Unit Four Flashcards
(120 cards)
1
Q
Two-house legislature
A
Bicameral
2
Q
dividing a state into odd-shapes districts for strictly political reasons
A
Gerrymandering
3
Q
the right to send job-related mail without paying postage
A
Franking Privelege
4
Q
Legal protection
A
Immunity
5
Q
how Congress carries out its work in two regular time periods
A
Session
6
Q
the majority party’s floor leader
A
Majority leader
7
Q
The minority’s party floor leader
A
Minority leader
8
Q
person who assists each floor leader
Keeping others in check
A
Party Whip
9
Q
the leader of the House of Representatives
A
Speaker of the House
10
Q
the president “for the time being” / the person that handles the day to day leadership of the Senate
A
President Pro Tempore
11
Q
a permanent committee that specializes in a particular topic
A
Standing Committee
12
Q
temporary committees that deal with issues that need specialized attention
A
Selection Committee
13
Q
committee that includes both members of houses
A
Joint Committee
14
Q
special joint committee that helps the House and Senate agree on details of a proposed law
A
Conference Committee
15
Q
the most desirable committee assignments are given to the congressman who have served the longest
A
Seniority System
16
Q
powers listed specifically in Article I
A
Expressed Powers
17
Q
accusing a government officials of wrongdoing, put them on trial, and if necessary remove them from office
A
Impeach
18
Q
involving money
A
Appropriations
19
Q
set aside a bill without even considering it
A
Pigeonhole
20
Q
killing a bill by talking until the bill’s sponsor withdraws it
A
Filibuster
21
Q
limits a senator to one hour of debate with a filibuster
A
Cloture
22
Q
when those who support the bill say yay, and those who opposed say nay
A
Voice Vote
23
Q
when members who support a bill are asked to stand and be counted
A
Standing Vote
24
Q
when each members name is individually called and he or she is asked for their vote
A
Roll-call Vote
25
when the president does not sign a bill in 10 days and Congress is not in session
Pocket Veto
26
a group made up of the heads of the executive departments, the Vice President, and other officials
Cabinet
27
large network of agencies and individuals that oversee the execution of laws
Bureaucracy
28
rule or command the President issues that has the force of law
Executive Order
29
an official representative of a country's government
Ambassador
30
a formal agreement between two or more countries
Treaty
31
an agreement between the President and the leader of another country
Executive Agreement
32
a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment
Pardon
33
an order to delay a person's punishment
Reprieve
34
similar to pardon except it applies to a group rather than an individual
Amnesty
35
matters affecting only the US
Domestic
36
a plan for dealing with other nations
Foreign Policy
37
A foreign nation's office
Embassy
38
offices to help Americans in various countries
Consulate
39
an official that heads a consulate
Consul
40
an official document that identifies a traveler as an American citizen
Passport
41
a permit allowing a person to remain here for a certain amount of time
Visa
42
How long is a Senator's term?
Six years
43
What are some qualifications for being a Senator?
Must be at least 30
US citizen for 9 years
Resident of your state
44
How long are House of Representative's terms?
2 years
45
What are some qualifications for being a representative?
Must be 25
Must be a US citizen for 7 years
Must live in the state you represent
46
What are some benefits/privileges of being in Congress?
Free office space, parking, transportation, assistants, office staff, supplies, and discounts on medical care and haircuts
Congressmen also have a franking privilege and immunity
47
What are some expressed powers?
MAJOR ONES, Collect taxes, Borrow money
Regulate foreign and interstate commerce, Set up a postal system, Maintain armed service, Declare war
Regulate immigration and naturalization
48
Name some Non-legislative powers
The power to propose amendments to the Constitution
The power to investigate
The power to impeach
49
When two version of the same bill are passed, the conflicting bills are sent to
Conference Committees
50
If the president vetoes a bill, congress may override the veto. How much of the Senate have to vote in favor?
2/3s
51
What are the three requirements to be president?
Native born (not naturalized) citizen of the US
At least 35 years old
Have lived in the US for at least 14 years
52
Similar characteristic of presidents
```
Most have been white males
All but one have been Protestants
Many have been of British ancestry
Most have attended college
Many gain their careers as lawyers
```
53
What are three main roles of the President?
Chief Diplomat, Chief Executive, and Commander and Chief
54
The Senate has to approve treaties by a _____ vote.
2/3
55
As Commander in Chief, the President is the leader of the ____.
Armed forces
56
This Act requires the President to notify Congress immediately when troops are sent into battle
The War Powers Act of 1973
57
Troops must be brought home after _____ days unless Congress gives it approval
60
58
How long is a Supreme Court Justice's term?
For life
59
What are the people of the Executive Office of the President responsible for?
Providing advice and helping the president
60
What is the most important Office of the EOP?
The White House Office
61
What does the White House Office do?
Assists the president in running the nation
62
Who "really runs the White House"? They are also the most powerful in the WHO.
The chief of staff
63
What does the Press Secretary do?
provides reporters with news about, and statements from, the president
64
Who prepares the federal budget and gathers stats about the nation's economy?
The Office of Management and Budget
65
Who is the head of the OMB?
The budget director
66
What are the leaders of each department called? What is the leader of the Justice Department called?
Secretaries, attorney general
67
What Department manages US relations with foreign countries?
The Department of State
68
Who handles the nation's money?
The Department of the Treasury
69
Oversees the army, navy, marines, and the air force
Department of Defense
70
Who handles a wide range of law enforcement activities?
The Department of Justice
71
Manages the land of the US, responsible for the management of And conservation of the nation’s lands and natural resources
Department of the Interior
72
What is the best known Department inside the Department of the Interior?
The National Parks Service
73
Helps both farmers and the consumers of farm products
USDA
74
division of the department of Ag, helps maintain the quality and safety of meat and poultry
The Food Safety and Inspection Service
75
Encourages the growth of American business
Supervises international trade
Promotes tourism and business
Collects information about the country's economic well being
The Department of Commerce
76
Department within the Labor division that sets health and safety standards that employers must meet to protect their workers from physical harm
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
77
Collects info about the market and working conditions
Bureau of Labor Statistics
78
Works for the Health and well-being of Americans
Concerned with the welfare of Americans
Manages Social Secuirty
Provides finnacial support for people who might otherwise be in poverty
The Department of Health and Human Services
79
Operates programs that distribute federal grants to state and local governments
Helps pay for such projects as rebuilding slums, improving neighborhoods, and building lower-income housing
The Department of Housing and Urban Developement
80
Manages the nation's highways, railways, airlines, and sea traffic
DOT
81
Regulates the development and use of US oil and gas resources
Conduct research into ways to use these fuels more efficiently and to develop other sources of energy
Department of Energy
82
Provides free education
Offers advice and assistance to state and local governments in regards to education
Federal money helps to fund special education programs
Department of Education
83
Provides military vets with helpful benefits
Healthcare
Finnacial Aid for eduction
Department of Veteran Affairs
84
An executive agency that gathers political and military information on foreign nations
CIA
85
What is an example of a government corporation?
The postal service
86
Who started the spoils system?
President Andrew Jackson in 1829
87
What Act turned the spoils system into the merit system?
The Pendleton Act of 1883
88
inefficiently caused by too many rules and regulations
Red Tape
89
giving jobs as a reward for party loyalty
Spoils system
90
giving jobs to those most qualified
Merit system
91
workers whose primary duty is to serve the government and its citizens
Civil servant
92
an independent agency responsible for dealing with certain specialized areas of government
Executive agencies
93
independent agencies that protect the public by controlling certain types of businesses and industries
Regulatory commission
94
is similar to a private corporation, except that the government rather than individuals owns and operates it
Government Corporation
95
cases in which juries decide whether people have committed crimes
Criminal case
96
cases in which two sides disagree over some issue
Civil case
97
the authority to hear and decide a case
Jurisdiction
98
which means that only the federal courts may hear a decide cases
Exclusive Jurisdiction
99
when the state and federal courts are said to share Jurisdiction
Concurrent Jurisdiction
100
the federal courts where trials are held and lawsuits are begun
District court
101
the authority to hear cases for the first time
Original Jurisdiction
102
someone who issues court orders and hears the preliminary evidence in a case to determine whether the case should be brought to trial
Magistrate
103
arrests suspects, delivers defendants to court, and serves people with subpoena
Marshal
104
a court order requiring someone to appear in court
Subpoen
105
the courts above the district courts
Court of Appeals
106
hearing only cases that have come to them on appeal from the lower district courts or from federal regulatory agencies
Appellant Jurisdiction
107
a particular geographical area pertaining to jurisdiction
Circuit
108
Return
Remand
109
a trial before a panel of military officers
Court-marshal
110
the Court can review any federal or state law to see if it is in agreement with the Constitution
Judicial review
111
in conflict with the Constitution
Unconstitutional
112
Written arguments
Briefs
113
Calendar
Docket
114
Opposing sides
Adversaries
115
“to make more certain” directs a lower court to send its records on a case to the Supreme Court for review
Writ of Certiorari
116
a statement explaining the majority view in a case in which justices are divided
Majority opinion
117
a statement that a Justice who agrees with the majority opinion decision but for different reasons writes
Concurring Opinion
118
a statement that a Justice who opposes the majority decision writes
Dissenting Opinion
119
District courts handle about ______ criminal and civil cases a year
300,000
120
Name some special federal courts
US tax Court
US Court of Federal Claims
US Court of Military Appeals
US Court of International Trade
