Political Systems Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is constitutionalism primarily concerned with?

Empowering the central government over state governments.

Eliminating all forms of government control.

Ensuring that government has absolute power.

Limiting government power to protect individual rights. (correct)

Which point best describes the Articles of Confederation?

It was the first national constitution that favored a weak central government. (correct)

It aimed to unify state and federal powers into a single authority.

It granted the federal government exclusive rights to all taxation.

It established a strong central government with equal state power.

What is the correct sequence of the process for amending the U.S. Constitution?

Proposal followed by ratification. (correct)

Ratification followed by proposal.

Consensus followed by declaration.

Proposal with no ratification needed.

What distinguishes marble federalism from layer federalism?

Marble federalism promotes a blended approach to authority across different levels of government. Signup and view all the answers

The Connecticut Compromise was significant because it provided for:

A bicameral legislature with mixed representation. Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum number of electoral votes required to elect the President of the United States?

270 electoral votes. Signup and view all the answers

Which is a primary function of political systems?

To manage conflicts and distribute resources. Signup and view all the answers

The Federalist Papers were meant to:

Convince New York citizens to support the Constitution. Signup and view all the answers

How many electors does each state have in the Electoral College?

Equal to the number of its Congressional delegation members Signup and view all the answers

What is the term length for a member of the House of Representatives?

2 years with no term limits Signup and view all the answers

What action signifies the first step in removing an official from their position?

Impeachment by legislative vote Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes a regular session of the Texas Legislature?

Is 140 days long, starting on the second Tuesday in January Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the U.S. House Rules Committee?

To set special rules for how bills can be debated and amended Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinguishing feature of the Senate's terms of office?

Terms last 6 years with staggered elections Signup and view all the answers

How long can a special session of the Texas Legislature last?

No more than 30 days Signup and view all the answers

How often does the entire Texas House face elections?

Every 2 years Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Functions of Political Systems

Political systems provide order and stability within a society.
They allocate scarce resources and power to individual citizens.
Political systems mediate conflict and facilitate cooperation.
They establish a framework for making collective decisions.
They protect individual rights and freedoms.

Requirements of All Political Systems

Legitimacy: The system must be seen as fair and just by its citizens.
Authority: The system needs the power to enforce its rules and decisions.
Capacity: The system must be able to effectively carry out its functions.
Accountability: Citizens must have ways to hold leaders responsible for their actions.
Responsiveness: The system must be responsive to the needs and demands of its citizens.
Stability: The system should be resilient in the face of change and conflict.

Special Requirements for Democracies

Free and Fair Elections: Citizens must have the right to freely choose their leaders.
Rule of Law: Everyone must be equal before the law.
Protection of Individual Rights: Freedom of speech, religion, assembly, etc. must be guaranteed.
Limited Government: The power of the government is restricted by a constitution.

Constitutionalism

The idea that the government's power should be limited by a set of rules outlined in a constitution.
This document protects individual rights and ensures that no one in the government has absolute control.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States after independence from Great Britain.
Emphasized a system of states with weak central governance.

Process of Amending the U.S. and Texas Constitutions

Occurs through two primary stages: proposal and ratification.

Proposal Stage

Amendments can be proposed by a two-thirds vote of both houses of the U.S. Congress.
Amendments can also be proposed by a national convention called by two-thirds of the states.

Ratification Stage

Amendments must be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
Two methods of ratification: by state legislatures or by special state conventions.

Majoritarian and Pluralistic Democracy

A majoritarian democracy emphasizes the majority's will, even if it marginalizes minority opinions.
A pluralistic democracy values diverse viewpoints and encourages participation from numerous groups.

Federalism (and Types)

Divides government power between a central or national government and smaller political units like states or provinces.
Both levels have distinct powers while also sharing certain responsibilities.

Importance of Federalism

Significant for protecting human rights and states' rights.

Types of Federalism

Marble Cake Federalism: Power and programs are mixed between national, state, and local governments.
Layer Cake Federalism: Clear boundaries exist between different levels of government regarding their powers and programs.

Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
Established that each state would have equal representation in the Senate (upper house), while representation in the House of Representatives (lower house) would be based on population.
Ensured all legislation needed the approval of both houses.

Federalist Papers

Series of essays published in 1788 during the ratification process of the US Constitution.
Argued in favor of the new Constitution and its principles.

Electoral College

Process of electing the President of the United States.
There are 538 electors.
A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.
Each state has the same number of electors as it does members in its Congressional delegation: one for each member in the House of Representatives plus two Senators.

Representation

Elected officials act on behalf of their constituents, reflecting their interests and voices in the government.
Key element of democracy.

Requirements (and Terms of Office), Members of Congress and Texas Legislators

U.S. Congress

Two Houses:*
House of Representatives:
- Minimum age: 25 years old.
- Must be a US citizen for at least seven years.
- Must reside in the state and district they represent.
- Term of Office: 2-year terms (no term limits).
Senate:
- Minimum age: 30 years old.
- Must be a US citizen for at least nine years.
- Must reside in the state they represent.
- Term of Office: 6-year terms, with staggered elections. One-third of the Senate is up for election every two years. No term limits.

Texas Legislature

Requirements*:
House of Representatives:
- Minimum age: 21 years old.
- Must be a US citizen and resident of Texas for two years.
- Must reside in the district they represent.
- Term of Office: 2-year terms (no term limits).
Senate:
- Minimum age: 26 years old.
- Must be a US citizen and resident of Texas for five years.
- Must reside in the district they represent.
- Term of Office: 4-year terms (no term limits). Half the seats are up for election every two years.

Impeachments

Definition: A formal process of removing a public official from office through legislative charges.
Past Impeachments:
- Andrew Johnson, President (1868)
- Bill Clinton, President (1998)
- Donald Trump, President (2019, 2021)

Going Public

Political leaders use the media to build support for policies or to attack opponents.

Vetoes and Overrides

Veto: The power of the President or governor to reject a bill passed by the legislature.
Override: The legislature can override a veto with a supermajority vote.

Requirements to Become President and Texas Governor

President

Minimum age: 35 years old.
Must be a natural-born citizen of the United States.
Must have been a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.

Governor

Minimum age: 30 years old.
Must be a U.S. citizen.
Must have been a resident of Texas for at least five years.

Special and Regular Sessions of the Texas Legislature

Regular Session: 140 days long, starting on the second Tuesday in January.
Special Session: Lasts no more than 30 days and is called by the Governor to address specific issues.

Legislative Budget Board

Provides financial and policy advice to the Texas Legislature.
Plays a crucial role in shaping the state budget.

U.S. House Rules Committee

A standing committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Creates rules governing the process of debate, amendment, and consideration of bills within the House.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the U.S. Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill.
Technically, it's an extended speech meant to stall time.

President of the U.S.

The head of state and head of government of the United States.
Holds numerous responsibilities, including:
- Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
- Chief negotiator for foreign policy.
- Appointing federal judges and top officials.
- Vetoing legislation.
- Enforcing the law.
- Overseeing the federal budget.

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Description

This quiz covers the functions and requirements of political systems, focusing on what constitutes legitimacy, authority, capacity, accountability, responsiveness, and stability. It also highlights the unique requirements for democracies, including the importance of free and fair elections.