US Government Flashcards

Senate Power Structure

• Majority and minority leaders hold real power in the Senate, based on the number of representatives in each party.

Article II of the Constitution

• Establishes the executive branch, including the President, Vice President, cabinet, and executive officers; executive power is vested in the President.

Supreme Court Jurisdiction

• Has original jurisdiction to resolve conflicts between federal and state laws and controversies between citizens of different states.
• Holds the power of judicial review, allowing it to declare actions of other branches unconstitutional.

Presidential Veto Override

• Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Election Conduct

• Public elections are conducted by state and local governments.

Lobbying Regulation

• Stricter guidelines have been adopted for lobbyists, including the 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act, which expanded definitions of those required to register.

Role of Lobbyists

• Lobbyists provide information to lawmakers, testify on behalf of clients, communicate with reporters, place advertisements, and organize campaigns.

Landmark Supreme Court Cases

• Plessy v. Ferguson established "separate but equal."
• Miranda v. Arizona led to the establishment of Miranda rights.
• Brown v. Board of Education ruled that separate schools are unconstitutional.
• West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette protected students from mandatory recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Congressional Terms

• Senate members serve six-year terms while House of Representatives members serve two-year terms.

Boston Tea Party Initiator

• Samuel Adams was a key figure in initiating the Boston Tea Party.

Supreme Court Justices

• The Supreme Court consists of nine justices, with positions determined by Congress.

New Federalism Promoters

• New Federalism was promoted by Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

Presidential Impeachment

• Two presidents have been impeached: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton.

Vice Presidential Duties

• The Vice President succeeds the President in case of death, resignation, or incapacity and presides over the Senate during ties.

Importance of Supreme Court Opinions

• The assignment of opinions is crucial as it reflects the overall decision of the Court.

Legislative Districts Redistricting

• Redistricting occurs every ten years.

Articles of Confederation Powers

• Congress was given powers including declaring war, making peace, coining money, signing treaties, and managing trade with Native Americans.

Federal Agencies Terminated (1980s)

• Significant numbers of federal agencies and programs were terminated during the presidencies of Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

Voting Easements Reforms

• Election Day Registration, Permanent Absentee Ballots, and Early Voting have been introduced to improve voting access.

Voter Decision Influences

• Family, social groups, and education are key factors influencing voter decisions.

Branches of Government Roles

• Legislative: makes laws.
• Judicial: evaluates laws.
• Executive: enforces laws.

Core American Political Values

• Liberty, equality, and democracy are fundamental values in American politics.

States at Constitutional Convention

• Rhode Island did not send delegates to the Constitutional Convention.

Amendments 13-15

• 13th Amendment abolished slavery.
• 14th Amendment granted citizenship to all born in the U.S.
• 15th Amendment granted voting rights to African Americans.

Voting Participation Differences

• Traditional participation includes voting and protests; online participation includes actions like online petitions.

Impeachment Roles in Congress

• The Senate serves as the sole court for impeachment trials, while the House of Representatives holds the power to impeach.

Bill of Rights

• The first ten amendments to the Constitution ensure various rights and liberties, including freedoms of speech and religion, protection against self-incrimination, the right to a fair trial, and states' powers.

Media Framing

• Framing refers to how media shapes public interpretation and perception of political issues and events.

Patronage Definition

• The power to control appointments to office and offer privileges; often tied to political support.

Referendum Definition

• A general vote by the electorate on a specific political question requiring direct decision.

Unitary Government

• A system where the central government has significant power, with lower levels having little autonomy.

King Caucus Context

• Informal meetings where U.S. congressmen would agree on nominations for President and Vice President, termed "King Caucus."

State of the Union

• An annual message from the President to Congress detailing the country's condition and proposed legislative agenda.

Bill Definition

• A proposed law submitted to either the House of Representatives or the Senate for consideration.

Oligarchy Definition

• A government controlled by a small group, including landowners and wealthy merchants.

Autocracy Definition

• A government form ruled by a single individual.

Lobbying Strategy

• Organized efforts to influence legislation by applying direct pressure on government officials.

Constituent Definition

• A voting member of a community with the power to elect representatives.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

• A legal order requiring a detained individual to be brought before a court; protected by the Constitution.

Class Action Suit Definition

• Legal action initiated by a group on behalf of individuals with shared interests.

Delegate Definition

• A representative who votes according to the preferences of their constituents.

Closed Primary Definition

• A primary election allowing only registered party members to participate in nominating candidates.

Pork-Barrel Legislation

• Appropriations for local projects, often unnecessary, to secure electoral support in home districts.

Internal Mobilization Definition

• Occurs when political conflicts lead government officials and factions to seek popular support.

Proportional Representation

• An electoral system where parties gain seats in proportion to their percentage of total votes.

Conference Committee Role

• A joint committee that resolves disagreements between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Majority System

• An electoral system requiring a candidate to receive a majority of votes to win a seat.

Filibuster Definition

• A tactic in the Senate to delay or prevent legislation by extending debate; requires a 3/5 vote to end.

Open Primary Definition

• A primary election allowing voters to choose which party to enroll in on the day of the election.

Regulated Federalism

• A system where Congress enforces legislation requiring states to meet national standards.

Political Socialization

• The process through which individuals assimilate into political culture and learn political values.

Apportionment Definition

• The process of determining how many representatives each state sends to the House of Representatives based on population.

Niche Journalism Definition

• News reporting targeted at specific segments of the market or audience.

Privatization Definition

• Transitioning public services to private companies, funded by the government.

Delegated Powers Definition

• Powers assigned to one government agency but exercised by another with permission.

Cooperative Federalism

• A collaborative approach between national, state, and local governments to address common issues.

Devolution Definition

• The transfer of authority from a higher level of government to a lower one, such as from federal to state.

Gerrymandering Definition

• Manipulating district boundaries to provide an unfair advantage to a particular group or party.

Priming Definition

• Preparing the public to evaluate politicians or issues using specific criteria.

Electoral College Definition

• A group of electors from each state who cast ballots for President and Vice President after the popular election.

Test your knowledge on key concepts of the U.S. government with these flashcards. From the roles of the Senate leaders to the powers defined in Article II of the Constitution, this quiz covers essential topics that every student should know. Challenge yourself to remember the critical components of the executive branch and Supreme Court jurisdiction.