2nd Civics 2026 Final Exam Study Guide Flashcards

Vocabulary terms and definitions from the Chapters 5, 6, 7, 10, and 11 Civics study guide, including key legislative, executive, and judicial concepts and Supreme Court cases.

Bicameral Legislature

A law-making body of two houses.

Apportioned

The process of dividing the $435$ members (or seats) in the U.S. House of Representatives among fifty states.

Gerrymandering

A practice of redrawing district lines that favor a particular party, a politician (candidate), or specific group of people.

Immunity

Legal protection against non-violent (non-physical) crimes.

Expulsion

An act of having to give up your position in U.S. Congress.

Censure

A formal disapproval of a member’s action in the U.S. Congress.

Sessions

Congressional meeting periods, one for each year of a two-year term.

Caucuses

Members of each political party (Democrat & Republican) gather for private party meetings.

President Pro Tempore

A Senate member elected to preside over daily meetings of the Senate in place of the Vice President.

Whip

An assistant to each party’s floor leaders.

Speaker of the House

Leader (president) who preside over House of Representatives sessions; current leader is Mike Johnson.

Implied Powers

Congressional powers to do any actions relating to delegated powers that are considered “necessary and proper”.

Elastic Clause

Another name for the “necessary and proper” clause; allows Congress to stretch delegated powers to cover many areas.

Impeach

To accuse a higher-ranking public official (members of executive and judicial branch) of misconduct or violating “Rules of Conduct”.

Treason

An action that betrays or endangers one’s country.

Bill

A proposed law, also known as an ACT.

Appropriation Bill

A bill approving the spending of money.

Filibuster

A Senate discussion method intended to delay the vote on a bill.

Cloture

A legislative procedure for ending debate in the U.S. Senate and taking a vote.

Veto

A presidential rejection of a bill.

Pocket Veto

A $10$-day delay in the presidential signing of a bill while Congress is not in session with the effect of killing the bill.

Presidential Succession

If both the president and vice president die or leave office, the $25^{th}$ Amendment ($1967$) gives Congress power to set the order of succession.

State of the Union Address

Speech generally scheduled in Jan or Feb that sets forth the programs and policies the president wants Congress to turn into laws.

Foreign Policy

Government’s plan for interacting with other countries in the world.

Diplomacy

The art of interacting with foreign governments and building international relationships; referred to as “charisma”.

Treaties

Written agreements with other countries.

Reprieve

An executive order given by the president to postpone someone’s punishment for a crime.

Pardon

An executive order given by the president that forgives a person for a crime and removes any punishment for it.

Commutation

An executive order given by the president to reduce a person’s punishment or sentence.

Secretary

The title for executive department leaders.

Attorney General

The title for the Department of Justice leader (Pam Bomdi).

Ambassadors

Highest ranking U.S. representatives in foreign countries.

Passports

Formal documents that allow U.S. citizens to go abroad.

Visas

Documents that allow foreigners to come in to the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security

An executive department created in $2002$ whose mission is to protect the nation against further terrorist attacks.

Independent Agencies

Federal executive department responsible for protecting the US from threats inside the country, such as terrorism, natural disasters, and border security issues.

Regulatory Commission

Government organizations that are part of the federal government, but operate outside of the regular executive departments and have more independence from direct presidential control.

Crime

Any behavior that is illegal because society, through its government, considers the behavior harmful to the innocent.

Criminal Law

The set of laws that defines crimes and sets punishments for people who break those laws.

Civil Law

The group of laws that refer to disputes between people.

Common Law

A type of law that comes from judges’ decisions that rely on common sense and previous cases.

Precedent

An earlier court decision that a judge follows.

Constitutional Law

Law based on the constitution and Supreme Court decisions.

Appeal

The process by which a lawyer asks a higher court to review the result of a trial.

Jurisdiction

A range of authority the court must hear and decide a case that has been properly brought before it.

District Courts

Trial courts that make up the lowest level of federal courts.

Original Jurisdiction

The power (authority) of a court to hear and decide a case for the first time.

Courts of Appeals

The second level of federal courts; handles appeals.

Appellate Jurisdiction

A court that has the power (authority) to review decisions made by a lower court.

Judicial Review

The SCOTUS authority to decide whether a law or presidential action agrees with the U.S. Constitution.

Chief Justice

John Roberts; leader of the Supreme Court.

Remand

The return by the Supreme Court of a case to a lower court for retrial.

Opinion

An explanation of the reasoning behind a decision by the Supreme Court.

Concurring Opinion

When a justice agrees with the majority opinion, but for different reasons.

Dissenting Opinion

When a justice believes the majority opinion is wrong or disagrees with the majority.

Political Party

A group of people with similar viewpoints on public issues/topics.

Political Spectrum

The range of differences in viewpoints between political parties.

Poll

A survey intended to measure public opinion.

Nominate

To select a candidate to run for a political office, such as at Presidential conventions.

Candidate

A person who runs for a government office.

Two-Party System

A government dominated by two main political parties (Republican & Democratic).

Multiparty System

A government run by more than two strong political parties.

One-Party System

A government controlled by a single strong political party (e.g., Russia, Germany, or North Korea).

Third Parties

Any party that is not the Republican or Democratic party (e.g., Libertarian, green, and constitution).

Independent Voters

Citizens who are not members of a political party.

Primary Election

The first election, usually in late spring or early summer.

General Election

Voters choose leaders from candidates offered by all political parties.

Secret Ballot

A paper ballot listing candidates and marked in private by voters.

Popular Vote

The total vote of a country's citizens.

Elector

A person chosen by each state as a member of the electoral college to select the president and vice president ($538$ members).

Conservative

Believes in “Limited” government to preserve more individual freedoms and traditional social values.

Liberal

Believes that government should be active in people’s lives for the betterment of society and believes in “progressive” social values.

Public Opinion

The total number of opinions citizens believe concerning a particular issue (e.g., Death Penalty).

Propaganda

Ideas that are spread to influence people.

Name calling

Politicians’ usage of their personal names or opponents’ names in campaign advertising.

Testimonials

A truthful, personal account or “endorsement”; often by celebrities for products or people.

Glittering Generalities

Appealing to voters’ emotions, often following a tragic event like $9/11$, to promote methods to correct the situation.

Bandwagon

A technique based on the idea that people want to do what everyone else is doing or be with the winning team.

$35$ years old, a native born citizen, and a resident for $14$ years.

Qualifications for President & VP

Line of Presidential Succession (First Seven)$1$ .1. Vice President, $2$. Speaker of the House, $3$. President Pro Tempore, $4$. Secretary of State, $5$. Secretary of Treasury, $6$. Secretary of Defense, $7$. Attorney General.

Line of Presidential Succession (First Seven)

House of Representatives

Which chamber is this?

·       Each state is entitled to at least one representative while the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have NONVOTING delegate.

·       435 members in the House

·       Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929

·       Elections are held in November of even numbered years

·       2-Year terms (NO TERM LIMITS)

·       If a representative dies or resigns before the end of the term, the governor can call a special election to fill the vacancy.

The Senate

·       2 senators per state are elected to 6-year terms (no term limits)

·       Elections are held in November of even numbered years

·       1/3 of the members are elected every 2 years

President Pro-Tempore

a senate member elected to preside over daily meetings of the Senate in place of the vice president

In the Senate

Where is trial on impeachment held?

an act of having to give up your position in U.S. Congress

What is expulsion?

a formal disapproval of a member’s action in the U.S. Congress

What is censure?

House of Rep: 25 years old

Senate: 30 years old

What are the ages for the candidates in both the House and Senate?

·       benefits include free trips to their home state, an allowance for an office in their district, and franking privilege (right to mail official letters and packages for free)

·       Members of Congress also benefit from immunity meaning that a member of Congress can not be arrested when on their way to a Congressional session/meeting

What are the benefits to being a member of Congress?

1. Introduce by a member of the House

2. Discussed in House Committee

3. If the bill is passed by the House Committee, the bill will be discussed for vote on the House floor

4. If the bill is passed, then move to the Senate Committee

5. Bill is discussed in the Senate Committee

6. IF the bill is passed by the Senate Committee, the bill is discussed for vote on the Senate Floor

7. If the bill is passed, the bill is moved to the President’s desk

8. President can sign bill, veto bill, or pocket veto bill

What are the steps for when a bill becomes a law?

1. 35 years old

2. Native-born citizen

3. Resident for 14 years

Same as President

What are the qualifications of the Vice President?

1. 35 years old

2. Native-born citizen

3. Resident for 14 years

Same as Vice President

What are the qualifications of the President?

1. Vice President

2. Speaker of the House

3. President Pro Tempore

4. Secretary of State

5. Secretary of Treasury

6. Secretary of Defense

7. Attorney General

8. Secretary of the Interior

9. Secretary of Agriculture

10. Secretary of Commerce

11. Secretary of Labor

12. Secretary of Health and Human Services

13. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

14. Secretary of Transportation

15. Secretary of Energy

16. Secretary of Education

17. Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs

What is the Line of Succession in order? (17)

• Constitution (Art.II) gives the president the power to appoint Supreme Court judges and federal judges.

• Also, reprieve, pardon, and commutation.

• Power to sign, veto, or pocket veto a bill

What are the powers of the Executive Branch (president)?

Advises president on various aspects specifically related to an executive department; 16 people (15 executive departments + Vice President); all the leaders of the executive departments

What is the purpose of the President’s Cabinet and how many people are apart of the Cabinet?

Criminal Law - Laws that define crimes to protect citizens against physical harm

Civil Law - Laws that decide disputes between citizens

Criminal Law vs. Civil Law

• District Court - original

• Court of Appeals - appellate

• Supreme Court - appellate and limited original

What are the 3 levels of Federal Court and types of jurisdiction?

Original jurisdiction is the first to decide a case, while appellate jurisdiction court has the power to review decisions of a lower court

What are the differences between original and appellate jurisdiction?

The process by which a lawyer asks a higher court to review decisions of trial by a lower court

What are appeals?

Article III

What article of the Constitution established the Judicial Branch?

• 9 Judges

• President

• Congress (Senate)

• Lifetime, unless a supreme court judge retires or resigns

How many Supreme Court Justices are there, how are they appointed, who approves them, and how long is their term?