Participation in Government Final Review

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Questions and Answers

What is defined as the body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government?

Legislative Branch

Bureaucracy

Constitution (correct)

Checks and Balances

What does Article I define?

power of legislative branch

What is the Legislative Branch?

the branch of government that makes the laws

A bicameral legislature is composed of two legislative bodies.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the House of Representatives?

lower house of Congress based on state population Signup and view all the answers

Who is the Speaker of the House?

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of the Senate?

term-6 years, number of members-100, requirements- must be 30 and a U.S. citizen for 4 years, duties- represent each state Signup and view all the answers

Who presides over the Senate?

President of the Senate Signup and view all the answers

What are Congressional Committees?

Separate committees in Congress for each political party to help members running for reelection or open seats Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a Whip?

a legislator appointed by the party to enforce discipline Signup and view all the answers

What is the Elastic Clause?

the part of the Constitution that permits Congress to make any laws 'necessary and proper' to carry out its powers Signup and view all the answers

Who are incumbents?

those already holding office Signup and view all the answers

What does Article II define?

Executive Branch Signup and view all the answers

What is the Executive Branch?

the branch of the United States government responsible for carrying out the laws Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the President?

the office of the United States head of state Signup and view all the answers

What is the Electoral College?

the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president Signup and view all the answers

What does Commander in Chief refer to?

The officer who holds the supreme command Signup and view all the answers

What is a Cabinet?

persons appointed by a head of state to head executive departments and act as official advisers Signup and view all the answers

What is bureaucracy?

system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials Signup and view all the answers

What are Independent Agencies?

Federal regulatory agencies that are independent of presidential power Signup and view all the answers

What does Article III define?

Judicial Branch Signup and view all the answers

What is the Judicial Branch?

the branch of the United States government responsible for the administration of justice Signup and view all the answers

Who is the Chief Justice?

the judge who presides over a supreme court: no term Signup and view all the answers

What are Justices?

Total of 9 judges that sit on the supreme court Signup and view all the answers

What are Miranda Rights?

Rights possessed by persons who are arrested by the police Signup and view all the answers

What is Plessy vs. Ferguson?

(1896) The Court ruled that segregation was not discriminatory Signup and view all the answers

What is Brown vs. Board of Education?

1954 court decision that declared state laws segregating schools to be unconstitutional Signup and view all the answers

What does the 13th Amendment do?

freed all slaves without compensation to the slaveowners Signup and view all the answers

What does the 14th Amendment declare?

all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws Signup and view all the answers

What does the 15th Amendment state?

citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude Signup and view all the answers

What does the 18th Amendment impose?

Ban on sale, manufacture, and transport of alcoholic beverages Signup and view all the answers

What did the 19th Amendment accomplish?

gave women the right to vote Signup and view all the answers

What does the 21st Amendment do?

Amendment which ended the Prohibition of alcohol in the US Signup and view all the answers

What are Checks and Balances?

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches Signup and view all the answers

What is Federalism?

a system in which power is divided between the national and state governments Signup and view all the answers

What are Delegated Powers?

Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution Signup and view all the answers

What are Reserved Powers?

powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the states Signup and view all the answers

What are Concurrent Powers?

powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments Signup and view all the answers

What are Limiting Powers?

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches Signup and view all the answers

What are Elections?

votes held to decide who the government should be Signup and view all the answers

What are Political Parties?

organization that tries to influence government policy by promoting its ideas and backing candidates for office Signup and view all the answers

What are Third Parties?

electoral contenders other than the two major parties Signup and view all the answers

What are PACs?

Political Action Committees, raise money for candidates &/or parties Signup and view all the answers

What are Special Interests?

Groups that hire lobbyists to influence lawmakers Signup and view all the answers

Who are Moderates?

persons who do not hold extreme political views Signup and view all the answers

What are Democrats?

political party that generally stresses individual liberty, the rights of the common people Signup and view all the answers

Who are Liberals?

supporters of the Democratic Party Signup and view all the answers

What are Republicans?

Political party that believed in the common people, no government aid for business Signup and view all the answers

Who are Conservatives?

supporters of the Republican Party Signup and view all the answers

What is Voting?

to formal expression of choice in some matter Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Constitution & Government Structure

Constitution outlines fundamental laws governing principles, structures, and processes.
Article I establishes the powers of the legislative branch responsible for making laws.
The legislative branch is bicameral, comprised of two bodies: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The House of Representatives functions as the lower house, with representation based on state population.

Key Legislative Roles

The Speaker of the House presides over sessions and is the leader of the majority party.
The Senate consists of 100 members serving six-year terms, requiring a minimum age of 30 and U.S. citizenship for at least four years.
The President of the Senate, the U.S. vice president, acts as its presiding officer.

Congressional Dynamics

Congressional Committees support political parties, focusing on re-election campaigns and candidate challenges.
Whips are appointed legislators responsible for maintaining party discipline.

Constitutional Provisions

The Elastic Clause allows Congress to enact laws deemed "necessary and proper."
Incumbents, those already in office, have a high re-election rate.

Executive Branch Overview

Article II details the structure of the executive branch, responsible for enforcing laws.
The President serves as head of state and is also the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

Electoral Process

The Electoral College formally elects the President and Vice President of the United States.
The Cabinet comprises heads of executive departments, serving as official advisers to the President.

Bureaucracy & Agencies

Bureaucracy represents a system of government management via appointed officials rather than elected ones.
Independent agencies, like the Federal Trade Commission, operate without direct presidential control.

Judicial Branch Insights

Article III outlines the judicial branch, which administers justice in the U.S.
The Supreme Court features nine Justices, including a Chief Justice, who preside indefinitely.

Key Legal Cases & Amendments

Miranda Rights ensure individuals understand their rights when arrested.
Plessy v. Ferguson established the "separate but equal" doctrine, later overturned by Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled school segregation unconstitutional.
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, while the 14th and 15th Amendments guarantee citizenship rights and voting rights regardless of race.
The 18th Amendment enacted Prohibition, later repealed by the 21st Amendment.

Governance Principles

Checks and Balances prevent abuse of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
Federalism divides power between national and state governments.
Powers are categorized as delegated (federal), reserved (state), and concurrent (shared).

Political Processes

Elections determine governmental leadership, relying on public participation.
Political parties influence government policy, with two major parties dominating: Democrats and Republicans.
Third parties exist but rarely succeed in elections due to the dominance of major parties.

Political Ideologies

PACs raise funds to support candidates, while special interest groups aim to sway legislation through lobbying.
Moderates navigate the political spectrum between extreme views, while Democrats and Republicans represent liberal and conservative ideologies, respectively.

Studying That Suits You

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Description

Prepare for your final exam on government participation with these flashcards. Each card covers essential concepts, definitions, and structures outlined in the Constitution and its branches. Test your knowledge on terms such as 'Constitution', 'Legislative Branch', and more.