U.S. Government Final Exam Topics Guide

Declaration of Independence

Main ideas of the document asserting the colonies' desire for freedom from British rule.

Natural rights

Rights built into the natural order that exist prior to government.

A long train of abuses and usurpations

A list demonstrating an established pattern of tyranny; the longest portion of the Declaration of Independence.

Right of revolution

The belief that people have the right/duty to alter or abolish a government that violates their natural rights.

Got Grievances?

A phrase indicating the colonists' complaints against British rule.

Join, Or Die

A political cartoon created by Benjamin Franklin urging colonies to unite in common defense.

Salutary neglect

An unofficial British policy of relaxed enforcement of laws in American colonies.

French and Indian War

A conflict where Britain defeated France, gaining Canada and territory east of the Mississippi River.

Stamp Act

The first direct tax on American colonies that led to major protests.

Magna Carta

A document that established limited government and due process under English law.

Declaratory Act

An act enacted on the day the Stamp Act was repealed to assert Parliamentary authority.

Townshend Acts

A series of acts imposing taxes on imported goods.

Quartering Act

An act allowing British officials to require private residences to house British soldiers.

Boston Massacre

An incident where British soldiers killed 5 colonists during a confrontation.

Tea Act

An act allowing the British East India Company to sell tea directly to colonial buyers.

Sons of Liberty

A secret society of anti-British protesters who organized boycotts and intimidated tax collectors.

Boston Tea Party

A protest where colonists dumped British tea into Boston Harbor.

Intolerable Acts

British laws passed in response to the Boston Tea Party, directed at Massachusetts.

First Continental Congress

A meeting of colonial representatives to respond to the Intolerable Acts.

Lexington and Concord

Locations of the first skirmishes of the American Revolution.

Common Sense

An influential pamphlet by Thomas Paine that mobilized support for independence.

Second Continental Congress

A meeting where the Declaration of Independence was made and George Washington was appointed commander.

Unalienable right

A right that cannot be taken away by the government or anyone else.

Popular sovereignty

The principle that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed.

Social contract

An agreement where people trade some natural rights for increased security from their government.

We the people...

A phrase embodying the principle of popular sovereignty.

Rule of law

A principle that maintains the government follows agreed-upon rules rather than changing them arbitrarily.

Constitutionalism

where a government's powers are defined and limited before they do anything

Higher law and natural rights

talking about individuals' inherent rights that the government cannot infringe upon.

Representation and the right to vote

state constitution ideas on representation and republican values (elect representatives in our place to make decisions)

Legislative supremacy

The concept that the legislative branch holds the most power, often seen in early state constitutions. This was meant to prevent executive overreach, but sometimes led to legislative dominance.

Checks and balances

refer to the way most state constitutions allocate legislative powers. For example, the Supreme Court can overturn laws that don't seem unconstitutional.

Articles of Confederation

1st constitution, that was 1 branch of government legislative, no ability to tax

Structure of government

Branches of Government are there

Achievements of government under A. of C.

The success of the Revolutionary War, Executive departments that can administer finance and foreign affairs, The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 created the North Territory and a plan for its government.

Weaknesses of A. of C.

No power to install or force taxes, No power to force the agreement made with foreign nations or countries, No power to make laws about trade among the states, No power to make laws about the behavior of the citizens.

Shays' Rebellion

The national government lacked the power to tax at all, and states were not obligated to contribute funds.

435 Representatives

are allocated proportionally to states according to population to the 50 states. They are assigned to the 50 states based on each state's population.

100 Senators

allocated equally to states (2 per). There are 100 senators in total, and each 50 state gets 2.

Speaker of the House

is the title of the presiding officer in the House of Representatives

Powers of the House of Representatives

They can make and start taxes, they can impeach federal officials like the President, and they can choose the President.

President of the Senate

The Vice President is the president of the Senate and they can break a tie vote.

Bill → law

True. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate must pass a bill in the same form for it to become a law.

Presidential veto

override with a ⅔ vote in BOTH chambers

Earmarks

These are when the members of Congress add spending for specific projects for their district or a bill.

Subpoena

They can be held in contempt of Congress, which can lead to fines or jail.

Treaty ratification

2/3 of senators must vote in favor to ratify a treaty.

Presidential qualifications

The qualifications are that you must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, be at least 35 years old, and have been a U.S. resident for 14 years.

Oath of office

Have to swear the Oath of Office before they enter. 'I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.'

Commander in chief

The Constitution makes the president the Commander in Chief of the United States' Army and Navy.

Treaty making powers

The President has the authority to negotiate and sign treaties, while the Senate can ratify them with a two-thirds majority vote.

Appointment powers

The president has the power, with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors.

Impeachment and removal grounds

Conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Supreme Court

The highest court established by the constitution.

Congressional power

To create additional, lower federal courts (lower than the Supreme Court).

Lifetime tenure

Supreme Court justices serve life terms ('during good behavior').

Original jurisdiction vs. appellate jurisdiction

Original jurisdiction is Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public ministers and counsels while appellate courts/jurisdiction is both as law and fact.

Trial by jury

All criminal trials (except the impeachment).

Trial location

Must be held in the state where the crimes were committed.

Treason - definition of...

It is when someone makes war against the U.S. or helps its enemies.

Deliberative body purpose

The purpose of a deliberative body is to organize or assemble, whose purpose is to discuss, debate, and make decisions on matters of public importance after careful thinking and reasoned argument.

Congress's bicameral structure

Helps it fulfill its role as a deliberative body by providing different perspectives, creating a system of internal checks and balances, and ensuring that legislation is reviewed and debated.

Enumerated Powers

Specific powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution in Article I, Section 8.

Necessary and proper clause

Describes Congress's constitutional powers in detail and allows Congress to make laws necessary to carry out its explicitly stated powers.

Number of electors for each state

Total number of Representatives (based on population) + Total number of Senators (always 2).

Lifetime appointment benefits

Helps keep politics out of judicial rulings by removing the need to please voters or political parties, allowing focus on constitutional interpretation without political pressure, and providing independence from the other branches of government.

Veto power

The president shares legislative power through a veto, which can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress.

Nomination Power

The president must nominate officials and judges, and the Senate has the power to approve or disapprove the persons nominated.

Treaty Negotiation

The President has the authority to negotiate treaties with other nations, but these treaties must be approved by a two-thirds vote in the Senate.

War Declaration Power

Only Congress has the power to declare war, even though the President is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

Impeachment Power

Article I gives Congress the power to impeach the president, a member of the executive branch, and federal judges, requiring a 2/3 Senate majority for conviction.

Judicial Review

The Constitution does not explicitly state that the Supreme Court has the authority to determine the constitutionality of acts passed by Congress.

Engagement

Engagement refers to how a country can engage in foreign engagements.

Isolationism

Isolationism refers to how a country isolates itself to focus on its own country's affairs.

Idealism

Idealism posits that reality is fundamentally mental or constructed from ideas.

Realism

Realism holds that reality exists independently of our minds.

Unilateralism

Unilateralism is when a country decides to act alone in engaging with governments about what to achieve.

Multilateralism

Multilateralism explores the approaches governments should take to accomplish a country's foreign policy goals, particularly regarding collaboration with others.

Xi Jinping's Formative Experiences

Xi's early life and experiences, including his family's political background and his time spent in rural areas, have significantly influenced his leadership style and policies.

Mao Zedong's Impact

Mao's era had a profound impact on China's political landscape and the Communist Party's ideology, which continues to shape Xi's governance.

U.S.-China Trade War

The ongoing economic conflict has escalated tensions between the two countries, affecting global trade dynamics and China's economic strategies.

South China Sea Disputes

China's assertive claims over the South China Sea have led to conflicts with several neighboring countries and heightened military tensions in the region.

Hong Kong Protests

Recent events in Hong Kong, including protests and the implementation of the national security law, reflect Xi's approach to governance and the central government's policies on sovereignty and control.

Taiwan Relations

The situation with Taiwan remains a critical issue for Xi, as he seeks to assert China's claims over the island, leading to increased military posturing and diplomatic tensions with the U.S. and allies.

Congressional Powers

Congress has the authority to pass treaties, control international trade, fund the military and aid, declare war, and oversee foreign policy.

Presidential Powers

The President has the authority to sign executive agreements, designate ambassadors, negotiate treaties, acknowledge foreign governments, and act as Commander in Chief of the military.

Tension in Foreign Policy

Tension happens because both the President and Congress want control over foreign policy.

Evolution of Power Balance

The balance of foreign policy shifted from mainly being run by Congress to being mainly run by the White House.

War Powers Resolution of 1973

It was made to limit the President's power to send troops into war without Congress's knowledge, requiring the President to inform Congress within 48 hours and get approval if troops stay more than 60 days.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

A legal order that requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court.

Bill of Attainder

A legislative act that singles out an individual or group for punishment without a trial.

Ex Post Facto Law

A law that makes an act illegal retroactively, thereby punishing individuals for actions that were legal when performed.

Trade Matters

Issues related to the exchange of goods and services between countries.

Titles of Nobility

Formal titles that denote a person's rank or status in a hierarchical system, often hereditary.