US Government Lecture Review

Question-and-answer style flashcards covering major concepts from the US Government lecture.

What "war" did President Nixon create to distract the people?

The War on Drugs.

Which war was highly unpopular with the American public in the 1970s?

The Vietnam War.

What was the primary effect of Nixon's "War on Drugs" speech?

It led to mass imprisonment.

Who coined the phrase "Good Trouble"?

Civil rights leader John Lewis.

What form of government is rule by a king or dictator called?

A monarchy.

What form of government is rule by a small group called?

An oligarchy.

Under which form of government do the people rule directly or through representatives?

A democracy.

What is a republic?

A government limited by law where officials are elected to represent the people.

What do we call the absence of any government?

Anarchy.

Name the five freedoms protected by the First Amendment.

Speech, press, religion, assembly, and petition.

Which amendment guarantees the right to bear arms?

The Second Amendment.

Which amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes?

The Third Amendment.

Which amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures?

The Fourth Amendment.

Which amendment provides protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination and guarantees due process?

The Fifth Amendment.

Which amendment guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial?

The Sixth Amendment.

Which amendment preserves the right to a jury trial in civil cases?

The Seventh Amendment.

Which amendment bans excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment?

The Eighth Amendment.

Which amendment states that people have rights beyond those listed in the Constitution?

The Ninth Amendment.

Which amendment reserves non-delegated powers to the states or the people?

The Tenth Amendment.

Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States?

The Thirteenth Amendment.

Which amendment granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.?

The Fourteenth Amendment.

Which amendment forbids denying the right to vote based on race?

The Fifteenth Amendment.

Which amendment established the popular election of U.S. senators?

The Seventeenth Amendment.

Which amendment gave women the right to vote?

The Nineteenth Amendment.

Which amendment eliminated the poll tax in federal elections?

The Twenty-Fourth Amendment.

Which amendment lowered the voting age to 18?

The Twenty-Sixth Amendment.

Which amendment prevents Congress from giving itself an immediate pay raise?

The Twenty-Seventh Amendment.

What proportion of Congress or state legislatures is required to propose a constitutional amendment?

A two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or in the state legislatures.

What proportion of states must ratify a constitutional amendment?

Three-fourths of the state legislatures or state conventions.

How were U.S. senators originally chosen under the Constitution?

By state legislatures (until the 17th Amendment).

List one similarity between the Georgia and U.S. governments.

Examples include: both have a Bill of Rights, separation of powers, bicameral legislature, an executive who can veto bills, and judicial review.

Name one difference between the Georgia and U.S. governments.

Examples include: Georgia voters must approve constitutional amendments, Georgia must maintain a balanced budget, and the Georgia governor has a line-item veto.

What is federalism?

A system in which power is divided between national and state governments.

Give two powers granted to Congress by the Constitution.

Examples: collect taxes, borrow money, coin money, establish national courts, regulate commerce, raise and support an army, declare war.

What are concurrent powers?

Powers shared by the federal and state governments, such as taxing, borrowing, and creating courts.

What is cooperative federalism?

A system in which federal and state governments work together to solve problems, often with expanded federal power.

Give an historical example of cooperative federalism in action.

Federal programs during the Great Depression.

What is dual federalism?

A model in which state and national governments remain supreme within their separate spheres.

What is New Federalism?

A movement, especially under Nixon and Reagan, to shift power back to the states.

Provide an example of New Federalism.

Using block grants for education or Medicaid so states decide how to spend the money.

What is competitive federalism?

A situation where federal and state/local governments have conflicting policies, e.g., on same-sex marriage, COVID-19, or gun rights.

What is nationalist federalism?

When the federal government expands its authority over states through funding blocks or threats.

List two issues that concern Generation Z.

Possible answers: healthcare access, mental health, higher education, economic security, civic engagement, racial equality, environment, gun violence.

Name the four key cabinet department heads.

Secretaries of Defense, State, Treasury, and the Attorney General.

How many justices sit on the U.S. Supreme Court?

Nine, including the Chief Justice.

What determines the number of representatives each state has in the House?

The state's population.

How many U.S. senators does each state have?

Two.

What does Elite Theory claim?

That a small group of elites controls the government.

What does Pluralist Theory claim?

That competing interest groups influence government policy.

What does Bureaucratist Theory suggest?

That government employees (the bureaucracy) run the government.

Which war caused Britain to begin taxing the colonies?

The French and Indian War.

Who composed the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston.

Name one major weakness of the Articles of Confederation.

Examples: no power to tax, no national army, separate state currencies, unanimous consent required to amend, no executive.

What was the official name of the Constitutional Convention?

The Philadelphia Convention.

What role did James Madison play at the Philadelphia Convention?

He was the planner and principal architect of the Constitution.

What was Alexander Hamilton's actual involvement at the Philadelphia Convention?

Minimal—he was largely absent, making him something of a myth.

What was the main goal of the Constitutional Convention?

To revise the Articles of Confederation and address their weaknesses.

What are enumerated powers?

Specific powers granted to the federal government by the Constitution, primarily to Congress.

What does the Supremacy Clause state?

The Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land over state laws.

Who is called the "Father of the Bill of Rights"?

George Mason.

Which event convinced many that the Articles of Confederation were too weak?

Shays' Rebellion.

What was the Newburgh Conspiracy?

A planned coup by Continental Army officers demanding promised pay, defused by George Washington.

What was the purpose of the First Continental Congress in 1774?

To respond to the Intolerable Acts; delegates pledged to boycott British goods while remaining loyal.

What did the Second Continental Congress do in 1775?

It created the Continental Army to fight Britain, though it initially maintained loyalty to the crown.

Lee Resolution

The Second Continental Congress's declaration that the colonies were independent of Britain.

What governing document did the Continental Congress produce in November 1777?

The Articles of Confederation.

What did Article II of the Articles of Confederation specify?

Each state retained its sovereignty, freedom, and independence.

What did Article III of the Articles of Confederation establish?

A "firm league of friendship" among the states.

Name one proposal regarding the presidency made at the Philadelphia Convention.

Ideas included three presidents (regional), two presidents, or no president.

During what months did the Philadelphia Convention meet?

May to September 1787 (about five months).

What was the key feature of the Virginia Plan?

Representation in Congress based on population, favored by large states.

What was the key feature of the New Jersey Plan?

Equal representation for each state, favored by small states.

What was the Great Compromise?

A bicameral legislature with population-based representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate.

How are members of the House of Representatives elected?

By popular vote for two-year terms.

How were U.S. senators chosen before the 17th Amendment?

By state legislatures for six-year terms.

What did the Federalists support?

Ratification of the Constitution.

What did the Anti-Federalists oppose?

Ratification of the Constitution.

Name one leading Federalist.

James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, or John Jay.

Name one leading Anti-Federalist.

Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, or George Mason.

What pen name did Madison, Hamilton, and Jay use for the Federalist Papers?

Publius.