Gov Final

What is discretionary spending?

Discretionary spending is spending that is determined through the annual budget process.

What is the president's role in executing the nation's laws?

Chief Executive.

What is the bureaucracy?

The bureaucracy is an organization with a clear structure, division of labor, and set rules, typically referring to federal agencies.

What is the legal power of a government to take private property for public use?

Eminent domain.

What is an example of judicial review?

Courts overturning actions or laws they determine unconstitutional.

What system allows each branch to check the powers of the others?

Checks and balances.

What are the formal structures through which decisions are made for a group of people?

Government.

What was Shay's Rebellion?

A test of federal authority under the Articles of Confederation, showing the national government's weakness.

What does limited government according to the Constitution mean?

Government power is restricted by law.

Which amendment in the Bill of Rights primarily protects state powers?

The 10th Amendment.

What is the doctrine that states could nullify national laws conflicting with their interests?

Doctrine of Nullification.

Who is the ultimate source of political authority in a democracy?

The citizens.

What is a progressive tax?

A progressive tax is one where the more you make, the more you pay.

What is an economic system where people and businesses make their own choices with limited government interference?

Free enterprise.

What is a decision-making system where the candidate with the most votes wins?

Majority rule.

What theory states that the king is answerable only to God?

Divine right of kings.

What is a political community with a defined territory?

State.

What policy cannot be overridden by states because federal law supersedes it?

Supremacy Clause.

Which branch of government is responsible for establishing justice?

Judicial Branch.

Who wrote about life, liberty, and property as natural rights?

John Locke.

What is the supreme power of a state to act within its territory?

Sovereignty.

What is an example of eminent domain?

Adding an access road to a highway.

What is bipartisan support?

Bipartisan support means both major political parties support an idea or policy.

What is a formal instruction directing executive officials on how to carry out their duties?

Executive order.

How does the government demonstrate its power when a policy is passed by Congress, signed by the president, and upheld by the courts?

It demonstrates government power.

What was Parliament's first direct tax on the colonies?

The Stamp Act.

What was the Second Continental Congress?

A meeting of the colonies organized in opposition to Britain.

What is the ability of people to act and think freely, as long as they do not harm others?

Liberty.

What is an act of clemency that releases a convicted criminal from serving a sentence?

Pardon.

What is an example of the government maintaining order?

Increasing police presence at a major event.

What is the process by which the government makes and enforces decisions about whose interests are served?

Politics.

Who has the power of judicial review?

The courts.

What does the separation of powers mean?

Government duties are divided among different branches.

What is a federal grant that must be used for a specific purpose?

Categorical grant.

What system divides power between the national government and state governments?

Federalism.

What is a regressive tax?

A tax in which the percentage paid decreases as income increases.

What powers does the president have over the military?

The president serves as Commander in Chief and can direct military operations.

What is one way we interact with other nations in foreign policy?

Diplomacy.

What is a financial instrument in which a borrower repays money plus interest later?

A bond.

How long is one term in the Senate?

6 years.

What is an example of Congress exercising implied powers?

Establishing a national bank.

What is an official order to appear before Congress or provide evidence?

A subpoena.

What best illustrates diplomatic recognition in U.S. foreign policy?

The president formally acknowledged another government as legitimate.

What are a nation's plans and procedures for dealing with other countries?

Foreign policy.

What is a proportional tax?

A tax in which everyone pays the same percentage.

What are powers that belong to the states because the Constitution neither delegates them to the federal government nor prohibits them to the states?

Reserved powers.

What is an act of clemency that grants a group of offenders a general pardon?

Amnesty.

What does the title 'Commander in Chief' refer to when it pertains to the president?

The president's authority over the military.

What is the Council of Economic Advisers?

A group within the Executive Office that provides the president with expert economic analysis.

What powers are held by both the state and national governments at the same time?

Concurrent powers.

How long is one term in the House of Representatives?

2 years.

Which congressional power allows oversight of federal agencies to ensure laws are implemented correctly?

Oversight.

What is the total amount of money the government has borrowed and not repaid?

Federal debt.

What is gerrymandering?

Redrawing district lines to favor one political party.

What protects the citizens of the United States from a tyrannical government?

Separation of powers (also supported by the Bill of Rights).

What are the requirements for the office of President of the United States?

35 years old, natural-born citizen, 14 years in the U.S., 4-year terms, two-term max.

What is the 'spoils system'?

Awarding government jobs to political supporters.

Who breaks a tie in the Senate?

The Vice President.

What is the principle that allows Congress to deny funding to a presidential project?

Checks and balances.

What is the maximum number of terms a president can serve in office?

Two terms.

What are powers that naturally belong to all sovereign nations?

Inherent powers.