American Government Test #3

Federal Bureaucracy

An administrative group of non-elected officials charged with carrying out functions connected to a series of policies and programs.

Spoils System

Political appointments handed out by presidents based on party loyalty or connections in the early 1800s.

Political Patronage

Government positions used to reward individuals for their political support.

Pendleton Act

An 1883 act that stopped political patronage and reformed the system to make jobs competitive.

Bureaucratic Organizations

The four types are Cabinet departments, Independent executive agencies, Regulatory agencies, and Government corporations.

Department of State

Deals with foreign policy and international issues.

Department of Treasury

Manages currency, debt, and collects taxes.

Department of Defense

Oversees U.S. armed forces.

Department of Veteran Affairs

Oversees services provided to veterans.

Department of Justice

Oversees the enforcement of laws, public safety, and crime prevention.

Department of Homeland Security

Responsible for public security, anti-terrorism, border control, immigration, and disaster management.

Independent Executive Agencies

Non-political agencies assigned to focused tasks, such as NASA, CIA, and EPA.

Government Corporations

Firms formed by the federal government to administer a quasi-business enterprise, like the U.S. Postal Service.

Oversight of Federal Bureaucracies

Confers with Congress or the legislative branch.

Pay Schedule

A chart showing the salary ranges for different levels of positions in the federal government.

Judicial Branch

The third branch of government that interprets laws and has the final word in legal matters.

Double Jeopardy

Protection against being tried for the same crime twice.

Adversarial System

A legal system where two parties present their cases before an impartial judge or jury.

Litigants

People engaged in a lawsuit.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear cases for the first time.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The power of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.

Dual Court System

A system where courts exist at both the national and state levels.

State Courts

Courts responsible for a large area of law including criminal and civil matters.

Federal Courts

Courts that handle cases where the U.S. is a party.

Criminal Cases

Cases dealing with crimes such as murder and robbery.

Felony

A more serious crime resulting in 1 year or more of prison time.

Civil Cases

Cases involving disputes between private parties.

Misdemeanors

Less serious crimes typically punishable by less than 1 year of prison.

Supreme Court

The highest court made up of 8 associate justices and 1 chief justice.

Chief Justice

The highest-ranked justice in the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court Cases Heard Annually

The Supreme Court hears less than 100 cases a year.

Accepting a Case in the Supreme Court

At least 4 of the 9 justices must vote to accept a case.

Discretion

The right of the Supreme Court to decide which cases it will hear.

Judicial Opinions

Must be supported by a majority of 5 out of 9 justices.

Dissenting Opinion

The opinion of justices who disagree with the court's majority decision.

Concurring Opinion

An agreement with the majority opinion but with different stipulations.

Civil Liberties

Limits on government power and guarantees of individual rights.

Civil Rights

Guarantees that government officials will treat people equally and protect against discrimination.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution that protect the rights of citizens.

1st Amendment

Protects freedom of speech, religion, press, and petition.

2nd Amendment

The right to bear arms.

3rd Amendment

The right not to house soldiers.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

5th Amendment

Guarantees the right not to testify against oneself.

6th Amendment

The right to a speedy trial by an impartial jury.

7th Amendment

The right to a jury trial in civil cases.

8th Amendment

Prohibits excessive bail, excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.

9th Amendment

Affirms that rights retained by the people are not limited to those enumerated in the Constitution.

10th Amendment

States' rights to powers not specifically delegated to the federal government.

Civil War Amendments

13th Amendment abolished slavery, 14th guaranteed equal protection, and 15th provided voting rights to black males.

Suffrage

The right to vote.