Civics Exam 1

**What does separation of powers mean?**

* Giving each branch of the government separate jobs to do

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**What is the main job of Congress?**

* Make laws

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What does the executive branch do?

Executes the laws

What is the role of the Judiciary?

Interpret the laws

Which branch creates lower federal courts? (US Tax Courts, Appellate Courts)

Legislative

Each branch of government has the power to limit or check the other two. This is an example of:  

checks and balances

According to the constitution, who holds more power? 

Legislative branch

How does the Congress check on the President?

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Override the President's veto

How does Congress check the Judicial branch? 

They can impeach a justice

What is one way the President checks on the Congress?

veto Congress' laws

The only real power a vice president has is to: 

Break a tie in the Senate

What does pardon mean? 

cancel out a judgement against an individual 

How does the Supreme Court check on Congress?

can rule laws unconstitutional

What was the number one fear the Founding Fathers had when planning our new government?

a tyrannical central government that would destroy people's rights

What was Federalist Paper 51 about? 

having checks and balances

Which of the three branches of government was intended to be the most important? 

Legislative.

What are the three requirements to serve in the House? 

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* A citizen of the state that they are running for election in.
* 25 years old.
* A citizen of the USA for 7 years

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How is the number of members of House representatives determined? 

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By the entire population of the state.

How many members are there in the House of Representatives?

435

What is __**a**__ requirement to serve as Senator?

* 30 years old.
* Citizen of the state they want to be elected in.
* Resident of the USA for 9 years.

How many Senators are there in the U.S. Senate?

100

Members of the US Senate used to be chosen by each of the state legislatures.  Today they are chosen by the people in an election.  What amendment changed this?

17th 

The House of Representatives has the "Power of the Purse" meaning?

Power to tax and appropriations

What is the three powers specifically granted to the Senate? 

* Ratifying Treaties.
* Impeachment trial.
* Confirmation Power.

States with larger populations wanted proportional representation, which chamber of Congress is based on proportional representation?

House of Representatives

What was the name of the plan/compromise that determined the size of both houses?

* Connecticut Plan /The Great Compromise 

What is the purpose of James Madison's Federalist 51?

Checks and balances to make sure one branch of government doesn't grow too strong

How long is the term of office for a Senator?

6 years

To make Representatives more responsive to the people the Constitution gave them?

shorter terms in office

The power to tax and spend was given to which chamber of Congress? Why?

House of Representatives, because they are closer to the people and can be held accountable by more frequent elections

_____________ is a set of rules and institutions people set up so they can function together as a unified society.

government

Why do we study government?

In order to become better citizens

What is politics?

How power is distributed in a government

The United States is a Republic meaning what?

We elect representatives to govern us

How do we contact our government officials?

Mailing letters or through emails.

How can you participate in the political process?

Convince people though youtube videos, marches, or shirt designs, or just conversations about a political topic like an election.

What is the easiest and most challenging way to become more active in the political process?

Become educated

What is the rejection of government called?

anarchy

Why is it important for you to be an active and informed citizen?

talking to others about upcoming things like elections, and doing your part to help the country through voting or contacting officials.

Which would be the BEST definition of federalism?

It is the shared power and duties of the federal and state goverments

Which of the following can the federal government do?

Declare war

Which of the following can state governments do?

Set up different licenses

Which of the following can be considered a concurrent power?

the power to tax

The two types of federalism are dual and cooperative.

True

_______________ federalism lasted from founding until the New Deal in the 1930s

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Dual

Which was NOT a power under state government?

Currency

More than in Cooperative Federalism, in Dual federalism, most Americans could have faith that the national government was

limited

In what part of the constitution does the Congress derive the power to regulate interstate commerce?

Article I Sec 8 Clause 3

What event changed the role of the federal government in federalism?

New Deal

Money given to the states by the federal government are...

Grants

Grants given to a specific purpose are called

categorical grants

There are more restrictions on Categorical grants than there are on Bloc Grants.

True

Laws or regulations on states on businesses, like OSHA or the Minimum wage law are types of

unfunded mandates

Moving power down from the national government back to the states (like in New Federalism) is known as

devolution

Which amendment divides power between the federal government and the states?   

10

Why did the delegates meet in Philadelphia in 1787

To revise the Articles of Confederation

What was the only way the Articles government could get money?

Asking the states for money.

What was forbidden in the territories of the Northwest?

slavery

Under the Virginia Plan, representation in the new Congress would be

Based on the state's population

Under the New Jersey Plan, representation in the new Congress would be

Equal among all states.

A bicameral legislature means that the Congress would

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Have two houses.

Under the Great Compromise, representation in the House was based on

Population.

Under the 3/5th's Compromise, a states population was determined by adding

The total free persons and three fifths the number of slaves.

Why were the Federalist papers written?

To drum up support for the new Constitution.

Why did Anti-Federalists feel that the state governments should have more power?

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The State governments would be more responsive to the needs of the people.

The Federalists had to offer another compromise,promise, to get the Constitution ratified called the?

Bill of Rights

The US Constitution and ultimately the basis of American government itself is: 

Compromises

According to the host, which elections are supposed to matter the most in America?

Congress

What percentage of the House of Representatives is up for election every two years?

All of them

What percentage of the Senate is up for election every two years?

One third

Which organizations mostly determine the rules of elections, including the times the polls open and how voters will be registered?

States

What determines the number of Congressional districts a state will be broken up into?

The population of a state (determined by the census).

What is an "at large" election?

An election by the entire state instead of a single district.

According to the host, what is the first characteristic of a good candidate for office?

An unblemished record.

What is the second characteristic of a good candidate for office?

The ability to raise money.

What is an incumbent?

The person who currently holds the office that is running for re-election.

What is one advantage of an incumbent?

They have a record of accomplishments.

What is a second advantage of an incumbent?

A record of winning elections.

What is the "franking privilege?"

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Money for postage to send out election material.

What is the "electoral connection"?

* A theory that members of Congress are motivated primarily to get re-elected.

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How can members of the House of Representatives show their position on an issue?

Publicly support a hearing.

Which of the three catagories deals with members of congress developing a personal brand for voters?

Advertising

Why is Congress divided into committees?

It makes them more efficient.

What is a standing committee?

Permanent committees that deal with the day-to-day business of Congress.

What is the purpose of the special/select committees?

To deal with issues beyond the scope of standing committees.

What is a joint committee?

A committee of both senators and members of the House.

What is a conference committee?

A committee that is created to help a bill become a law.

Why create committees? (select all that apply)

* Allows Congress members to pursue their individual interests.
* It is more efficient to develop laws in small groups instead of larger ones.
* Allows Congress members to claim credit for when running for reelecton.
* Allows Congress members to develop expertise in a subject.

What is proposal power?

Allows any Congress member to propose a bill. 

What is gatekeeping authority?

Allows the committee chairperson to decided what bills are brought up in committee and eventually become law.

How can a committee kill a bill?

Not voting on them. 

When did big changes to how committees work occur?

1994

How did committees change under Newt Gingrich? (Choose all that apply)

* Increased the Speaker's power as gatekeeper.
* Term limits were added to being a chairperson of a committee.
* Votes were held to choose the committee chairs.
* Seniority rules for appointing chairs were changed.
* The number of subcommittees were reduced.

What is congressional staff?

People that work for individual Congress members and staff agencies that work for Congress as a whole. 

Which did **NOT** happen to staff under the reforms of 1994?

Reduced the number of overall staff in government.

What are congressional caucuses?

Semi-formal groups of people organized around particular identities or interests

What is the purpose of caucuses? (choose all that apply)

* Allow for leadership opportunities outside of the committees.
* Allow members of Congress to coordinate their efforts.
* Allow like-minded people to get together to discuss ideas.

The Speaker of the house is...

The leader of the House of Representatives.

What is the job of the majority whip?

Counting votes and making sure his or her party votes the way the party wants.

The majority leader is chosen by the Speaker of the House. Why?

The person is popular with a particular faction within the party.