CLEP - GOV TERMS

Gov American Clep

Enumerated Powers

^^^ Powers specifically listed in the Constitution for Congress.

Implied Powers

^^^ Powers not listed but suggested by the Constitution’s “necessary and proper” clause.

Reserved Powers

^^^ Powers kept by the states, not given to the federal government.

1st Amendment

^^^ Protects speech, religion, press, assembly, petition.

2nd Amendment

^^^ Right to bear arms.

3rd Amendment

^^^ No quartering of soldiers.

4th Amendment

^^^ Protects against unreasonable searches/seizures.

5th Amendment

^^^ Rights of the accused, due process, double jeopardy.

6th Amendment

^^^ Right to a speedy, public trial and lawyer. Criminal

7th Amendment

^^^ Right to trial by jury in civil cases. Civl

8th Amendment

^^^ No cruel or unusual punishment or excessive bail.

9th Amendment

^^^ Rights not listed are retained by the people.

10th Amendment

^^^ Powers not given to federal government go to states.

11th Amendment

^^^ Limits lawsuits against states by citizens of other states/countries.

12th Amendment

^^^ President and VP on the same ticket

13th Amendment

^^^ Abolished slavery.

14th Amendment

^^^ Citizenship, equal protection, due process.

15th Amendment

^^^ Voting rights cannot be denied by race.

16th Amendment

^^^ Congress can collect income tax.

17th Amendment

^^^ Direct election of senators.

18th Amendment

^^^ Prohibition of alcohol.

19th Amendment

^^^ Women’s right to vote.

20th Amendment

^^^ Terms start Jan 20th(“Lame Duck”).

21st Amendment

^^^ Repeals prohibition (18th Amendment).

22nd Amendment

^^^ Presidential term limits.

23rd Amendment

^^^ D.C. residents get presidential electors.

24th Amendment

^^^ No poll taxes for voting.

25th Amendment

^^^ Presidential succession and disability procedures.

26th Amendment

^^^ Voting age lowered to 18.

27th Amendment

^^^ Congressional pay changes take effect next term.

Whips

^^^ Party members who enforce discipline and gather votes in Congress.

Bureaucracy

^^^ Government agencies and departments that implement laws.

Judicial Branch

^^^ Branch that interprets laws and constitutionality.

Executive Branch

^^^ Branch that enforces laws; headed by the President.

Legislative Branch

^^^ Branch that makes laws; Congress.

Concurrent Powers

^^^ Powers shared by federal and state governments.

Plaintiffs

^^^ Person who brings a case to court.

Defendants

^^^ Person being sued or accused in court.

Fiscal Policy

^^^ Government use of spending and taxes to influence economy.

Monetary Policy

^^^ Central bank control of money supply and interest rates.

Marbury v. Madison

^^^ Established judicial review.

Fletcher v. Peck

^^^ First case declaring a state law unconstitutional.

McCulloch v. Maryland

^^^ Confirmed federal supremacy and implied powers.

Gibbons v. Ogden

^^^ Federal government controls interstate commerce.

Baker v. Carr

^^^ Courts can intervene in redistricting cases.

Brown v. Board of Education

^^^ Stopped segregation in schools

Due Process

^^^ Legal requirement to respect rights before depriving life, liberty, property.

Article 1

^^^ Legislature

Article 2 ^^^

^^^ Executive

Article 3

^^^ Judiciary

Article 4

^^^ States

Article 5

^^^ Amendment process

Article 6

^^^ Supremacy

Article 7

^^^ Ratification

Critical Election

^^^ Election causing a major party realignment.

Mandate

^^^ Official authority to carry out policies from an election.

Tillman Act

^^^ 1907 law banning corporate campaign contributions.

Federal Election Campaign Act

^^^ Regulates campaign finance.

Hard Money

^^^ Direct contributions to candidates.

Soft Money

^^^ Indirect contributions to parties or causes

Interest Group

^^^ Organization trying to influence government policy.

Lobbying

^^^ Organization trying to influence government policy.

Federalist 10

^^^ Madison on controlling factions through large republic.

Federalist 51

^^^ Separation of powers and checks/balances.

Federalist 78

^^^ Judicial independence and judicial review.

Brutus

^^^ Anti-Federalist paper warning about strong central government.

Declaration of Independence

^^^ Document declaring independence from Britain.

Constitution

^^^ Framework for U.S. government.

Bill of Rights

^^^ First 10 amendments protecting individual rights.

Articles of Confederation

^^^ First U.S. government; weak central authority.

Original Jurisdiction

^^^ Court’s authority to hear a case first.

Subcommittee

^^^ Smaller committee handling specialized tasks.

Rules Committee

^^^ House committee controlling debate and amendments on bills.

Elastic Clause

^^^ Allows Congress to pass laws necessary and proper.

Separation of Powers

^^^ Dividing government into branches to limit power.

Checks and Balances

^^^ Each branch can limit powers of the others.

Supremacy Clause

^^^ Federal law overrides state law.

Commerce Clause

^^^ Congress regulates interstate commerce.

Establishment Clause

^^^ Government cannot establish a religion.

Free Exercise Clause

^^^ Protects religious practices from government interference.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

^^^ Court order to bring a prisoner before a judge.

Ex Post Facto Law

^^^ Law punishing acts retroactively.

Electoral College

^^^ Body that formally elects the President.

Impeachment

^^^ Process to remove president or federal officials.

Caucus

^^^ Meeting of party members to select candidates or policies.

Necessary and Proper Clause

^^^ Gives Congress flexibility to make laws.

Equal Protection Clause

^^^ States must treat all citizens equally under law.

Due Process Clause

^^^ Protects against unfair treatment by government.

Full Faith and Credit Clause

^^^ States must respect laws and records of other states.

Engel v. Vitale

^^^ Banned school-sponsored prayer because it violates the Establishment Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright

^^^ Required states to provide an attorney to defendants who can't afford one.

Tinker v. Des Moines

^^^ Protected student free speech in school as long as it isn’t disruptive.

New York Times v. United States

^^^ Government can’t censor the press (no prior restraint) unless there’s a real national security threat.

Schenck v. United States

^^^ Speech can be limited if it creates a “clear and present danger.”

Wisconsin v. Yoder

^^^ Allowed Amish families to stop schooling after 8th grade for religious reasons (Free Exercise Clause).

Roe v. Wade

^^^ Recognized a right to privacy that included access to abortion (though later overturned).

Shaw v. Reno

^^^ Racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause.

United States v. Lopez

^^^ Limited Congress’s power; guns in school zones aren’t interstate commerce.

McDonald v. Chicago

^^^ Applied the Second Amendment to the states; individuals have the right to bear arms.

Citizens United v. FEC

^^^ Allowed unlimited independent political spending by corporations and unions (free speech).