiciary and solidified its role as a co-equal branch of government.
Define:
judicial review
Power of the courts to declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional.
Explain:
Importance of McCulloch v. Maryland.
(1819)
- Upheld the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States and affirmed the federal government’s implied powers.
- The Court ruled that the federal government is supreme over state governments.
Maryland had attempted to tax the Second Bank of the United States, but the Court held that states cannot tax federal institutions.
Define:
federalism
Division of power between a central government and regional governments.
Explain:
Importance of Plessy v. Ferguson.
(1896)
- Established the doctrine of “separate but equal,” which meant that as long as facilities were separate, they could be unequal.
- Homer Plessy, a mixed-race individual, challenged a Louisiana law requiring racial segregation on railroads.
- The Supreme Court upheld the law, arguing that segregation did not violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause as long as the facilities were “separate but equal.”
- Decision had a profound impact on American society, leading to widespread racial segregation in the South and other parts of the country.
“Jim Crow” laws were enacted to enforce segregation in various aspects of life, including education, transportation, and public accommodations.
Explain:
Importance of Brown v. Board of Education.
(1954)
- Overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which had legalized racial segregation in public schools.
- The Court unanimously ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
- The decision ignited the Civil Rights Movement and inspired activists to fight for equal rights for all.
- Emboldened African Americans to challenge segregation in other areas of life, such as housing, employment, and voting.
Beyond its legal implications, Brown v. Board of Education represented a moral victory. It affirmed the principle that all individuals, regardless of race, deserve equal opportunities and treatment.
Explain:
Importance of Miranda v. Arizona.
(1966)
- Landmark Supreme Court case that significantly impacted the rights of individuals in police custody.
- Established the principle that law enforcement officers must inform suspects of their constitutional rights before questioning them.
Describe:
Structure of United States Government.
- Federal republic with power is divided between a central government and state governments.
- Operates on a system of checks and balances, ensuring no single branch becomes too powerful.
- Contains three branches of government:
- Legislative Branch - Congress
- Executive Branch - Presidency
- Judicial Branch - Courts
Explain:
Importance of Legislative Branch.
- Congress, which is composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
- Makes laws, declares war, approves treaties, controls federal spending, and oversees the executive branch.
- Representatives are elected by popular vote in congressional districts. Senators are elected by popular vote in each state.
Explain:
Unique features of House of Representatives.
- Representation: Based on population, ensuring that larger states have more representation.
- Term Length: Two years, leading to frequent elections and responsiveness to public opinion.
- Focus: Often focuses on domestic issues and fiscal matters.
- Procedures: More formal and structured, with limited debate time.
Explain:
Unique features of Senate.
- Representation: Equal representation for each state, regardless of population.
- Term Length: Six years, providing stability and long-term perspective.
- Focus: Traditionally focuses on foreign policy and national security issues.
- Procedures: Less formal and structured, allowing for extended debate and filibusters.
Identify:
4 effects of bicameralism on legislative power.
- Checks and Balances
- Representation can provide opportunities for diverse interests to be represented
- Efficiency and Gridlock
- Accountability
Explain:
Importance of Executive Branch.
- Led by the President, the head of state and government.
- Enforces laws, commands the armed forces, conducts foreign policy, and appoints federal judges.
- The President and Vice President are elected through the Electoral College, where electors from each state cast votes based on the popular vote in their state.
Explain:
Importance of Judicial Branch.
- Supreme Court and Federal Courts interpret laws and determine their constitutionality.
- Resolves legal disputes, protects individual rights, and ensures the Constitution is upheld.
- Federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Explain:
Process of how a bill becomes law.
- Introduction: A member of Congress (Representative or Senator) introduces a bill in their respective chamber.
- Committee Assignment: The bill is assigned to a relevant committee for review and consideration.
- Committee Action: The committee holds hearings, debates the bill, and may make amendments. They can choose to pass, reject, or table the bill.
- Floor Debate and Vote: If the committee passes the bill, it is debated and voted on by the full chamber (House or Senate).
- Passage in Both Chambers: The bill must pass both the House and the Senate in identical form.
- Conference Committee: If there are differences between the House and Senate versions, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences.
-
Presidential Action: The final bill is sent to the President. The President can:
- Sign the bill into law.
- Veto the bill (Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers).
- Do nothing (pocket veto): If Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting the bill and the President does not sign it, it is automatically vetoed.
Explain:
3 parts of election process in United States.
- Primary Elections: Parties select their nominees for various offices through primary elections, where voters choose between candidates within their party.
- General Election: Voters cast ballots for candidates from different parties to fill federal, state, and local offices.
- Electoral College: In presidential elections, the Electoral College, a body of electors from each state, formally elects the President and Vice President. The number of electors per state is based on its population.
Define:
campaign finance
- Funds raised and spent to promote candidates, political parties, or policy initiatives and referendums.
- Encompasses all the money used in political campaigns, from individual donations to large contributions from corporations and organizations.
Define:
lobbying
Act of attempting to influence the actions of a government official, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies.
Lobbyists are individuals or groups who advocate for specific interests, such as businesses, industries, labor unions, or non-profit organizations.
Identify:
4 methods of lobbying.
- Direct lobbying: Meeting with lawmakers or their staff to discuss specific legislation or regulations.
- Grassroots lobbying: Mobilizing public opinion through letter-writing campaigns, protests, or public relations efforts.
- Coalition building: Forming alliances with other groups to increase their influence.
- Campaign contributions: Providing financial support to candidates who are sympathetic to their cause.
Define:
Super PAC
Super Political Action Committee, is a type of political committee that may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, associations, and individuals to spend on independent political activity, such as advertising for or against a candidate.
Super PACs cannot coordinate directly with a candidate’s campaign. They must operate independently.
Define:
dark money
- Political spending where the source of the money is not disclosed to the public.
- Often occurs through non-profit organizations that are not required to reveal their donors.
- These organizations can spend heavily on political campaigns, issue advocacy, and lobbying without disclosing the identities of their funders.
The lack of transparency associated with dark money raises concerns about the influence of wealthy individuals and corporations on elections and policymaking.
Explain:
How do the core values and beliefs that define American political culture influence the functioning of the democratic system and shape public policy?
- Individualism, liberty, equality, and democracy, profoundly influence the functioning of the democratic system by shaping citizens’ expectations of government and guiding political behavior and civic engagement.
- Values also impact public policy, driving debates on issues like civil rights, economic regulation, and social welfare, and reflecting the evolving priorities and ideologies of the American populace.
Explain:
What is public opinion and what affects it?
- Expression of the general population’s thoughts on a particular issue.
- Most often determined through public opinion polls.
- Many different factors affect public opinion, such as politicians, news media, socioeconomic status, major world events, and opinion leaders.
Explain:
What role do interest groups play in the American political system, and how do they influence public policy and the electoral process?
- Serve as advocates for specific causes or issues, mobilizing resources and public support to influence policymakers and shape legislation in alignment with their objectives.
- Through strategies such as lobbying, campaign contributions, and grassroots mobilization, they play a significant role in the electoral process by endorsing candidates, funding campaigns, and raising awareness about their causes.
Identify:
4 types of interest groups.
- Buisness
- Trade Associations
- Citizen Groups
- Professional Associations
Explain:
How do interest groups use lobbying strategies?
- Direct strategies include lobbying techniques, rating government officials, building alliances, and offering campaign assistance.
- Indirect strategies include generating public pressure, using constituents as lobbyists, and public protest demonstrations.
What are the impacts of media involvement in elections?
- Can significantly enhance voter engagement by providing information about candidates, policies, and electoral processes, thereby shaping public opinion and facilitating informed decision-making.
- Can also introduce bias and misinformation, which can undermine the integrity of the democratic process by distorting perceptions and polarizing public sentiment.
Define:
political socialization
Process by which individuals develop their political values, beliefs, and behaviors. It’s a lifelong learning process influenced by various agents of socialization, such as:
- Family
- Education
- Peers
- Media
- Religion
- Cultural Factors
Define:
multilateralism
- Approach in foreign policy that involves countries working together to address global issues through international organizations and cooperation.
- It emphasizes diplomacy, negotiation, and international law.
Define:
isolationism
- Foreign policy strategy that involves a country minimizing its involvement in international affairs and focusing on domestic issues.
- Seeks to avoid alliances, treaties, and international commitments.
