PSC 101 Exam 1 Study Guide (Philip Habel)

What are the main purposes of government?

To provide order and promote the general welfare.

What political system emphasizes the role of the people in decision-making?

Democracy.

What economic system is characterized by minimal government intervention?

Free market.

What are redistributive tax policies?

Tax policies designed to redistribute wealth from the richer segments of society to the poorer segments.

What are culture wars?

Conflicts between groups with different cultural values and beliefs.

What are the two primary ideologies discussed in the context of government?

Liberal ideology and conservative ideology.

What concepts are associated with liberal ideology?

Norms, liberty, and equality.

What was the primary purpose of the Articles of Confederation?

To establish a limited government for the newly independent states.

What event highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Shay's Rebellion.

What are the two contrasting forms of government discussed in the context of the Articles?

Monarchy vs. Republicanism.

What principle asserts that the authority of the government is created by and subject to the will of the people?

Popular sovereignty.

What document contains the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

The Bill of Rights.

What compromise determined how slaves would be counted for representation in Congress?

The Three-Fifths Compromise.

What was the main argument of the Federalists?

To support a strong central government and the ratification of the Constitution.

What clause allows Congress to make laws that are necessary and proper for executing its powers?

The Necessary and Proper Clause.

What is the purpose of checks and balances in the U.S. government?

To prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.

What is judicial review?

The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

What is federalism?

A system of government where power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

What are exclusive powers?

Powers that are reserved solely for the federal government, such as the power to coin money.

What are concurrent powers?

Powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments, such as the power to tax.

What is the Supremacy Clause?

A clause in the U.S. Constitution stating that federal law takes precedence over state law.

What does the Full Faith and Credit Clause ensure?

It requires states to recognize and enforce the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states.

What was the significance of McCulloch vs Maryland (1819)?

It established the principle of national supremacy and upheld the implied powers of Congress.

What is dual federalism?

A concept where state and federal governments operate independently within their own spheres of authority, often referred to as 'layer cake federalism.'

What was the outcome of Dred Scott vs. Sandford (1857)?

The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans could not be American citizens and that Congress had no authority to prohibit slavery in federal territories.

What are the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments known for?

They are known as the Reconstruction Amendments, abolishing slavery, granting citizenship, and protecting voting rights for African Americans.

What are Jim Crow laws?

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States.

What is marble cake federalism?

A concept where state and federal governments are intertwined and work together, contrasting with dual federalism.

What is coercive federalism?

A form of federalism where the federal government pressures states to implement policies through mandates and funding conditions.

What is the difference between categorical grants and block grants?

Categorical grants are for specific purposes with strict regulations, while block grants provide more general funding with fewer restrictions.

What does the 10th Amendment state?

It reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

What is the Commerce Clause?

A clause in the Constitution that grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the states, and with Indian tribes.

Due Process clause

A constitutional guarantee that a law shall not be unfair, arbitrary, or unreasonable, and that legal proceedings will be fair.

Selective incorporation

The process by which certain rights in the Bill of Rights are applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment.

Privacy Rights

Rights that protect individuals' privacy from government intrusion.

Roe vs Wade 1973

A landmark Supreme Court case that recognized a woman's legal right to have an abortion under the right to privacy.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization 2022

A Supreme Court case that overturned Roe v. Wade, allowing states to regulate abortion.

First Amendment

Protects freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition.

Second Amendment

Protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures and sets requirements for search warrants.

Fifth Amendment

Provides for the right to due process, prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy, and includes eminent domain.

Sixth Amendment

Guarantees the right to counsel, a speedy and public trial, and an impartial jury.

Eighth Amendment

Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail or fines.

What was the significance of the Dred Scott vs. Sandford case in 1857?

The case ruled that African Americans could not be American citizens and that Congress had no authority to regulate slavery in the territories.

What did the 13th Amendment accomplish?

It abolished slavery in the United States.

What is the Equal Protection Clause and which amendment contains it?

The Equal Protection Clause is part of the 14th Amendment and requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all persons.

What was the purpose of the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

The Act aimed to eliminate barriers to voting for African Americans and ensure their right to vote.

What landmark decision did Brown vs. Board of Education (1954) address?

It declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, overturning the 'separate but equal' doctrine established by Plessy vs. Ferguson.

What were Jim Crow laws?

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States.

What was the outcome of Obergefell vs. Hodges (2015)?

The Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right under the 14th Amendment.

What did the 19th Amendment achieve?

It granted women the right to vote in the United States.

What was the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and its consequence?

It authorized the forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands, leading to the Trail of Tears.

What is affirmative action?

Policies that aim to increase opportunities for historically marginalized groups in education and employment.

What are natural rights as stated in the Declaration of Independence?

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

What was the main issue with the Articles of Confederation?

It established a weak central government with limited powers, such as no power to tax.

What was Shay's Rebellion?

A rebellion that highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger central government.

What principles guided the Framers of the Constitution?

Balancing the shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation while avoiding tyranny, including Separation of Powers, Checks and Balances, Popular Sovereignty, Limited Government, and Federalism.

What was the Great Compromise?

An agreement between the Virginia Plan (favoring larger states) and the New Jersey Plan (favoring smaller states) that created a bicameral legislature.

What was the Three-Fifths Compromise?

An agreement that counted three-fifths of the slave population for representation and taxation purposes.

What does the Preamble to the Constitution outline?

The guiding principles of the Constitution and its purpose, addressing shortcomings of the Articles and concerns over abuses from British rule.

What powers are granted to Congress in Article 1, Section 8?

Enumerated powers, including the Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause).

What is the role of the President as outlined in Article 2?

The President's powers include being the Commander in Chief, making treaties, and the duty to 'Preserve, Protect, and Defend the Constitution.'

What is the purpose of the Electoral College?

To formally elect the President of the United States.

What is impeachment?

The process by which a sitting President can be charged with misconduct and potentially removed from office.

What does Article 3 establish?

The Supreme Court and its role in the judicial system.

What do the Full Faith and Credit Clause and Privileges and Immunities Clause in Article 4 address?

They ensure that states respect the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of other states and guarantee certain rights to citizens.

What are the Federalist Papers?

A series of essays advocating for the ratification of the Constitution, contrasting with the Anti-Federalist Papers which raised concerns about federal power.

What was the significance of McCulloch vs. Maryland (1819)?

It affirmed the Elastic Clause and established federal supremacy over state laws.

What is Dual/Layer Cake Federalism?

A model of federalism where state and federal governments operate independently in their own spheres of authority.

What is Marble Cake Federalism?

A model of federalism where state and federal governments work together and share responsibilities.

What are block grants and categorical grants?

Block grants are funds given to states for broad purposes, while categorical grants are for specific purposes with more restrictions.

What are civil liberties?

Fundamental rights and freedoms protected from government interference, often discussed in relation to Supreme Court cases.

What does the Establishment Clause of the 1st Amendment prohibit?

It prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or unduly favoring one religion over another.

What landmark decision did Roe v. Wade (1973) establish?

It recognized a woman's right to choose to have an abortion under the right to privacy.

What was the outcome of Brown vs. Board of Education (1954)?

It overturned the 'separate but equal' doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson and mandated the desegregation of public schools.