U.S. Government and Politics Comprehensive Review

These flashcards cover the key standards, Supreme Court cases, and constitutional principles found in the U.S. Government and Politics transcript.

What are the three natural rights identified by John Locke and referenced in the Declaration of Independence?

Life, liberty, and property (pursuit of happiness in the Declaration).

What principle asserts that the government’s right to rule comes from the people?

Popular sovereignty.

How is a republic defined in the context of American government?

A deliberative, slow-moving representative democracy where the people elect Congress and the President, but powers are limited by a Bill of Rights.

What is the ‘Social Contract’ theory?

The idea that people give up absolute freedom in return for security provided by government, while retaining their natural rights.

What form of democracy emphasizes broad participation in politics and civil society?

Participatory democracy.

What type of democracy recognizes group-based activism by nongovernmental interests to impact decision-making?

Pluralist democracy.

In Federalist $10$, what did James Madison argue was the best way to control the negative effects of factions?

A large republic ($‘Extend the sphere’$) where many competing factions prevent any one from gaining a majority.

What was the primary argument of Brutus $I$ concerning the size of a republic?

A small confederation of republics better protects liberty because localized government can meet specific local needs and hold leaders accountable.

Under the Articles of Confederation, the government was unable to provide federal soldiers to stop which event?

Shays’ Rebellion.

What was the result of the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention?

The creation of a bicameral Congress with the House of Representatives based on proportional representation and the Senate based on equal representation.

What is the purpose of the Three-Fifths Compromise?

Slaves would count as ${3}/{5}$ of a person for calculating population for representation and taxation.

What Supreme Court case established that the power to create a national bank is implied by the enumerated power to collect taxes?

$$ext{McCulloch v. Maryland}$$

Under the $10 ext{th}$ Amendment, what are ‘Reserved Powers’?

Powers not delegated to the federal government, such as marriage, elections, licenses, and schools ($ext{MELS}$).

What was the ruling in ext{US v. Lopez (1995)}?

The Federal Gun Free School Zones Act of $1990$ was ruled unconstitutional because it exceeded Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause.

What are the age requirements for the House of Representatives and the Senate?

The House requires a minimum age of $25$, and the Senate requires a minimum age of $30$.

Which house of Congress was originally chosen indirectly by state legislatures?

The Senate (until the $17 ext{th}$ Amendment).

What is the function of a ‘Discharge Petition’ in the House of Representatives?

A vote used by a majority to free a bill that has been ‘pigeonholed’ (stuck) in a committee.

What is ‘Cloture’ and how many votes does it require in the Senate?

A motion to end a filibuster, which requires a ${3}/{5}$ majority or $60$ votes.

What Supreme Court case established the principle of ‘One person, one vote’ by allowing federal challenges to redistricting?

ext{Baker v. Carr (1962)}

According to ext{Shaw v. Reno (1993)}, when can redistricting be challenged under the Equal Protection Clause?

When districts are ‘bizarrely shaped’ and drawn solely based on race.

What is the difference between mandatory and discretionary spending in the federal budget?

Mandatory spending (${2}/{3}$) is required by law (e.g., Social Security), while discretionary spending (${1}/{3}$) is debated each fiscal year.

What are ‘Signing Statements’ used for by the President?

To inform Congress and the public of the president’s interpretation of laws, often flagging provisions they believe are unconstitutional.

What did the War Powers Resolution of $1973$ require of the President?

The President must notify Congress within $48$ hours of deploying troops and bring them home within $60$ days unless Congress authorizes military force.

What principle was established by ext{Marbury v. Madison (1803)}?

Judicial Review, empowering the Supreme Court to nullify acts of the legislative or executive branch that violate the Constitution.

What was Alexander Hamilton’s argument in Federalist $78$ regarding the judicial branch?

Judges should have life terms to ensure independence, and the judiciary is the ‘weakest branch’ because it possesses neither the ‘sword’ nor the ‘purse.’

What does the term ‘Stare decisis’ mean?

‘Stand on the decision,’ meaning judges should follow existing precedents for steady administration of laws.

How does the Establishment Clause differ from the Free Exercise Clause?

The Establishment Clause prevents the government from endorsing a religion ($ext{Engel v. Vitale}$), while the Free Exercise Clause prohibits interference with religious practices ($ext{Wisconsin v. Yoder}$).

What was the ruling in ext{Schenck v. US (1919)}?

Speech presenting a ‘clear and present danger’ to the government is not protected by the $1 ext{st}$ Amendment.

What did the Supreme Court rule in ext{New York Times v. US (1971)}?

There is a ‘heavy presumption’ against prior restraint (government censorship), even in cases of national security.

What is the process of ‘Selective Incorporation’?

The case-by-case process of applying the Bill of Rights to state governments through the $14 ext{th}$ Amendment’s Due Process Clause.

Which case incorporated the $2 ext{nd}$ Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms to the states?

ext{McDonald v. Chicago (2010)}

What is the ‘Exclusionary Rule’?

The principle that evidence obtained illegally without a warrant cannot be used in a criminal prosecution.

What did ext{Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)} guarantee?

The right to an attorney for the poor or indigent.

What is the ‘Undue Burden’ test from ext{Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)}?

A standard that allows abortion regulations as long as they do not place a ‘substantial obstacle’ on women seeking the procedure.

Which Supreme Court case ruled that race-based school segregation violated the Equal Protection Clause?

ext{Brown v. Board of Education (1954)}

What is the ‘Iron Triangle’ in public policy?

The long-standing relationship between special interest groups, congressional standing committees, and bureaucratic agencies.

How do Keynesian and Supply-side economics differ?

Keynesian economics favors government spending to stimulate demand, while Supply-side economics favors tax cuts to stimulate investment and job creation.

What is the difference between a ‘Retrospective’ and ‘Prospective’ voting model?

Retrospective voting looks at the candidate’s past performance, while prospective voting is based on predictions of how they will perform in the future.

What was the core ruling in ext{Citizens United v. FEC (2010)}?

Political spending by corporations and unions is protected speech under the $1 ext{st}$ Amendment, leading to the creation of Super-PACs.

What is ‘Horse-Race Journalism’?

Media coverage that focuses excessively on polling results and popularity rather than candidate qualifications or issue platforms.