American Government CLEP Study Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards for CLEP American Government, covering Constitutional foundations, federalism, branches of government, civil rights, and landmark Supreme Court cases.

Judicial review

The power of courts to declare laws or government actions unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison

The Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review.

Three Branches of Government

The Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches.

Federalism

The division of power between national and state governments.

Supremacy Clause

The constitutional provision stating that federal law overrides conflicting state law.

McCulloch v. Maryland

The case that established federal supremacy and the existence of implied powers.

Implied powers

Powers not specifically listed in the Constitution but inferred through the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause

The clause that gives Congress its implied powers.

Gibbons v. Ogden

The case that expanded Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce.

Dual federalism

A system where state and national governments operate in separate spheres.

Cooperative federalism

A system where state and federal governments work together.

Categorical grant

Federal money provided to states with strict requirements.

Block grant

Federal money provided to states with fewer restrictions.

Mandates

Federal requirements imposed on states.

House of Representatives Membership

Contains exactly $435$ members.

House Term Length

$2$ years.

Senate Term Length

$6$ years.

Senators per State

$2$ per state.

House Member Minimum Age

$25$ years old.

Senator Minimum Age

$30$ years old.

Reapportionment

The redistribution of House seats after the census.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing district boundaries.

Gerrymandering

Drawing districts to favor a specific party or group.

Filibuster

Delaying Senate action by extended debate.

Cloture Requirement

Requires $60$ senators to end a filibuster.

Veto Override

Requires a $2/3$ vote of both houses of Congress.

Presidential Term Length

$4$ years.

Maximum Presidential Terms

$2$ terms.

22nd Amendment

The amendment that limits presidents to two terms.

Electoral College

The system used to elect the president.

Minimum Age to be President

$35$ years old.

Executive privilege

The president's claim to withhold information.

United States v. Nixon

The case that limited the scope of executive privilege.

Executive order

Directive issued by the president with the force of law.

Federal bureaucracy

The agencies and departments that implement laws.

Independent regulatory commissions

Agencies that regulate specific industries.

Rule-making

The process of creating regulations to implement laws.

Federal Judge Selection

Appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Federal Judge Tenure

Life tenure during good behavior.

Precedent

A prior court decision used as a guide for future cases.

Stare decisis

The legal principle of letting the decision stand.

Political Party Functions

Nominate candidates, mobilize voters, and organize government.

Party identification

A person's attachment to a political party.

Realignment

A major shift in party coalitions.

Primary election

An election to choose party nominees.

Open primary

An election where voters choose any party's primary to participate in.

Closed primary

An election where only registered party members vote.

Voter turnout

The percentage of eligible voters who participate in an election.

Interest group

An organization seeking to influence public policy.

Lobbying

Attempting to influence government officials.

PAC (Political Action Committee)

An organization that raises money for candidates.

Iron triangle

The relationship among Congress, the bureaucracy, and interest groups.

Selective incorporation

Applying Bill of Rights protections to states through the $14th$ Amendment.

Due Process Clause

Contained in the $14th$ Amendment; used for selective incorporation.

1st Amendment Protection

Guarantees freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches.

5th Amendment

Protects against self-incrimination.

6th Amendment

Guarantees the right to a speedy trial.

Equal Protection Clause

Contained in the $14th$ Amendment; guarantees equal protection under the law.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery.

15th Amendment

Guaranteed voting rights regardless of race.

19th Amendment

Granted women suffrage.

24th Amendment

Banned poll taxes.

26th Amendment

Lowered the voting age to $18$.

Brown v. Board of Education

Court case that ruled school segregation unconstitutional.

Mapp v. Ohio

Case that applied the exclusionary rule to the states.

Baker v. Carr

Case establishing the 'one person, one vote' principle.

Gideon v. Wainwright

Case guaranteeing the right to an attorney.

Miranda v. Arizona

Case establishing Miranda rights for suspects.

Tinker v. Des Moines

Case protecting student free speech.

New York Times v. United States

Case that limited prior restraint.

Engel v. Vitale

Case ruling school prayer unconstitutional.

Shaw v. Reno

Case establishing that racial gerrymandering is subject to scrutiny.

Amendment Ratification Threshold

Requires $3/4$ of the states.

Amendment Proposal Threshold

Requires $2/3$ of Congress.

Total Electoral Votes

$538$ votes.

Votes Needed to Win Presidency

$270$ electoral votes.