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final review Flashcards

(100 cards)

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1
Q

define democracy

A

the people hold the power to rule, the people meet to make all the decisions

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2
Q

what is a republic

A

a government where citizens rule through elected representatives

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3
Q

what is a federal system

A

a system of government in which the national and state governments share power

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4
Q

what is a presidential system

A

a form of government in which the executive and legislative branches are separate, independent, and coequal

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5
Q

what is a parliament

A

government where people vote for representatives, the political party in control picks their prime minister (head executive)

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6
Q

what is a monarchy

A

a political system in which a country is ruled by a monarch (king or queen) who has total control

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7
Q

what was John Lockes impact

A

believed that the purpose of the government is to protect the laws of nature and natural rights (life, liberty, and property)/ if a government failed to protect these rights, people were justified in rebelling and changing that government

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8
Q

what was montesquieu’s imact

A

separation of powers into 3 branches of government

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9
Q

what is social contract

A

an agreement between the people of a society to abide by laws and accept punishment; people agree to sacrifice some liberty in order to gain more protection; governments get their power from the people

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10
Q

what is the natural rights philosophy

A

everyone has the right to life, liberty, and ownership of property/citizens have the right to overthrow the government when their “natural rights” are violated

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11
Q

who was the author of the declaration of independence

A

Thomas Jefferson

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12
Q

what was the purpose of the declaration of independence

A

to declare the separation of the colonies from Britain

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13
Q

what are the key ideas of the declaration of independence

A

states general ideas about rights and governments, lists complaints directed toward King George lll, declares an official separation of the colonies

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14
Q

what were the articles of confederation

A

nation’s first constitution; was adopted by the second continental congress in 1781 during the revolution; document was limited because states held most of the power, and congress lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or control coinage

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15
Q

what were the main weaknesses of the articles of confederation

A

Congress had trouble passing laws because a vote of 9 out of 13 states were needed
There was no executive official to ensure that laws were carried out
Without national courts, there were no means of interpreting laws or carrying out justice
The Articles of Confederation could not be changed without a unanimous vote
Congress lacked power to collect taxes
The government could not control trade between the states
Each state had its own currency so there was no stable national currency
The government could not pay its debts

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16
Q

what was the great compromise

A

the agreement by which Congress would have two houses: the senate (where each state gets equal representation – two senators) and the House of Representatives (where representation is based on population)

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17
Q

what is federalism

A

a way of organizing a nation so that two levels (national and state) have formal authority over the same land and people, it is a system of shared power between units of government

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18
Q

what is the electoral college

A

the body of elector chosen from each state to elect the president and vice president of the US, the people of each state vote for the electors who then cast their votes on the people’s behalf

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19
Q

what is a federalist

A

supporters of the constitution, strong central government, 3 branches of government

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20
Q

what is an anti-federalist

A

opposed the constitution, opposed strong central govt, thought people’s rights were limited and insisted on a bill of rights, too much power to national govt

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21
Q

what were the federalist papers

A

A series of influential articles posted in the newspaper, promoting the thoughts and ideas of Federalists, papers pointed out the problems and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the strengths of the Constitution

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22
Q

what is the importance of the federalist papers

A

persuaded enough people to ratify the Constitution

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23
Q

what is popular sovereignty

A

the people hold ultimate power in the government

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24
Q

what is limited government

A

no government is all powerful, government must obey the law

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25
what is separation of powers
no one component of the government holds too much power, powers are distributed among 3 different branches
26
what are checks and balances
designed to prevent abuse of power in the government
27
what is judicial review
the power of the courts to declare a law constitutional and unconstitutional
28
what is federalism
power is shared between the central/national government and the states
29
what are the universal requirements of voting
o U.S. citizen o 18 years or older o Have to be a resident in the state you are casting your vote in
30
what is the difference between political party and interest group
political party seek POWER | Interest group seeks to INFLUENCE
31
what is the main role of 3rd parties in politics
by promoting new ideas, if they gain support, major parties adopt their issues to save votes
32
what is the primary source of news for most Americans
TV
33
which government agency/body regulates the media
FCC
34
what is selective perception
the process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages
35
what is political socialization
A process by which individuals learn their political beliefs and attitudes from family, school, friends, coworkers, and other sources
36
what is the MAIN source of political socialization
family/parents
37
what is the preamble
introduction to the US constitution
38
what are reserved powers
the powers the constitution gives to the states
39
what are concurrent powers
the powers shared by the national and state governments
40
what is the elastic clause/necessary and proper clause
one of the powers of Congress that allows them to make any laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out their powers
41
what are expressed powers
those explicitly mentioned in the constitution
42
what are implied powers
powers which can reasonable be assumed
43
what are examples of expressed powers
``` To lay and collect taxes To borrow money To establish naturalization law To raise armies and a navy To regulate commerce To establish post offices ```
44
what are examples of implied powers
To punish tax evaders To regulate the sale of some commodities (such as alcohol) and outlaw the use of others (narcotics) To require states to meet certain conditions to qualify for federal funding To establish the Federal Reserve System of banks To regulate and limit immigration To draft Americans into the military To establish a minimum wage To ban discrimination in workplaces and public facilities To pass laws protecting the disabled To regulate banking
45
what is the "winner takes all" system in the electoral college
an election system in which the candidate with the most votes wins
46
what is gerrymandering
dividing a state into odd-shaped districts for strictly political reasons (to give one party an advantage over another)
47
what is the amendment process
an amendment may be proposed by 2/3 of both the house and the senate, an amendment may be approved by the legislatures of ¾ of the states
48
what is the only amendment to be repealed
21st, prohibition of alcohol
49
what is article 1
legislative branch
50
what is article 2
executive branch
51
what is article 3
judicial branch
52
what is the full faith and credit clause
Constitution’s requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
53
what is the extradition clause
the legal process by which a fugitive from justice in one state is returned to that state
54
what is a bicameral legislature
2 houses, the framers had to create a 2-chambered body to settle the conflict between the Virginia and the New Jersey Plans
55
how many members are in the house of reps
435, distributed to each state based on population
56
how many members are in the senate
100, 2 per state
57
what is a filibuster
a tactic used in the senate to halt action on a bill, it involves making long speeches until the majority retreats
58
what is a cloture
the only way to end a filibuster, 3/5 of senators must vote for cloture, used to close debate
59
what is a rider
an amendment to a bill that is not germane to the legislation
60
what is a ratification
the process by which a constitutional amendment, or other document is officially put into place
61
what is the seniority system
custom whereby the member of congress who has served the longest on the majority side of a committee becomes its chair and the member who has served the longest on the minority side becomes its running member
62
what are the 4 options a president has with a bill
pass, pocket pass, veto, pocket veto
63
what is a pocket veto
when congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it
64
what is a pocket pass
if the president lets a bill sit within 10 days while congress is in session and it passes
65
what is a pardon
a release from the punishment for or legal consequences of a crime
66
what is the 22nd ammendment
president can only serve 2 terms or 10 years
67
what is the first 4 in the presidential succession
Vice president Speaker of the house President pro tempore of the senate Secretary of state
68
what is the 25th amendment
presidential succession
69
what is the role of the joint Chiefs of Staff
the commanding officers of the armed services who advise the president on military policy
70
what is the role of the secretary of State
the head of the department of stat and traditionally a key adviser to the president on foreign policy
71
what is the role of the secretary of Defense
the head of the department of defense and the president’s key adviser on military policy
72
what is the role of the attorney General
the position of the head of the Justice Department and the chief law enforcement officer of the US
73
wha are the two types of COURT SYSTEMS
Federal and state
74
what is a trial court
First court to hear a case
75
what is an appellate court
if you lose in a trial court, you can ask a higher court to look at the verdict and replace it with a different decision
76
what are the two types of LAWS
civil and criminal
77
what is civil law
cases that involve a dispute over a contract or damage to an individual group
78
what is criminal law
Case involves acts against public safety and order | Government acts as legal representative of society
79
what is the supreme court
original and appellate jurisdiction, hear the highest and most complex cases selectively
80
what is the circuit court of appeals
appellate jurisdiction, focus is on correcting the procedure and law that occurred in the original proceedings of legal cases
81
what is the district court
original jurisdiction, routine cases
82
what is the precedent when deciding cases for the SC
prior cases whose principles are used by judges as the basis for their decisions in present cases
83
what is the importance of Marbury v Madison case
established judicial review
84
what is the 1st amendment
freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, petition
85
what is the 5th amendment
due process of law, no self-incrimination, no double jeopardy, eminent domain
86
what is the 6th amendment
right to a speedy and public trial by jury of one’s peers, right to counsel/assistance of counsel, indictment (formal list of charges), compulsory process and confrontation, trial by impartial jury in state where crime was committed
87
what is the role of the brown v board of education case
separate but equal
88
what are major entitlement programs in the US
social security, medicare, food stamps
89
what is the primary source of income for the federal govt
individual income tax
90
where does the us govt spend most of its money on
social security, medicare, healthcare
91
what day did Arizona become a state
February 14, 1912
92
why was Arizona’s entry delayed
its Constitution allowed the recall of judges
93
what is initiative
allows voters to make or amend laws without the aid of the state legislature propositions on the ballot
94
what is referendum
the process where voters directly approve or veto a bill already passed through the state legislature allows people to a "check"
95
what is recall
allows people the authority to conduct recall elections as a "check" on abuse of power. It applies to "Every public officer in the state of Arizona, holding an elective office, either by election or appointment
96
what is the governor's role
head of the executive
97
who is 2nd in line to the governor
the Secretary of State
98
what is the structure of the state legislature
bicameral: 30 legislative districts: 2 reps in the house, 1 in senate for each legislative district: soooo, 90 total with 30 senators and 60 house of reps in Arizona
99
what is the number of congressional districts
9
100
what is the number of electoral votes
11

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