US Government Exam Prep

Flashcards for reviewing US Government lecture notes.

Federalist 70

Emphasizes personality over policies and the need for a strong president; a weak president equates to a weak country.

Bureaucracy Forming

1. Problem arises. 2. People demand action. 3. Government decides people can't do it themselves.

Electoral College (EC)

Consists of 538 electors; 270 electoral votes are needed to win the presidency.

House of Representatives Role in Presidential Election

Selects the president if no candidate receives a majority in the Electoral College.

Senate Role in Presidential Election

Selects the vice president if no candidate receives a majority in the Electoral College.

Cabinet

Examples include: homeland security, veterans affairs, defense, education, and energy.

President as Chief Legislator

Involved in the law-making process.

President as Chief Diplomat

Role in foreign policy.

President as Commander

Commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

President as Chief Executive

Enforces laws.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but still practiced (e.g., judicial review, IRS).

Executive Agreements

Agreements between the president and a foreign country.

Executive Order

Binds the activity of departments.

Executive Privilege

Protects certain communications from disclosure (prevents staff from cooperating with investigations).

Judicial Review

Power to invalidate unconstitutional laws.

Supremacy Clause

Federal laws are superior to state laws.

Constitutional Amendments - Congressional Proposal

Called for by 2/3rds of Congress.

Constitutional Amendments - State-Called Convention

Called for by 2/3rds of states.

Ratification of Constitutional Amendments

Requires approval by 3/4ths of the states.

22nd Amendment

Establishes term limits for the president.

Chief Justice

Head of the Supreme Court (e.g., John Roberts).

Supreme Court Cases

Involve constitutional, intergovernmental, and economic issues.

Article 1 of the Constitution

Deals with the legislative branch (Congress).

Article 2 of the Constitution

Deals with the executive branch (presidency).

Article 3 of the Constitution

Deals with the judicial branch (Supreme Court).

Article 4 of the Constitution

Deals with the states and their powers (Congress admits new states).

Article 5 of the Constitution

Deals with the amending process.

Article 6 of the Constitution

Deals with the Supremacy Clause (federal law is supreme).

Article 7 of the Constitution

Deals with the ratification process.

Reasons for the Electoral College

Fear of uninformed voters, protecting smaller states, creating a buffer between population and president, harder to manipulate controversial elections.

Examples of Controversial Elections

Trump & Clinton, Bush & Gore, Cleveland & Harrison, Hayes & Tilden, Adams & Jackson.

Factors Influencing Presidential Power

Margin of victory (landslide or tight win?), tenure potential (how long until leaving office?), relationships with everyone.