Gov Unit 4

Packing

Packing refers to the practice of concentrating voters of one particular political persuasion into a single electoral district to reduce their influence in other districts.

Cracking

Cracking is the practice of dividing a particular group of voters among multiple electoral districts to dilute their voting power and prevent them from having a significant impact in any one district.

Majority Minority Districts

These are electoral districts where minority groups represent the majority of the population. They are often created to ensure fair representation for minority communities.

When is Gerrymandering unconstitutional?

Gerrymandering is unconstitutional when it violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by intentionally diluting the voting power of certain groups based on race or ethnicity.

Reapportionment

Reapportionment is the process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on changes in population as determined by the decennial census.

What kind of legislature do we have?

The United States has a bicameral legislature, consisting of two separate chambers

Know the difference between the House and the Senate

The House of Representatives is based on proportional representation, with each state's representation determined by its population. The Senate, however, gives equal representation to each state, with two senators per state.

Speaker of the House

Presides over the House of Representatives, sets the legislative agenda, and represents the House to the outside world.

Majority Leader of the House

Coordinates the legislative agenda and strategy for the majority party in the House.

Minority Leader of the House

Represents the minority party in the House and develops its legislative strategy.

Majority Whip of the House

Assists the majority leader in managing party legislative strategy and ensures party discipline.

Minority Whip of the House

Assists the minority leader in managing party legislative strategy and ensures party discipline.

Vice President of the United States

Serves as the President of the Senate and casts tie-breaking votes.

President Pro Tempore of the Senate

Presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President.

Majority Leader of the Senate

Coordinates the legislative agenda and strategy for the majority party in the Senate.

Minority Leader of the Senate

Represents the minority party in the Senate and develops its legislative strategy.

Majority Whip of the Senate

Assists the majority leader in managing party legislative strategy and ensures party discipline.

Minority Whip of the Senate

Assists the minority leader in managing party legislative strategy and ensures party discipline.

What are the roles of Committees in Congress?

Committees in Congress play crucial roles in the legislative process, including conducting hearings, drafting legislation, and overseeing the implementation of laws.

What does a Conference Committee do?

A Conference Committee resolves differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill to create a compromise version that can be voted on by both chambers.

What does the Ways and Means Committee do?

The Ways and Means Committee in the House of Representatives is responsible for overseeing taxation, tariffs, and other revenue-raising measures.

What does the House Rules Committee do?

The House Rules Committee determines the terms and conditions under which a bill can be debated and amended on the House floor.

How might “pork” aid the district of a member of Congress?

"Pork" refers to federal funds allocated to specific projects or programs in a particular district or state, often to benefit the constituents and enhance the reelection prospects of a member of Congress.

What are appropriations?

Appropriations are funds allocated by Congress for specific purposes, typically through the passage of appropriations bills.

Which Presidents have been impeached?

Presidents who have been impeached include Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Additionally, Donald Trump was impeached twice, though he was not removed from office either time.

What is senatorial courtesy?

Senatorial courtesy is the practice whereby the Senate defers to the judgment of the senior senator from a nominee's home state when considering presidential appointments.

Know the 22nd Amendment

The 22nd Amendment limits the president to two terms in office.

Know the 25th Amendment

The 25th Amendment outlines the procedures for presidential succession and disability.

Differentiate between White House staff and the Cabinet

The White House staff assists the President in various capacities, while the Cabinet consists of the heads of executive departments who advise the President.

Roles of the President

Roles of the President include chief executive, commander-in-chief, chief diplomat, chief legislator, and head of state.

Roles of the Vice President

Roles of the Vice President include serving as the President of the Senate and assuming the presidency in the event of the President's death, resignation, or removal from office.

Reasons for typically choosing a Vice President / running mate

Balancing the ticket geographically, ideologically, or demographically, as well as selecting someone who can enhance the presidential candidate's electoral chances.

In an Impeachment of the President of the United States the roles of the House, Senate, Judiciary

The House of Representatives brings charges, the Senate conducts a trial, and the Judiciary oversees the legal process.

Executive Orders, Executive Agreements, Executive Privilege

Executive orders are directives issued by the President that have the force of law. Executive agreements are international agreements made by the President without Senate approval. Executive privilege allows the President to withhold information from Congress or the courts in certain circumstances.

The State of the Union Address

The State of the Union Address is an annual speech delivered by the President to Congress, outlining the administration's legislative agenda and the state of the nation.

What does the bureaucracy do?

The bureaucracy implements and enforces laws passed by Congress, manages government agencies, and provides services to the public.

What types of organizations make up the federal bureaucracy?

Types of organizations in the federal bureaucracy include executive departments, independent agencies, regulatory commissions, and government corporations.

What is the Hatch Act of 1939?

The Hatch Act limits the political activities of federal employees to ensure nonpartisan administration of government programs.

What is the Pendleton Act of 1883?

The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act provided for selection of some government employees by competitive exams rather than ties to politicians, and made it illegal to fire or demote some government officials for political reasons.

What is the merit system?

The merit system is a system of employment based on qualifications, testing, and demonstrated ability rather than political patronage.

What is the Iron Triangle?

The Iron Triangle refers to the close relationship between bureaucratic agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups that work together to shape public policy in their favor.

Know how each branch (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial) CHECKS the others. (Checks and Balances)

• Legislative Branch:

  • Passing laws and controlling the budget.

  • Oversight of the executive branch.

  • Impeachment powers and confirmation of officials.

• Executive Branch:

  • Veto power over legislation.

  • Appointment of judges and justices.

  • Commander-in-chief authority balanced by Congress's war powers.

• Judicial Branch:

  • Judicial review to declare laws unconstitutional.

  • Interpreting laws and the Constitution.

  • Limiting executive actions through legal rulings.

Why did the founders implement checks and balances?

The founders implemented checks and balances to prevent tyranny and ensure that no single branch of government could dominate the others.

What is a writ of certiorari?

A writ of certiorari is a legal order issued by the Supreme Court to review a lower court's decision.

What is stare decisis?

Stare decisis is the principle of deciding legal cases based on precedent, whereby courts adhere to previous rulings in similar cases.

What is the Rule of Four?

The Rule of Four is a Supreme Court practice where at least four justices must agree to hear a case before it is added to the court's dockett.

What is judicial activism?

Judicial activism refers to when judges interpret the Constitution in a way that reflects their own personal beliefs and values, often leading to decisions that create new policies or change existing ones. It involves judges actively shaping public policy through their rulings.

What is judicial restraint?

Judicial restraint is the concept that judges should limit the exercise of their own power and defer to the decisions made by elected representatives whenever possible. It emphasizes adherence to precedent and a reluctance to overturn legislative acts.

What is meant by “original intent”?

Original intent refers to the interpretation of the Constitution based on the understanding of the Founding Fathers at the time it was written. It involves discerning the framers' original intentions and applying them to modern legal issues.

What is a unanimous opinion?

A unanimous opinion is a decision issued by a court in which all judges or justices are in agreement regarding the outcome and reasoning of the case.

What is a majority opinion?

A majority opinion is a decision issued by a court representing the views of the majority of judges or justices. It becomes the controlling decision of the court.

What is a concurring opinion?

A concurring opinion is a separate opinion issued by a judge or justice who agrees with the majority's conclusion but for different reasons or with additional commentary.

What is a dissenting opinion?

A dissenting opinion is a separate opinion issued by a judge or justice who disagrees with the majority's decision and reasoning.

Who appoints justices? Who confirms them? What is the process?

Justices of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. The President nominates a candidate, and the Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings to consider the nomination. If the committee approves the nomination, it is sent to the full Senate for a vote. If a majority of senators approve, the nominee is confirmed and becomes a justice.

Know who makes up the Supreme Court’s current liberal block of justices.

Know who makes up the Supreme Court’s current conservative block of justices.

Know the difference between Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

Civil liberties refer to individual freedoms and protections from government interference, such as freedom of speech and religion, while civil rights are rights that guarantee equal treatment and freedom from discrimination by the government or private organizations.

Know the 14th Amendment

The 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, guarantees equal protection under the law to all citizens and prohibits states from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.

Know the 15th Amendment

The 15th Amendment, ratified in 1870, prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

Know the 19th Amendment

The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, grants women the right to vote.

Know the Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is landmark legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination.

Know the Voting Rights Act of 1965

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a federal law that aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote, as guaranteed by the 15th Amendment.

Know the significance of the case of Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Plessy v. Ferguson upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities as long as the facilities were equal in quality, establishing the "separate but equal" doctrine.

Know the significance of the case of Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Brown v. Board of Education declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional, overturning the precedent set by Plessy v. Ferguson and marking a major victory for the Civil Rights Movement.

Know the significance of the case of Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)

Tinker v. Des Moines affirmed that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." It ruled that schools could not suppress student speech unless it substantially disrupted the educational process.

Know the significance of the case of Roe v. Wade (1973)

Roe v. Wade established a woman's legal right to have an abortion under the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment, striking down many state laws that restricted abortion.

Know the significance of the case of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission (2010)

Citizens United v. FEC ruled that political spending by corporations, associations, and labor unions is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment, overturning certain campaign finance laws and leading to the rise of super PACs.

Obergefell v. Hodges

Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same sex marriage

What was the 1996 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy?

The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was a U.S. military policy that prohibited openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals from serving in the armed forces while also barring military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members.

What is the Establishment Clause?

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or favoring one religion over another. It ensures the separation of church and state.

What is the Free Exercise Clause?

The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment protects individuals' rights to practice their religion without government interference or prohibition.

What is the Equal Protection Clause?

The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment mandates that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction equal protection under the law, ensuring that individuals are treated similarly by the government.

What does Title IX of the 1972 Civil Rights Act enforce?

Title IX prohibits sex discrimination

What is the Equal Rights Amendment?

The Equal Rights Amendment is a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. It has not been ratified.

What is subject to strict scrutiny by the Supreme Court?

Strict scrutiny is the highest standard of judicial review used by the Supreme Court to evaluate the constitutionality of a law. Laws subject to strict scrutiny must serve a compelling government interest and be narrowly tailored to achieve that interest.

What is Affirmative Action?

Affirmative action refers to policies and practices designed to address past and present discrimination against certain groups by providing preferential treatment, typically in education or employment, to members of those groups.

What does the Americans with Disabilities Act require?

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires employers and public entities to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against them in employment, public services, transportation, and telecommunications.