Government Exam 1

What did the Treaty of Paris (1783) result in for the US government?

Congress cant pay their war debts.

What did the Annapolis Convention (1786) result in for the US government?

Trade issues between states

What caused Shay’s Rebellion (1786- 1787)

Members of the Continental Army had not been paid, so 1500 men went against the Massachusetts government for unpaid debts.

Thomas Paine

Suggested a constitution enshrining a simple democratic republic, representative of the people.

John Locke

Natural rights, Social contract, Consent of the governed.

Popular sovereignty

The consent of the people to be governed and to have a say in who leads the government

What did the Federalist Papers do?

Served to convince people that this system of government is worth consenting too, argue and defend many of the decisions that the framers made.

(Federalist 10) It was though that pure democracy would lead to

Tyranny of the majority

Madison believed it was best to have ___ to prevent tyranny.

Pluralism: a diverse array of groups and interest among the people.

Madison also believed that the ___ would help keep any one majoirty from becoming too powerful.

Separation of powers

The Virginia Plan

Favored Large states, population based, stronger national government.

The New Jersey Plan

Favored small states, equal representation, stronger states rights.

(The Great Compromise) Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two separate houses/bodies

What was the federalist opinion on the Great Compromise?

A strong executive is best. Legislatures are too slow and unwieldy. Giving more power to he President would allow for more efficiency in times of crisis.

What was the anti-federalist opinion on the Great Compromise?

A more equal balance of power is best. A strong executive is a “blank check for power.

Supremacy Clause

Federal law wins over state in times of conflict

Reserved Powers

(10th amendment) states that any power not explicitly given to the federal government belong to the states.

_ out of the 13 colonies/states were needed to ratify the constitution. (1788 when it was achieved).

9

What did anti-federalist believe about the constitution.

That civil liberties were not adequately protected under the constitution.

The anti-federalist opposition to the constitution lead to the ___.

The adding of the bill of rights.

___ powers are granted to more than one branch of government.

Shared

___ powers are granted specifically to one branch of the government.

Exclusive

Congress also has the ___, which says that Congress can make any laws necessary to carry out its exclusive powers. This allows Congress to stretch its powers.

Necessary and proper clause

Congress’s Exclusive Powers

Raise revenue through taxes, coin money, declare war

Executive’s Exclusive Powers

Commander in chief, and ensure that laws are faithfully executed

Shared Powers

Appointment to federal offices and war powers

Impeachment

A vote for the trial and possible removal of a sitting president for “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors”

Can congress make laws that may override part of a presidents agenda?

True

An amendment can be formally proposed by a ___ vote by both the House and the Senate.

2/3

A proposed amendment can be ratified by passing a vote of ___ of state legislatures

3/4

How many amendments are in the U.S constitution?

27

Pork Barrel Politics

strategy to stay in the good graces of local voters is to secure special policy projects that benefit a fairly small group of people

What is Descriptive Representation?

Does my representative look like me?

What is Substantive representation?

Does my representative have similar interests as me?

Trustee

Looks at the big picture and sometimes goes against constituentsʼ wishes

Delegate

Loyally represents the direct interests of the constituents

Politico

Acts as a delegate on high profile issues, but a trustee on others

What is Credit Claiming

Taking credit for pork barrel policies and other successes.

What is Home Style?

Members of Congress relate to their district depends on what voters expect.

What is a gridlock?

Inability to enact legislation because of partisan conflict within Congress or between Congress and the President.

Universalism

Awarding benefits to as many districts and states as possible

Logrolling

Voting for one another’s bills as a form of reciprocity

Earmarks

Attaching federal funding for local projects to bills before Congress

Specialization

Cultivating a reputation for expertise in a particular policy area

Seniority

Awarding committee chair ships based on length of service in Congress.

Senate Majority Leader

Leads the power in control of the Senate

Speaker of the House

Elected by the House to lead, party leader of majority party

Senate Minority Leader

Leads the party in minority in the Senate

House Minority Leader

Leads the party in minority in the House

What is the Whip System?

In the House is a system that disseminates information to the rest of the party and promotes party unity

President Pro Tempore

Symbolic role given to usually given most senior member of majority party, oversees Senate when the Vice President is not in attendance, 3rd in line for presidential succession.

Roll Call Votes

Members vote “yes,” “no,” “present,” or “abstain”

Party Votes

Occur when a majority of one party votes one way on a bill and a majority of the other party votes the other way

Party Unity

The extent to which members of a party vote together, measured as a percentage

Standing Committee

A permanent part of the House or Senate structure with more authority than other committees

Selected Committee

Created to address a specific issue

Joint Committee

Contains members of both houses but with limited authority

Conference Committee

Created to negotiate differences between the House and Senate versions of legislation.

Distributive Theory

Members of Congress tend to join committees whose work is relevant to their districts and will tend to support each others’ legislation.

Informational Theory

Members of Congress pick committees where their expertise will be most helpful

Step 1 of the Conventional Process

A member of Congress introduces the Bill

Step 2 of the Conventional Process

A subcommittee and committee craft the Bill

Step 3 of the Conventional Process

Floor action on the bill takes place in the first chamber (House or Senate).

Step 4 of the Conventional Process

Committee and floor action takes place in the second chamber

Step 5 of the Conventional Process

The conference committee works out any differences between the House and Senate of the bill

Step 6 of the Conventional Process

The conference committee version is given final approval on the floor of each chamber.

Step 7 of the Conventional Process

The president either signs or vetoes the final version.

Step 8 of the Conventional Process

If the bill vetoed, both chambers can attempt to override the veto with a 2/3 vote in both chambers.

What is a Bill

A legislative proposal that becomes law if passed by both the House and the Senate in identical form and then approved by the President

Simple Resolution

These address matters entirely within just one chamber of Congress; symbolic and do not create public law

Concurrent Resolution

Legislation to express the positions of both the House and Senate on a non-legislative matter; used for budget; fix adjournment dates, etc.

Joint Resolution

Legislation that is practically similar to a bill (unless it proposes a constitutional amendment).

Markup

Bills are not passed in their original forms. They are edited a lot over time to reach their final wording

Pocket Veto

Occurs when the President has failed to sign or veto a bill during the last 10 days of a legislative session.

Cloture

Limiting debate based on a vote of supermajority of 60 Senators

Hold

Action by a Senator to prevent a bill or nomination from being heard on the Senate floor.

Open Rules

Allow the addition of relevant amendments to a bill

Closed Rules

Prohibit the addition of new amendment to a bill

Modified Rules

Allow the addition of some amendment to a bill while preventing others.

Establishment Clause

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion

Wisconsin v Yoder (1972)

SCOTUS rules that their freedom of free exercise of religion outweighed the state’s interest in mandatory education until age 16.

McDonald v Chicago (2010)

An individual can bear arms, such as defending one’s home.

Due process rights

4, 5, 6, and 8th amendments

Eminent Domain

Is used by the government to acquire private land in exchange for proper compensation

6th Amendment

Right to an attorney, right to speedy trial, right to trial by jury

8th Amendment

No cruel and unusual punishment

Marbury v Madison established ___.

Judicial review

Lemon v Kurtzman established ___.

The Lemon Test

Zelman v Simmons - Harris established ___.

Vouchers can go to religious schools.

Schenck v U.S established ___.

Clear and present danger test.

Citizens United v FEC (2010) established ____.

That corporations and unions were protected in political spending.

4th Amendment

Right to search and seizure

5th Amendment

Right to not self - incriminate

7th Amendment

Right to trial by jury in civil cases

9th Amendment

Right to other rights not listed

10th Amendment

Right to be governed primarily by laws created by your state.