question

Anti-federalists

answer

Those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government; opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. (DH)

question

Articles of Confederation

answer

The compact among the 13 original states that was the basis of their government. Written in 1776, the Articles were not ratified by all the states until 1781. (DH)

question

Bicameral

answer

A legislature divided into two houses; the U.S. Congress and the state legislatures are bicameral except Nebraska, which is unicameral. (DH)

question

Bill

answer

A proposed law. (DH)

question

Bill of Rights

answer

The 1st 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantee specific rights and liberties. (DH)

question

Blanket Primary

answer

A primary in which voters may cast ballots in either party's primary (but not both) on an office-by-office basis. (DH)

question

Bureaucracy

answer

A set of complex hierarchical departments, agencies, commissions, and their staffs that exist to help chief executive officer carry out his or her duty to enforce the law. (DH)

question

Cabinet

answer

The formal body of presidential advisors who head the 14 executive departments. Presidents often add others to this body of formal advisors. (DH)

question

Checks and Balances

answer

A government structure that gives each of the three branches of government some degree of oversight and control over the actions of others. (DH)

question

Civil Rights

answer

Refers to the positive acts governments take to protect individuals against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by governments or individuals based on categories such as race, sex, national origin, age, or sexual orientation. (DH)

question

Closed Primary

answer

A primary election in which only a party's registered voters are eligible to vote. (DH)

question

Democracy

answer

A system of government that gives power to the people, whether directly or through their elected representatives. (DH)

question

Direct Primary

answer

An election held within a party to pic that party's candidates for the general election. (DH)

question

Docket

answer

A court's list of cases to be heard. (DH)

question

Domestic Affairs

answer

All matters not directly connected to the realm of foreign affairs. (DH)

question

Due Process

answer

The government must act fairly and in accord with established rules in all that it does. (DH)

question

Electoral College

answer

Group of persons chosen in each state and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President. (DH)

question

Electoral Votes

answer

Votes cast by electors in the electoral college. (DH)

question

Executive Agreement

answer

A pact made by the president directly with the head of a foreign state; a binding international agreement with the force of law but which (unlike a treaty) does not require Senate consent. (DH)

question

Continuous Body

answer

Governing unit (e.g. the United States Senate) whose seats are never all up for election at the same time. (DH)

question

Constitution

answer

The body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government. (DH)

question

Constituency

answer

The people and interests that an elected official represents. (DH)

question

Commander in Chief

answer

Term for the President as commander of the nation's armed forces. (DH)

question

Caucus

answer

As a nominating device, a group of like-minded people who meet to select the candidates they will support in an upcoming election. (DH)

question

Bipartisan

answer

Supported by two parties. (DH)

question

Ballot

answer

The device voters use to register a choice in an election. (DH)

question

Articles

answer

Numbered sections of a document. The unamended Constitution is divided into seven articles. (DH)

question

Amendment

answer

A change in, or addition to, a constitution or law. (DH)

question

Executive Order

answer

Directive, rule, or regulation issued by a chief executive or subordinates, based upon constitutional or statutory authority and having the force of law. (DH)

question

Executive Power

answer

The power to execute, enforce, and administer law. (DH)

question

Federal Government

answer

A form of government in which powers are divided between a central government and several local governments. (DH)

question

Federalism

answer

A system of government in which a written constitution divides power between a central, or national, government and several regional governments. (DH)

question

Federalists

answer

Those persons who supported the ratification of the Constitution in 1789-1788. (DH)

question

Filibuster

answer

Various tactics (usually long speeches) aimed at defeating a bill in a legislative body by preventing a final vote; associated with the U.S. Senate. (DH)

question

Foreign Affairs

answer

A nation's relationships with other countries. (DH)

question

General Election

answer

The regularly scheduled election at which voters make a final selection of officeholders. (DH)

question

Gerrymandering

answer

The drawing of electoral district lines at the advantage of a party or group. (DH)

question

Impeach

answer

To bring formal charges against a public official; the House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach civil officers of the United States. (DH)

question

Implied Powers

answer

Those delegated powers of the National Government that are suggested by the expressed powers set out in the Constitution; those "necessary and proper" to carry out the expressed powers. (DH)

question

Inherent Powers

answer

Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community. (DH)

question

Judicial Power

answer

The power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes within the society. (DH)

question

Judicial Review

answer

The power of a court to hear a case. (DH)

question

Jurisdiction

answer

The authority of a court to hear a case. (DH)

question

Legislative Power

answer

The power to make a law and to frame public policies. (DH)

question

Limited Government

answer

Basic principle of American government which states that government is restricted in what it may do, and each individual has rights that government cannot take away. (DH)

question

National Convention

answer

Meeting at which a party's delegates vote to pick their presidential and vice-presidential candidates. (DH)

question

Necessary and Proper Clause

answer

Constitutional clause that gives Congress the power to make all laws "necessary and proper" for executing its powers. (DH)

question

Off-Year Election

answer

Congressional election that occurs between presidential election years. (DH)

question

Open Primary

answer

A party-nominating election in which any qualified voter can take part. (DH)

question

Original Jurisdiction

answer

The power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court. (DH)

question

Political Party

answer

A group of persons who seek to control government throughout the winning of elections and the holding of public office. (DH)

question

Popular Sovereignty

answer

Basic principle of the American system of government which asserts that the people are the source of any and all governmental power, and government can exist only with the consent of the governed. (DH)

question

Preamble

answer

Introduction. (DH)

question

Precedent

answer

Court decision that stands as an example to be followed in future, similar cases. (DH)

question

Quorum

answer

Least number of members who must be present for a legislative body to conduct business; majority. (DH)

question

Reapportion

answer

Redistribute, as in seats in a legislative body. (DH)

question

Representative Government

answer

System of government in which public policies are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections. (DH)

question

Reserved Powers

answer

Those powers that the Constitution does not grant to the National Government and does not, at the same time, deny to the States. (DH)

question

Separation of Powers

answer

Basic principle of American system of government, that the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among three independent and coequal branches of government. (DH)

question

Session

answer

Period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business. (DH)

question

Split-Ticket Voting

answer

Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices at the same election. (DH)

question

Term

answer

Two-year period of time during which Congress meets. (DH)

question

Two-Party System

answer

A political system dominated by two major parties. (DH)

question

Unconstitutional

answer

Contrary to constitutional provision and so illegal, null and void, of no force and effect. (DH)

question

Veto

answer

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature. (DH)

question

Writ of Certiorari

answer

An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for review. (DH)

US Government Final Exam Study Guide – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards