Midterm

Question 1

Dred Scott v. Sandford

Answer 1

-Strengthens State government.
-Slaves have no rights because they are property
-Congress doesn’t have the power to stop the spread of slavery

Question 2

Gibbons v. Ogden (boat thingy)

Answer 2

-Strengthens National government
-Commerce Clause (powerful*)
-Supremacy Clause

Question 3

McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer 3

Question: (1) Can the U.S Government operate its own bank? (2) Can Maryland tax the bank

Answer: (1) Yes, it’s an implied power. The government has related enumerated powers (coin money, regulate commerce). (2) No, “the power to tax is the power to destroy the supremacy clause” (UNANIMOUS)

Impact: Strengthens interpretations of implied powers. Strengthens the application of the Supremacy Clause.

Question 4

U.S. v. Lopez

Answer 4

Question: (1)Is the application of the Gun-Free School Zones Act Constitutional? (2)Is the application of the commerce clause appropriate in this matter?

Answer: (5-4 Loss for the federal government)

Impact: Restricted federal power

Question 5

Buckley v. Valeo

Answer 5

This determined that no limits could be placed on the amount of his or her own money a candidate spends in an election.

Question 6

NY Times v. U.S.

Answer 6

Prior restraint. NY Times won. 1st amendment rights.

Question 7

Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 7

Found in Article I Section 8 of the Constitution. It gives Congress the authority to make laws that are necessary to carry out its duties.

Question 8

Commerce Clause

Answer 8

Enumerated power that gives Congress the power “to regulate Commerce (trade) with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes”

Question 9

Articles of Confederation problems

Answer 9

• It required unanimous consent from the states for ratification
• Difficult to correct because any changes require unanimous approval
• Weak National Government
  -Every state had their own currency

Question 10

3/5 Compromise

Answer 10

Provision concerning slavery

Question 11

Ratifying the Constitution

Answer 11

required 9 of the 13 states for ratification.
(Waited for NY and VA because they made up 40% of the population)

Question 12

Federalist vs. Anti-federalist

Answer 12

Federalists supported the ratification of the constitution. Anti-Federalists prefer the articles of confederation.

Question 13

Media effects

Answer 13

The influence of news sources on public opinion (ex. agenda setting, and framing).

Question 14

Media Consolidation

Answer 14

refers to an ongoing process in which more and more media companies are falling into the hands of fewer and fewer owners.

Question 15

Electoral College

Answer 15

• needs 270 electoral votes to become president.
• Problem: the popular vote winner may not get elected

Question 16

1st Amendment

Answer 16

guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition

Question 17

10th Amendment

Answer 17

Powers not given to the federal government and not prohibited to the states by the Constitution are reserved for the states and the people.

Question 18

12th Amendment

Answer 18

Separates the candidates for president and vice president. (They were previously elected from the same pool of candidates)
This resulted from the tie between Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson in the election of 1800

Question 19

16th Amendment

Answer 19

It gives congress the right to impose a federal income tax

Question 20

17th Amendment

Answer 20

Removed the power to elect senators from state legislators and gave that power to the people.

Question 21

Role of Minor Parties

Answer 21

Push major parties to income to incorporate new ideas or elucidate current ones.

Spoilers

Question 22

Prospective Judgement

Answer 22

Evaluation of a candidate based on what they pledge to do about a particular issue

Question 23

Retrospective Judgement

Answer 23

Evaluation of a candidate based on past performance on a particular issue

Question 24

Checks and Balances

Answer 24

The separation of power in the government, the executive branch, the judicial branch, and the legislative branch.

Question 25

Stamp Act

Answer 25

required the colonists to pay a tax, represented by a stamp, on various forms of papers, documents, and playing cards

Question 26

Push Poll

Answer 26

Polls taken for the purpose of providing information about an opponent that would lead to respondents to vote against that candidate.

Question 27

Margin of Error

Answer 27

A measure of teh accuracy of a public opinion poll within statistical parameters.

Question 28

Straw Poll

Answer 28

Unscientific surveys used to gauge public opinion on a variety of issues and policies.

Question 29

Literary digest fiasco

Answer 29

In 1936 literary digest over sampled the wealthy populationabd they did the ballots too early. They believed that FDR was going to lose but he ended up winning.

Question 30

Categorical Grant

Answer 30

Grants that Congress appropriates federal funds to states for a specific purpose. (Used by LBJ in his Great Society)

Question 31

Block Grant

Answer 31

A large grant is given to a state by the federal government with only general spending guidelines. (Used by Ronald Reagan)

Question 32

Reserved Powers

Answer 32

10th Amendment right. Power that is not specifically given to the National Government that is reserved for the states.

Question 33

Supremacy Clause

Answer 33

Article 4 Clause 2 It establishes that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take precedence over state laws, and even state constitutions.

Question 34

Amicus Curiae Brief

Answer 34

brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.

Question 35

Initiative

Answer 35

An election that allows citizens to propose legislation or state constitutional amendments by submitting them to the electorate for popular vote.

Question 36

Referendum

Answer 36

An election where the state legislature submits proposed legislation or state constitutional amendments to the voters for approval.

Question 37

Initiative vs. Referendum

Answer 37

An INITIATIVE is from the people. A REFERENDUM is from state legislatures.

Question 38

Goals of the Preamble

Answer 38

Natural Rigths

Question 39

Impact on party affiliation

Question 40

Hard Money

Answer 40

Contributions directly given to a candidate

Question 41

Soft Money

Answer 41

Money donated to a party or interest group who can buy advertising on the candidates behalf

Question 42

PACs

Answer 42

An organization that represents interest groups and is allowed directly contribute to candidates’ campaigns.

Question 43

527s

Answer 43

Organizations with the primary purpose of influencing electoral outcomes. (they do not explicitly advocate for a candidate)

Question 44

501(c)

Answer 44

interest group whose primary purpose is not the electoral process (does not have to disclose donors)

Question 45

Incumbency Advantage

Question 46

Article I Section 8

Answer 46

Enumerated Powers and the Necessary and proper clause.

Question 47

The formal Amendment Process