American Government and Politics Practice Flashcards

A comprehensive set of 120 vocabulary flashcards covering the key principles, branches, civil liberties, and required court cases for US Government and Politics.

Natural Rights

Rights you are born with (life, liberty, property)

Popular Sovereignty

Power comes from the people

Limited Government

Government has restricted power

Social Contract

People give up some freedom for protection

Separation of Powers

Government split into $3$ branches

Checks and Balances

Each branch can limit the others

Federalism

Power shared between national & state gov

Republicanism

People elect representatives

Participatory Democracy

People directly involved

Pluralist Democracy

Groups compete for influence

Elite Democracy

Small group holds power

Faction

Group with shared interests

Controlling Factions (Method)

Large republic + representation

Large Republic

A mechanism used to control the effects of factions

Representation

An element used in a large republic to control factions

Articles of Confederation Weakness: Taxes

No power to tax

Articles of Confederation Weakness: Government

Weak central government

Articles of Confederation Weakness: Military

No army

Articles of Confederation Weakness: Trade

No trade control

Constitution Fix

Established a stronger federal gov + powers

Great Compromise

Agreement for a bicameral legislature with $2$ houses

House of Representatives

Part of the Great Compromise representing population

Senate

Part of the Great Compromise providing equal representation for states

Electoral College

Electors choose the president

$3/5$ Compromise

Slaves counted as $3/5$ for representation and taxation

Bill of Rights

First $10$ amendments of the Constitution

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution

Implied Powers

Powers not listed but assumed to exist

$10^{th}$ Amendment

Powers reserved to the states or people

$14^{th}$ Amendment

Provides equal protection and due process

Dual Federalism

System with separate state and national powers

Cooperative Federalism

System where state and national govs work together

Commerce Clause

Power to regulate trade

Necessary & Proper Clause

Allows the federal government to expand its powers

Supremacy Clause

Federal law > state law

House Age Requirement

Minimum age of $25$ yrs

House Citizenship Requirement

Minimum of $7$ yrs citizen

Senate Age Requirement

Minimum age of $30$ yrs

Senate Citizenship Requirement

Minimum of $9$ yrs citizen

Enumerated Power: Tax

A specific power given to Congress in the Constitution

Enumerated Power: War

The power of Congress to declare war

Enumerated Power: Budget

The power of Congress to manage federal spending

Enumerated Power: Naturalization

Congressional power regarding the process of becoming a citizen

Implied Power Example: Bank

Creation of a national bank based on implied powers

Implied Power Example: Minimum Wage

The regulation of wages through constitutional interpretation

Implied Power Example: Oversight

Congressional authority to monitor the executive branch

Standing Committee

Permanent committee type in Congress

Select Committee

Temporary committee created for a specific purpose

Joint Committee

Committee including members from both the House and Senate

Conference Committee

Committee formed to resolve differences in bill versions

Committee of the Whole

A procedural device for more efficient bill consideration

Speaker of the House

Leader of the House chosen by the majority party

Filibuster

Unlimited debate used to delay or block a vote in the Senate

Cloture

A procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote

Cloture Vote Requirement

Requires $60$ votes to stop a filibuster

Discretionary Spending

Spending that is set on a yearly basis

Mandatory Spending

Spending required by law

Pork Barrel

Spending on local projects for a representative's district

Logrolling

The practice of trading votes between legislators

Gerrymandering

Drawing district lines to favor a specific political party

Trustee

Representative who uses their own judgment to make decisions

Delegate

Representative who follows the direct wishes of their voters

Politico

Representative who acts as a mix of both trustee and delegate

Formal Presidential Power: Veto

Constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal

Formal Presidential Power: Commander-in-chief

Constitutional role as the head of the military

Formal Presidential Power: Treaties

Formal power to negotiate agreements with foreign nations

Informal Power: Executive orders

Directives issued by the president that have the force of law

Informal Power: Bully pulpit

The president's use of prestige to guide or enthuse the public

Bureaucracy Role

The institution that implements laws

Merit System

Hiring and promotion system based on skill and ability

Patronage

Hiring and promotion system based on political loyalty

Iron Triangle: Agencies

Bureaucratic component of the Iron Triangle

Iron Triangle: Congress

Legislative component of the Iron Triangle

Iron Triangle: Interest Groups

Advocacy component of the Iron Triangle

Judicial Review

Power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Stare Decisis

The legal principle of following past rulings

Precedent

A past judicial decision that guides current cases

Civil Liberties

Freedoms that protect individuals from government interference

Civil Rights

Protections from discrimination based on group characteristics

First Amendment: Speech

Freedom of expression protected from gov interference

First Amendment: Religion

Protection of religious freedom and practice

First Amendment: Press

Freedom of the media to publish information

Selective Incorporation

The process of applying the Bill of Rights to the states

Due Process

Guarantee of fair legal procedures

Miranda Rule

Requirement that suspects must be told their legal rights

Exclusionary Rule

Rule that illegal evidence must be thrown out of court

Substantive Due Process

Legal principle that protects fundamental rights

Equal Protection Clause

Constitutional requirement to treat everyone equally

Affirmative Action

Policies designed to help disadvantaged groups

Individualism

Ideology valuing self-reliance

Free Enterprise

Ideology favoring limited gov involvement in business

Liberal

Ideology favoring more government involvement

Conservative

Ideology favoring less government involvement

Libertarian

Ideology favoring minimal government involvement

Fiscal Policy

Government policy regarding taxes and spending

Monetary Policy

Government policy regarding money supply and interest rates

Rational Voting

Voting based on individual self-interest

Retrospective Voting

Voting based on a candidate's past performance

Prospective Voting

Voting based on how a candidate will perform in the future

Linkage Institutions

Structures that connect people to the government