U.S Government Honors Semester Review

sovereignty

when a state has the absolute authority to govern itself

Authoritarianism

governments in which the people must obey leaders who are not required to answer to the people

Autocracy

government in which power is held by a single person or group of individuals with no accountability

communism

political theory advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned by the govt

Socialism

a system or condition of society in which just means of production are owned and controlled by the state

Social contract

the idea that govt is formed by the consent of the governed

natural rights

fundamental rights that every person is born with, simply by virtue of being human

English Common Law

legal system that developed in England over centuries, primarily through judicial decisions rather than written statutes

Precedent

when the rulings made in previous cases guide the decisions in new, similar cases

Magna Carta

a historic document that was signed by King John of England in 1215 that established several important principles

rule of law

declared everyone was subject to the law

Monarchies

govt by king or queen, or someone with an aristocratic title

Dictatorship

goats formed by an individual or group where one man is in charge of the whole govt (no aristocratic title)

Totalitarianism

govt sets goals and controls every aspect of the countries social and economic life

Democracy

govt in which the supreme political authority rests with the people

Direct Democracy

govt where citizens directly participate in decision making and vote on laws and policies themselves

Initiatives

process that allows citizens to vote measures into law or recommend measures to the legislator

Referéndums

process in which voters have the power to approve a new law or remove an existing law

Republic

representative democracy that includes an elected head of state

Constitutional Republic

a republic where the elected rulers must follow a written set of laws (the constitution)

English Bill of RIghts

established several key principles that limited the powers of the monarchy and laid the foundation for a constitutional monarchy

Salutary Neglect

the british policy of loosely enforcing trade laws in the American colonies, allowing them to operate freely if they were loyal to Britain and made them money

Self-Government

the control of a country or area by its own people

Articles of Confederation

written at the second cont congress, was the first national govt of the U.S.

Condeferation

voluntary association of independent states, the central govt has very limited power

Three Fifths Compromise

agreement that 15% of the slave population would be added to total population for number of representatives

Ratification

formal approval of an agreement or document

Article 1

outlines the structure, composition, and powers of the legislative branch, or the part of the government responsible for making the laws

Article 2

creates a new executive branch, the part of the govt responsible for enforcing the law

Article 3

creates a new judicial branch, the part of the govt chiefly responsible for interpreting the law

Article 4

covers relations between the states. it calls on the states to recognize each others laws and treat citizens of other states fairly

article 5

explains how to add amendments, or changes to the constitution

article 6

includes the supremacy clause

article 7

outlines the method by which the constitution would take effect- 9 out of the 13 states would have to ratify the constitution

3rd amendment

no quartering soldiers during t times of peace

4th amendment

cannot be forced to a search and seizure without a warrant and probable cause

5th amendment

establishes rules for indictment by eminent domain and grand jury trial, guarantees the due process rights, protects citizens from self incrimination and double jeopardy

6th amendment

fair and speedy jury trial and the tights to know the accusation, the accuser, and to find council and witnesses

7th amendment

rights to jury trial for civil cases, and cases already examined by not be re-opened by another court

8th amendment

for bids exorbitant bails and fines and punishment that is unusual or cruel

9th amendment

reserves the rights of citizens which are not specifically mentioned by the U.S Constitution

10th amendment

reserves powers that are not given to the U.S government under the Constitution, nor prohibited to a state of the U.S to the people and states

11th amendment

state sovereign immunity

12th amendment

modifies and clarifies the procedure for electing vice presidents and presidents

13th amendment

except as punishment for criminal offense, forbids forced-slavery and involuntary servitude

14th amendment

details equal protection clause, due process clause, citizenship clause, and clauses dealing with the confederacy and its officials

15th amendment

reserves citizens the suffrage rights regardless of their race, color, or previous slave status

16th amendment

give U.S govt right to tax

17th amendment

popular voting to elect senators

18th amendment

denies alcohol sale and consumption

19th amendment

reserves women’s suffrage rights

20th amendment

establishes date of term starts for Congress and the president

21st amendment

details the repeal of the 18th amendment

22nd amendment

limit the terms that an individual can be elected as president

23rd amendment

reserves the right of citizens residing in the district of columbia to vote for their own electors for presidential elections

24th amendment

citizens cannot be denied the suffrage rights for not paying a poll tax or any other taxes

25th amendment

establishes the procedures for a successor of a president

26th amendment

reserves the right for citizens 18 and older to vote

27th amendment

denies any law that vary the salaries of Congress members until the beginning of the next terms of office for representatives

popular sovereignty

the principle that the people of a country hold the ultimate power

republicanism

form of republican democracy in which the people elect representatives rather than voting directly on laws

factions

groups of people who come together bc they share a common interest or passion

impeachment

when a govt official is charged with a crime and can be removed from office

electoral college

unique process used to elect the president and vice president of the U.S

federalism

the distribution of power between national and state govt

suffrage

right to vote

interstate commerce

commerce that takes place between multiple states

judicial review

a constitutional doctrine that gives the federal courts the power to review legislation or executive acts that judges declare to be unconstitutional

Marbury v Madison

court case that decided judiciary branch has the power of judicial review

implied powers

powers not specifically stated in con but can be implied though the con, comes from necessary and proper clause

inherent powers

powers that are not stated in the con but are historically accepted as essential to carry out the powers of the govt

concurrent powers

shared powers both state govt and the national govt have

nullification

a legal theory that suggests that states have the right to invalidate any federal law deemed unconstitutional by the state govt

succession

the withdrawal of southern states from the union, which led to the american civil war

constituents

the people members of congress represents

trustee view of representation

legislators should vote in support of the broad interest of the nation

delegate view of representation

leg should mirror the views of constivents, regardless of their own opinions

partisan view of representation

leg most often vote along party lines and do what the party leaders tell them to do

earmark

a spending probation in a boll that applies only to a small number of constituents

apportionment

the process of distributing house seats based on state population

baker v carr

u.s supreme court case that said that redistrictung issues can be reviewed bu the federal government

filibuster

use of extended debate to delay or block legislation

cloture

the procedure for closing debate and forcing a vote, used against filibusters

pro tempore

since the vice president is not always available the senators choose a temp presiding officer

congressional committees

a group of congressmen tasked with developing a specific area of expertise and drafting appropriate legislation

standing committees

permanent committees in both the senate and the house of representatives

subcommittees

smaller committees that focus on a more specific issue

primary election

a preliminary election to choose each party’s final candidates

incumbent candidate

someone who already holds political office

General Welfare Clause

congress has the power to lay and collect taxes to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare

bills of attainder

law that declares a person or group guilty of a crime

ex post facto laws

laws that retroactively civilizes legal behavior (wasn’t a crime when committed)

subpoena

legal order requiring someone to testify or supply evidence regarding a matter under investigation

who has the power of impeachment?

the house of representatives

pigeon holding

the practice of setting aside a bill in a legislative committee, effectively preventing it from moving forward in the leg process

executive order

presidential order to carry out policies described in laws -has the force of law -has been controversial in recent years

secretary of state

head of the state department, responsible for overseeing foreign affaire and international relationships

attorney general

the head of the us department of justice and serves as the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government

bureaucracy

a complex administrative organization with a hierarchical structure

merit system

a bureaucracy in which people are hired and promoted based on skills