PARTIEL Flashcards
(17 cards)
Which of the following are public institutions of secondary education?
charter schools
district schools
Of which branch of government is the Speaker of the House a part?
Legislative
The ideology of the current U.S. Supreme Court is:
conservative
Article Three of the US Constitution deals with
the judiciary
The number of Senators per state is fixed at
2
The power of impeachment is vested in
Congress
Roe v. Wade legalized _______________ until it was overturned by the US Supreme Court.
abortion
The president of the USA is elected by the
The Electoral College.
What was Plessey v Ferguson and what did it create?
Plessy v. Ferguson was a Supreme Court case that upheld racial segregation and created the “separate but equal” doctrine.
The Executive Branch is made up of
the President, the Vice President, and the Cabinet
Define the system of checks and balances
Checks and balances is a system that ensures no branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.
What are the powers of the Senate?
The Senate has the power to approve treaties, confirm presidential appointments (like judges and ambassadors), and conduct impeachment trials.
What controversies exist today in the educational curriculum in the USA?
Controversies in the U.S. educational curriculum today include debates over Critical Race Theory, sex education, the teaching of historical narratives, book bans, and the inclusion of certain scientific topics like climate change.
Define three US regions or belts.
The Sun Belt is a warm, growing region in the South and Southwest, the Rust Belt is a declining manufacturing area in the Northeast and Midwest, and the Bible Belt is a region in the South where conservative Protestantism is dominant.
Which of the three branches of the US system as set out in the first 3 articles of the US Constitution is the most powerful?
The Legislative Branch (Congress) is often considered the most powerful of the three branches because it has the authority to make laws and control government spending.
Is the USA a post racial nation? Explain briefly.
No, the USA is not a post-racial nation; despite legal advances like civil rights laws, racial inequality, discrimination, and systemic racism continue to impact various communities, showing that race still plays a significant role in society.
Outline the power of the President of the United States and how are they elected? (mini essay question, 2 paragraphs, 300-400 words)
The President of the United States holds significant power as the head of the Executive Branch, responsible for enforcing laws, directing foreign policy, commanding the military, and overseeing federal agencies. As the Commander-in-Chief, the President has authority over the armed forces and the power to use military force, though major military actions require Congressional approval. The President also has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, appoint federal judges (including Supreme Court justices), and make appointments to the Cabinet and other key governmental positions, subject to Senate confirmation. Additionally, the President can issue executive orders, grant pardons, and veto legislation passed by Congress. This broad scope of responsibilities makes the office of the President central to the functioning of the federal government.
The President is elected through a system known as the Electoral College, a process established by the U.S. Constitution. While citizens vote for their preferred candidate in the general election, the outcome ultimately depends on the Electoral College. Each state is allocated a certain number of electors based on its population size, and the total number of electors is 538. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to win the presidency. In most states, the candidate who wins the popular vote receives all of the state’s electoral votes, though Maine and Nebraska use a proportional system. The electors meet in December to cast their votes, and the results are certified by Congress in January. This system means that, in rare cases, a candidate can win the popular vote but lose the presidency due to the Electoral College outcome, as seen in the 2000 and 2016 elections. The system has been the subject of debate due to concerns over its fairness and the disproportionate influence of smaller states.
