US GOV Final

Federal agencies

FBI, CIA, EPA, NASA

Revenue bills

Start only in the House, have more members (435), and limited debate time.

War Powers Act

Passed to limit presidential military power after Vietnam; requires president to notify Congress within 48 hours of sending troops and withdrawal in 60 days unless Congress approves.

Term limits in Congress

Prevent career politicians, reduce corruption, and bring fresh ideas.

Override veto

Requires a 2/3 vote in both House and Senate.

Impeachment

House brings charges, Senate holds trial; Chief Justice presides if the president is on trial.

Original jurisdiction

The court’s power to hear a case first, e.g., the Supreme Court in state disputes.

Judicial activism vs. restraint

Activism involves courts making bold changes; restraint involves courts deferring to laws.

Becoming a Supreme Court judge

Nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Challenges in implementing laws

Bureaucracy, vague laws, opposition from states or courts.

Criminal vs. Civil suits

Criminal ( guilty or not) suits involve breaking the law; civil (liable or not) suits involve disputes between parties.

Factors in Supreme Court rulings

Constitution, precedent, public opinion, and personal beliefs.

Census & government branch

Related to the legislative branch; used to allocate House seats.

Scorekeeper, watchdog, gatekeeper

Scorekeeper tracks winners, watchdog exposes scandals, gatekeeper sets political agenda.

Who votes how & why

Party ID, issues, and candidate image affect voting.

News coverage teaches

Focuses on image, soundbites, and personality—less on policy.

Criticisms of primaries

Include low turnout, being too long, frontloading, and excessive media influence.

Voter registration change

Motor Voter Act and online registration aimed to simplify the process, but turnout remains low.

Interest groups examples

Sierra Club (environment), AFL-CIO (labor), Chamber of Commerce (business).

Lobbyist tactics

Campaign donations, providing information, testifying, and lawsuits.

Primary realities

Candidates need money, media attention, and name recognition.

PACs

Political Action Committees that donate to candidates, have donation limits, and can influence policy.

JFK/Nixon debate

JFK's appearance influenced campaign strategies and set a precedent for future media use.

Poll realities

Polls can be inaccurate and question wording greatly influences results.

Reapportionment

Redistributing House seats based on census results.

Most Americans' political stance

Moderates.

“Father of media politics”

Ronald Reagan; known for skilled use of media.

Electoral College numbers

Based on the sum of House and Senate seats.

Frontloading

States moving primaries earlier to increase their influence.

Liberal vs. Conservative

Liberals advocate for government help and are generally pro-choice; Conservatives advocate for limited government and are generally pro-life.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that federal law overrides state laws.

Separation of powers

Divides government powers to prevent tyranny.

Judicial review

The ability of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Branch functions

Legislative makes laws, Executive enforces laws, Judicial interprets laws.

Checks and balances examples

Veto, impeachment, and judicial review.

Confederation vs. Federal

Confederation gives power to states; Federal government shares power with the national government.

14th Amendment

Guarantees equal protection under the law.

Articles of Confederation issues

Weak federal government, inability to tax, and absence of a standing army.

Congress representation per state

House representation is based on population, Senate has 2 per state.

Double jeopardy

The principle that prevents a person from being tried twice for the same crime.

Exclusionary rule

Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court.

5th Amendment

Protects against self-incrimination, guarantees due process, and prohibits double jeopardy.

Miranda v. Arizona

Established that suspects must be informed of their rights before being questioned.

Schenck v. US

Established that free speech can be limited during wartime.

McCulloch v. Maryland

Confirmed federal power over state power; relevant to the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Brown v. Board

Declared segregation in schools unconstitutional and mandated immediate integration.

House vs. Senate

House operates faster with stricter rules; Senate is slower with the allowance of filibusters.

Incumbent advantages

Include name recognition, funding, and experience.

Cloture

A procedure to end a filibuster, requiring 60 votes in the Senate.

Mapp v. Ohio

Applied the exclusionary rule to the states.

Establishment Clause

Prohibits government-sponsored religion.

Primary vs. Caucus

Primaries are private voting processes, while caucuses involve public discussion and voting.

Formal Presidential Powers

Includes vetoing legislation, appointing officials, negotiating treaties, and commanding the military.

Federal government regulation authority

Includes interstate commerce and foreign trade.

Budget draft assistance

Provided by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Path to Supreme Court

Involves appeal from state courts to state supreme courts, then to the US Supreme Court.

Conditions for appeal

Must demonstrate a legal error or show that a trial was unfair.

Warrant requirements

Must be based on probable cause and requires a judge’s approval.

Judicial review as informal amendment

Changes the effect of the Constitution without altering the text.