FInal Exam Poli Sci

What does the term sovereignty refer to?

Its government makes and enforces its own laws without approval from any other authority.

The institutions through which a state

maintains public order
provides public service
enforces laws/rules that are binding on all its residents

What are the four essential features of a state?

population
territory
sovereignty
government

A plan that provides the rules for government.

Constitution

This statement in the constitution sets the goals and purposes to be served by the government

Preamble

What does the term federalism refer to?

Power is deivided between national and state government

Direct Democracy

citizens actively debate and vote on each policy

Representative Democracy

citizens select public officials to make public policy on their behalf (the United States)

Democrates and Republicans reflect what feature of democracy

Ability to join a party

This is the concept that the monarch’s power, or government, was not absolute

limited government

The pamplet written by Thomas Paine that called for independence from Britain was called this?

Common Sense

According to the Declaration of Independence, government should be based on the power of the _____.

people

This is another term that refers to approving something?

ratify

How many states were needed to ratify the U.S. Constitution?

9/13

The main goal of the Federalists was to establish this?

a strong national government

What are the three branches of the US government?

legislative, executive, judicial

What are the two houses of the US Congress

Senate and House of Representatives

What is the purpose of checks and balances?

Each branch of government exercises some control over the others

Why is the “necessary and proper clause” often nicknamed the elastic clause?

To let Congress stretch its powers to meet situations the founders could not anticipate

What power was established for the Supreme Court in the Marbury v Madison case?

Judicial Review - create balance

Where in the Constitution are the “expressed” or enumerated powers listed?

Article I

What has been the only successful method to propose amendments?

2.3 vote in the house and senate

How does a treaty differ from an executive agreement?

Treaty requires approval from the Senate

This was added to protect individuals rights by futher limiting governmental power.

Bill of Rights

The states get their “reserved” power from this amendment

10th amendment

Probable cause and usually this is needed for a search to occur according to the 4th Amendment?

Warrant

The Constitution grants these powers to the national government?

Expressed powers

To protect against the power of the national government, the 10th amendment to the U.S Constitution grants the states these powers?

Reserved powers

The powers to lay and collect taxes is an example of what type of power?

Expressed/Enumerated powers

What is the meaning of the supremacy clause?

Federal laws are superior to state laws

Article IV of the Constitution obligates states to give this to one another’s citizens?

the same fundamental rights

States must honor the legality of one another’s civil laws because of this?

Full Faith and Credit Clause

The course of action a government takes in response to an issue or problem is called this?

Public Policy

Federalism allows for real economic and poltical differences among the _____

states

What day and month is election days always on?

November, 1st Tuesday

What is the minimum electoral votes needed to win a presidential election?

270

What was the purpose of the 26th amendment?

voting age cannot be set higher than 18

The right to vote is also known as this

Suffrage

Which amendment granted women the right to vote?

19

What was the purpose of the 15th Amendment?

Cannot deny the right to vote based on race

All meand for communicating information to the public is referred to as this?

Mass media

Many websites are considered this, because they only support their own point of view on issues

bias/partisan- reflects their party

partisan- reflects their party

In the US, any party other than the Democratic Party or the Republican Party is called this?

Third Party

Our political party system in the United States can best be described as this type of system?

Two party sytem

A group of people joined together on the basis of common principles, who seek to control government and public policy are known as this?

Political party

This is an election in which only party members can vote to select their candidate to run in the general election?

Closed primary

This is a political party’s statement of principles?

platform

This is a group organized to try and influence government policy?

interest group

This includes the ideas and attitudes a significant number of Americans hold about government and political issues?

Public opinion

In conducting scientific polls, the group of people to be studied is called this?

Universe

Individuals learn their political beliefs and attitudes in a process called this?

Political socialization

This is probably considered the most important duty of a president?

chief executive

What are the three constitutional requirements to serve as US president?

1. 35+ years of age

2. natural-born citizen

3. a resident of the United States for at least 14 years

The vice president presides over this, according to the Constitution?

Senate

According to the Succession Act of 1947, who is next in line after the vice-president?

Speaker of the House

New cabinet secretaries must be approved by whom?

Approved by the Senate

Cabinet members are responsible for their department and serve as this to the president?

advisor

When they wrote the Constitution, who did the founders expect to lead the nation?

Congress

The president can issue these, which are rules that have the force of law?

executive orders

A group pardon to people for an offense against the government, such as violating immigration law or evading the draft, is called this

amnesty

One of the president’s economic duties is to prepare this for the nation?

the nation’s budget

What vote is necessary to ratify or approve a treaty?

¾ of states

In this role, the president sees that the laws of Congress are carried out?

chief executive

Each states’s number of representatives is based on this?

population size

This is the presiding officer and most powerful leader of the House of Representatives

Speaker of the House

The process of setting up new congressional districts after reapportionment is called?

redistricting

This is the main task of the house of Congress

Pass legislation

This committee is set up when the House and Sente have passed different versions of the same bill?

Conference Committee

What is the purpose of a standing committee?

Permanent legislative committees

A two-thirds majority vote of both Houses of Congress is required to override this?

a veto

In article I, section 8, of the constitution, these powers of Congress are called this?

enumerated powers

This is a formal accusation of misconduct against a public offical

impeachment

These meetings are sessions at which a committee listens to testimony

hearings

These bills deal with general matters and apply to the entire nation

public bills

Representatives of interest groups that work to influence Congress are called this?

Lobbyists

The authority to hear certain cases is called this

Jurisdiction

A state may not take a persona’ life, liberty, or property without this (phrase)

due process of law

When both the state court and the federal court have jurisdiction, it is called this

concurrent jurisdiction

One of these appellate courts is in each of 12 regions across the United States

US Circuit Courts/Region

The Constitution provides that the president appoints all federal judges with the advice and consent of whom?

the US Senate

This is the court of last resort in all questions of federal law

US Supreme Court

This is the opinion of justices on the losing side of the case?

dissenting opinion

This opinion expresses the views of the majority of the justices on a case?

majority opinion

Under the principle of stare decisis, once the Court rules on a case, its decision becomes this?

a precedent

This is the foundation for deciding cases?

law

The Bill of Rights is a written guarantee that the government cannot do this to the rights of the individuals

deny / infringe on rights

Which amendment defined citizenship, as a person born or naturalized in the US

14th

This process by which the Bill of Rights guarantees were extended to the states is called this?

Incorporation

The Bill of Rights is comprised of how many amendments

10

Which amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures of property?

4th amendment

Police must state that they have this to jsutify the search?

probable cause

The exlusionary rule excludes illegally obtained evidence form this

search and seizure

Which amendment guarantees a defendant the assistance of counsel

6th

The Miranda v Arizona case established that the Fifth Amendment requires police to inform suspects of their rights before this happens

self incrimination

The Constitution assigns the power to make immigration laws to whom?

Congress

People who flee to another country to escape persecution or danger are called this?

Refugee

This legal process grants a person the rights and privileges of a citizen

Naturalization

Jus soli- the law of the soil- refers to citizenship based on this?

birthright citizenship

This overruled the “separate but equal” doctrine?

Brown v Board of Education