American Government Chapter 11

Direct Primary

voters choose the political party’s nominees

Broadly control almost all legislative powers within the states

Executive Powers

approving and appointing government officials

Judicial Powers

impeaching judges or other officers

Constituent Power

power to propose constitutional amendments

Speaker

leads the lower house

President of the Senate

usually the lieutenant governor

President Pro Tempore

presides in the president’s absence

Committees

(standing or joint) common within both houses

Justice of the Peace

An untrained legal officer who deals with minor legal problems (traffic violations, disturbances of the peace, etc.)

Magistrate Courts

like the justice of the peace, but a judge or a magistrate leads the court

Municipal Courts

can be divided into smaller courts based on the issue (small claims, traffic, domestic, etc.)

Small Claims

Lawsuits or cases involving relatively small sums of money between citizens

General Trial

State Equivalent of a “district” court

Popular vote

State legislature is usually elected by the _

Legislative Powers

What powers do State Legislators control within the states?

Voice votes and roll-call

What is most commonly used for the lawmaking process?

Initiative

Citizens of the state can be involved in lawmaking through what?

Referendum

the actual bill proposed by the citizen

Judges

who provides over cases in state courts?

Impeachment

the legislative body removes him from his position

Recall

the people vote to remove him

Ex Officio

by virtue of office or position

Item Veto

partially veto an act of the legislature

Clemency

power to issue pardons, reprieve, commute, and parole

Jeanette Nunez

Current Lieutenant Governor

Secretary of State

Oversees elections and state records/documents

Cord Byrd

Current Secretary of State

Attorney General

Chief legal officer of the state; gives legal advice to the governor and other state officials

James Uthmeier

Current Attorney General

Treasurer

guardian of state funds

Auditor

sees that state funds are spent properly

Superintendent of Public Instruction

oversees the operation of the public school system

Upper House

most serve 4 year terms

Lower House

most serve 2 year terms sessions

Baker vs. Carr

gave federal courts jurisdiction in cases involving state apportionment

Reynolds vs. Sims

apportionment in both houses must be based on population

Plurality

What vote does most states require to win the election?

4 year term

most states have the governor serve how long?

Legislative body

Who removes the state executive officers from office in an impeachment?

People

who votes to remove someone from office in a recall?

Executive orders

What power can State Executive Officers issue?

Bicameral

What legislature do most states have?

Unicameral

What legislature does Nebraska have?

Annual

What sessions do most states have?

Biennially

Most states only meet _

Constitution

A written plan which sets up a form of government and establishes its basic governing principles

Fundamental Law

just like the national constitution; the state constitution is each state’s highest law

Massachusetts

currently has the world’s oldest constitution

Preamble

introduction

Bill of Rights

rights of the people or the states

General Provisions

voting, taxes, education, etc.

Revision

a major change

Amendment

minor changes (and these are far more common)

Revision

always done through conventions; voters choose delegates who vote to make changes at conventions

Convention

similar to the constitutional convention; rarely used

Legislative

state legislative body votes to make changes; most commonly used

Initiative

citizens will initiate the amendment to be voted on during an election (referendum)

Law Enforcement

most important state government responsibility

Short

National is considered as what?

Long

State is considered as what?

Charters

Most state constitutions came from revised ___________ ?

Constitution

Massachusetts currently has the world’s oldest _?

Mansion

Many states have a ____ for the governor