U.S. Government CBE Study Guide

Aristotle

Affirmed the existence of a "law of nature," but he was admired by and influenced the American Founders more for his related views on republican government and the rule of law.

Petition of Right

1628: Signed by Charles I. No imprisonment without due cause; no taxes levied without Parliament's consent; soldiers not housed in private homes; no martial law during peace time.

Executive Privledge

The power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

Sunshine/Sunset Laws

Required government agencies to open their meetings to the public and the press.

Reserved Powers

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people.

Delegated Powers

Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution, for example, the authority to print money.

Concurrent Powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

Implied Powers

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

Public Acts

Civil laws passed by state legislatures.

Interstate Compacts

Contracts between states that carry the force of law; generally now used as a tool to address multistate policy concerns.

Caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

U.S. House

The larger house of Congress. Its members represent the people of their state, and the total number of representatives is based on the state's population. Has 435 members total. Members serve 2-year terms.

U.S. Senate

The smaller house of Congress. Its members represent each state; there are two representatives per state. Has 100 members total; members serve 6-year terms.

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature.

Independent Commissions

A regulatory agency run by a small group of commissioners independent of political control.

Regulatory Commissions

An independent agency created by Congress that can make rules concerning certain activities and bring violators to court.

Rock the Vote Campaign

Created by MTV, a movement began in 1990 to attract the youngest voters.

President's Cabinet

Made up of the heads of the 15 major department of the executive branch of government . The vice-president and UN ambassador are sometimes included. The departments of state, justice, treasury, defense and perhaps homeland security.

Senate Appropriations Committee

Standing committee that is in charge of all discretionary spending legislation.

House Ways

The House of Representatives committee that, along with the Senate Finance Committee, writes the tax codes, subject to the approval of Congress as a whole.

Means Committee

Responsible for taxing.

Line Item Veto

Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

PAC's

Political Action Committees, raise money for candidates &/or parties.

Controllable Spending

An amount that congress and the president to determine how much will be spent each year on many individual government expenditures.

Uncontrollable Spending

The portion of the Federal budget that is spent on programs, such as Social Security, that the president and Congress are unwilling to cut.

FCC

Regulates the television and radio industry, grants licenses to television and radio stations, and blocks monopolies.

FEC

Manages and reports the finances of federal elections.

Pardon

An executive grant providing restoration of all rights and privileges of citizenship to a specific individual charged or convicted of a crime.

Reprieve

A formal postponement of the execution of a sentence imposed by a court of law.

Amnesty

A general pardon for an offense against a government; in general, any act of forgiveness or absolution.

Hatch Act

1939 - Prohibited federal office holders from participating actively in political campaigns or soliciting or accepting contributions.

Pendleton Act

1883 - Law that created a Civil Service Commission and stated that federal employees could not be required to contribute to campaign funds nor be fired for political reasons.

American Ambassadors

Appointed by President. Approved by simple majority of Senate.

Foreign Embassies

No U.S. jurisdiction without permission.

Miranda v. Arizona

1966 Supreme Court decision that sets guidelines for police questioning of accused persons to protect them against self-incrimination and to protect their right to counsel.

Marbury v. Madison

The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress, (the Judiciary Act of 1789).

Train v. New York

Limited president's power to impound money that Congress has appropriated.

Amicus Curiae

A Latin term meaning "friend of the court." Refers to interested groups or individuals, not directly involved in a suit, who may file legal briefs or oral arguments in support of one side.

Writ of Certiorari

A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court.

Stare Decisis

A Latin phrase meaning "let the decision stand." Most cases reaching appellate courts are settled on this principle.

Per Curiam

A brief, unsigned opinion issued by the Supreme Court to explain its ruling.

Brief

A document stating the facts and points of law of a client's case.

Opinion

A statement of legal reasoning behind a judicial decision. The content of an opinion may be as important as the decision itself.

Judicial Review

Review by a court of law of actions of a government official or entity or of some other legally appointed person or body or the review by an appellate court of the decision of a trial court.

Swing Vote

The approximately one-third of the electorate who are undecided at the start of a campaign.

Establishment Clause

Clause in the First Amendment that says the government may not establish an official religion.

Libel/Slander

A published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation; A false statement which harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them; same as calumny.

1st Amendment Rights

Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, & right to petition.

Denaturalized Citizen

Those who became citizens through naturalization, and had either been stripped of citizenship or were unable to get their passports renewed while outside the United States.

Naturalization Process

1. Sign a declaration of intent.

2. Live in the U.S. for 5 years (3 if you are married to a citizen)

3. File an application with INS.

4. Interview with and INS agent.

5. Pass the citizenship test.

6. Must be sworn in and take a citizenship oath.

Freedom of Information Act

1966 Act allowing citizens to inspect all government records with the exception of classified military or intelligence documents, trade secrets or private personnel files.

Affidavit

A sworn written statement.

Tort

A civil wrong committed against a person or property, excluding breach of contract.

Summons

A document informing a defendant that a legal action has been commenced against him or her and that the defendant must appear in court on a certain date to answer the plaintiff's complaint. The document is delivered by a sheriff or any other person so authorized.

Warrant

A legal paper, issued by a court, giving police permission to make an arrest, seizure, or search.

Precinct

The smallest unit of election administration; a voting district.

Precinct Captain

A volunteer who organizes party workers to distribute information about the party and its candidates and to get the voters to the polls.

14th Amendment

1. Citizenship for African Americans.

2. Repeal of 3/5 Compromise.

3. Denial of former confederate officials from holding national or state office.

4. Repudiate (reject) confederate debts.

15th Amendment

Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color, or precious condition of servitude.

Lobbying

A strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature.

Lobbyists

Representatives of interest groups who contact lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making.

Interest Groups

Organization of people who share political, social or other goals; and agree to try to influence public policy to achieve those goals.

Polling Method

How to predict certain groups' voting results.

4th Branch of Government

Administrative Agencies.

Fiscal Policy

A government policy for dealing with the budget (especially with taxation and borrowing).

Monetary Policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates.

The National Road

One of the first major improved highways in the United States, built by the federal government. ..a route from Cumberland, Maryland through Illinois, one of the major thoroughfares for immigrants and manufactured goods.

Amendment Process

2/3 vote in congress, 3/4 of states.

Revitalization

Movements that occur in times of change, in which religious leaders emerge and undertake to alter or revitalize a society.

Referendum

A legislative act is referred for final approval to a popular vote by the electorate.

Charter

A document that gives the holder the right to organize settlements in an area.

Bond

A financial security that represents a promise to repay a fixed amount of funds.

Special District

A local or regional government with responsibility for some single function such as administering schools, handling sewage, or managing airports.

Executive Branch (Texas)

Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller, Land, Agriculture and Railroad Commissioners.

Legislative Branch (Texas)

House of Representatives and the Senate

Judicial Branch (Texas)

All courts in the state of Texas.

Mass Transit

Transportation system designed to move large numbers of people along fixed routes.

National Security Agency

An agency in the Executive Office of the President that advises the president on national security.

Global Security

Multiple nations trying to protect World Security.

International Security

A subfield of international relations that focuses on questions of war and peace.