American Government - Final Exam Study Guide

Representative democracy vs. Direct democracy

Representatives vs. direct citizen participation in decision-making

Purpose of the Bill of Rights

Protect individual liberties from government infringement

Selective incorporation

Applying Bill of Rights to states via the 14th Amendment

Purpose of the Federalist Papers

Promote ratification of the U.S. Constitution

Process for amending the Constitution

Proposal and ratification by states or Congress (2/3 Congress, ¾ States)

Federalism

Division of power between federal and state governments

Purpose of the 10th Amendment

Reserve powers to states not delegated to federal government

Money's effect on federal-local power balance

Influences resources allocation and policy decisions

Devolution

Transfer of power from federal to state governments

Establishment Clause vs. Free Exercise Clause

Separation of church and state vs. freedom of religion

Exclusionary Rule

Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court

1965 Voting Rights Act

Prohibited racial discrimination in voting practices

Political ideology

Beliefs about government's role and policies

Drawback of citizen journalism

Potential lack of accuracy and bias in reporting

Confirmation bias

Tendency to favor information confirming existing beliefs

Main goal of political parties

Win elections and influence government policies

Two-party system

Political system dominated by two major parties

Lobbying

Influencing government decisions through advocacy

Primary election vs. General election

Nominating candidates vs. electing officeholders

Party platform

Set of principles and goals of a political party

Electoral college

Body that elects the U.S. President based on state votes

Incumbents' advantage in elections

Recognition, resources, and experience favoring re-election

Pork barrel legislation

Government spending benefiting specific districts or states

Purpose of redistricting

Adjusting electoral district boundaries for equal representation

Responsibility for redistricting in most states

State legislatures

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries for political advantage

Most powerful leaders in each house of Congress

Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader

Select committee vs. Conference committee

Temporary vs. permanent committees for specific tasks

Filibuster

Tactic to delay or block Senate legislation through extended debate

Reason for appropriation bills starting in the House

Reflects closer connection to the people's interests

Congress overriding a president's veto

Two-thirds majority vote in both houses

Branch declaring laws unconstitutional

Judicial branch, particularly the Supreme Court

Process for impeachment

Charges by House, trial by Senate requiring two-thirds vote

Cabinet

Advisory body to the President, heads of executive departments

Cabinet members' appointment

Nominated by President, confirmed by Senate

Role of the bureaucracy

Implement and administer government policies

Congress oversight of the bureaucracy

Reviewing agency actions, budgets, and programs

Stare decisis

Legal principle of following precedent in court decisions

Supreme Court's original jurisdiction

Cases involving ambassadors, states, or disputes between states

Supreme Court justices' appointment

Nominated by President, confirmed by Senate

Judicial restraint vs. Judicial activism

Limiting vs. expanding the court's role in policymaking

Congress → Bureaucracy

Funding + Political Support

Bureaucracy → Congress

Policy choices + execution

Bureaucracy → Interest Groups

Low regulation and special favors

Interest Groups → Bureaucracy

Congressional support via lobbying

Congress → Interest Groups

Friendly legislation and oversight

Interest Groups → Congress

Electoral support