question

How does power given to national governments compare in unitary, federal and confederal systems?

answer

National governments have the most power in unitary systems, followed by federal systems and then confederal systems.

question

Political scientists today see federalism as

answer

A partnership between the national and state governments in which federal government is the dominant power.

question

One of the disadvantages of American federalism is that

answer

It permits local prejudices to find their way into state and local law.

question

Two trends evident in the development of American federalism throughout history are

answer

The expansion of American government in general and the gradual strengthening of the federal government.

question

One reason for the growth of the national government's power and influence has been

answer

heightened expectations and demands placed on the federal government.

question

The New Deal increased power of the federal government in regard to

answer

business and the economy.

question

The federal government has been able to use categorical grants to coerce states into doing what it wants most of the time because

answer

states have become financially dependent on this aid.

question

Unfunded mandates are popular with many members of Congress because they

answer

do not affect the national debt

question

Among the consequences of federalism are all of the following EXCEPT that it

answer

creates a more uniform environment for business activity across the country.

question

The congressional abilities specifically listed in Article I, Section 8, are called the

answer

enumerated powers.

question

The president's role as ____ has become much more prominent since Franklin Roosevelt's tenure.

answer

head of government.

question

Many observers have concluded that impeachment is not an effective check on presidents because

answer

the process is too crippling for the government because Congress and the president would be consumed with the impeachment trial.

question

As commander in chief, the president,

answer

serves as the civilian head of the military.

question

Pacts made by the president with another head of state that do not require Senate approval are called

answer

executive agreements.

question

What is true about the President's veto power?

answer

Congress is generally unsuccessful at overturning veto, Presidents use the veto more frequently when their party does not control Congress and George Bush was the third president not to veto a bill in his first term

question

What is true concerning the president's judicial power?

answer

his power is weak in the short run, he can have tremendous long-term impact on the judiciary, can try to influence judiciary by having solicitor general argue cases before the court.

question

Inherent powers

answer

presidential powers not explicitly stated in the constitution

question

The authors of this textbook argue that the fate of the presidency of George W. Bush illustrates

answer

the fact that presidents do not have enough power to fulfill their promises and match public expectations

question

Power to persuade

answer

The ability of the president to convince Congress and political leaders to cooperate with his agenda is called the

question

The cycle effect refers to the tendency for presidents to

answer

the predictable rise and fall of a president's popularity over the course of their presidency

question

Early colonists came to America

answer

for a wide range of economic and political agendas as well as for religious and philosophical reasons

question

Describe the distribution of power during the founding period?

answer

The nation was comprised of competing elites.

question

Prior to the American Revolution, women in the colonies

answer

could vote in some colonies if they met the property qualifications and there were no voting males in their households.

question

The major weakness of the Articles of Confederation was that

answer

it failed to empower the national government

question

Under the Articles of COnfederation the rights and obligations of citizens were

answer

determined by each state constitution

question

Describes the contradiction within the new citizenship of the early American republic

answer

A belief in citizenship conferring equal rights but the unavailability of this citizenship to a major portion of the population

question

The federalists believes that the human tendencies toward ambition and corruption should be dealt with by

answer

creating institutions that made use of those characteristics to produces good outcomes

question

In Federalist no. 51 what government structure did James Madison recommend to ensure ambition be made to counteract ambition?

answer

separation of powers among the branches of federal government

question

Originally, Federalists had argued against a bill of rights because they

answer

thought that to list the powers government did not have implied that it had all other powers

question

The founders adopted a federal system

answer

as a compromise between those who wanted a strong central government and those who wanted to retain strong state governments

question

What was the Supreme Court's decision in Barron v Baltimore?

answer

The Bill of Rights did not restrict the actions of state governments

question

According to incorporation doctrines

answer

the due process clause requires states to abide by provisions in the bill of rights

question

The establishment clause

answer

prohibits the adoption of an official national religion

question

The constitutional doctrines that government cannot prohibit free speech or publication before the fact is called

answer

prior restraint

question

The direct incitement test allows government to limit speech

answer

that is intended and likely to result in imminent lawless action

question

What are some enumerated First Amendment freedoms?

answer

religion, speech, assembly, petition

question

According to varios Supreme Court decisions regarding the fourth amendment, what can the police search without a warrant or consent?

answer

a person being arrested

question

The standard that illegally seized evidence cannot be used at trial is known as the

answer

exclusionary rule

question

When can someone be tried twice for the same offense?

answer

never

question

What is an example of a legally obtained confession?

answer

a confession obtained from police questioning after the accused was read her miranda rights

question

Elections perform all of the following functions

answer

selecting leaders, making political outcomes acceptable to the participants, containing conflict, informing the public

question

In recent presidential elections voter turnout has been

answer

rising

question

The primary impact of state voter registration laws has been to

answer

decrease turnout

question

A party's effort to inform potential voters and persuade them to vote for that party is known as

answer

voter mobilization

question

The single biggest factor accounting for how people decide to vote is

answer

party identification

question

Front-loading is the process of

answer

scheduling presidential primaries earlier in the primary season

question

The constitution dictates that each state has what for electoral votes?

answer

one elector for each senator and representative

question

ALl of the following statements concerning the electoral college are true:

answer

critics argue that the electoral college is undemocratic, that close election could be decided by a few faithless electors, distorts candidates' campaign strategies, all of the proposed alternatives have problems as well

question

For candidates the goal of the presidential campaigns is to

answer

mobilize their base and entice swing voter to vote for them

question

Swing voters are

answer

people who have not made up their minds at the start of the campaign

question

The procedural character of equality for Americans causes them to argue that equality should be measured as

answer

equality of opportunity

question

Which of the following statements is true regarding political culture and ideology?

answer

political culture unites us whereas political ideology divides us

question

The major disagreement among Americans on the ideological economic dimension is over

answer

how much the government should become involved in modifying the effects of the free market

question

Social conservatives believe

answer

use of government power to encourage and protect traditional family roles

question

In the US, more americans are ideologically

answer

centrists

question

Why do many Americans find it difficult to identify themselves as a conservative or liberal?

answer

because they consider themselves a liberal on some issues and a conservative on others issues

question

LIberterians would oppose the following uses of govt

answer

increasing social equality, managing the economy, reducing immoral behavior, increasing American involvement in spreading democracy around the world

question

the membership of the Republican Party currently includes the following groups

answer

traditional republicans, the religious right, former southern democrats, moderate republicans

question

the religious right believes in ___ whereas traditional republicans believe in ___

answer

more regulation of individuals' lives for the social order, less regulation of individual's lives

question

the American political values that favor individual rights and fair procedures

answer

closely resemble what james madison intended with a "republican government"

question

Who gets what, when and how refers to

answer

politics

question

Social order

answer

a particular view of how we ought to organize and live our collective lives

question

power

answer

the ability to get people to do what you want

question

government

answer

described as a system for exercising authority over a body of people

question

authority

answer

power that is recognized as legitimate

question

Rules/who, what, how?

answer

the how

question

Institutions

answer

organizations where government power is exercised and where political struggle takes place

question

Procedural guarantees

answer

government assurances that the rules will work smoothly and treat everyone fairly, with no promises of particular outcomes

question

Substantive guarantees

answer

government assurances of particular outcomes or results

question

Participatory democracy

answer

theory of democracy that holds that citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives

question

common law tradition

answer

The legal system that is applied uniformly and based on the accumulated rulings of judges over time

question

Stare decisis

answer

latin term that refers to the practice of relying on precedent

question

Adversarial system, the winning side is likely to be

answer

the one with the most skilled attorney

question

Civil law

answer

law that regulates relations between individuals

question

Constitutional provisions

answer

only limitation on what statutes may do in the American system is found in

question

Judicial review

answer

power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of laws

question

What helps determine which court has jurisdiction

answer

involvement of federal statutes, treaties or constitution, how serious an offense is involved, parties to the case, where the case arose

question

Lower court decisions

answer

the SC overturns the lower court's ruling in about 70% of cases, SC has discretion as to whether to accept and appeal, refusal to hear an appeal by SC may mean it agrees with the lower court or that it considers the case frivolous

question

How is the US Court of Appeals arranged?

answer

in twelve circuits cover the DC and states

question

Dual court system

answer

most cases are heard in the state courts

question

Two major roles of members of Congress

answer

lawmaking and representation

question

Constituency

answer

the voters in a district that elect a representative

question

Congressional oversight

answer

a congressional committee's investigation of the executive and of govt agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends

question

Differences between House and Senate

answer

length of terms, size, role in impeachment

question

Checks and Balances Congress can use on Executive branch?

answer

approve treaties, approve presidential appointments to federal courts, congressional oversight

question

Congressional check on judiciary

answer

set up lower federal courts, accept or reject president's noms to courts, legislation that limits judges' discretion in imposing sentences on criminals

question

Why does the leader of the SEnate have less formal authority than the speaker of the house?

answer

majority leaders deals with a smaller chamber and any senator may speak or offer amendments at any time

question

most of the hard work of considering legislative alternatives and drafting legislation occurs

answer

within congressional standing committees

question

Most bills introduced in Congress

answer

die by inaction at the committee stage

question

The legislative agenda is influenced strongly by

answer

the policy proposals of newly elected presidents, well-publicized events that bring a problem to national attention, a member's willingness to invest time and resources in pushing a proposal

question

laissez fiare capitalism

answer

an economic system in which the market makes all decisions and the government plays no role

question

pluralist

answer

a theory of democracy that holds that citizen membership in groups is the key to political power

question

Common Sense

answer

1776 pamphlet by Thomas Paine that persuaded many Americans to support the Revolutionary cause

question

Anti-Federalists

answer

advocates of states' rights who opposed the Constitution

question

confederation

answer

a government in which independent states unite for common purpose, but retain their own sovereignty

question

constitutional convention

answer

the assembly of fifty-five delegates in the summer of 1787 to recast the Articles of Confederation; the result was the U.S. Constitution

question

Federalism

answer

a political system in which power is divided between the central and regional units

question

Federalists

answer

supporters of the Constitution who favored a strong central government

question

Great COmpromise

answer

the constitutional solution to congressional representation: equal votes in the Senate, votes by population in the House

question

Shay's rebellion

answer

a grassroots uprising (1787) by armed Massachusetts farmers protesting foreclosures

question

The Federalist Papers

answer

a series of essays written in support of the Constitution to build support for its ratification

question

3/5 compromise

answer

the formula for counting five slaves as three people for purposes of representation that reconciled northern and southern factions at the Constitutional Convention

question

concurrent powers

answer

powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments

question

Dual Federalism

answer

the federal system under which the national and state governments are responsible for separate policy areas

question

Gibbons v Ogden

answer

Supreme Court ruling (1824) establishing national authority over interstate business

question

McCulloch v Maryland

answer

Supreme Court ruling (1819) confirming the supremacy of national over state government

question

Necessary and Proper Clause

answer

constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers

question

Nullification

answer

declaration by a state that a federal law is void within its borders

question

Supremacy Clause

answer

constitutional declaration (Article VI) that the Constitution and laws made under its provisions are the supreme law of the land

question

Why is government necessary?

answer

Keep the peace (police), common defense (military), establish justice (courts, secure liberty and promote general welfare

question

Legitimate government

answer

must possess authority to compel citizens to pay taxes and obey the law (revenue and coercion)

question

Liberties

answer

what government cannot do

question

Rights

answer

what government must do

question

SEven Year War

answer

Acts/new taxes that eventually led to the American Revolution

question

Mercantilism

answer

economic theory in Europe from 1500-1700s, led to colonizations

question

Sam Adams

answer

organized sons of liberty, committees of correspondences, authored rights of colonists, called fro separation from Britain

question

What did the Boston Tea Party result in?

answer

Intolerable Acts-closed, port, dismantled local govt, criminal trials removed to England, restricted movement, quartering

question

Which colony did not attend First Continental Congress?

answer

Georgia

question

When did the First Continental Congress happen?

answer

Philly/sept 5-Oct 26 1774

question

What happened with the Second Cont. Congress?

answer

INcreased hostility to Britain, appointed washington as CINC, Thomas Paine Common Sense, Richard Henry's resolution

question

What did Richard Henry's resolution do?

answer

Called for independence from Britain

question

Declaration of INdependence

answer

July 4, 1776, Committee of five-Ben Franklin, John Adams, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman, Thomas Jefferson

question

What was the Declaration of Independence based on?

answer

Two treatise of government by John Locke

question

What were problems in articles of confederation?

answer

lack of nationalism, couldn't help economic turmoil lack of strong natl government, no provision for judicial system

question

Shay's rebellion

answer

led to constitution being ratified in 1787-main point being federalism

question

What are the 5 principles of American Government?

answer

Federalism, Social COntract, Limited Government, Separation of Powers, Protect liberties and rights

question

Dred Scot v Sanford

answer

declared Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, congress lacked authority to ban slavery in the territories

question

What did the 13, 14 & 15 amendments do?

answer

prohibited slavery, granted civil and political power to blacks

question

16th amendment

answer

authorized congress to enact a national income tax

question

17th amendment

answer

senators directly elected by the people, removed their selection from state legislators

question

Marble layer cake federalism

answer

Each layer national and state had clearly defined powers

question

Incorporation doctrine precedents

answer

gitlow v new york, near v minnesota,

question

Gitlow v NY

answer

socialist who wanted to overthrow govt does punishing advocacy for overthrowing constitute 1st amendment violation-can forbid if dangerous, clear and present danger

question

Near v Minnesota

answer

published scandal sheet, attacked officials, does gag law violate free press-yes, protection against prior restraint at heart of 1st amendment-state must show overwhelming reason

question

Jeffersons wall of Separation letter

answer

don't mix religion and politics, proper to stay apart

question

Brandenburg v ohio

answer

imminent lawless action-ku klux klan speech in ohio, found for brandenburg-two pronged direct incitement test-imminent &likely

question

symbolic speech/symbols

answer

treated as free speech

question

Tinker vs Des Moines

answer

independent community district 1969-court upheld wearing black armbands vs vietnam war

question

texas v johnson

answer

flag burning

question

us v eichman

answer

invalidated congress' federal flag protection act of 1989

question

what speech is not protected?

answer

hate speech, unpopular speech, speech zones, libel, slander

question

NYT v Sullivan

answer

proved libel/slander

question

Chaplinsky v new hampshire

answer

1942, fighting words

question

What tests regulate obscenity

answer

roth test & miller test

question

US v Miller

answer

shotgun w/ barrell less than two inches, cannot say 2nd amendment guarantees that right

question

DC v Heller

answer

overturned miller, incorporated r2nd amendment right

question

Brady bill

answer

was a five day wait for AR

question

4-8 amendments

answer

rights for criminal defendants

question

Due process

answer

4&14 amendments, arrestees have the right to similar proceedings and protection against unreasonably burdensome govt intrusions

question

4th amendment

answer

right to be secure in their person, houses, paper and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures

question

Probable cause

answer

incident to arrest, plain view, suspects reach, of an accused person, police must know and announce themselves before entering

question

Chandler v Miller

answer

1997-Georgra drug testing person running for office, violated 4th rights, not probable cause

question

5th amendment

answer

no person held to answer for a capital crime unless a grand jury

question

Weeks v US

answer

selling lottery tickets through mail, police search w/o warrant, seizure of items violated rights

question

Mapp v Ohio

answer

1961, obscene materials, police chase found, court said must exclude

question

What is an exception to the search and seizure clause?

answer

evidence obtained w/o intent to violate rights, good faith, inevitable discovery

question

Gideon v Wainwright

answer

1965, requested & was refused attorney

question

Double expectation gap

answer

gap between presidential powers and promises

question

Head of state

answer

apolitical, unifying role of president as symbolic representative of country

question

Head of government

answer

the political role of the president as the leader of party and chief arbiter of who gets what

question

What are the executive powers?

answer

chief administrator-head of federal agencies and responsible for implementation of national policy, appoints cabinet members, commander in chief, chief foreign policy maker, negotiates treaties, makes executive agreements with other countries

question

What legislative powers does the president have?

answer

state of the union, veto, executive orders

question

What judicial powers does the president have?

answer

appointments, pardoning, solicitor general,

question

What precedents did Washington set?

answer

established primacy of national government, held regular meetings with his advisers (cabinet), asserted prominence of chief executive role in foreign affairs, inherent power

question

Andrew Jackson

answer

strong national leader, expansion of voting to all white males, vetoed a lot, reasserted primacy of national government, kept army to a minimum

question

LIncoln

answer

argued inherent powers circumvent constitution in a time of war/crisis, expanded army, ordered southern blockade, emancipation proclamation,

question

William McKinley

answer

used media to connect to base, national campaign, established presidential stronghold in defense and foreign policy, war room, assassinated in 1901

question

Teddy Roosevelt

answer

Panama Canal, negotiated w/ other countries against war, monroe doctrine

question

Woodrow Wilson

answer

people's rep, leadership congress lack in legislation could come from the president, underwood act, federal reserve act, ban on child labor, antitrust

question

FDR

answer

Recovery, New Deal, National govt responds to crisis, took nation off gold standard, allowed budget deficits, created social security, aided allies before America entered WWII, planned United Nations, huge growth in federal bureacracy

question

standing

answer

a party's right to seek redress in court, based on a tangible loss or gain

question

adversarial system

answer

conflicts settled in competitive setting which parties argue their cases before a judge and sometimes a jury, judge is referee

question

Inquisitorial system

answer

conflicts settled in a setting in which a judge had the ability to quiz both sides in order to discover the truth

question

How did the framers treat the judiciary?

answer

left it to congress to design

question

Article 3

answer

Section 1 gave congress authority to establish other courts, section 2 specifies that all federal crimes shall be tried by jury in the state it was committed, section 3 defines treason, two witnesses

question

Why do judges have lifelong tenure?

answer

So they aren't subject to whims of politics, public

question

What are checks on the judiciary?

answer

congress has authority to alter the court's jurisdiction, congress can propose constitutional amendments, impeach and remove judges, president appoints judges

question

Basic three tiered court system

answer

Disrtict courts, circuit court (appeal), supreme court

question

Marbury v Madison

answer

judicial review

question

Party Activists

answer

the "party faithful"; the rank-and-file members who actually carry out the party's electioneering efforts

question

Party Base

answer

members of a political party who consistently vote for that party's candidates

question

Party Discipline

answer

ability of party leaders to bring party members in the legislature into line with the party program

question

Party-in-government

answer

members of the party who have been elected to serve in government

question

Party-in-electorate

answer

ordinary citizens who identify with the party

question

astroturf lobbying

answer

indirect lobbying efforts that manipulate or create public sentiment

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