Government Flashcards
(19 cards)
Key concepts
- Federalism
- Separation of Powers
- Balance of Powers
- Party system
- State and local governments
The Constitutional Convention
- originally tasked with amending the Articles of Confederation
- drafted by 55 representatives of 12/13 states (Rhode Island chose not to send one)
- Ratified by the necessary 9 states in 1788
The Constitution
- 7 articles
- First 10 amendments (“Bill of Rights) ratified in 1791
- Hey, I´m Saul Goodman. Did you know that you have rights? Contitution says you do. And so do I.
Preamble
We the People of the United States…perfect Union, establish Justice, domestic Tranquility…..Blessings of Liberty…establish this Constitution for the USA
Powers in the Constitution
1) Expressed = explicitly listed in the Constitution (right to collect taxes, declare war, regulate trade)
2) Implied powers = deriving from the needs of Congress to pass laws “necessary and proper” for the implementation of the Exprssed powers
3) Concurred = both levels of government may act, national government laws are superior in case of conflict
4) Reserved = powers which Constitution does not give to the national governemnt or forbid to the states, these include regulating social institutions, public education etc
Critical sections
1) Article 4, section 1 - each state must give “full faith and credit” to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
2) Amendment 9 - basically that people have more rights than the ones explicitly mentioned (enumeration)
3) Amendment 10 - powers not specifically defined are reserved to the individual states or people
4) Amendment 14 - equality of rights under law cant be dinied or abridged
Checks and balances
- Supreme Court can declare laws unconstitutional
- President appoints judges
- The Senate must confirm the president´s judicial appointments
- Chief Justice presides over impeachment of president
- Congress must approve presidential appointments, it can pass laws over presidential veto
House of Representatives
- Reffered to as “Representative” or “Congressman/woman”
- 2-year terms
- number based on inhabitants
- maximum of 435 representatives
Gerrymandering
= drawing the district line to give advantage to a particular party
- name from governor of MA Elbridge Gerry who was first to create such districts in 1811
Current Congress
- 119th
- more republicans
Senate
- two senators per state so 100 senators
- 6-year terms, 1/3 senatros up for reelection every 2 years
- currently more republicans
- elected by popular election, but until 1913 used to be indirectly
Filibuster
= extended debate designed to prevent voting on a particular matter
- new record set in 2025 by Cory Booker who spoke for 25 hours against Trump, breaking Thurmond´s record (he was speaking against Civil Rights Act)
Strom Thurmond
- longest serving senator in US history
- left Democratic Party because of its commitment to Civil Rights legislation
- now second longest filibuster record
Essie Mae Washington-Williams
- Born in 1925 to a 16-year-old black maid working in the Thurmond household
Party system
- need for majorities
- stable, broadly-based parties
- since 1860 republicans dominated presidential elections
Republicans
- conservatives
- 3 types: social, fiscal and MAGA
- also known as GOP = Grand Old Party
- symbolized by an elephant (Thomas Nast)
Democrats
- more liberal part
- following FDR´s legacy
- symbolized by a donkey
State Governments
- all states must have “republican” form of governement
- Elected executive - governor, lieutenent governor, department secretaries
- Legislative system - 49 states have bicameral system (Nebraska is quirky), uppoer house known as Senate
- Elected judges - at the local and state levels judges are elected
County governments
- their power varies greatly from state to state
- most counties do have an elected board that manages county-wide affairs
- officials usually include: district attorney (prosecutor), sheriff, coroner (medical examiner)
