Summer Gov Final Study

Liberty, democracy, and ____ are the United States' core political values.

equality

Personal and economic freedom are both definitions of

liberty.

According to the textbook, the trend line of Americans' trust in the federal government

rose in the 1990s and peaked in 2002.

The 1960s marks the time when the United States became a

full practicing democracy.

Efficacy is the

belief that citizens can affect government.

Because they understand how politics affects their lives, knowledgeable citizens tend to

be more engaged in politics

A government is made up of the

formal institutions that rule a people

Which of the following wanted to promote political participation for the middle classes?

bourgeoisie

Who gets what, when, and how is a definition of

politics.

The ____ is known for being a republic.

United States

Direct democracy includes all of the following except

advise and consent.

Generally, America's demographics have become ____ elderly and ____ young since the Founding.

more; less

____ has declined in the last 50 years.

Trust in government

A belief in equality of results is

not a part of the U.S. political culture.

____ refers to a system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference

laissez-faire capitalism

Protection from domestic or foreign threats is primarily the responsibility of

the federal government.

Compared to Europeans, Americans are ____ supportive of income redistribution.

less

The people are sovereign in a

democracy

Majority rule, minority rights and equality of opportunity are

democratic principles.

Liberals tend to believe that government should promote ____ and provide ____.

equality; social services

Totalitarianism entails government having unlimited political _____

power

Political equality means that each citizen

has one, and only one, vote.

When members of the polity meet to discuss policy and make decisions, it is known as a

direct democracy.

Representatives make decisions about public policy in

an indirect democracy.

Justices appointed by presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, and George W. Bush have moved the Court in a more ____ direction on issues, including affirmative action and abortion.

conservative

In ____ cases, the government is always the plaintiff.

criminal

In what kind of case does the plaintiff charge that it has suffered because of another's violation of a specific agreement between the two?

contract

Stare decisis is a Latin phrase that means

let the decision stand.

Federal court jurisdiction extends to

federal statutes, treaties, and the U.S. Constitution.

A negotiated agreement in a criminal case in which a defendant agrees to tell the court that he or she is guilty in return for the state's agreement to reduce the severity of the criminal charge or prison sentence the defendant is facing is known as a

plea bargain.

What is the term for a court's sphere of power and authority?

jurisdiction

Which federal judges are appointed for life?

All Article III judges are appointed for life.

Known as the Great Writ, ____ is guaranteed by the Constitution and can

be suspended only in cases of rebellion or invasion.

habeas corpus

The Constitution gives the Supreme Court ____ jurisdiction in cases involving foreign ambassadors and issues in which a state is a party.

original

Each _____ court exercises _____ jurisdiction over cases heard by the district courts within its region.

circuit; appellate

U.S. district court decisions are made by

a single federal judge.

Opinion assignment when he or she is in the majority is an important power of the ____.

chief justice

Because the Supreme Court has so much influence over American law and politics, virtually

all presidents have made an effort to select justices who ____.

share their political philosophies

What is the name for the practice whereby the president, before formally nominating a person for a federal judgeship, seeks the indication that senators from the candidate's own state support the nomination?

senatorial courtesy

Judicial review was established in the case of ____

Marbury v. Madison.

Why does the solicitor general have such a strong influence on the Supreme Court?

The solicitor general screens most cases being appealed by agencies of the federal government and only lets some cases advance.

Justices who disagree with the majority decision of the Court may choose to publicize the character of their disagreement in the form of a

dissenting opinion.

Today, ____ seem to view the courts as useful instruments through which to pursue their goals.

Americans of all political persuasions

Which of the following cases involved the right to privacy?

Griswold v. Connecticut

When is it most likely that presidential powers would increase?

during wartime

Most of the framers of the Constitution opposed choosing the president by way of a direct, popular election. Why did they oppose this method of presidential selection?

It could potentially make the presidency too powerful.

Sections two and three of Article II of the Constitution establish the

presidential powers and duties.

Which of the following is an example of delegated powers?

The Environmental Protection Agency interprets and enforces the air pollution laws enacted by Congress.

What are expressed powers in the Constitution?

the specific powers granted in the Constitution to Congress and to the president

Which of the following is an example of inherent presidential powers?

President Lincoln mobilizing troops at the outbreak of the Civil War

Which of the following American wars was approved of by Congress through a resolution and not a formal declaration of war?

Korean War

President Nixon vetoed the ___________________________, but Congress overrode the veto. Subsequent presidents have tended to ignore this law.

War Powers Resolution

The power to __________________________ can be categorized as a judicial power of the president.

issue pardons

As the leading actor in U.S. foreign policy, the president is known as

head of state.

A treaty requires a two-thirds Senate ratification vote. Presidents often use _______________________ to avoid this challenge to their foreign policy.

executive agreements

A two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate is required to do the following:

override the president's veto

What major public event do modern presidents use to propose new legislation?

the State of the Union Message

Executive orders may be used by the president for which of the following objectives?

to more effectively manage the executive branch and carry out existing laws and policies

The heads of major government departments and agencies collectively make up the

Cabinet

Which first spouse had considerable policy influence while her husband was in office?

Eleanor Roosevelt

Members of the ____________________________ tend to be very close personal and political associates of the president.

White House staff

As a tool for achieving political goals, presidents have found ___________________ to be mostly unreliable.

party members

What is a signing statement?

The president signs legislation while also noting how the new law will be interpreted; the president may also express concerns over particular provisions.

Why was Joe Biden chosen to be the vice presidential nominee on the Democratic ticket under Barack Obama in 2008?

foreign policy experience

Congress is a bicameral legislature, which means that its members are divided between the __________.

House of Representatives and Senate

The House of Representatives is __________ elected by the people.

directly

Pork barrel legislation is a form of _________ in which members of Congress __________.

patronage; secure direct benefits for their districts or states

Sociological representation is important in understanding the U.S. Congress because

the symbolic composition of Congress is important for the authority of the government.

The President Pro Tempore in Senate is _________ the majority and minority leaders.

less powerful than

In Congress, seniority — the length of time one has served in the House or Senate — usually determines

committee chairs.

If a proposed bill does not get voted from the committee to go back to the House or Senate, the bill has ___________ in committee.

died

A two thirds vote in both chambers of Congress is necessary to

override a presidential veto.

If the House and Senate pass different versions of a piece of legislation, the differences will be resolved

in a conference committee.

Historically, the most important arenas of congressional policy making have been

standing committees.

__________ is the formal charge by the House of Representatives that a government official has committed "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

Impeachment

The ____________ Committee in the House of Representatives allots the time for House debate and decides to what extent amendments to the bill can be proposed from the floor.

Rules

Which type of representation occurs when constituents have the power to hire and fire their representatives?

Agency

In the Senate, __________ can be used to "talk a bill to death" unless three-fifths of the Senate vote for __________.

filibuster; cloture

The process of redrawing the boundaries of congressional districts is called

redistricting

In terms of sociological representation, the current Congress

overrepresents certain groups.

Presidential power to make treaties and to appoint top executive officers, ambassadors, and federal judges is subject to

the Senate's advice and consent power.

How can a bill become a law without the signature of the president?

If the House and Senate override the president's veto through a two-thirds majority

The use of the filibuster and cloture in the United States Senate

has increased to record highs.

The Speaker of the House is the

leader of the majority party.

What trend has been observed in the congressional oversight power in recent years?

The power has been used as a tool of partisan politics

Members of Congress are most likely to listen to the interest groups that

are connected to the constituents in the member's district.

Appropriations are the

amount of money, approved by Congress in statutes, that each unit or agency can spend.

According to the authors of your textbook, in recent years, the House has exhibited considerably more intense partisanship and ideological division than the Senate. Why?

Since House members represent more homogeneous districts in which their party is dominant, they are less willing to seek compromise.

Which of the following is an example of a professional association?

American Medical Association

Collective goods are those which are ____________ available and ____________ reasonably be denied to others:

broadly; cannot

We call someone who enjoys the benefit of a collective good without paying the cost

a free rider

Material benefits include all of the following except

helping a good cause.

Which of the following is considered an electoral strategy by the authors of the textbook?

giving money to political parties or to particular candidates

When items are put on the ballot, bypassing the state's legislature, that is known as

an initiative.

Unlike Madison, the authors of the textbook argue that in the realm of group politics, liberty

seems inconsistent with equality.

____________ try to influence elections, while ____________ try to win them.

Interest groups; political parties

Almost all interest groups engage in

lobbying

Members of interest groups tend to be

wealthier

Selective benefits help overcome which problem?

free riders

Which of the following groups would be least likely to appeal to purposive benefits to gain members?

business groups