US Constitution, Civil Rights, and Government Structure

Flashcards about the US Constitution, civil rights, and government structure.

What is the US Constitution?

An agreement between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, replacing the Articles of Confederation to create a new foundation for the country.

What was the purpose of the US Constitution?

To replace the Articles of Confederation, create a new foundation for the country, correct old issues, and compromise for unification.

What is the US Constitution?

An agreement between Federalists and Anti-Federalists, replacing the Articles of Confederation to create a new foundation for the country.

What was the purpose of the US Constitution?

To replace the Articles of Confederation, create a new foundation for the country, correct old issues, and compromise for unification.

What is the Declaration of Independence?

A formal statement declaring independence from England, explaining why the colonies felt unrepresented.

What were the Articles of Confederation?

The first governing document of the US, which failed to establish a unified government, preserve sovereignty, and provide a framework.

Who were the Federalists?

Supporters of a strong central government who believed the Articles of Confederation lacked authority and unity.

Who were the Anti-Federalists?

Supporters of states' rights and individual liberty who wanted to fix the Articles of Confederation rather than create a new document.

What is the Social Contract Theory?

The idea that rights are given up for the sake of public safety, used to ensure social order and stability.

Name some Enlightenment Thinkers and their ideas.

Locke (Life, Liberty, Property), Rousseau (Social Contract), Montesquieu (Checks and Balances).

What are the four factors that make up a state?

Population, Territory, Sovereignty, and Government.

What are our rights and responsibilities as citizens?

Voting, protection; contributing to politics, national safety, paying taxes.

What is the role of the Executive Branch/Presidency?

Enforces laws, oversees the function of the country, and holds roles such as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.

What are the powers of the President?

Executive Orders, Appointing Officials, Executive Privilege, and Treaties with foreign nations.

How does someone become President of the United States?

Primary competition, debates, and the Electoral College.

What is the role of the Legislative Branch/Congress?

Passes and creates laws, consisting of the House and the Senate.

Who makes up Congress?

Elected representatives who act on behalf of their party and voters.

What are the powers and limits of Congress?

Immunity on speech and action, impeachment, interaction with the President's agenda, and constitutional amendments.

What are the jobs of the Judicial Branch/Court System?

Setting legal precedent, interpreting the law, and settling disputes.

What is the court organization in the US?

District Courts, Court of Appeals, State Supreme Court, and SCOTUS.

Who makes up the Supreme Court of the USA?

Appointed by the President, voted in by Congress, serve for life, and hear the highest law disputes.

Why are Checks and Balances important?

When having a large government there needs to be balances of power. WIth checks and balances it creates equal power in all branches.

What is the Majority Opinion?

Official decision made by most of the judges or justices in a court case.

What is the Concurring Opinion?

Decision written by a judge who agrees with the majority decision but for a different reason.

What is the Dissenting Opinion?

Decision written by a judge who disagrees with the majority decision.

What are the steps in the Bill to Law Process?

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

What does the Supreme Court Voting Process look like?

Case brought, opinions prepared, final vote (4-5, 7-2, 8-1).

What was the goal of the Civil Rights Movement?

Goal of ending racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans.

What are the Key Events of the Civil Rights Movement?

1954 Brown v. Board, 1963 March on Washington, 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Who was Martin Luther King Jr.?

Advocated for nonviolent resistance to combat racial injustice.

What does Letter from Birmingham Jail talk about?

Written while King was imprisoned, defending nonviolent resistance to racism.

What the 19th amendment grant?

Equal Access to Voting rights for all women in the United States

What is Gerrymandering?

Dividing districts to ensure statistical advantages.

What is Disruption Standard?

rule used in schools to decide when a student’s speech/actions can be limited like from the case Tinker v. Des Moines

What is Balancing test?

way courts determine between two competing rights or interests by weighing them against each other

Why are the Bill of Rights important?

Protects our lives from persecution by others, Protected by enlightenment ideals

What is the first amendment?

Right to assembly, religion, press, speech

What is the second amendment?

Gun ownership cannot be restricted

What is the fourth amendment?

Cannot search your person, home, and vehicle without reasonable cause

What is this fifth amendment?

Don’t have to cooperate

What is the seventh amendment?

Jury can sit in on civil suits

What is the eighth amendment?

Must fit the crime

What is the ninth amendment?

Rights not stated in the constitution

What is the fourteenth amendment?

Regardless of race, religion, and sex, etc. Must be treated fairly (Humanly)

What is the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment?

Grants citizenship and ensures equal protection under the law.

What key Supreme Court Cases used the 14th Amendment?

Landmark decisions like Brown v. Board of Education deemed racial segregation in schools unconstitutional.

How does identity relate to politics?

Race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, and culture shaping political views.

What influences political socialization?

Family, peers, education, media, and societal institutions.

How does media work in government?

Channels for disseminating information, news, and political content.

What is bias?

Preference toward a viewpoint influencing information presentation.

What are the levels of government?

Federal, State, and Local.

Supremacy Clause

The Fed. Gov. always wins

Opportunity

Individuals should have the ability to improve their lives and achieve success based on their own efforts and talents and abilities.

What does limited government mean?

Power should be restricted by law to prevent infringement on individual rights.

Why do generations matter in politics?

Collective values, actions, and decisions shaping policies and governance.

What is ideology?

A set of beliefs guiding political opinions and decision-making.

What does liberalism focus on?

Individual rights, social equality, and government intervention.

What does Conservatism focus on?

Tradition, limited government, free-market capitalism

What does Libertarianism focus on?

Individual liberty, minimal government intervention, and free-market principles.

What is federalism?

system of government where power is divided between a central authority and smaller political units, like states or provinces.

What is the supremacy Clause?

a provision in the U.S. Constitution that states federal law takes precedence over state law when there is a conflict.

Martin Luther King advocated for his supporters to follow two things while protesting: 

civil disobedience and peaceful protest

What was the major topic of debate in "Gideon v Wainwright?"

The right to have a lawyer provided

Roe v Wade was an abortion rights case that was upheld by the 14th amendment but was overturned because of which amendment? 

10th amendment

In Engle v Vitale, the voluntary prayer was overturned because it violated what?  

establishment clause

What is gerry mandering?

Drawing district maps in a way that is politically advantageous

 

What was the historical context that allowed women to gain suffrage?

the era of prohibition and women’s service in ww1

What is the balancing test applied by the Supreme Court?

Its applied when there is two rights against to find balance.

What is the disruption standard applied by the Supreme Court? 

The disruption standard is used by the supreme court to determine if what is happening in the schools is disruptive or not.

Which of the following is the correct sequence for a bill to become law?

Introduced in either chamber → Approved by both chambers → Signed by the President

When the president nominates a new judge for the supreme court, he makes sure that they are politically aligned. This is to ensure that the president's agenda will be pushed in the court.

Litmus Test

What is the purpose of a congressional committee? 

To adjust and debate bills before sending it to the general vote

What was the purpose of the Women's Suffrage Movement? What did it accomplish? What did it result in? 

The purpose of the Women's Suffrage Movement was to gain voting rights for white women. It accomplished getting the voting rights for just white women. It resulted in letting the future black women to be able to vote during the civil right movement.

How does the electoral college function? 

States electors are determined by popular votes within the states themselves

Which of the following best describes the President’s role as Commander-in-Chief?  

The President directs the military and makes strategic military decisions.

Which of the following actions demonstrates a check that Congress has on the Executive Branch?

The Senate’s confirmation of federal judges appointed by the President

What is the difference between a loose and strict constitutionalist? 

(Strict)- Direct reading of the constitution (Loose)- Interpretation of the constitution

he President can issue executive orders that have the similar force as laws passed by Congress without any oversight.  

true

The principle of "checks and balances" ensures that no single branch of government can unilaterally create laws, enforce laws, or interpret laws without the involvement of the other branches.

true

How did the Enlightenment influence the US? 

Emphasis on reason, individuality, and contracts with the government

What was the purpose of the AOC?

To provide a framework for government based around state and individual rights

Why did the AOC fail? 

A weak central government with no real abilities

Assume the president has broken the law and is refusing to execute any laws passed by congress? How could the other branches check the executive branch? 

The legislative branch could overrule the president by vetoing with a 3/4 vote. The Judicial branch can review the law to make sure it doesn't violate it.

What impacts did rebellions have on the AOC?

They highlighted the weaknesses of the central government, particularly its inability to maintain order or address economic issues, leading to calls for a stronger federal government.

Why did the founding fathers seek independence from England?

To resist oppressive taxation and lack of representation, and to assert their rights to self-governance

What influence did God have on our government's founding?

It inspired some of the Founding Fathers to include moral and ethical principles in the government framework

Why do checks and balances restrict power?

To ensure that no single branch of government becomes too powerful by allowing each branch to limit the powers of the others.

What does sovereignty mean?

The supreme and absolute authority within a territory, free from external control or interference

Why did the Anti-Federalists push for a Bill of Rights?

The Anti- Federalists pushed for the Bill of Rights because they wanted to insure that the government wouldn't be able to take away everyone's individula rights.