USA US Constitution and federalism

Edexcel Politics paper 3

What supreme court case protects 1st Amendment rights to flag burning?

Texas v Johnson

What supreme court case overturned state law banning handguns?

DC v Heller

What supreme court case ruled that execution of the intellectually disabled violated the 8th Amendment

Atkins v Virginia

Supreme court decisions protecting 5th and 6th amendment rights, suspects must be informed of their rights against self-incrimination and to have an attorney present during police interrogations

Miranda v Arizona

What supreme court case legalises same-sex marriage by ruling state bans are unconstitutional under the 14th amendment

Obergefell v Hodges

longest government shutdown in US history?

2025, for 43 days

If California was represented on an equal scale to Wyoming, how many electoral college votes would it have?

205

What amendment failed in regards to gender equality and when did it get the support of a 38th state?

The Equal Rights Amendment, only managed to get the support of a 38th state in 2020, long after the approval deadline had passed

What proposed amendment got a majority in the house in 2018 but failed to get a 2/3 majority?

the Balanced Budget Amendment

From 1999-2018 how many attempts were there to pass the Balanced budget amendment?

134

What percentage of the population accounted for the 15 states that refused to ratify the equal rights amendment in 1982?

28%

How many states needed to block an amendment?

13/50

In 2020, Trump’s attempt top remove deportation protections from _________ young, unauthorised immigrants has been declared illegal by Supreme court

650,000

What did Trump do after the Supreme court declared he did not have the power to impose 10% tariffs

He imposed another 10% tariff under a different law, and these remain until the Supreme court makes another judgement

Republicans in congress blocked the ____________ in relation to Iran

War Powers Resolution

What did George W. Bush request in relation to veto powers in 2006 but was rejected?

a line-item veto power

How many posts require Senate approval by a simple majority vote (an example of a check and balance on presidential appointment)

1,200 +

Example of a nomination being withdrawn due to Democrat and Republican opposition

Biden withdrew his nomination of Neera Tanden for director of the Budget office due to past tweets

What treaty did the Senate block in 2012

UN Disability Treaty

Example of a Supreme Court ruling breaking down on party lines in Trump’s first term

Ruling on Trump’s travel ban from 7 Muslim countries, 5 republican-appointed justices sided with Trump

Examples of divisive supreme court justice appointments

• Kavanaugh, with only one democrat voting in favour

• Amy Coney Barrett, no democrats voted in favour

Example of checks and balances encouraging compromise

In order to fulfil his campaign promise to support and promote bipartisanship, Obama signed a deal to extend Bush-era tax cuts in the Tax Relief Act.

Example of bipartisan support for Russia Sanctions

Congress imposed new sanctions on Russia for its meddling in the 2016 presidential election, bill passed 98-2 in Senate and 419-3 In HOR. Faced with the threat of an embarrassing veto override, Trump signed the legislation into law 2017

Example of bipartisan support for a relief bill 2020

Covid relief CARES act, passed 96-0 in Senate and near-unanimous HoR vote.

Cases giving Supreme Court power of judicial review and to overturn state law

Marbury v Madison and Fletcher v Peck

What amendments extended voting rights

19th and 26th

What Supreme Court case left the issue of gerrymandering to the states?

Rucho v Common Cause

What supreme court case ruled it was lawful to move black voters from one congressional district to another

Alexander v South Carolina state conference of the NAACp (2024)