American Gov. Final Study Guide

Who is regarded as the Father of the Constitution?

James Madison

Who was the Primary Author of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

Who was the author of the Great Compromise?

Robert Sherman

What was the House of Burgess?

First representative assembly in the new world

What is an act of protest in which business is withheld or refused?

Boycott

Explain the Virginia Plan?

Plan to have Legislature have representation based on the states population

Explain the New Jersey Plan?

Plan that advocated for representation equal regardless of state size

Explain the Great Compromise? What was its other name?

Bicameral system (one based on population, other on equality) made as a compromise for the other two plans

Connecticut Plan

What was the 3/5 Compromise and why was it significant?

3/5ths of a states slaves would count towards their representation in the HoR

What is the name for a two house legislature?

Bicameral

What is a Quorem?

Min. # of members needed to transact business in the HoR or Senate

What is Naturalization?

The process by which a foreign born person gains citizenship

What is ex post facto?

Criminalizes activities that weren't crimes when they were committed or requires harsher punishments than were mandated at the time of the act

What fraction of the states is required to ratify an amendment to the Constitution?

3/4

Which Branch of Government makes laws?

Legislative

Which Branch of Government enforces laws?

Executive

Which Branch of Government interprets laws?

Judicial

What is known as the Modern Militia?

National Guard

What is a Veto?

President’s power to stop a bill based by Congress by refusing to sign it into law

Who is the President of the Senate?

Vice President

Who takes the place as President of the Senate when the President is not there?

President Pro Tempore

What case established Judicial Review?

Marbury v. Madison

What system of government establishes a division between the national and state levels of government?

Federalism

What is the name for the idea that the people are the ultimate source of their government's authority?

Popular Sovereignty

What is the difference between the strict-constructionist and broad-constructionist views of interpreting the Constitution?

Strict - follows whats written + context from the time, no modern interpretation

Broad - Allows modern interpretation of what’s written to adapt to present day

What are the first 3 Articles of the Constitution?

Establishing the 3 branches of government (LEJ)

What is a Categorical Grant?

Grant for specific purposes within state and local governments

What is a Formula Grant?

Grants governed by demographic formulas in a certain area

What is a Project Grant?

Categorical grants that allow national government discretion in deciding how much will be given to a project

What is a Block Grant?

Grants-in-aid that combine several categorical grants under a general umbrella to simplify the use of fund in local gov. But involve fewer regulations

What are Enumerated Powers?

Powers specifically granted to the National government by the constitution (aka expressed powers

What are delegated powers?

Powers specifically assigned to the national government by the Constitution and define authority limits

What are implied powers?

Powers not stated in the Constitution but are needed to exercise enumerated powers

What are the requirements to be a Senator?

• 30 yrs old

• US citizen for no fewer than 9 years

• Be a resident of the state you represent

What are the requirements to be a Represenative?

• 25 years old

• US citizen for no fewer than 7 years

• Be a resident of the state you represent

What are the requirements to be President?

• 35 years old

• Natural born citizen of the US

• Resident for at least 14 years

How long does each Congress last?

2 years

What is the number of total U.S. Representatives?

435

What is the most powerful role in the House of Representatives?

Speaker of the House (usually held by house majority leader)

What is gerrymandering?

Redrawing district lines for the purpose of favoring a particular party

What is a filibuster?

Process by which you present so much to prevent a bill from passing

What may the President do to a bill when it reaches his desk?

1. Sign

2. Veto

3. Ignore (congress in session for 10 days law passes) (if not bill dies aka pocket veto)

Most U.S. Presidents have experience in at least 1 of what 2 areas?

Law/government + Military

What is the difference between a Primary and a caucus?

primary -

Caucus - small gathering discussing what they should vote

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

Open - not required to say party pref, anyone can vote

Closed - have to declare and be registered to a specific party

Where is the first Presidential Primary?

New Hampshire

Where is the first Presidential Caucus?

Iowa

What is Super Tuesday?

Greatest number of US states hold primaries and caucuses on one single day

What is a Party Platform?

A list of all the party’s beliefs/what they will and wont support, released when candidate is elected

What is an executive Order?

a protected order given by the president with the weight and authority of the law without it being a law

What is a Brokered Convention?

When the lead candidate does not receive the majority vote in the first round of voting and other candidates continue to bargain for the nomination

What is a faithless elector?

A member of the electoral college who votes a candidate that doesn’t align with their state’s majority vote

What is Judicial Federalism?

Coexistence of the State and Federal Judicial System (separate but can mix)

What are the levels in the State Judical System?

State Trial Courts → State Appeals Court → State Supreme Court → US Supreme Court

What are the levels in the Federal Judicial System?

US district courts → US Court of Appeals → US Supreme Court

How many Justices serve on the Supreme Court?

9 (8 associate justices + 1 chief justice)

How long is the term for a Supreme Court Justice?

For life

What is a majority opinion?

Paper from the winning side explaining why they voted their way

What is a dissenting opinion?

Paper from the losing side explaining why they voted their way

What is a concurring opinion?

Paper from the majority explaining a different/additional reason for why they voted their way

What is Natural Law?

God’s law revealed through creation

What is Revealed Law?

God’s law revealed through the Bible

What type of cases may the Supreme Court hear according to the constitution?

• constitutional violations

• congressional violation

• treaty violations

• cases involving US ambassadors or consuls

• cases involving crimes committed at sea aboard American vessels

• cases involving crimes committed on federal lands or federal property

• lawsuits between states or citizens of different states

• lawsuits between foreign countries and the United States or an American citizen

What is the difference between a trial jury and a grand jury?

Trial jury hears case (decides innocence or guilty)

Grand Jury hears evidence (decides if there should be a case)