Quiz: C963 study guide

What was a key transformation during the Age of Enlightenment in Europe?

A shift from religious absolutism to equality and liberty

What did John Locke argue regarding natural rights in his work 'Two Treatises of Government'?

Individuals have rights to life, liberty, and property

What did Montesquieu recommend regarding political power in society?

Separation of legislative, executive, and judicial powers

According to the social contract theory, what is the basis of government?

Consent of the citizens

What fundamental right did Thomas Hobbes believe people needed from government?

Physical security

Which philosopher's ideas are primarily expressed in the Declaration of Independence?

John Locke

What is one of the main weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Unanimous consent required for amendments

How does the Constitution address the separation of powers?

By dividing government into three branches

What does the Bill of Rights primarily protect?

Individual liberties and natural rights

What was the main purpose of the Great Compromise during the drafting of the U.S. Constitution?

To balance representation between large and small states

What are the three main principles established by the U.S. Constitution?

Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Federal System

What was the general purpose of the Federalist Papers?

To promote the ratification of the U.S. Constitution

What is the main role of the Legislative Branch in the U.S. government?

To make laws

What are the three types of congressional powers?

Enumerated, implied, and inherent powers

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause, and how does it relate to implied powers?

It allows Congress to create laws beyond those explicitly stated in the Constitution

Which chamber of Congress must any bill that deals with raising revenue begin?

House of Representatives

What is the veto power, and how does it exemplify checks and balances?

The President's ability to reject legislation from Congress

What is the purpose of the Interstate Commerce Clause?

To regulate trade and commerce between states

What is the current term limit for the president of the United States?

Two terms (eight years)

Which branch of government is responsible for sentencing convicted criminals to prison?

Judicial branch

What is the primary difference between a treaty and an executive agreement?

A treaty requires Senate approval, while an executive agreement does not.

What does the term 'stare decisis' refer to in the context of the judicial system?

The principle of following precedents in legal decisions.

How many justices currently serve on the Supreme Court?

Nine justices

What is the significance of the Tenth Amendment?

It reserves powers to the states

What is the Supremacy Clause?

Federal law prevails over state law

According to Gibbons v. Ogden, which level of government has the sole authority to regulate licenses of steamboats operating between New York and New Jersey?

Federal government

What is the term used to describe the advantages that incumbents have in an election?

Incumbency effect

What are the two phases of the presidential election process?

Primary elections and general election

True or False: The power to nominate presidential candidates belongs to political parties.

True

What is the difference between an open primary and a closed primary

Open primary allows all voters; closed primary restricts to party members

What is a caucus?

A meeting of party members to discuss and vote on candidates

What is the total number of Electors nationwide who vote for President and Vice President?

538

What is a contingent election?

When no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes

Which chamber of Congress chooses the Vice President if no candidate receives a majority of electoral votes?

The Senate

What defines a public interest group?

An organization that advocates for the general public's interests

What type of interest group is the National Rifle Association (NRA)?

A private interest group

What is the primary function of Political Action Committees (PACs)?

To raise and distribute funds to support political candidates

What was the Supreme Court's decision in Buckley v. Valeo?

It ruled that spending money to influence elections is protected free speech

What is a Super PAC?

A political action committee that can raise unlimited funds independently

What did the Voting Rights Act achieve?

It prohibited literacy tests and protected minority voting rights

What does the term VAP stand for in the context of voter behavior?

Voting Age Population

What is one of the strongest predictors of voting turnout?

Level of education

What is retrospective voting?

Voting based on past performance

What is the main purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

To eliminate discrimination in various areas

What is pocketbook voting?

Voting based on personal economic interests

What is the highest level of scrutiny that the Court applies when a fundamental right is violated?

Strict Scrutiny

In which type of scrutiny must the government demonstrate a good reason for engaging in discrimination?

Intermediate Scrutiny

What type of scrutiny would be applied to a law that bans interracial marriage?

Strict Scrutiny

What does the Fourth Amendment protect against?

Unreasonable search and seizure

What is the exclusionary rule as it relates to the Fourth Amendment?

It prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in court.

Which of the following is NOT a right protected by the Sixth Amendment?

Right to an impartial jury

What did the Supreme Court decide in Gideon v. Wainwright?

States must provide an attorney to defendants who cannot afford one.

What is the main purpose of the Eighth Amendment?

To protect against cruel and unusual punishments.

What are the three parts of the Lemon Test used to evaluate government actions regarding the Establishment Clause?

Laws must be Secular, Neutral, No Excessive Entanglement.

What was the main reason Sherbert was denied unemployment benefits in Shebert v. Verner?

She could not work on Saturdays due to her religious beliefs.

What two criteria must a law meet if it burdens the exercise of religion, according to the Supreme Court?

Demonstrate a compelling interest and be the only feasible way to achieve that goal.

In the case of Tinker v. Des Moines, what was the Supreme Court's ruling regarding students wearing black armbands?

The students' right to wear armbands was protected as symbolic speech.

What did the Supreme Court decide in Texas v. Johnson regarding flag burning?

Burning the American flag is protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment.

What did the Citizens United ruling allow independent organizations to do?

Accept and spend contributions from corporations and unions

What was the purpose of Jim Crow laws?

To enforce racial segregation and disenfranchise African Americans

Which amendment and clause did the Supreme Court cite in the Brown v. Board of Education decision?

The Fourteenth Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause

What was the unanimous decision in Obergefell v. Hodges?

Same-sex marriage is a constitutional right under the Fourteenth Amendment

What was the significance of the 19th amendment ratified in 1920?

It granted women the right to vote.

What was the importance of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention in New York?

It was the first women's rights convention in the U.S.

What constitutional amendment was used to establish the right to privacy in Griswold v. Connecticut?

The 9th amendment.

What was the outcome of the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case?

The constitutional protection of the right to have an abortion was removed.

What is the meaning of the term 'framing' in media?

It is how media presents information and shapes public perception.

What is the meaning of the term 'agenda setting'?

The process by which media influences public perception of issues

What is pack journalism?

A situation where journalists follow each other in reporting

What is the Equal Time Rule?

A regulation requiring equal airtime for political candidates

What is political socialization?

The process of developing political beliefs and values

What is meant by the term 'political spectrum'?

A classification of political ideologies along a continuum

How do conservative and liberal political ideologies generally vary with age?

Younger voters tend to be more liberal, while older voters are more conservative.

What is the bandwagon effect in voting?

The tendency to support a candidate because others are doing so.

Why is the Supreme Court less affected by public opinion compared to Congress or the President?

Justices serve lifetime appointments, allowing them to be independent of public opinion.

How do conservative and liberal ideologies vary based on sex and gender identity?

Women generally lean more liberal, while men tend to be more conservative.