U.S. Government and Civics Review

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering political theories, constitutional powers, historical conventions, amendments, and federalism concepts from the lecture notes.

Elite Theory

Group of Elites control power while other citizens have little to NO influence.

Pluralist Theory

Competing interest groups influence the gov & hold political power.

Bureaucratic Theory

Government employees control gov.

Unitary Executive Theory

Pres. controls gov. Departments.

Current Cabinet Positions

Secretary of Defense: Hegseth; Secretary of State: Rubio; Secretary of Treasury: Bessent; Attorney General: Blanche; Health & Human services: Kennedy.

Representative (Legislative) Roles & Requirements

2 year term, 25+ yrs old, 7 yrs a citizen, live in state repped; recommend tax bills to become law, decide if gov official should be put on trial before Senate.

Senate Roles & Requirements

6 yr term, 30+ yrs old, 9 yrs citizen; vote on Pres's treaties, review & approve Pres appointees (e.g. Cabinet & Supreme Court Justices), hold trial for gov officials.

Article I

Constitutional article establishing a bicameral legislature.

Article II

Constitutional article establishing the US pres.

Article III

Constitutional article establishing the Supreme Court.

Enumerated Powers

Powers Constitution grants national gov power explicitly.

Reserved Powers

Powers NOT granted to the fed gov reserved to states.

Flaws of Articles of Confederation

Couldn't enforce taxes, each state had own currency, no central army/navy, state militias, no central judicial branch, individual international trade deals, 13/13 states to amend, 9/13 to change laws, couldn't pay debts, no executive branch, one vote per state, hard to get delegates to show up.

Philadelphia Convention

1786: Revise Articles of Confed. 1787: Second convention where 5 states sent delegates and scrapped Articles altogether (Madison).

3/5 Clause

Clause addressing South retaining slaves for representation, agriculture & taxes; Congress banned importation of slaves after 1807.

First Continental Congress (1774)

Response to Intolerable Acts; 8/11 loyal.

Second Continental Congress (1775)

Grievances to King, established Continental Army, June 10th drafted Declaration of Independence, July 2nd 1776 Lee Resolution to Indep, July 4th 1776 Signed.

Supremacy Clause (Article VI, Clause 2)

States US Constit., fed laws & treaties made by US are the 'supreme law of the land'.

Federalists

Favored ratification of Constitution (Hamilton, Jay, Madison wrote the Federalist Papers).

Anti-Federalists

Opposed strong central Gov; wanted Bill of Rights (Henry, Mason, Adams).

Georgia vs. US Constitution Differences

Georgia voters must approve amendments, requires balanced budget, Governor line-item veto, elects judges on non-partisan ballots, Senate & Rep both serve 2yr terms.

Federalism

Form of gov in which different levels of gov act relatively autonomously & have the power to act directly on people within their jurisdictions.

Dual Federalism

Political arrangement in which national gov & state gov act with distinct areas of jurisdiction.

Cooperative Federalism

Fed. gov expanded its power in several areas including economic regulation, civil rights, etc.

New Federalism

Belief state & local gov can more efficiently spend money on programs than Fed Gov.

Concurrent Powers

Powers held by both federal and state levels: taxes, borrow, budget & spend, create courts, create & enforce laws.