Gov – Flashcard
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Bicameral
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Legislature made of two houses
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Term
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Congress- serve two years
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Session
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Period of time during which Congress assembles and conducts business
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Convenes
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Begins
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Adjourns
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Ends until next session
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Recess
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Temporarily suspend business
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Prorogue
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End, discontinue a session
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Special session
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A meeting to deal with some emergency situation
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Apportioned
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Representatives are distributed according to population
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Reapportion
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Redistributed every 10 years
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Off year elections
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Years between presidential elections
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Single member district
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The voters in each district elect one of the state's representatives from among a field of candidates running for a seat in the House from that district
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at-large
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Elected from the State as a whole
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Gerrymandered
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Districts have been drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the State's legislature
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Incumbent
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The person who currently holds the office
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Absentee voting
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Provisions made for those unable to get to their regular polling places on election day
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Acquit
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To find not guilty of a charge
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Administration
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The officials in the executive branch of a government and their policies and principles
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Albany plan of union
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Plan proposed by Franklin in 1754 that aimed to unite
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proportional plan
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awards a candidate a percentage of state delegates
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Presidential Succession Act of 1974
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law that set the order of succession following the Vice President
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presidential succession
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plan to fill a vacancy in the presidency
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chief diplomat
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the President is the main author of U.S. foreign policy
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chief citizen
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the President as representative of all the people
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electoral vote
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vote cast by electors in the electoral college
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chief of state
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the President as the head of the gov and the symbol of all the people
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keynote address
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speech that sets the tone at a party convention
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direct popular vote
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plan that would do away with the electoral college
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national convention
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national party meeting to nominate candidates
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diplomat
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person who deals with foreign governments
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tribunal
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a court or forum of justice
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executive order
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an order the President gives based on the authority of the Constitution or by Congress
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pardon
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legal forgiveness of a crime
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executive agreement
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a pact between the President and the head of the foreign state
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treaty
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a formal agreement between two or more countries
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clemency
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mercy granted to an offender
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persona non grata
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an unwelcome person
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line-item veto
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power to eliminate one part of a proposed law
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pocket veto
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Congress adjourns before the President signs a bill
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The Presdient must be a ...
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natural born U.S. citizen
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One of the benefits provided for the President is...
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a large expense account to spend as he or she likes
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What can't the President do to the Vice President if they are unhappy with them
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fire them
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Which determines the number of presidential electors of a state?
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members of Congress
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Both candidates tie in the electoral college, what happens next?
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they go to the House of Representatives
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when the President makes laws he is fulfilling what role?
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chief legislator
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Which limit did the Framers put on how many times a person can be elected as Pres
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no limit
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Which of the following is a formal qualification for the Presidency to the Constitution?
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35+
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According to the Constitution, which procedure is followed if the office of the VP becomes vacant?
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The P must nominate a new VP, and the Congress must confirm the nominatiom
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How did the Framers decide the P and VP should be selected?
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the electoral college
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What happens when a presidential candidate wins a state with just 51 percent of the popular votes?
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the winner of the popular vote gets all of the state's electoral votes
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Where does the P get the power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States?
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the Constitution
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With the exception of federal judges, what is true about the P's removal power?
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The P may remove whomever he appoints
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Why is the P veto such a powerful tool?
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a two-thirds majority vote in Congress is needed to override it
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What must happen to give the P the line-item veto power?
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The Constitution being ammended
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The President is responsible for what part of the fed gov?
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the executive branch
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The President does not act on a bill within 10 days of receiving it, and Congress has not adjourned, what happens?
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the bill becomes law
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Which Article of the Constitution outlines the presidential powers?
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Article 2
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Which is a power of the P as commander in chief?
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the power to send troops anywhere in th eworld if the US is in danger
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Which is part of the executive branch bureaucracy?
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The Cabinet departments
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Which of the following executive departments was created during the first Congress in 1789?
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The department of state
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Which exec. department is responsible for border and transportation security?
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The Transportation Department
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Who appoins the head of the Cabinet department?
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the P
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Who may reject the P's appointment of a Cabinet member?
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HoR
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Which of the following describes the line of authority in a bureaucracy ?
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Hierarchal like a pyramid
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Who leads the White House Office
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the chief of staff
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Which agency advises the P about the safety of the country?
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National Security Council (NSC)
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It is the job of the Attorney General to lead which executive department?
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Department of Justice
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Who determines the P's salary?
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Congress
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The presidential election of 1800 was decided by the ...
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HoR
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The Constitution provides that the VP...
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presides over the Senate
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An "imperial" president is one who...
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sees no need to consult Congress before acting
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Which of the following is an argument for the line-item veto?
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It would reduce wasteful and unnecessary spending
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Which of the following is the best example of a bureaucracy?
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your school
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divine right of kings
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belief that God granted monarchs the right to rule
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sovereignty
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utmost authority in decision-making
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colonialism
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control of one nation over foreign lands
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feudalism
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system in which powerful lords divided their lands among lesser lords
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plebians
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the common folk of Rome
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mercantilism
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economic and political theory emphasizing money as chief source of power
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Every state must have...
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territory with recognized boundaries
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a state differs from a nation in that...
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a state is a legal entity
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In a parliamentary government...
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the prime minister belongs to both the executive brach and legislative branch
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Which of the following is a DUTY of every American citizen?
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paying taxes
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Compromise is important in a democracy because
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democracy insists on complete freedom for all individuals
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Rhode Island and Vermont are not sovereign states in the international, legal sense. Why not?
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They are subordinate to the US Constitution
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Which theory about the origin of the state is probably the most compatible with democratic ideals?
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social contract theory
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Under the Articles of Confederation, how did the States interact?
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they often acted independently of one another and frequently refused to support the central government
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The Virginia and New Jersey plans disagreed about
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State representation in Congress
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New York's approval of the Constitution was absolutely necessary because
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New York was located between New England and the rest of the nation
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What was the main reason that the gov in London exercised little control over the American colonies throughtout much of the colonial period?
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the king did not care about the colonies and ignored them
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According to the Declaration of Independence, what is the only legitimate basis for a gov's powers?
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consent of the governed
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The Ecclesia of Athens differed from the Senate of Rome
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in that members of the Ecclesia were not elected
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In a communist state, the enemy is
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global capitalism
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the end of dictatorship can lead to genocide if the country...
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has competing ethnic groups with their own goals and interests
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The Roman Republic
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shifted decision making from the people to an elite Senate
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Why do colonialism and mercantilism go hand in hand?
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mercantilists hoped to extract resources from the colonies to enrich the parent country
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Which phrase on the Preamble of the Constitution means that laws should be reasonable, fair, and impartial?
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establish justice
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In which system are all key powers given to the central gov?
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unitary gov
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Which is true of the prime minister and cabinet in a parliamentary gov?
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they belong to parliament
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What is another term for free enterprise in the US?
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capitalism
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Which are the three basic powers of gov?
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legislative, executive, and judicial
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Which are the four characteristics of the state?
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population, territory, sovereignty, government
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Which phrase in the Preamble of the Constitution means the gov should provide peace and order is society?
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secure the blessings of liberty
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which is true of a sovereign state?
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It has absolute power within its own territory
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The US gov has a federal system. What does this mean?
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the national gov and states share power
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What is the main goal of businesses that compete in a free enterprise system?
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to make a profit
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What was the importance of the Magna Carta?
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It limited the power of the English king
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Why did Britian interfere with colonial government in the mid-1700s
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to raise money to pay its debts
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Most state constitutions gave power to which branch of government
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legislature
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How were the states represented in Congress n the Articles of Confederation?
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one delegate per state
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On which point did the Virginia and New Jersey plans disagree?
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how the states should be represented in Congress
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Where did George Washington take the oath of office as the first President of the US?
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New York City
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What pushed the American colonists toward wanting independence from Britain?
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Britain put high taxes on certain goods
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According to the Declaration of Independence, why were the clonists justified in ending their political connections with Great Britain?
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because Britain had denied their basic rights
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How did the Three-Fifths Compromise affect representatives in Congress?
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Every five slaves were counted as three free men
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The heaviest criticism of the proposed Constitution was that
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it did not contain a bill of rights
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Where was George Washington inaugurated as the first P of the US?
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Philadephia
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Establishment Clause
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separates church and state
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prior restraint
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ban on words before they are expressed
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civil rights
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protection granted by the government
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obscenity
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disgusting or offensive speech
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shield law
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attempting to overthrow the government by force
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civil liberties
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freedoms the government may not take away
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sedition
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the ability to join with others to promote causes
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Free Exercise Clause
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protects religious liberty
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The free exercise of religion may be limited when a religious practice does which of the following?
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violates criminal law
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What kind of speech does the government limit on public radio and television broadcasts?
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obscene language
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Which of the following is an example of symbolic speech?
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wearing an armband with a peace sign
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what is the main difference between civil liberties and civil rights?
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Civil liberties are freedoms the government cannot take away, civil rights are protections granted by government
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Why did the Founders of the US want to protect religious liberty?
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They had been denied religious freedom in England
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Which is intended to separate church and state?
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Establishment Clause
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Which would be protected under the constitutional right to assemble and petition the government?
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gathering in a park to demand government change
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How do the rights of assembly and petition apply to private property?
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People cannot trespass, even to express political views
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The 9th Amendment is important because it...
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declares that rights exist beyond those listed in the Constitution
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Guarantees of religious liberty were written into the Bill of Rights
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in reaction to government-sponsored churches
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The Supreme Court has held that public schools cannot...
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sponsor religious exercises
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The standard the Supreme Court uses to decide whether a State law amounts to an "establishment" of religion is called...
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The Lemon test
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In which of the following places do people have a constitutionally guaranteed right to assemble?
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on government-owned property
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THe government may not prohibit an assembly for which of the following reasons?
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what might be said
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Which is the result of the Free Exercise Clause?
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Amish children do not have to attend school beyond 8th grade
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Which protects a peaceful political organization from having to provide a list to the government of all its members?
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rights of association
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People in the US may do as they please as long as they do not...
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infringe on the rights of others
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Due process clauses are set out in which ammendments of the Constitution?
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5th and 14th ammendments
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In PIERCE V. SOCIETY OF SISTERS, the Supreme Court ruled that a law requiring all children in Oregon to attend public school interefered with parents' rights to control their upbringing. This case is an example of...
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substantive due process
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In which case has the Supreme Court ruled that police can conduct a search with no warrant?
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Searching an automobile
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Which makes it legal for polo e to collect evidence through wiretapping?
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A warrant from a judge
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Which amendment protects a defendant against self-incrimination in a criminal case?
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5th
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Which does the 8th amendment forbid?
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Cruel and unusual punishment
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Which is a legal require for police to draw blood from a drunk driver to use as evidence?
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Reasonable suspicion to believe the driver is drunk
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Which helps the SC to ensure that the 4th a,mend eat protects citizens?
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Exclusionary rule
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The Miranda rule states that
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The police must read the suspect his or her rights before questioning
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What are writs of assistance
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Blanket search warrants used to search private homes
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Why are shield laws of concern to news reporters?
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They allow reporters to keep their sources of information private
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Which amendment makes it illegal, in most cases, for the government to search a house without good reason?
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the 4th amendment
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What was the original intent of the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
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to restrict the new National Government
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Which is true about religious guarantees under the 1st amendment?
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People are free not to worship
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What did the Supreme Court say about seditious speech in Schenck v. US?
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Words can be weapons
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What kind of speech does the gov limit on public radio and television broadcasts?
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obscene language
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electorate
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all of the people eligible to vote
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splinter party
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parties that split from a major party
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Ideological parties
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based on a particular set of beliefs
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spoils system
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giving public office to political supporters
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incumbent
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the current officeholder
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coalition
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a temporary alliance of several groups that come together to form a working majority
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bipartisan
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supported by two parties
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partisanship
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strong support of a party and its policies
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blanket primary
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a primary in which every voter receives the same ballot, regardless of party
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nonpartisan election
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an election in which candidates are not identified by party labels
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general election
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a regularly scheduled election to make the final selection of officeholders
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closed primary
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a party's primary in which only declared party members can vote
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open primary
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a party's primary in which any qualified voter can vote
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direct primary
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an election held within a party to pick that party's candidates
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ballot fatigue
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not voting for races further down the ballot
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off year election
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a congressional election between presidential elections
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political efficacy
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feeling of influence in politics
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political socialization
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process by which people gain their political opinion
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split-ticket voting
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voting for candidates of more than one party
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straight-ticket voting
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voting for candidates of only one party
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The lack of constitutional provisions about qualifications for voting suggests that the Framers...
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purposely left the power set such qualificationsto each state
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Today, every state requires potential voters to satisfy qualifications based on citizenship, residence, and...
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age
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The Free Soil Party was primarily concerned about the spread of slavery. It is an example of a...
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single-issue party
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A presidential primary is different from other primaries in that it is...
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not a nominating device
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What is an example of an Ideological party?
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The Socialist Party
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Most politicians prefer the party-column ballot because it...
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encourages straight-ticketing voting
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Why did many African Americans in the South not vote even after the passage of the 15th amendment?
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The Federal Gov did not enforce the amendment
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Since 1968, American gov can best be described as an era of (Hint: think President vs. Senate)
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divided government
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What is the main reason for nonvoting?
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lack of interested
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One function of political parties is to ensure the good performance of their candidates and elected officeholders. This function is called...
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bonding agent function
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Term that refers to the great length of the ballots on many elections?
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Indiana ballot
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The Democratic Party barely survived as a national party after
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it was challenged by the Whig Party
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What is the primary purpose of a political party?
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to control government by winning elections
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In which procedure are candidates nominated by means of a document signed by a certain number of qualified voters in the election district?
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petition
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When minor parties are successful at gaining support for their proposals, what is most likely to happen?
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Their platforms are adopted by one of the major parties
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Nominations is a critically important step in the electoral process because it...
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limits the choices voters have
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The most recent expansion of the electorate involved...
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lowering the minimum age for voting
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The 19th amendment prevents states from depriving any person of the right to vote on account of...
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gender or sex
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Why is hard money more difficult to raise than soft money?
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Hard money contributions are limited on amount and must be reported
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One reason the US has a two-party system is that...
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much of American election law is written to discourage non-major party candidates
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Which of the following is a synonym for suffrage?
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franchise
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Which of the following statements is evidence of the gender gap?
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More women than men tend to wote for Democrats
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In what way is a minor party most likely to influence an election?
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by serving as a "spoiler" and denying one or another candidate a victory
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When the party our of power criticizes the policies and behaviors of the party in power, it is performing what function?
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the watchdog function
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Which of the following situations describes a legal restriction on voting?
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Bobbi is not allowed to vote because she is a patient in a mental institution
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Which of the following voters is most likely to practice split-ticketing voting?
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an independent
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In general, party dominance has switched from one party to another...
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during times of economic or political crisis
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According to the 24th Amendment, no state can...
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require payment of any tax as a condition for voting for President
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What is the main purpose of a major party's national convention?
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to select the party's presidential and vice -presidential candidates
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The era of the Republicans began...
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at the time of the Civil War
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The single most significant and lasting predictor of how a person will vote is...
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Party identification
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Before they can be sent to the P for approval, measures that survive the legislative process in both houses must
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pass both houses in identical form
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What proportion of senate terms expires every two years?
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one- third
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Senators are elected by...
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the voters in each state
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Who follows the VP in the line of succession to the presidency?
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the Speaker of the House
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How does debate in the Senate differ from debate in the House?
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Debate in the Senate is almost unrestrained
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A person who wants to protect the right to manufacture and sell the invention he or she has made needs to apply to Congress for a...
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patent
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Which of the following is an example of a tax Congress would have the power to levy?
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a tax on individual's income
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A member of the House must be at least (how old and how long was he a citizen of US
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25 years old and seven years a citizen
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The opening day of a new term of Congress occurs in (what month)?
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January
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Which rule provides that the most important posts will be held by those party members with the longest records of service in Congress?
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seniority rule
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Each State's representative in the House of Representatives is based on
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the population of the State
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A major presidential appointment must be approved by...
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the Senate
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Congress can override a President's veto by...
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a two-thirds vote of each house
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What is the primary purpose of a conference committee?
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to come up with a compromise version of a bill
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The Framers hoped that _____ ______ would help make the Senate a more responsible body than the House
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longer terms
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The Constitution requires that a member of the House must...
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be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected
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According to the Constitution, a senator mist have been...(citizenship)
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a citizen of the US for at least nine years
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What makes the first-day session of a new term in the Senate so different when compared to the House?
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The House has a first-day filibuster
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How many voting members does the House have?
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435
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The Federal government's practice of spending more money that it takes in each year and borrowing to make the difference is called...
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deficit financing
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IN recent congressional elections, which informal qualification increased most in importance?
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fundraising ability
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Congress must reapportion seats in the House every...
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ten years
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What does it mean to "pigeonhole" a bill?
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to bury it in committees
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Liberal and strict constructionists would most likely disagree over what power of Congress?
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regulating manufacturing
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What is the minimum # of representatives in Congress (both senators and members of the House) that a State can have?
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three
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Which Presidents have been impeached?
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Johnson and Clinton
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The Necessary and Proper Clause is important because
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it is the basis for the existence of the implied powers
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How do the congressional terms of Senators and Representatives differ?
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Senators have more years in office which gives them better job security
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An indirect tax is one that is ...
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first paid by one person but then passed onto another
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Why did the Framers give Congress the power to coin money?
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in order to create a single national system of hard money
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According to the Constitution, the US can declare war...
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only by an act of Congress
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How are committee chairman chosen?
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by the majority party caucus, based on seniority
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Members of the House are elected for __ terms
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2
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Why are committee chairmen important in the legislative process?
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They have a major way in which bills the committee will consider
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Which party officer serves as the Senate's presiding officer in the VP's absence?
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President pro tempore
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Congress and the courts have adopted such a broad interpretation of implied powers that the term "commerce" in the Commerce Clause now refers to...
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virtually any form of economic activity
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Which type of congressional powers are clearly spelled out in the Constitution?
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expressed powers
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By creating bicameral Congress, the Framers of the Constitution...
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settled the conflict between the New Jersey and Virginia plans
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What is a result of the general acceptance of the liberal construction in the US?
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a large National Government
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Which can Congress do under the expressed powers granted to it by the Constitution?
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regulate trade among the States
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What does the minority whip do?
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assists the minority leader
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concurrent powers
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shared by both the states and the national governmeny
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delegated powers
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expressed, implied, or inherent powers of the national government
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expressed powers
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written in the Constitution
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Implied power
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suggested but not stated in the Constitution
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inherent powers
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assumed by any national government of a sovereign state
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reserved powers
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not given to the national gov
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articles
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numbered sections of the Constitution
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federalism
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power divided between federal and state gov
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popular sovereignty
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the people hold all political power
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principle
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basic truth
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separation of powers
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division of gov into three branches
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unconstitutional
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against the Constitution
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Which is a power the Constitution does not grant to the national gov and does not deny to the states?
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the power to establish public schools
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What is the introduction to the Constitution called?
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The Preamble
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Each branch of the federal government can limit the power of the other two branches. What is this system called?
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checks and balances
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Under what Constitutional authority doe Presidents use military forces in combat without a formal declaration of war from Congress?
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through their power as commander in chief
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Which is the national gov obligated to do according to the Constitution?
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guarantees each state equal representation in the Senate
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How can the executive branch check the power of the legislative branch?
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veto legislation
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How can the courts influence the meaning of the Constitution?
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through judicial review
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Which method of ratification was used for almost all of the amendments to the Constitution?
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three-fourths of state legislatures
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Which usually must approve interstate compacts?
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Congress
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How may an amendment to the Constitution be proposed?
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a two-thirds vote of Congress
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Which is a method that can be used to add amendments to the Constitution?
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proposed be Congress; ratification be state legislatures
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What is the main informal method of modifying the Constitution over time?
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changing interpretations
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How is the Constitution organized?
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a Preamble, 7 articles, and 27 amendments
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Which basic principle of the Constitution means that gov can govern only with the consent of the governed
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popular sovereignty
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Which was the subject of an amendment that was sent to the states but never ratified?
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congressional pay raises
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Which is an exclusive power of the national gov? (It's an action)
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acquire territory
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In what way is the formal amendment process an example of federalism at work?
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Amendments are proposed and ratified at the federal level
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brief
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a detailed written statement filled by each party to a case before oral arguments are presented
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certificate
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process used by a lower court to ask the Court what rule of law should apply in a case
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concurring opinion
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supports the Court's decision, but adds a point not made or emphasized in the majority opinion
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dissenting opinion
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expresses the views of one or more justices who disagree with the Court's majority decision
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majority opinion
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announces the Court's decision and sets out the facts and reasoning upon which it is based
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writ of certiorari
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a Supreme Court order directing a lower court to send up the record in a case for its reviews
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Who must confirm federal judges?
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Senate
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Which is a belief of those who support judicial activism?
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Interpret the Constitution by taking into account ongoing changes in society
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What type of courts handle most federal courts?
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district courts
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What right did the Supreme Court claim in Marbury v. Madison
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to use judicial review
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What is required for a case to come before the Supreme Court?
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a constitutional question
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What is required for the Supreme Court to reach a decision?
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a majority vote of the nine judges
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Which court hears appeals about claims for benefits from people who used to be in the armed forces?
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Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
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Why is the court system in the US called a dual court system?
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It has both state and federal courts
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Which courts can exercise both original and appellate jurisdiction?
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The Supreme court
question
What kind of jurisdiction allows a state or a federal court to hear a case?
answer
concurrent jurisdiction
question
Which is one of the three actions the Supreme Court may take when it reviews a case?
answer
send the case back to the lower courts
question
Which courts have been set up by Congress for Guam and Northern Marianas?
answer
territorial courts
question
Which is true about federal judges of both constitutional and special courts?
answer
They are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate
question
Which courts greatly reduce the number of cases the Supreme Court has to hear?
answer
the appeals courts
question
What does it mean when a Supreme Court justice issues a dissenting opinion?
answer
The justice disagrees with the majority opinion
question
Which court hears cases from the Internal Revenue Service?
answer
the US Tax Court
question
Which of the following are the government's prosecutors
answer
US attorneys
question
The Supreme Courts decisions are _____
answer
final
question
judges of the constitutional courts are appointed for how long?
answer
life
question
Most of the cases that are appealed to the Supreme Court are
answer
denied
