Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Intro to American Gov > Intro to American Gov - Test 1 > Flashcards

Intro to American Gov - Test 1 Flashcards

(74 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Bicameralism

A

2 branches in congress

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Expressed powers

A

powers enumerated in the constitution

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Necessary and proper clause

A

authority to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out their powers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Supremacy clause

A

laws of national government are superior

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Separation of powers

A

division of powers between the three branches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Federalism

A

constitutional division between state and federal government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Bill of rights

A

first 10 amendments, rights and liberties of the people

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Federalists

A

those in support of strong national government (James Madison, Alexander Hamilton)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Anti Federalists

A

favored strong state governments (Patrick Henry, George Mason, George Clinton)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Implied powers

A

powers derived from the necessary and proper clause

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Reserved powers

A

powers derived from the 10th amendment, not given to national government or denied to states, reserved for states (Power of coercion, enforce criminal codes, police powers)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Eminent domain

A

right of government to take private property and use it for public use with compensation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Concurrent powers

A

authority possessed by fed/state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Full faith and credit clause

A

requires that each state normally honors the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state (same sex marriage)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Privileges and immunities clause

A

a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privileges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Home rule

A

power delegated by the state to local government

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Dual Federalism

A

system of government that prevailed until 1937 where the state and federal government shared powers, with the states exercising the most important powers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Commerce clause

A

Delegates to congress to regulate commerce among nations, between states, and with Indian Tribes. Favors national power over the economy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Cooperative federalism

A

grants in aid used strategically to encourage states and localities

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Grants in aid

A

funds given by congress to state and local governments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Categorical grants in aid

A

earmarked for special categories (Education, crime)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Project grants

A

grant programs in which states submit proposals to fed agencies for which funding is provided on a competitive basis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Formula grants

A

grants in aid in which a formula is used to determine the amount of federal funds a state gov will receive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Regulated federalism

A

congress can impose legislation on states and localities requiring them to meet national standards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Unfunded mandates
national standards imposed on state or local govs without federal funding or reimbursement
26
Block grants
federal funds given to states to pay for goods, services, or programs
27
States rights
oppose increasing authority of national government
28
State sovereign immunity
a legal doctrine holding that states cannot be sued for violating an act of congress
29
Legislative supremacy
preeminent position of congress
30
Divided government
branches controlled by different parties
31
Executive privilege
president’s communications with advice is confidential
32
Constituency
district from which official is elected
33
Delegates
rep who votes according to preferences of own district
34
Trustee
rep votes for what they think is best
35
Agency representation
representatives are held accountable to their constituents if they fail to rep them properly (constituents have the power)
36
Money bill
bill concerned with appropriations
37
Incumbency
holding the office you’re running for
38
Casework
providing personal services to constituents (talking, introducing special bills, influence decisions)
39
Patronage
resources available to higher officials: usually opportunities to make partisan appointments to offices and to confer grants, licenses, or special favors to supporters
40
Pork barrel legislation
appropriations for local projects that are often not needed so incumbents can garner support at home
41
Gerrymandering
The appointment of voters in districts in such a way that gives an unfair advantage to one political party
42
Party caucus/conference
nominally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates or leaders, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters
43
Speaker of the house
chief presiding officer of the house, elected at the beginning of each congress on a straight majority party vote
44
Majority leader
elected leader of majority party of house/senate, below speaker of the house
45
Minority leader
elected leader of minority party
46
Standing committee
permanent legislative committee that considers legislation within its designated subject area: the basic unit of deliberation in congress
47
Seniority
priority/status given based on length of continuous service on committee
48
Examples of ideological caucuses
Democratic Study Group, Congressional Black Caucus
49
Closed rule
house rule that prohibits intro of amendment during debate
50
Open rule
allow amendments during debate
51
Filibuster
Tactic used by members of the senate who oppose the action proposed so they continuously hold the floor until the majority backs down
52
Cloture
allows the supermajority of members of the legislative body to set a time limit on debate over a given bill
53
Conference committee
joint house/senate committee to compromise on versions of legislation
54
Pocket veto
when congress adjourns during the time a president has to approve a bill and the president takes no action on it
55
Party vote
when at least 50% of one party takes a particular position and at least 50% of another party disagrees with that position
56
Roll call vote
vote in which each legislator’s yes or no vote is recorded
57
Party leader’s resources
1. Committee assignments 2. Access to the floor 3. The whip system 4. Logrolling 5. The presidency
58
Whip system
a communications network within each house; whips poll the membership to learn their intentions on specific issues
59
Logrolling
reciprocal agreements between legislators, usually in voting for/against a bill. Unites parties that have nothing in common but their desire to exchange support.
60
Oversight
the effort of congress, via hearings, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies
61
Executive agreement
an agreement between the president and another country that has the force of a treaty but does not require advice and consent from Senate
62
Impeachment
the charging of government official with “Treason, bribery, or other high crimes” (Congress)
63
Distributive tendency
tendency of Congress to spread policy over wide range of districts
64
Expressed powers
The powers enumerated in the constitution that are granted by the federal government
65
Delegated powers
Constitutional powers assigned to one governmental agency but exercised by another agency with consent from the first
66
Inherent powers
powers claimed by a president that are not expressed by the constitution but are inferred by it
67
Commander in chief
The power of the president as the commander of the national military and the state national guard units
68
Line item veto
the power of the executive to veto specific areas of a bill
69
War Powers Resolution
president can send troops into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or if US troops are already under attack, or seriously threatened
70
Legislative initiative
the president’s inherent power to bring a legislative agenda before congress
71
Executive order
a rule of regulation issued by the president that has the effect and formal status of legislation
72
Executive agreement
an agreement between the US and another country similar to a treaty but without the consent of the senate
73
National security council
a presidential foreign policy advisory committee made up of the president, the vp, the secretaries of state, defense, and treasury, the attorney general, and other members invited by the president
74
Regulatory review
The office of management and budget function of reviewing all agency regulations before they become public

Intro to American Gov (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions