Final Review

Aristotle

First students of government.

Features of a state

Territory, population, government, and sovereignty.

Unitary Government

Power mainly lies with the central government.

Federal Government

Power distributed among states and central government.

Autocracy

A system of government where one individual rules.

Oligarchy

A system where a small group rules.

Democracy

A system of government where power is vested in the people.

Confederacy

A loose union of independent states.

Politics

Effort to influence or control policies.

Direct Democracy

Citizens directly participate in the decision-making process.

Representative Democracy

Citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Communism

An economic system where the central government directs all major economic decisions.

Socialism

An economic system where the government owns the basic means of production and provides basic services.

Capitalism

An economic system promoting free choice and individual incentive.

Constitution

A plan for government.

Adam Smith

Philosopher known for his ideas on capitalism.

John Locke

Philosopher associated with the 'Two Treatises of Government'.

Mayflower Compact

Signed by pilgrims for self-rule.

House of Burgesses

First legislative body in British Colonial America.

Shay’s Rebellion

An event that led many Americans to want a central government.

Magna Carta

Demonstrated that the king was not above the law.

Articles of Confederation

America’s first formal Constitution.

James Madison

Known as the Father of the Constitution.

Federalists

Supporters of a strong central government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of a strong central government.

Congress

Created by Article I to be the voice of the people.

Enumerated Powers / judicial review

This elevated the Supreme Court to higher status Balancing the power of the two other branches

Executive Agreement

Agreement between heads of government.

Congress can override a veto by a two-thirds vote in both houses.

how to override veto

Constitutional Amendments

How the Constitution grows.

 two-thirds of both houses of Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution Then must be ratified by three-quarters of the states

How to overturn a Supreme Court Decision

Extradition

Hand over a person accused of a crime to the jurisdiction where the crime was committed.

Interstate Compact

An agreement between states.

Nationalists

Groups favoring a strong federal government.

Bicameral Legislature

A two-house legislative system.

Qualifications for the House

25 years old; 7-year citizen; must live in the state.

Qualifications for the Senate

30 years old; 9-year citizen; must live in state.

Qualifications for the President

35 years old; natural born citizen; lived 14 years in the US.

Majority Party

Controls the standing committees of each house.

Constituents

Citizens represented by legislators.

Speaker of the House

Presiding officer of the House.

Vice President/President Pro Temp

Presiding officers of the Senate.

Cloture

Procedure to stop a filibuster, limiting debate to 30 hours.

Strict Constructionism

Interpreting the Constitution literally.

Loose Constructionism

Allows for broader interpretation of the Constitution.

Perjury

Lying under oath.

Legislative Oversight

The power of Congress to investigate and supervise legislative functions.

Gridlock

What can checks and balances do that isn’t good

Subpoena

Commands a person to testify in court.

Republicans

Tend to vote in favor of business interests.

Public Opinion Political parties Interest groups and lobbyists

Can significantly influence the president and Congress.

PACs

Groups raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates.

Caseworker

Congressional staffers who help constituents with problems.

Public Bill

A bill that affects the public generally.

Private Bill

A bill that affects a specified individual or entity.

Lobbyists

Individuals hired to influence legislative actions.

Democrats

Tend to vote in favor of social welfare programs.

Succession for the presidency (Top 5)

1. VP 2. Speaker of the House 3. President Pro Temp 4. Secretary of State 5. Secretary of the Treasury.

10 years

Total number of years a person can be president 

Cabinet

Group chosen for advice in experienced selected areas.

President

Commander of the National Armed Forces.

State of the Union Message

Annual address given by the President to Congress.

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Administers the Presidential Oath of Office.

National Security Council (NSC)

Group that advises the president on military and foreign policy.

Chief of Staff, National Security Advisor, VP

Inner circle advisor to the president.

Ronald Reagan

President known as the Great Communicator.

Mandate

Formal order given by a higher authority.

Executive Privilege

Right of the president to refuse to testify before Congress.

Amnesty

A group pardon.

US vs Nixon

Court case ruling that President does not have executive privilege from subpoenas.

Department of State

In charge of foreign policy.

Spoils System

Rewarding followers with government jobs.

Hatch Act

Limits federal employees' involvement in election campaigns.

Embassies

Office of Ambassadors in foreign countries.

Department of the Interior

Helps protect public lands.

Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883

Created today's civil service system.