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Declaration of Independence

Signed in 1776 by US revolutionaries; it declared the United States as a free state. Covers natural rights, popular sovereignty, and social contract

Articles of Confederation

the first constitution of the United States, weak federal gov't, states were sovereign and had one vote

US Constitution

Document ratified in 1787, covers the separation of powers, federalism, and included the Bill of Rights when ratified.

Federalist 10

composed by James Madison, argues that liberty is safest in a large republic because of factions. Argues a republic would work best to control the effects of factions.

Federalist 51

Separation of powers & checks & balances protects against tyranny, limited gov't, Congress has most power

Federalist 70

Alexander Hamilton argues for a strong, energetic unitary executive, argues Congress should act slow while executive needs to act fast

Federalist 78

Judiciary branch isn't too powerful because it can't tax, enforce or create laws and rulings, or bring the nation to war

Brutus 1

Argues it is impossible to have a Large republic and have a stable government. Federal government would become tyrannical over the states

Letter from Birmingham Jail

A letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. after he had been arrested when he took part in a nonviolent march against segregation. Demanded ideals of the Constitutio n and Declaration of Independence be applied.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

This case established the principle of judicial review, empowering the Supreme Court to nullify an act of the legislative or executive branch that violates the Constitution.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

This case established supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws.

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Speech creating a "clear and present danger" is not protected by the First Amendment.

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Race-based school segregation violates the equal protection clause

Baker v. Carr (1962)

This case opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and the development of the "one person, one vote" doctrine by ruling that challenges to redistricting did not raise "political questions" that would keep federal courts from reviewing such challenges.

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

School sponsorship of religious activities violates the establishment clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

This case guaranteed the right to an attorney for the poor or indigent in a state felony case.

Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Public school students have the right to wear black armbands in school to protest the Vietnam War.

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

This case bolstered the freedom of the press, establishing a "heavy presumption against prior 11 restraint" even in cases involving national security.

Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)

Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause.

Roe v. Wade

This case extended the right of privacy to a woman's decision to have an abortion.

U.S. v. Lopez (1995)

Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Majority-minority districts, created under the Voting Rights Act of 1965, may be constitutionally challenged by voters if race is the only factor used in creating the district.

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment

McDonald v. Chicago (2010)

The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms for self-defense is applicable to the states.

Direct Democracy

A form of government in which citizens rule directly and not through representatives

Representative Democracy

a form of democracy in which citizens elect officials to govern on their behalf

Republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

Ideal Democracy

equality in voting, effective participation, enlightened understanding, citizen control of the agenda, inclusion

participatory democracy

orm of government in which citizens participate individually and directly in political decisions and policies that affect their lives, rather than through elected representatives

pluralist democracy

citizen membership in groups is the key to political power

elite democracy

A political system in which the privileged classes acquire the power to decide by a competition for the people's votes and have substantial freedom between elections to rule as they see fit.

Great Compromise

Compromise made by Constitutional Convention in which states would have equal representation in one house of the legislature and representation based on population in the other house

Election compromise

Set up the Electoral College--citizens vote for electors that then vote for the President and Vice President

Preamble to the Constitution

Introduction to the U.S. Constitution, establishing the goals and purposes of government

Goals of the Preamble

To form a more perfect Union

To establish Justice

To insure domestic Tranquility

To provide for the common defence

To promote the general Welfare

To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity

Article I

Covers the Legislative Branch

Article II

Establishes the Executive Branch

Article III

Establishes the Judicial Branch

Article IV

Relations among states

Article V

Amendment process

Article VI

Establishes the Supremacy Clause

Article VII

Ratification of the Constitution

Necessary and Proper Clause

Congress can create any law deemed necessary or proper

Commerce Clause

Clause stating that Congress can regulate interstate and international commerce.

War Powers Clause

States that congress has the power to declare war

Impeachment process

1. House passes articles of impeachment by majority

2. Senate tries and 2/3 must convict

Amendment Process

The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.

6 principles of the Constitution

1. Popular Sovereignty

2. Limited Government

3. Separation of Powers

4. Checks and Balances

5. Judicial Review

6. Federalism

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments

Federalism

a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states

Enumerated power

power specifically given Congress in the Constitution

Reserved power

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people

Concurrent power

power shared by the states and federal government

Dual federalism

A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.

Cooperative federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly.

New federalism

system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states

Executive Order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

Roles of the President

Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Chief Legislator, Party Chief, Chief Guardian

Appointment Powers

The authority vested in the president to fill a government office or position. Positions filled by presidential appointment include those in the executive branch and the federal judiciary, commissioned officers in the armed forces, and members of the independent regulatory commissions.

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Pocket veto

an indirect veto of a legislative bill by the president or a governor by retaining the bill unsigned until it is too late for it to be dealt with during the legislative session.

pardon

A declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment

amnesty

a pardon to a group of people

cabinet

A group of advisers to the president.

Independent Executive Agencies

governmental units that closely resemble a Cabinet department but have narrower areas of responsibility and perform services rather than regulatory functions (ex. CIA, NASA, EPA)

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Independent agencies created by Congress to regulate important aspects of the nation's economy. Commissioners appointed by President but not removable except "for cause" (to protect independence). Most independent and least accountable part of the federal bureaucracy. (FDA, SEC, FTC)

Government corporations

businesses established by Congress to perform functions that private businesses could provide (USPS, PBS)

Bureaucracy

a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Federal Bureaucracy Functions

Implementation, administration, and regulation

Iron Triangle

The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests.

issue networks

complex systems of relationships among groups that influence policy, including elected leaders, interest groups, specialists, consultants, and research institutes

trustee view

Congress votes based on their own views, or is based on the public good, not necessarily on the views of the constituents

instructed delegate view

Members of Congress should behave like their constituents want

partisan view

vote with your party

politico model

Members of Congress act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue

congressional oversight

Power used by Congress to gather information useful for the formation of legislation, review the operations and budgets of executive departments and independent regulatory agencies, conduct investigations through committee hearings, and bring to the public's attention the need for public policy

expressed powers of congress

Powers stated in the Constitution; powers to collect taxes, establish army, establish postal system, make laws, and declare war

implied powers of congress

Powers not specifically written in the Constitution.

appropriation bills

bills that involve spending money; these must begin in the House of Representatives

debt ceiling

an explicit, legislated limit on the amount of outstanding national debt

standing committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

joint committee

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

sub-committees

Division of existing committee that is formed to address specific issues

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

An agency of Congress that analyzes presidential budget recommendations and estimates the cost of proposed legislation.

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

A federal legislative agency that audits (investigates) other agencies of the federal government and reports its findings to Congress (makes sure they are not spending more money than the government has appropriated for them).

Congressional Research Service (CRS)

Created in 1914, the non-partisan CRS provides information, studies, and research in support of the work of Congress, and prepares summaries and tracks the progress of all bill.

Power of the purse

Constitutional power given to the House to raise and spend money

Speaker of the House

An office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.

17th Amendment

Direct election of senators