Government 2305 Exam #2 Study Guide

Voting Rights Act - 1965

Allowed African American men to vote in elections as well

Power of Boycotts

peaceful way to make a statement that usually works

Civil Rights

The government-protected rights of individuals against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by governments or individuals

Civil War Amendments

13th amendment: bans slavery

14th amendment: guarantees equal protection and due process of the law to all U.S. citizens

15th amendment: specifically enfranchised newly freed male slaves

Plessy v. Ferguson

Case that challenged a Louisiana Statute requiring that railroads provide separate accommodations for black and whites. Court decided that separate but equal accommodations did not violate the 14th amendment

Brown v. Board of Education

Court decision holding that school segregation is unconstitutional because it violates the 14th amendment

Committee Chair Duties

authorization to select all subcommittee chairs, call meetings, and recommend majority members to sit in on conference committee. They can also kill a bill

Government Corporations

businesses established by congress to perform functions that private businesses could provide

Total Quality Management

emphasis on employee teamwork

every employee has a right to decision making

every citizen is a customer

Corpus Christi ISD v. Cisneros

officially made hispanics covered by laws protecting the rights of minority groups

Seneca Falls

Declaration of sentiments. People gathered to discuss the wrong doings against women

Suspect Classifications

Category to class, such as race, that triggers the highest standard of scrutiny from the supreme court

Jim Crow Laws

Laws placed by southern states that required segregation in public schools, theaters, hotels, and other public accommodations

President Truman's Executive Orders

1. people can not racially discriminate in housing funded with federal money

2. the armed forces must be desegregated

Southern Manifesto

document written by legislators opposed to racial integration in public places. meant to delay the brown v board of education decision

Civil Rights Act - 1964

passed by Congress to outlaw segregation in public facilities and discrimination in employment, education, and voting

Intersectionality

experience of multiple forms of discrimination at one time

American's with Disabilities Act

defines a disabled person as someone with physical or mental impairment that limits one or more "life activities". It guarantees access to public facilities, employment, and communication services.

Affirmative Action

policies designed to give special attention or treatment to members of a previously disadvantaged group

Constitution and Number of Representatives

2 senators for each state

population determines the number of representatives in the HOR

Gerry Mandering

drawing of congressional districts to produce a particular electoral outcome without regard to the shape of the district

Senatorial Courtesy

process by which presidents generally allow senators from the state in which judicial vacancy occurs to block a nomination by simply registering their objection

"Pork Barrel" Projects

legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs

Conference Committees

special joint committee that includes members from both houses of congress set up to conduct investigations or special duties

Responsibilities of the Speaker of the House

presides over the HOR, oversees house business, and is the official spokesperson for the House, and second in line for presidential succession

Duty of the Vice President in the Senate

holds the breaking vote

Redistricting

redrawing congressional districts to reflect increases or decreases in seats allotted to the states, as well as population shifts within a state

Process for Impeachement

Senate has authority to conduct impeachment trials where two-thirds vote is necessary to remove the official from office

Reasons for impeachment

if an official commits treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors

Reasons for incumbent victories

these victories occur because their names sound familiar and people are more comfortable with them

Filibuster

formal way of halting a senate action on a bill by means of long speeches or unlimited debate

Seniority

time of continuous service on a committee

Congressional Oversight

refers to the review of, monitoring, and supervision of federal executive agencies, programs, activities, and policy implications

Role of House Whips

party leader who keeps in close contact with all members of his or her party, takes vote counts on key legislation, and prepares summaries of bills, and acts as a communications link within a party

Logrolling

vote trading; voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise for future support

Constitutional Convention Concerns over the Position of the President

some delegates wanted multiple presidents because they were afraid of a too powerful leader like the UK

22nd Amendment

amendment that prevents a president from serving more than 2 terms, or more than 10 years

Executive Orders

powers of the president to issue orders that carry the force of the law

Emergency Powers

broad powers exercised by the president during times of national crisis

Presidents and Honeymoons

after the president is elected his popularity is very high

Divided Government

political condition in which different political parties control the presidency and congress

Role of Vice President

not usually used in a major advisory capacity, many are usually balanced tickets

25th Amendment

amendment that established procedures for filling vacancies in the office of president and vice president

Central Role of the President

appointment powers, power to convene congress, power to make treaties, power to veto, power to preside over the military, power to pardon

President and Crises

periodically a president must face a grave situation in which conflict is imminent or a small conflict threatens to explode

Executive Privilege

implied power that allows the president to refuse to disclose information regarding confidential conversations or national security to congress or courts

President's Role as Commander-in-Cheif

though congress has the ability to declare war, the president's duty is to take care that the laws be faithfully executed to wage war.

Presidents and Political Skills

the president must be a lobbyist and an agenda setter

Election Mandates and Presidents

candidates who win the presidency claim they have been given a mandate by the voters, but such mandates tend to be more rhetoric than reality

Structure of Presidential Staff

president has several aides, including chief of staff and national security advisor

Balanced Staff

must have a balanced staff

Role of the First Lady

to assist the president as informal advisors while making other, more public, and significant contributions to American Society

President and World Affairs

for nearly 40 years it has been the presidents job to contain communism. now we have entered an era on increasing emphasis on managing economic relation with the rest of the world

Bureaucracy

charged with implementing and administering federal laws and programs

Science and Technology

one of the main reasons for the growth of bureaucracy

Shadow Bureaucrats

employees on the payroll of private for-profit businesses and private nonprofit organizations with government contracts.

Great Depression

a reason for the growth of bureaucracy, has to do with social welfare

Factors Against Reducing Bureaucracy

1. segments of the population work hard to protect the programs that serve them

2. permanent civil servants have been replaced by contractors

Civil Service

jobs that are filled on the basis of merit

Regulations

rules governing the operation of all government programs that have the force of law

Interstate Commerce Act and Authority to Regulate

authority for the federal government to regulate various markets

Externalities

cost upon individuals not part of the initial contract or transaction

Independent Agencies

governmental units that closely resemble a cabinet department but have narrower areas of responsibility and perform services rather than regulatory functions

Spoils System

the firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with loyalist of the newly elected party

Administrative Discretion

latitude that congress gives agencies to make policy in the spirit of their legislature mandate

Issue Networks

relationships which determine how bureaucracies make policy

Coordination Problems Between Agencies

occur when programs cut across the jurisdiction of many agencies

Government Performance and Results Act

series of laws designed to improve government performance management

Natural Monopolies

arise where the largest supplier in an industry, often the first supplier in a market, has an overwhelming cost advantage over other actual or potential competitors

Deregulation

removal of government control from an industry or a sector, to allow for a free and efficient marketplace

acting bureaucratically

going by the book

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