Government Exam Ch 2

Tenth Amendment

Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that delegates or reserves some powers to the state governments or the people.

Ordinances

Laws passed by local governments.

Interstate Commerce Clause

Article of the U.S. Constitution that gives Congress the exclusive power to regulate commerce between that states; Congress and the courts determine what is interstate commerce.

Equal Protection Clause

Clause in Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that requires state to treat all citizens equally.

Checks and Balances

Power granted by Constitution to each branch of government giving authority to restrain other branches.

Privilege and Immunities

Clause in Article 4 of the U.S. Constitution that prevents states from discriminating against citizens of other states and requires those citizens to be treated in like manner.

Constitution

The basic document that provides a framework for government and limits what the government can do.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

Clause in Article 4 of the U.S. Constitution that requires states to recognize the judgements, legislation, and public records of other states.

Categorical Grants

Grants that may be used to fund specific purposes as defined by the federal government.

Plural Executive System

System in which executive power is divided among several independently elected statewide officials.

Due Process Clause

Clause in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution that requires states to treat all citizens equally and specifies that state must follow certain rules and procedures.

Popular Sovereignty

The idea that power granted in state constitutions rests with the people.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Statement in Article 1, Section 18, paragraph 18 of the U.S. Constitution that says Congress can pass any law necessary and proper to carry out other powers.

Social contract Theory

The idea that all individuals possess inalienable rights and willingly submit to government protecting rights.

Supremacy Clause

A clause in Article 6 that makes constitutional provisions superior to other laws

What is an example of popular sovereignty at the state level

The voters approval of Constitutional amendments

The reason for Texas Constitution fragmenting the executive branch.

To limit power of governor

The cause of concern for partisan election of judges

Politicizing Judicial Decisions

The two steps required to change MOST state constitutions

1. Proposal to Change the constitution

2. Voters choose to approve this proposal

3 Characteristics of all state constitutions

1. Fear of strong executive authority.

2. Respect for popular sovereignty.

3. Separation of powers.

The terms for distributing executive power

Limit the power of the governor.

The purpose of distributing executive power?

Limit power of government

3 Reasons for limiting government's authority in Texas Constitution

1.Traditionalistic & Individualistic culture.

2. Anger over Carpetbagger Reconstruction Constitution.

2. History of Distrust of government. (Back to Mexican, run)

What was the significant quote by Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis.

"States are free to pursue novel social experiments"

What is the level of government whose laws are considered supreme

Federal

Article 6 clause establishing U.S. Constitution as law that cannot be violated?

Supremacy Clause

Amendment that reserves power to the states or the people?

Tenth Amendment

The name for nineteenth century federalism when state largely dominated federal government?

Dual Federalism

What’s an example of states' power derived from the 10th Amendment?

Driver’s license standards

Clause that would allow the federal government to create a national bank?

Necessary and Proper clause

2 examples of national government's exclusive power

Example 1: Regulating interstate commerce.

Example 2: Declaring War.

Type of grant in which federal government determines where money can/cannot be spent.

Categorical Grants

Year current Texas Constitution was approved by voters

1876

The description of Texas Constitution and reason for description and frequency of amending

Long & Amended often

What is the number of articles in Texas Constitution?

17 Articles

The difference between Texas and U,S. Constitution in placement of Bill of Rights?

The US Constitution places The Bill of Rights/Article 1 at the end while the Texas Constitution places it at the front.

Location of Texas Bill of Rights

Article 1

Topics discussed in artices 3, 4, and 5, of Texas Constitution

Article 3 - The Legislative Branch.

Article 4 - The Executive Branch.

Article 5 - The Judicial Branch.

What is the Level of flexibility for county governments?

Intentionally inflexible requirements

When the Judicial branches check on the legislative branch what happens?

The Judicial review of law is passed

Last step in the process of checks and balances is?

The law is declared unconstitutional

Which Branch of government has the power to tax

The Legislative Branch

What Individual is capable of appointing judges in certain circumstances

The Governor

What Individual has the power to line-item veto legislation

The governor

Branch of government with oversight power?

Legislative/legislature branch

The Cause for unlikelihood of significant constitutional reform?

The limited political interest in significant reform

What the reason behind the lack of political support?

The Strong distrust of the government

What was the year with lowest Texas voter turnout?

2011