Objective Exam Flash Cards

Question 1

Albany Plan

Answer 1

A plan of union for the colonies developed by Benjamin Franklin before the revolution to protect against the French. Formed the basis for the Articles of Confederation

Question 2

Civil Liberties

Answer 2

The legal constitutional protections against government power as outlined primarily in the Bill of Rights.

Question 3

Civil Rights

Answer 3

are restrictions imposed on government to take positive action to protect citizens from any illegal action of the government as well as of other private citizens.

Question 4

Exclusionary Rule

Answer 4

The requirement that evidence unconstitutionally or illegally obtained be kept out of a trial.

Question 5

Interstate Compact

Answer 5

is an agreement among two or more states over a common issue or resource (e.g., river water management). The Constitution requires that Congress approve most such agreements.

Question 6

Supremacy Clause

Answer 6

a constitutional doctrine that whenever conflict occurs between the constitutionally authorized actions of the national and state governments, the actions of the national government take priority.

Question 7

Confederation

Answer 7

a constitutional arrangement in which sovereign states create a central government but carefully limit its power and do not give it authority over individuals.

Question 8

Jim Crow Laws

Answer 8

state laws formerly pervasive throughout the South that discriminated against people on the basis of race.

Question 9

Habeas Corpus

Answer 9

a court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is held in custody.

Question 10

Eminent Domain

Answer 10

the power of the government to take private property for public use; the U.S. Constitution gives national and state governments this power and requires them to provide just compensation for the property taken.

Question 11

Poll Tax

Answer 11

a payment required as a condition for voting; prohibited for national elections by the 24th Amendment and ruled unconstitutional for all elections in Harper v Virginia Board of Elections (1966).

Question 12

Republic

Answer 12

a form of government based on elected representatives.

Question 13

Necessary and Proper Clause

Answer 13

Article I Section 8 clause that serves as the basis for implied powers.

Question 14

Simple Majority

Answer 14

type of election in which a candidate must receive 50% plus one vote in order to win.

Question 15

Plurality

Answer 15

A election system in which most votes wins.

Question 16

Marbury v Madison

Answer 16

An important court case that established the power of judicial review by the Supreme Court over acts of Congress.

Question 17

Federation

Answer 17

A way of organizing a country so that two levels of government have authority over the same land and people. It is a system of shared power between units of government.

Question 18

Unitary

Answer 18

A way of organizing a state so that all power resides in the central government (e.g., Great Britain).

Question 19

Enumerated/Expressed Powers

Answer 19

Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the Constitution (see Article I Sec. 8).

Question 20

Laswell’s Definition of Politics

Answer 20

The competition over who gets what, when and how.

Question 21

Founding Fathers’ View of Human Nature

Answer 21

Humans are basically self-interested.

Question 22

Ex Post Facto Law

Answer 22

A law that inflicts punishment for actions that were not illegal when committed (Unconstitutional)

Question 23

Double Jeopardy

Answer 23

Trying a person for the same crime twice at the same level of government and is prohibited by the Constitution

Question 24

Privileges and Immunities Clause

Answer 24

A constitutional doctrine that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special considerations.

Question 25

Incorporation Doctrine

Answer 25

A constitutional doctrine whereby selected parts of the Bill of Rights are made to apply to the states through the DUE PROCESS CLAUSE of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Question 26

Brown v Board of Education

Answer 26

Supreme Court case that overturns Plessy v Ferguson and prohibited states from using race as a basis of discrimination

Question 27

Checks and Balances

Answer 27

Mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches

Question 28

Separation of Powers

Answer 28

The division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making

Question 29

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Answer 29

A provision, from Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution, requiring that the states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state

Question 30

Virginia Plan

Answer 30

A plan offered at the constitutional convention that called for representation in the legislature based on population of each state

Question 31

New Jersey Plan

Answer 31

A plan offered at the constitutional convention that called for equal representation for the states in the legislature

Question 32

Connecticut Compromise

Answer 32

Compromise plan adopted at the constitutional convention that created a bicameral legislature. One body would be based on population (House) and the other gave equal representation to the states (Senate)

Question 33

Plessy v Ferguson

Answer 33

Supreme Court case that established the separate but equal doctrine and paved the way for Jim Crow laws

Question 34

Amending the Constitution

Answer 34

Article 5 Process- how government can change the fundamental rules established (e.g., the Bill of Rights) Propose: 2/3 House and 2/3 Senate OR 2/3 States call on Congress to call a Constitutional Convention Ratify: 3/4 State Legislatures OR 3/4 State conventions

Question 35

Treaty Process

Answer 35

President has sole power to negotiate, Senate ratifies with 2/3 vote

Question 36

Impeachment Process

Answer 36

Process by which public officials are removed from office. The House impeaches, the Senate tries the case and may remove an official with a 2/3 vote

Question 37

Article One

Answer 37

Legislative Power

Question 38

Article Two

Answer 38

Executive Power

Question 39

Article Three

Answer 39

Judicial Power

Question 40

Article Four

Answer 40

States Relations

Question 41

Article Five

Answer 41

Amending the Constitution

Question 42

Article Six

Answer 42

Supremacy Clause

Question 43

Article Seven

Answer 43

Ratification (9 states)

Question 44

Redistricting Process

Answer 44

A process that occurs every 10 years to reapportion the House of Representatives based on the Census. The states are responsible for this and often draw the lines in such a way as to favor one party, group or race (i.e., Gerrymandering).

Question 45

Filibuster

Answer 45

A tactic used in the Senate to prevent action on legislation by continuously holding the floor and talking until the majority backs down. Requires cloture to end with a 3/5 majority.

Question 46

Power of the Purse

Answer 46

Power possessed by the House of Representatives which means that all money bills must originate there.

Question 47

Power to Declare War

Answer 47

Congress (Article 1 Section 8)

Question 48

Commander in Chief

Answer 48

President (Article 2 Section 2)

Question 49

Judicial Review

Answer 49

The power of the Supreme Court to declare acts of Congress and the President unconstitutional and established by Marbury v Madison

Question 50

Age to be President

Answer 50

35

Question 51

Age to be Senator

Answer 51

30

Question 52

Age to be in House of Representatives

Answer 52

25

Question 53

Type of Citizen to be President

Answer 53

Natural Born

Question 54

Type of Citizen to be member of Congress

Answer 54

Naturalized

Question 55

President's Term

Answer 55

4 years

Question 56

Senator's Term

Answer 56

6 years Staggered

Question 57

Representative's Term

Answer 57

2 Years

Question 58

Fraction of the Senate elected every 2 years

Answer 58

1/3

Question 59

Becomes President if President and Vice President Die

Answer 59

Speaker of the House

Question 60

1st Amendment

Answer 60

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Question 61

2nd Amendment

Answer 61

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Question 62

3rd Amendment

Answer 62

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Question 63

4th Amendment

Answer 63

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Question 64

5th Amendment

Answer 64

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Question 65

6th Amendment

Answer 65

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Question 66

7th Amendment

Answer 66

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Question 67

8th Amendment

Answer 67

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and usual punishments inflicted.

Question 68

9th Amendment

Answer 68

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny protected or disparage others retained by the people.

Question 69

10th Amendment

Answer 69

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.