government test 1

popular sovereignty

people are the source of government power

federalism

in this government system, power is divided between national and state government

seperation of powers

each of the three branches of government has its own responsibilites

checks and balances

each branch of government holds some control over the other two branches

judicial review

courts have power to declare laws and actions of Congress and the president unconstitutional

limited government

the constitution limits the powers of government by making explicit grants of authority

resident alien

an immigrant that has established permanent residence, immigrants are these until they become naturalized citizens

non-resident alien

an immigrant that expects to stay for a short, specific period of time

refugee

an individual fleeing persecution or danger

illegal alien

an immigrant that comes without a legal permit

enemy alien

citizen of a nation with which the U.S. is at war with

immigration act of 1990

act that states that all immigration policy comes from congress, immigrants are restricted to their country of origin, favors people with needed skills, raising caps

jus soli

path to U.S. citizenship

“law of the soil”

born on American soil —> citizenship

jus sanguinis

path to U.S. citizenship

“birth to American parent”

born to an American parent —> citizen

naturalization

path to citizenship

the legal process of becoming a citizen

must be 18+, establish residency, go through investigations/hearings, take English/history/government tests

denaturalization

losing citizenship due to fraud/deception during the naturalization process

if you gained citizenship based on a misrepresented fact that you knew was false

14th amendment

equal protection clause

makes state citizenship an automatic result of national citizenship

no state can enforce laws that strip U.S. rights

5th amendment

equal protection of the law

due process clause

rational basis test

court will uphold a state la if reasonable

suspect classifications

grouping people and creating laws based on race or national origin

proof of intent to discriminate

responsibilities of us citizens

1. be informed

2. voting

3. respect rights and properties of others

4. respect differing ideas from your own

collective naturalization

a large group of people becoming citizens at the same time

expatriation

giving up one’s citizenship to live in another country

dual citizenship

the U.S. does NOT recognize this