Civil Liberties, Congress, Presidency, Interest Groups, and Judiciary: Key Concepts and Landmark Cases

What are civil liberties?

Protections against government interference guaranteed by the Constitution.

What was the original scope of the Bill of Rights?

It applied only to the federal government.

Which amendment allows most civil liberties to apply to the states?

The Fourteenth Amendment.

What is selective incorporation?

The process by which the Supreme Court applies Bill of Rights protections to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

What is procedural due process?

Legal procedures the government must follow, such as fair trials and hearings.

What is substantive due process?

Limits on government actions that infringe on fundamental rights regardless of procedure.

What did Gideon v. Wainwright establish?

The right to an attorney for felony defendants in state courts.

What problem did Gideon v. Wainwright address?

Defendants being forced to represent themselves in serious criminal cases.

What did Miranda v. Arizona require police to do?

Inform suspects of their rights during custodial interrogation.

Why were Miranda warnings created?

To protect suspects from self-incrimination under the Fifth Amendment.

What did Mapp v. Ohio establish?

The exclusionary rule applies to state courts.

What is the exclusionary rule?

Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used at trial.

What freedoms are protected by the First Amendment?

Speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition.

What is the Establishment Clause?

It prevents the government from establishing or endorsing a religion.

What is the Free Exercise Clause?

It protects individuals' rights to practice religion freely.

What did Engel v. Vitale rule?

School-sponsored prayer violates the Establishment Clause.

What is the significance of Tinker v. Des Moines?

Students have free speech rights unless they cause substantial disruption.

What did Katz v. United States establish?

The Fourth Amendment protects people, not places, based on reasonable expectation of privacy.

What is probable cause?

Reasonable belief that a crime has occurred.

What did Terry v. Ohio allow?

Limited stop-and-frisk searches based on reasonable suspicion.

What does bicameralism mean?

A legislature with two chambers.

How is representation different in the House and Senate?

House = seats proportional to population

Senate = two per state, regardless of population.

Which chamber introduces revenue bills?

The House of Representatives.

Which chamber confirms presidential appointments?

The Senate.

What are the constitutional age requirements for Congress?

25 for House members; 30 for Senators.

Where does most legislative work take place?

Committees and subcommittees.

What is the role of the House Rules Committee?

It controls how and when bills are debated in the House.

What is a filibuster?

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote.

What is cloture?

A procedure to end a filibuster with a 60-vote majority.

What is congressional oversight?

Congress's power to monitor and investigate executive agencies.

What is a veto override?

Congress's ability to override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote.

What is incumbency advantage?

Benefits that help current officeholders win reelection.

What is casework?

Assistance members of Congress provide to constituents.

What is gerrymandering?

Redrawing district lines to favor one political party.

Which article of the Constitution outlines presidential powers?

Article II.

What does it mean that the president is Commander in Chief?

The president leads the armed forces.

What is the role of Chief Executive?

Enforcing federal laws.

What is the role of Chief Diplomat?

Managing foreign relations.

What is the Executive Office of the President (EOP)?

Agencies that assist the president in policymaking and administration.

What is the National Security Council (NSC)?

Advises the president on national security and foreign policy.

What is the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)?

Oversees the federal budget and agency spending.

What is the stewardship theory of presidential power?

Presidents may act unless the Constitution forbids it.

What is the Whig theory?

Presidents should only use powers explicitly granted by the Constitution.

What is the War Powers Act?

Limits the president's ability to commit troops without congressional approval.

What does 'going public' mean?

Appealing directly to the public to pressure Congress.

What is the illusion of presidential government?

The belief that the president controls government outcomes despite shared power.

What is an interest group?

An organization that seeks to influence public policy.

How do interest groups differ from political parties?

They do not nominate candidates or run elections.

What is lobbying?

Direct interaction with lawmakers to influence policy.

What is pluralist theory?

The idea that competing interest groups balance power.

What is elitist theory?

The belief that wealthy groups dominate policy outcomes.

What is hyperpluralism?

Too many competing groups causing policy gridlock.

What is inside lobbying?

Direct contact with policymakers.

What is outside lobbying?

Mobilizing public opinion to pressure government officials.

What is an amicus brief?

A document submitted to courts by interest groups to influence decisions.

What is the free rider problem?

People benefit from group efforts without participating.

What is judicial review?

The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Which case established judicial review?

Marbury v. Madison.

What are the three levels of the federal court system?

District courts, courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court.

Why do federal judges have life tenure?

To ensure judicial independence.

What is a writ of certiorari?

An order for a lower court to send a case to the Supreme Court.

What is the Rule of Four?

Four justices must agree to hear a case.

What is stare decisis?

The principle of following precedent.

What is precedent?

A prior court decision used to guide future cases.

What is a majority opinion?

The official decision of the Court.

What is a concurring opinion?

An opinion that agrees with the outcome but not the reasoning.

What is a dissenting opinion?

An opinion that disagrees with the majority decision.

What is judicial activism?

A philosophy favoring broad interpretation of the Constitution.

What is judicial restraint?

A philosophy emphasizing respect to elected branches.

What is judicial legitimacy?

Public trust in the courts' authority and decisions.