Lecture Notes: US Government, Federalism, and Texas Constitution

A comprehensive set of Q&A flashcards covering American political ideals, core constitutional developments, federalism, key Supreme Court cases, and Texas-specific constitutional features described in the lecture notes.

What are the four major ideals guiding Americans?

Liberty, equality, individualism, and self-governance.

Liberty in a negative sense means freedom from what?

Freedom from oppression and persecution (freedom from oppression).

What does equality mean in the context of liberty under the rule of law?

Equality under the rule of law; equal rights before the law.

What is individualism as described in the notes?

The aspiration to be self-sufficient, have initiative, and stand on one's own feet.

What is self-governance?

The inherent American belief that the people, the governed, call the shots and decide how governing works.

What line in the Declaration of Independence expresses its core rights?

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

According to the Declaration, what is the purpose of government?

To protect these inalienable rights; if government abuses rights, the people have the right to revolution.

How is political culture defined in the notes?

The deep-seated beliefs of a people that bind them together.

From where did the Enlightenment ideas largely emerge that influence American politics?

From the Enlightenment (philosophical movement influencing American thought).

Who is a key figure associated with social contract theory mentioned in the notes?

John Locke, English political theorist.

What rights are highlighted as inherent in the state of nature according to Locke?

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

What is the social contract theory about?

Power comes from voluntary agreements among people to form government to protect their rights.

What was the central idea of the Articles of Confederation regarding legislative power?

Legislative supremacy; strong legislature with weak executive and judicial branches.

What event exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and spurred a new Constitution?

Shays' Rebellion.

What were the Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan proposing for Congress?

Virginia Plan: strong national government and bicameral representation by population; New Jersey Plan: unicameral with equal representation for states.

What was the Great Compromise?

A bicameral Congress: Senate with equal representation and House based on population.

What did the Three-Fifths Compromise decide?

Slaves were counted as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxation.

How is the President chosen according to the framers' plan?

By the Electoral College; electors allocated by state (equal to the sum of House members and Senators).

What are the four aims of the founders for the national government?

Strong, limited, federal, and representative.

What do grants and denials do in constraining government power?

Grants authorize powers; denials restrict powers; both support separation of powers and checks and balances.

What are the core roles of Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court in checks and balances?

Congress makes laws and budgets and confirms judicial appointments; the President appoints justices; the Supreme Court can strike unconstitutional laws or executive actions.

What is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy, as discussed?

Direct democracy: citizens make laws directly; representative democracy: citizens elect representatives to make laws.

What is a republic, in the founders’ view?

A system that restricts majority power through institutional and constitutional limits to prevent tyranny of the majority.

Which president argued that the president represents the whole nation, not just state interests?

Andrew Jackson.

What did the Seventeenth Amendment establish?

Direct election of U.S. Senators by the people (instead of state legislatures).

What term describes the United States as a constitutional democratic republic?

A system where the Constitution is the highest law, democracy allows majority influence, and a republic safeguards minority rights through checks and balances.

What is federalism?

Division of power between national and state governments, with a tension and interaction between the two levels.

What was McCulloch v. Maryland about and why is it significant?

Upheld the national government's power to create a national bank and established national supremacy over state law, reinforcing implied powers.

What did the Fourteenth Amendment aim to protect, and how did Plessy v. Ferguson relate to it?

The Fourteenth Amendment protects due process and equal protection; Plessy v. Ferguson established the 'separate but equal' doctrine enabling segregation (later overturned).

What is cooperative federalism?

A framework where national and state governments work together on programs (e.g., Medicaid).

What is fiscal federalism?

The use of federal funds and grants to influence state policies and programs.

What was Reagan’s New Federalism trying to achieve?

To cut back federal programs and return power to states; limited success in practice.

What is TANF and what did it replace?

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; a block grant replacing Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC).

What does the Full Faith and Credit Clause require?

Legal decisions and records from one state must be recognized by other states.

What was DOMA and how did Obergefell v. Hodges change it?

DOMA defined marriage for federal purposes as between a man and a woman; Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

What is the Texas plural executive concept?

Texas voters elect multiple executive offices (governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, etc.) except the secretary of state.

What is the 1876 Texas Constitution known for?

A conservative, restrictive constitution that limits centralized power and empowers local governments (the carpetbagger constitution).

What are the ideal characteristics of a good constitution, and how does Texas compare?

Brief, broad, and clear; Texas constitution tends to be lengthy and detailed, leading to inflexibility and frequent amendments.

How are amendments to the Texas constitution typically made, and what challenges exist?

Amendments require two-thirds in both chambers and a majority vote by the public; Texas lacks initiative, and turnout is often low, especially in odd years, with complex language deterring voters.

Why is amendment by piecemeal difficult in Texas?

Long-term political culture of resisting federal or centralized interference and preference for conservative governance makes drastic changes unlikely.