US Government PDF

Commerce Clause: - The clause in the constitution that gives congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations Necessary and proper clause: - Clause in the constitution setting forth the implied powers of congres...

Commerce Clause: - The clause in the constitution that gives congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations Necessary and proper clause: - Clause in the constitution setting forth the implied powers of congress. It states that congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the constitution vests in the national government Supremacy clause: - Article 6 of the constitution, which makes the constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national government is acting within its constitutional limits Dual sovereignty: - Describes the relationship in the U.S between the people and the government Federalism: - A form of government in which power is divided between the federal or national government and the states The constitution: - A document which spells out the principles by which a government runs and the fundamental laws that govern a society Senate: - The Senate is composed of 100 Senators, 2 for each state. Until the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913, Senators were chosen by state legislatures, not by popular vote. Since then, they have been elected to six-year terms by the people of each state. Senators' terms are staggered so that about one-third of the Senate is up for reelection every two years. Senators must be 30 years of age, U.S. citizens for at least nine years, and residents of the state they represent. House of Representatives: - A Representative is elected by only those eligible voters residing in the congressional district that the candidate will represent. The lower legislative house of the United States Congress, 435 members, # varies per state; depends on the population of said state; must be 25 years old, a US citizen for at least 7 years, and a resident of their state Executive Branch Elections: - The Vice President is elected along with the President by the Electoral College. Each elector casts one vote for President and another for Vice President. Judicial Branch Appointed: - Where the executive and legislative branches are elected by the people, members of the Judicial Branch are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Judicial Review: - review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional validity of a legislative act. Reserved powers:  - powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the states (from the tenth amendment) Concurrent powers: - Powers held jointly by the national and state governments. First Step in the Election Process: - Candidates from the two main political parties the Democrats and the Republicans begin their campaign trails. They set up their team and start "going on tour" around the country to rally for support and to fundraise for their campaigns. Second Step in the Election Process: - Candidates from both parties participate in televised debates. During the debates each candidate will have to answer tough questions about their policies as well as defend their stance on issues and policies against other candidates. Third Step in the Election Process: - Primaries and Caucuses Primary: - A ballot vote in which citizens select a party's nominee for the general election. Caucuses: - meetings of party leaders to determine party policy or to choose the party's candidates for public office Fourth Step in the Election Process: - National Convention to decide on two party leaders Fifth Step in the Election Process: - voters vote in the general election for their favorite candidate, but they are actually only voting for their electoral college which makes the final decision Hard Money: - Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed. Soft Money: - Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities. Amount of Electors: - 538 Congressional districts: - 435 districts, total pop/districts = ideal size of each district, X. then look at each state's population, divide the population by X, which gives you the number of congressional districts the state is allowed President: - Head of the Executive Branch Vice President:  - President of the Senate Cabinet: - Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president. Oversight of Bureaucracy: - Both Congress and the president exercise direct oversight over the bureaucracy by holding hearings, making appointments, and setting budget allowances. Constitutional powers: - Powers of the president granted explicitly by the Constitution. Inherent Powers: - powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it Delegated Powers: - powers granted by Congress to help the president fulfill his duties Criminal case: - a case in which a defendant is tried for committing a crime as defined by the law Misdemeanor: - (n.) a crime or offense that is less serious than a felony; any minor misbehavior or misconduct. Normally a fine or short jail time Felony: - a crime, typically one involving violence, regarded as more serious than a misdemeanor, and usually punishable by imprisonment for more than one year or by death. Civil case: - A case involving a noncriminal matter such as a contract dispute or a claim of patent infringement Contract law: - Law that refers to agreements between individuals and entities that are binding Tort law: - Involving an act that brings harm to a person or damage to property Public law: - law dealing with the relationship between government and individuals Governor: - the head of a state government, but many share their powers with other members of executive office; lots of Presidents started out as governors, and governors are also Chief Ambassadors of their state State Legislature: - almost always part-time workers; mirrors the federal government's structure and is the most powerful branch of state government, but they stay in session less than normal Congress Tax base: - the total amount of income, property, assets, consumption, transactions, or other economic activity subject to taxation by a tax authority Millage Rate: - A tax rate stated in tenths of a cent. For example, a millage rate of 150 mills on property assessed at $100,000 would result in a property tax of $1,500 ($100,000 x.150). Also need to know the percentage of asset value once that is given you multiply all numbers together to get an answer. Home Rule: - power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs Majority Leader: - the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate Majority Whip: - the majority leader's assistant who rallies members in support/opposition to bills coming up for vote Minority Whip: - the minority leader's assistant; tries to get party members to vote with party leaders President Pro Tempore: - Officer of the Senate elected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president Speaker of the House: - the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives Standing Committee: - A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area Select Committee: - A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose. CARES Act: - Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act created by Boe Jiden: lord of Stinky Feet Filibuster: - A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue. Requirement for president: - 35 years old, 14 year resident of US, natural born citizen Privatization: - To change from government or public ownership or control to private ownership Jurisdiction: - the official power to make legal decisions and judgments, and the authority of a court to hear a case. Prosecution: - party who starts the legal proceedings against another party for a violation of the law Defendant: - an individual or group being sued or charged with a crime Mootness: - A criterion used by courts to avoid hearing cases that no longer require resolution Appellate Courts: - Courts hearing cases appealed from a lower court; there are 12 circuits Lower Courts: - Sometimes called inferior courts, in reference to the hierarchy. These courts receive their authority and resources from local county or municipal governments. Chief Justice: - Head of the Judicial branch at the NATIONAL level Gerrymandering: - Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.