question

1.The first explorer(s) to accurately map and document the geographic features of present day Nevada was/were:

answer

Fremont

question

2.The concept of Manifest Destiny involved the idea that

answer

the United States had a duty and obligation to inhabit all land lying between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans

question

3. The first two groups of English speakers to enter the Great Basin for a signicant amount of time were led by

answer

Jedediah Smith and Peter Skene Ogden

question

4. What was the name of the route that became the primary emigrant route across Nevada?

answer

The Humboldt Trail

question

5. What was the first permanent settlement in Nevada?

answer

Mormon Station (later called Genoa)

question

6. According to the historian quoted in Chapter One (James Hulse), Nevada's history began as

answer

a struggle to exploit the resources of the land as rapidly as possible

question

7. Which of the following is NOT true about John C Fremont and the Fremont Expedition?

answer

he was the first Euro-American to see the Humbolt River

question

8. The first English speaking parties that entered and explored the Great Basin were primarily interested in

answer

fur trapping

question

1. Which one of the following was NOT a motivating factor of the bill to establish Nevada, Nebraska, and Colorado as states?

answer

the Union needed Nevada's silver

question

2. President Abraham Lincoln appointed the first Territorial Governor for the new Nevada Terroritory. He was:

answer

James W. Nye

question

3. Why was the Nevada Constitution wired to Washington, D.C. at great expense?

answer

in order to get it accepted before the 1864 national elections

question

4. What action did the Nevada Territorial government take on gambling?

answer

they made gambling illegal in Nevada

question

5. The Nevada Terrority became a State on October 31,________

answer

1864

question

6. Both the 1863 and 1864 versions of the Nevada Constitution were based on the constitution of which state?

answer

California

question

7. Nevada's 1863 Constitution

answer

was defeated by the voters due to concerns about a mining tax and William Stewart's role in the new government

question

8. Which one of the following is NOT a reason why Congress was able to establish a separate Nevada territory in 1861?

answer

the assassination of Abraham Lincoln provided an opportunity to create a separate territory without attracting attention

question

1. Regarding racial segregation in Nevada after 1930,

answer

Nevada had no statutes mandating racial segregation, but private citizens often enforced racial segregation in housing and employment

question

2. Before 1881, the Chinese in Nevada

answer

experienced numerous acts of discrimination, including being prohibited from owning property, testifying in court, or joining miner's unions

question

3. In Nevada, women obtained the right to vote

answer

before the Nineteenth Amendment gave all women in the United States voting rights

question

4. True of False: Native American children were allowed to attend public schools in Nevada before 1920

answer

False

question

5. What is the difference between civil liberties and civil rights?

answer

civil rights are generally "positive acts of government" that protect against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment. Civil liberties refer to "negative restraints" on the exercise of government power.

question

6. What encouraged Las Vegas mayor Owen Gragson to announce an official end to any racially discriminatory practices in Las Vegas in 1960?

answer

a threat of massive protests and sit-ins led by Dr. James McMillan

question

7.As late as 1958, the Las Vegas City Commission recommended that women

answer

should NOT be hired as casino dealers

question

8. Which of the following is NOT true regarding civil rights for Gays and Lesbians in Nevada

answer

Marriage between same sex couples is legal in Nevada

question

9. Fifteen states refused to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s, and Nevada was

answer

one of the 15 that did not ratify it

question

10.Which of the following is NOT a way that Nevada's Declaration of Rights differs from the U.S. Bill of Rights?

answer

Nevada allows the government to seize private property, but compensation must be provided after the seizure of property and at the lowest reasonable market price

question

1.Which of the following is NOT a requirement to vote in Nevada today?

answer

one must register as a member of a political party

question

2. Which of the following is NOT accurate regarding term limits in Nevada?

answer

judges may serve no more than eight years

question

3. How does the initiative process for a constitutional amendment differ from the initiative statute process?

answer

for a constitutional amendment, the proposal goes directly to the voters and must be approved in two consectutive general elections

question

4. As it was originally ratified in 1864, the state constitution originally allowed:

answer

Only White Males of the age of 21 older to vote.

question

5. Since 1908, how many times has Nevada voted for the LOSING presidential candidate?

answer

Only once -- 1976

question

6. As of April 2014, which party had the most registered voters in Nevada (see link to Secretary of State web page for these statistics)?

answer

Democrats

question

7. The recall process allows Nevada voters to

answer

remove a state or local official from office

question

8. The referendum process allows Nevada voters to

answer

approve or disapprove of any law passed by the legislature

question

9. Political Parties in the United States have traditionally

answer

Been much weaker than those in other parts of the world.

question

10. Which of the following is NOT part of the initiative process to create a statute?

answer

the voters must approve the proposed statute in three consecutive general elections

question

1.Interest groups in Nevada do not attempt to influence officials at all levels and in all branches of state government.

answer

False

question

2. Nevada state legislators are especially reliant upon lobbyists for information regarding bills that are pending before them, due to the fact that the Nevada State legislature is a part-time body.

answer

True

question

3.Regarding lobbying, the 2011 Nevada legislature reported _______ lobbyists for every legislator, and the national average is ______ lobbyists per legislator.

answer

14 (Nevada) - 7 (National Average)

question

4. Interest groups in Nevada

answer

seek to get policies they favor enacted into law

question

5. What was the impact of a 1993 law that required lobbyists to list legislators on whom money was spent?

answer

spending by lobbyists on legislators dropped 90 percent between 1993 and 1995

question

6. According to Jon Ralson's The Anointed One, gaming interest groups

answer

forced out potential governor candidate Frankie Sue Del Papa by starving her of funds

question

7. Which one of the following has NOT been an effective interest group in Nevada in the last 30 years?

answer

Advocates for welfare recipients

question

8. The single most important industry in the State of Nevada is:

answer

Gaming

question

1.The Nevada state legislature meets every other year in odd number years.

answer

True

question

2.Members of the Nevada assembly serve

answer

two-year terms

question

3.Who is the most powerful member of the state senate?

answer

the majority leader

question

4. The Nevada State legislature is limited to 180 days when it meets every other year.

answer

False

question

5. Currently, the Nevada legislature is comprised of

answer

42 assembly members and 21 senators

question

6. From 1915 to 1965, Reno and Las Vegas contained 75% of Nevada'a population but

answer

had only 57% of the assembly seats and 12% of the senate seats

question

7.How many votes are necessary to pass a bill that contains no tax increase in the Nevada state legislature?

answer

a majority of elected members of each house (11 votes in the Senate and 22 in the assembly)

question

8. Members of the Nevada senate serve

answer

four-year terms

question

9. What is the Legislative Counsel Bureau (LCB)?

answer

A bureau containing five divisions (legal, administrative, audit, fiscal analysis, and research) that provides information and assistance to legislators

question

10.Since 1998, the regular legislative session is limited to

answer

120 calendar days

question

1.The age requirement to be Lt. Governor is the same as the Governor

answer

True

question

2.Nevada has a "plural executive." What is meant by this term?

answer

plural executive means voters elect more than one executive officer. In Nevada, six elective-branch offices are selected by the voters

question

3.The minimum age requirement to be Governor in the State of Nevada is:

answer

25 Years old

question

4.The State Constitution allows the Governor of Nevada to be recalled by the voters before his or her term has expired

answer

True

question

5.At every legislative session, the Governor is constitutionally required:

answer

To deliver a State of the State address to the legislature

question

6.Which one of the following is NOT one of Nevada's six elected executive branch officers?

answer

Chief Legislator

question

7.The Governor of Nevada is limited to

answer

Two 4 year terms

question

8.Who is considered the "chief executive" of the state of Nevada?

answer

the governor

question

9.The Lieutenant Governor officially also serves as:

answer

The Governor's Press Secretary

question

10. What power does the Nevada governor possesses that the U. S. President does not?

answer

the Nevada governor appoints heads of cabinet-level departments without approval of the legislature

question

1. How many justices currently sit on the Nevada State Supreme Court?

answer

7

question

2. The state court system of Nevada operates separately and independently of the federal court system.

answer

True

question

3. Nevada State Supreme Court justices are:

answer

Elected for a 6-year term

question

4. How many judicial districts does the State of Nevada have?

answer

10

question

5. Which one of the following is NOT one of the levels of Nevada's court system

answer

Nevada State Court of Appeals

question

6.The Nevada Supreme Court is restricted to hearing questions of law only and not questions of fact.

answer

True

question

7.Which one of the following is INCORRECT pertaining to the role of judges in the Justice Court in Nevada?

answer

To hear civil cases of more than $7,500 but less than $9,000

question

8.What is the chief function of the Nevada State Court System?

answer

To interpret state statutory and state constitutional provisions and to impose sanctions on those who violate them.

question

1. What is the governing board in each of Nevada's counties?

answer

Board of County Commissioners

question

2. The largest populated City in the State of Nevada is

answer

Las Vegas

question

3. City managers, like County managers:

answer

Serve at the pleasure of the council or commission

question

4. Local governments (ie. cities) are considered creatures of the state and have no independent power. They may exercise only those powers given to them by the state constitution and statutes.

answer

True

question

5. There are how many counties in the State of Nevada

answer

17

question

6. Cities in Nevada are governed by

answer

city councils

question

1.As of January 2009, Nevada's tax revenue came mostly from gaming and sales taxes. In general, these taxes provide an _______ tax structure

answer

unstable

question

2. Who said that taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society.

answer

Oliver Wendell Holmes

question

3.Nevada has four types of gaming taxes. Which one of the following is NOT a type of gaming tax in Nevada?

answer

a tax on state lottery proceeds

question

4.Gambling was legalized in the State of Nevada during the:

answer

1930's

question

5.What two forms of taxes are prohibited by the Nevada state constitution?

answer

a state personal income tax and a state tax on estates of deceased citizens

question

6.The capital for the State of Nevada is

answer

Carson City

question

7.The Nevada State Constitution prohibits

answer

Lotteries

question

1. The current Governor for the State of Nevada is:

answer

Brian Sandoval

question

2. The current Lieutenant Governor for the State of Nevada is:

answer

Brian Krolicki

question

3. The current Attorney General for the State of Nevada is:

answer

Catherine Cortez Masto

question

4. The current Treasurer for the State of Nevada is:

answer

Kate Marshall

question

5. The current Secretary of State for the State of Nevada is:

answer

Ross Miller

question

6. More than _________ percent of Nevada's population resides in Clark County.

answer

70

question

7. A major issue facing the State of Nevada is:

answer

Water, Growth, Diversifying the economy

question

8. As of 2013, Nevada sends _____ representatives to the U. S. House of Representatives

answer

4

question

9. As of 2012, Nevada's two United States Senators are

answer

Harry Reid and Dean Heller

question

10.In 2013, which one of the following is NOT one of Nevada's congressional representatives?

answer

Shelly Porter

question

11.A voter lives at 5270 Neil Road, Reno, NV 89502. Who is his/her Nevada Assembly representative and Nevada State Senate representative as of Jan. 1, 2013?

answer

Assembly: Randy Kirner (R)/ Senate- Ben Kieckhefer (R)

question

12. A voter lives at 18600 Wedge Parkway, Reno, NV 89511. Who is his/her Nevada Assembly representative and Nevada State Senate representative as of Jan. 1, 2013?

answer

Assembly: Randy Kirner (R)/ Senate- Ben Kieckhefer (R)

question

Necessary and Probable Cause Act

answer

"elastic clause"- This is the source of Implied Powers for the Natl Govt. authorizes Congress to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the govt

question

17th Amendment

answer

Provides for the direct popular election of the US senator

question

Senate contains ____ members

answer

100

question

House contains ____ members

answer

435

question

Senators serve ____ year terms

answer

6

question

House Reps serve ____ year terms

answer

2

question

_______ debate in Senate; _______ debate in House

answer

Unlimited; Limited

question

more prestige, media coverage, and visibility in ______; Less prestige, media coverage, and visibility in House of Rep

answer

Senate

question

Must be 25 years of age, US citizen for at least 7 years and a legal resident of state which elects him

answer

member of House of Representative

question

Must be 30 years old, US citizen for at least 9 years and a resident of the state which elects him

answer

member of Senate

question

Trustee Rule

answer

The concept that legislators should vote on the basis of their consciences and the broad interest of the nation, not simply on the views of their constituents

question

Delegate Rule

answer

a concept of legislative work as simply voting the desires of one's constituents, regardless of one's own political view

question

Franking Privileges

answer

A congressional benefit that permits members to send out official mail using their signature rather than postage

question

Speaker of the House

answer

presiding officer over the House of Representatives

question

Rules Committee

answer

is powerful house committee that clears most important bills for floor consideration and decides the rule under which bills should be considered; or,also the committee of a party convention that recommends changes in the way a party conducts its affairs/// decides amount of time and money House will spend debating a bill dictates the amending process

question

House Majority Leader

answer

Leader and chief spokesperson for the majority party in the House

question

House Minority Leader

answer

Leader and chief spokesperson for the minority party in the House

question

Party Whip

answer

Member of each party's leadership responsible for party discipline and attendance for key votes

question

President pro tempore

answer

The presiding officer of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; largely honorific post, usually given to senior majority party member

question

Senate majority leader

answer

Leader and chief spokesperson for the majority party in the Senate

question

Senate minority leader

answer

Leader and chief spokesperson for the minority party in the Senate

question

Standing committee

answer

(20 in House/16 in Congress) are at center of congressional process

question

Joint committee

answer

permanent committees made up of members of both houses

question

Bills

answer

must go through both House and Senate before it reaches the President

question

Filibuster

answer

Continuing debate designed to prevent consideration of a particular bill; a technique used in Senate, Cloture (debate ending rule) that allows 2/3 of the senators present to end debate

question

Iron Triangles

answer

combination of interest group representatives, legislators, and government administrators seen as extremely influential in determining the outcome of political decisions

question

Presidential Qualifications

answer

Natural-Born Citizens; must be at least 35 years of age and a resident of the US for at least 14 years

question

22nd Amendment

answer

banned any future president from being elected more than twice

question

Presidential Powers

answer

Executive Power Power of Appointment Removal Power The Power of Pardon

question

Inner Cabinet

answer

handles issues of national importance- secretaries of state, defense, Treasury; including Attorney General

question

Outer Cabinet

answer

deals with sharply defined programs and are subject to considerable pressure from client groups

question

OMB

answer

responsible for compiling the President's annual budget proposal to Congress

question

25th Amendment

answer

provides mechanism for the VP to assume the presidency in the event of presidential disability and the selection of a replacement for the VP should that office become vacant

question

President

answer

negotiates and signs treaties; subject to a vote approval of 2/3 of the Senate

question

Executive Agreements

answer

agreements between heads of state that unlike treaties, do not require Senate approval

question

President

answer

Commander in Chief with war making ability; Congress has formal power to declare war

question

Executive Privilege

answer

is the right of the president to refuse information requested by Congress and the courts

question

Bureaucracy

answer

An organization that exists to accomplish certain goals or objectives called public purposes and that consists of a group of people hired and arranged in a hierarchy because of specific duties they can perform

question

Bureaucrats

answer

Individuals working in the executive branch of government who have received their positions on the basis of some type of appointment

question

Independent Agencies

answer

The agencies that are outside the 15 executive departments are what types of agencies

question

Spoils System

answer

The practice of making appointments to government job on the basis of party loyalty and support in election campaigns, associated with Andrew Jackson

question

Merit System

answer

Merit was determined by competitive examinations that tested an individual's ability to perform the job in question

question

Legislative Veto

answer

Congressional power, which the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional in 1983, to halt an executive initiative be a vote of one or both houses by a congressional committee

question

Regulations

answer

Rules devised by government to shape the actions of individuals and groups to achieve purposes mandated by law

question

Red Tape

answer

Bureaucratic rules and procedures that seem to complicate and delay needed action unnecessarily

question

Whistle blower

answer

Individuals in the bureaucracy who report fraud or waste

question

Case

answer

A controversy to be decided by a Court

question

Crime

answer

A public wrong, an offense such as murder, against society at large- even though it may have been against only a single individual

question

Criminal Case

answer

Judicial proceedings the government begins against individuals following commission of a crime

question

Civil Case

answer

Noncriminal legal action, such as divorces or attempts to recover damages following an auto accident

question

51 judicial System

answer

each of 50 states has its own court that hears specific cases while the national government has its own set of federal courts

question

Jurisdiction

answer

Authority of a court or other agency to act

question

Limited Jurisdiction

answer

The lowest level court in a state's judicial system that hears particular kinds of cases involving small claims, traffic violations, and minor criminal offenses

question

General Jurisdiction

answer

The basic unit of a court system, receiving appeals from courts of limited jurisdiction and serving as trial courts for serious criminal offenses and civil suits involving substantial amounts of money

question

Missouri Plan

answer

Method of selecting state judges, involving appointment from a list of recommended nominees an a later retention vote by the electorate

question

En Banc

answer

Some appellate courts which have a large number of judges and a large caseload often divide into divisions or panels for each case. EX: US Appeals Courts cases are usually heard by 3 judge panels

question

Supreme Court hears...

answer

Cases btw one of the states and US govt Cases btw 2 or more states Cases involving foreign ambassadors, ministers, or consuls Cases begun by a state against a citizen of another state or against another country

question

Original Jurisdiction

answer

Authority of a court over cases that begin in that court, such as courts of general jurisdiction having original jurisdiction over most criminal offenses- Original jurisdiction of US SCt is very small

question

Appellate Jurisdiction

answer

Includes cases a court receives from lower courts- Congress defines the AJ of the US S Ct

question

Rule of Four

answer

Procedure of the US S Ct by which the affirmative votes of four justices ore needed to accept a case for decision

question

Senatorial Courtesy

answer

Custom in the Senate to reject, for federal office, a nominee who is unacceptable to a senator from the nominee's state when the senator and president are from the same party; occurs at federal and state levels

question

Judicial Review

answer

The authority of courts to set aside a legislative act as being in violation of the Constitution; provided by Marbury v. Madison

question

Amici Curaie brief

answer

"friend of the court" referring to persons, govt agencies, or groups that are not parties to a case but nonetheless have and interest in its outcome and that make their views known by filing a brief with the court hearing the case

question

Who assigns the writing of opinion

answer

Chief Justice; if not, senior associate justice

question

Concurring Opinion

answer

A statement issued separately by a judge voting with the majority

question

Dissenting Opinion

answer

A statement issued by a judge explaining his or her disagreement with the majority position

question

What are the judicial activists?

answer

Judges who are at least hesitant to invoke judicial review to strike down an act of Congress or of a state legislature

question

What are judicial restraints?

answer

Judges who are reluctant to invoke judicial review to strike down an act of Congress or of a state legislature

question

Precedent

answer

Prior decisions of courts that are cited as authority by other courts

question

Stare Decisis

answer

A legal doctrine that suggests courts should follow precedent as a general rule, breaking with previously legal principles only on rare occasions

question

constitution

answer

A set of rules by which power is distributed in a political group, such as the state. This usually consists in part of a formal set of rules, but it always contains as well various informal mechanisms, traditions, and understandings by which power is assigned to people.

question

incentive compatibility

answer

A situation in which those who make decisions on behalf of society benefit personally when their decisions benefit society. When incentive compatibility is present, society does not need to depend on nobility of character in its officials; it can depend on more reliable force-their concern for their own self-interest.

question

unitary state

answer

A state in which no other governmental body but the central government has any ares of policy that are exclusively under its control. In this system, local and regional governments may potentially be overruled by the central government in any political decision they make.

question

federal state

answer

A state in which the constitution grants to regional governments a legal monopoly over certain political decisions, such as educational policy. Therefore, two different governments will control the same group of people, but with regard to different political questions.

question

rule of law

answer

An assurance that actions of the government are based on general principles that are applied equally to all people. Under this, governmental actions are not arbitrary, and are not based on personal connections or pay-offs.

question

constitutionalism

answer

The doctrine that states' constitutions should be designed fairly, not to give undue advantage to any particular group, and that the government should then be faithful to that constitution. In this way, individuals are protected against arbitrary governmental action.

question

referndum

answer

An election in which voters choose directly whether a particular proposal will become law; this contrasts with other kinds of elections in which votes choose among various candidates for a political office.

question

electoral system

answer

A set of rules by which the outcomes (a set of officers elected or whatever) is determined from the distribution of votes cast by the electorate.

question

single-member-district plurality electoral system (SMDP)

answer

An electoral system in which the state is divided into geographic subdivisions, each subdivision is represented by a single member in the legislature, and the candidate who attains a plurality of votes in that subdivision is the one who fills the seat.

question

proportional representation electoral system (PR)

answer

An electoral system in which parties receive a number of seats in the legislature roughly proportional to the number of votes that were cast for them among the electorate.

question

paradox of voting

answer

The paradox that no one should vote if their only reason for voting is that they wish to help their favored candidate win. The odds that the rest of the voters will produce a tie are incredibly small, and that is the only circumstance in which the person's vote will make any difference to the candidate.

question

party identification

answer

A personal identification with a political party; not just agreement with its policies or candidates of the moment but an enduring identification with the party itself.

question

political party

answer

A group of officials or would-be officials who are linked with a sizable group of citizens into an organization is to ensure that its officials attain power or are maintained in power.

question

mobilization

answer

The systematic stimulation of concentrated effort by large numbers of people, as in elections or demonstrations. This term is used especially in reference to stimulation conducted on its own behalf by the government.

question

party system

answer

The set of all parties in state. Political scientists distinguish among such systems primarily by the number and relative size of the parties: for example, two-party systems, mulitparty systems, dominant party systems,

question

one-party system

answer

A political system in which only a single political party is allowed to be active.

question

dominant-party system

answer

A political party system in which various parties are allowed to function openly and with reasonable effectiveness but in which a single party nonetheless holds power all the time.

question

two-party system

answer

A democratic system in which two parties regularly receive 90 percent or more of votes cast but in which it is rare for either of them to receive more than 55 or 60 percent of the votes. These two parties will replace each other in office fairly frequently.

question

multiparty system

answer

A democratic system in which there are more than two major parties.

question

parliamentary government

answer

A democracy in which the executive and legislative functions are merged in one institution, the parliament. The parliament is the state's supreme legislature, but it also appoints a committee (the cabinet) to serve as the political executive for the state.

question

presidential government

answer

A democratic in which the legislature and executive exist independently and are elected independently of each other. The president takes a leading role in forming policy but must have the consent of the legislature if that policy is to be enacted. A presidential system divides power, whereas a parliamentary system unifies it.

question

cabinet

answer

The executive portion of a parliamentary government

question

head of state

answer

The executive figure in any state who is the symbolic focus of the state, and represents the state personally. In a presidential system, the head of state also is the leader of political decision making in the state. In parliamentary system, the two functions are separated, and filled by two different people

question

head of government

answer

The part of government that carries out the executive functions of overseeing the bureaucracy, conducting military and diplomatic affairs, and taking the initiative of developing the budget and major policies.

question

constitutional monarch

answer

A monarch, that is, one who acquires the position of head of state by inheritance, holds it for life, and passes it along to heirs-but with the difference that a constitutional monarch serves as head of state in a parliamentary system, and thus serves a symbolic role, not participating in the making of political decisions.

question

coalition

answer

A tactical combination of varied groups, constructed so that the groups will in combination be large enough to command power that they can then share among themselves. Frequently applied to parliamentary government, in which 50 percent of the votes in parliament are required to form a cabinet but in which it may be necessary to combine two or more parties at amass 50 percent of the votes

question

question time

answer

A device, originating in the British House of Commons and since imitated in man parliaments, by which cabinet members appear regularly in the parliament to answer questions from members about the administration of their offices. These questions and answers often spark hot debate.

question

delegate model

answer

A model of representation in which representatives regard themselves as speaking for their constituents, and cast each vote as they think the constituents would wish it to be cast.

question

trustee model of representation

answer

A model of representation in which representatives regard themselves as working on behalf of their constituents' interests, but not necessarily doing what the constituents would wish them to do in every instance.

question

committees of parliament

answer

Small group of legislators whose task (usually) is to review carefully a proposed piece of legislation and recommend to the full legislature what action should be taken on it. It many legislature, bills may be amended by the committee or killed in entirety. Committees may also perform other tasks, such as investigating an area of possible legislation.

question

"consensus" parliamentarism

answer

Parliamentary government in which the adversarial relationship between the cabinet and the opposition parties is reduced through a variety of power-sharing devices, such as allotting control of committees to parties proportionally to their strength, whether or not they are part of the cabinet.

question

minority cabinet

answer

A cabinet based on a coalition controlling less than a majority of votes in the parliament. It generally govern through an agreement with one or more other parties, which are not part of the cabinet coalition, that they will not vote for motions of no confidence against the cabinet.

question

hybrid presidential system

answer

A system in which a president with more than ceremonial power coexists with a premier and cabinet who are responsible to a parliament. Executive decision making is shard in some way between the two executives, often with the president having the greater power in defense and foreign policy, while the premier and cabinet have greater power in domestic policies, but the relationship between the two can be quite variable.

question

accountability

answer

Holding members of the government responsible by rewarding them when they do what the citizens want and punishing them when they do not.

question

retrospective voting

answer

Voting by a simple decision rule: if your life and the lives of those you care about are going well, vote to keep incumbent officials in office; if not, vote against them to put their opponents in office.

question

Bill of Rights

answer

first 10 amendments of the Constitution

question

Alien and Sedition Acts

answer

made citizenship incredibly difficult to acquire and banned publishing any false or malicious writings against the government

question

Clear and Present Danger Test

answer

used by the Supreme Court to determine when speech may be suppressed

question

prior restraint

answer

relates to censorship before something is published or halts publication already underway

question

constitutional functions

answer

1. outlines the organization of government 2. grants power and authority to government 3. can be a mainstay of rights 4. may serve as a symbol of the nation

question

Declaration of Independence (The Idea of Consent)

answer

-ratified in 1776 -stated colonists' grievances against British rule -expressed the political ideas and values of the day including the following themes: 1. Humankind shares an equality 2. Government is the creation and servant of the people 3. The rights that all people intrinsically possess constitute a higher law binding government 4. Governments are bound by their own laws

question

Articles of Confederation (The Idea of Compact)

answer

-provided for the dominance of the states in the political system and granted only a few powers to Congress -there were no separate executive or national courts -amendments were almost impossible -equal representation for the states was preserved

question

Shays' Rebellion

answer

illustrated the economic problems and weaknesses of the central government

question

Annapolis Convention

answer

led to a call for a constitutional convention

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Deficiencies of the Articles

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weak central government and state governments that had too much power

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Successes of the Articles

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One notable success of the Articles was the Northwest Ordinance, which laid the basis for government in the West

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The Great Compromise/Connecticut Plan

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-incorporated the Virginia Plan for a strong national government and the New Jersey plan for strong state governments and created numerical representation in the lower house and equal state representation in the upper house -presented by Roger Sherman

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three-fifths compromise

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-allowed slaves to be counted as a fraction of a person for representational purposes -still, a majority of Americans (slaves and women) were denied representation and participation

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Virginia Plan

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-presented by James Madison -bicameral legislature -each state would have representation in proportion to their population -three branches of government

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New Jersey Plan

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-presented by William Paterson -unicameral legislature -each state, regardless of size, would have equal representation

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The Federalist Papers

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-a collection of essays supporting the Constitution -still a major source of American political theory

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Federalists

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supporters of the Constitution

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Anti-Federalists

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believed that the Constitution was conceived illegally, weakened state governments, threatened individual liberty, and promoted a commercial empire

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Tenth Amendment

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reserved powers to the states (any power not specifically delegated to the national government or prohibited to the states, is reserved for the states)

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Length of the Constitution

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-27 amendments -since the Bill of Rights was added in 1791, only 17 formal changes have been made to the Constitution

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elastic clause

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gives Congress implied powers that have been used to meet new challenges and needs

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Electoral College

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-consists of electors, chosen by the people, who elect the chief executive (president) -compromise between direct election of the president by the people, election by congress, and election by state legislatures

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Article V

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prescribes the formal amendment procedure

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Marbury v. Madison: The Case of the Undelivered Commissions

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After the 1800 election, the Federalist Congress authorized 42 new Justices of the Peace, but some of these appointments were not delivered before the new president took office. William Marbury asked the Supreme Court to force delivery through a writ of mandamus. -Reaffirmed that officers of the government were bound by law -Declared that laws contrary to the Constitution were not valid -The Court claimed authority to interpret the constitution: established the power of JUDICIAL REVIEW

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Judicial Review

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-it is the Court's authority to interpret the Constitution -some framers expected the Court to exercise judicial review -much controversy stems from the fact that the Constitution says nothing about how its words are to be interpreted

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Federal form of government

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-Federalism is a system of government in which national and state governments share power within the same political system -Both national and state governments have jurisdiction over individuals -it is a compromise between a strong central government and a league of separate states

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Confederate form of government

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-a loose collection of states in which principal power lies at the level of the individual state rather than at the level of the central government -Confederations are founded on the political idea of diversity and local control, allowing states to pursue diverse approaches to policy -Historically, the United States under the Articles of Confederation was an example of a confederation

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Unitary form of government

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-one in which principal power within the political system lies at the level of a national or central government -the government of France and each of the 50 American state governments are unitary systems

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Dual Federalism

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-the view that national and state governments are separate and independent form each other, with each level exercising its own powers in its own jurisdiction -nicknamed "layer cake federalism" because the levels of government (cake) are separate

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Cooperative Federalism

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-the view that across a wide range of public policies, despite occasional conflict, all levels of government are intertwined and work closely with one another -nicknamed "marble cake federalism" because the levels of government (cake) are muddled/intertwined

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Categorical Grant

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a transfer of cash from the national government to a state or local governments for some specific purpose

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Block Grant

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a transfer of cash from the national government to a state or local government for use in a broad policy area, allowing greater discretion on the part of the state or local government

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Reserved Powers

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-any power not specifically delegated to the national government or prohibited to the states, is reserved for the states (10th Amendment) -examples: "policing" "welfare of citizens" 1. Prevention and prosecution of criminal activities 2. Regulation of a variety of matters having to do with public safety, business, and commerce 3. Responsibility for providing for the universal education of its citizens

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Delegated Powers

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-the powers of the national government (Congress) specifically established in Article I of the US Constitution -Express and Implied powers are both forms of delegated powers

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Express Powers

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-are specifically enumerated as belonging to the national government (Congress) -examples: the power to regulate interstate commerce, coin money, and declare war

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Implied Powers

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-permit Congress to make laws that are "necessary and proper" to execute express powers -The Bank of the US is an example because the Constitution does not specifically state that the national government had the right to create a bank, but the bank is necessary to carry out Congress' power to regulate coin money and collect taxes

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McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

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-first interpreted the "necessary and proper" clause in a way that allowed expansive power to the national government -also implied the principle of national supremacy

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Republican Government

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-divided powers to avoid tyranny -a mixture of democratic/nondemocratic features -power is divided horizontally in a system of checks and balances where the legislative, executive, and judicial branches share power and vertically between national and state governments

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Due Process Clause

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- in the Fourteenth Amendment -similar to the Fifth Amendment, which only restricts the national government -states that no person shall be "deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law" -Usually, "due process" refers to fair procedures

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Higher Law

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-a moral or religious principle that is believed to overrule secular constitutions and laws - no law may be enforced by the government unless it conforms with certain universal principles (written or unwritten) of fairness, morality, and justice

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Who do civil liberties affect?

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individuals

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Where do civil liberties come from?

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bill of rights, 14th amendments

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Civil liberties debate

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"freedom from v. freedom to"

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What are the key concepts of civil liberties?

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due process clause of the 14th amendment incorporation of fundamental freedoms

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Who do civil rights affect?

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groups

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Where do civil rights come from?

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civil war amendments (13-15) 19th amendment

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Civil rights debate

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equality of process vs. equality of opportunity

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What are the key concepts of civil rights?

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equal protection clause of the 14th amendment supreme court's standard of review

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the original constitution and civil liberties

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cannot pass ex post facto laws cannot pass bills of attainder cannot suspend writs of habeus corpus (except in times of rebellion and invasion) cannot impair the obligation of contract cannot deny privileges and immunities

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1st amendment

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congress shall make no law 1) establishing a religion 2) freedom of speech 3) freedom of press 4) freedom of assemble

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Santa Fe Independent School District vs. Doe (1st amendment, religion clause)

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Q: Does the Santa Fe Independent School District's policy permitting student-led, student-initiated prayer at football games violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment? A: Yes. Supreme Court held that the District's policy violates the Establishment Clause. The Court concluded that the football game prayers were public speech authorized by a government policy and taking place on government property at government-sponsored school-related events and that the District's policy involved both perceived and actual government endorsement of the delivery of prayer at important school events.

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Nat'l Socialist Party V. Skokie

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Q: Did the Illinois Supreme Court's decision improperly deny the First Amendment rights of speech and assembly to members of the Nazi Party? A: Yes. Because this case would deny liberties protected in the First Amendment, liberties that are fundamental to a democracy.

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Selective Incorporation

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a judicial doctrine where the protections ensured by the bill of rights also apply to states via the due process clause. incorporation ensures that states CANNOT enact laws that take away the liberties of American citizens that are enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

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Gideon v. Wainwright (selective incorporation case) (6th amendment)

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Q: Does the Sixth Amendment's right to counsel in criminal cases, which had applied only to the federal government, extend to defendants in state courts via the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment? A: YES

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Robinson v. California (8th amendment)

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Q: Does the Eighth Amendment's protection against the infliction of cruel and unusual punishment apply to the states via the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment? A: YES; addiction=illness, cannot jail person for being addicted to drugs

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Civil rights movement (definition, goals)

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the effort of an excluded group to fight for liberties/rights; about redistributing power and be treated as a suspect classification

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Slavery

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Dred Scott v. Sanford SC ruled the constitution did not include AA citizenship

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Reconstruction and Resegregation

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13th amendment: ends slavery (north)=black codes (south) 14th amendment: equal protection (north) 15th amendment: right to vote (north)=Jim Crow Laws (south)

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Two major events that end Northern intervention

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1. Presidential Election of 1676 (compromise of 1877)- in return for the 20 electoral votes needed to win presidency, Hayes (n) agrees to pull all federal troops out of the south 2. Plessy v. Ferguson

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NAACP

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focused on overturning Plessy v. Ferguson by using the federal courts to desegregate law schools

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Missouri Gains v. Canada

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States can't deny qualified students of any race admission to law school. **MO can create a segregated AA law school**

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Sweatt v. Painter, McLaurin v. Oklahoma State

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The Court overturns the separate-but-equal doctrine in graduate and professional education

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Brown V. Board of Education l & ll

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mere separation is unconstitutional

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Voting Rights Act 1965

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Section 4 & 5

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Suspect (demographic)

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race, ethnicity, religious affiliation

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Quasi-suspect (demographic)

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gender

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Non-Suspect (demographic)

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age, wealth, sexual orienation

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Court applies ___ standard review to non-suspect

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minimum

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Court applies ___ standard review to quasi-suspect

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intermediate

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Court applies _____ standard review to suspect

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strict

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Court asks(suspect), court assumes

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is there a compelling state interest?

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Court asks (non-suspect), court assumes

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is there a rational basis?

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non-suspect cases

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Gregory v. Ashcroft: MO retiring state judges at 70 (govt wins) Romer v. Evans: Denver rules no job discrimination on basis of sex orientation; CO state amends (govt loses)

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suspect cases

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Korematsu v. US (govt wins), Loving v. Virginia (govt loses)

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quasi-suspect cases

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Orr v. Orr (govt loses), Rostker v. Goldberg: discrimination on gender military drafts, SC rules important state purpose why women can't serve (govt wins)

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