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What are the six basic principles of the constitution? (People from Scary Cats From Japan)
Popular Sovereignty
Limited Government
Judicial Review
Separation of Power
Checks and Balances
Federalism
1st Amendment
Freedom of religion, from religion, speech, press, peaceably assemble, petition
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms
3rd Amendment
Troops shall not be housed in private homes
4th Amendment
Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
5th Amendment
Due Process, must be indicted by a grand jury, no double jeopardy, cannot testify against oneself, Eminent Domain
6th Amendment
Due Process, speedy trial, informed on charges, cross examine, attonrney
7th Amendment
Due Process, to sue
8th Amendment
Due Process, no cruel and unusual punishment
9th Amendment
Right to more rights
10th Amendment
Federalism, states can get power
Full faith and credit
A clause in Article IV of the constitution requiring the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of all other states
Extradition
A legal process whereby a state surrenders a person charged with a crime to the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed
Privileges and Immunities
A state cannot unreasonably discriminate against citizens of other states
Voter turnout in the United States compared to other country’s?
Very Low
The Great Compromise
Makes the House of representatives seats per state based on population, and the senate is given two seats per state
13th Amendment
Slavery is Abolished
14th Amendment
Defines Citizenship
15th Amendment
People of color can vote
16th Amendment
Congress can set and collect income taxes
19th Amendment
Women can vote
22nd Amendment
The President can only serve two terms
26th Amendment
Lower voting age from 21 to 18
25th Amendment
Vice President will become president if the president dies
Elastic Clause
Found in Article I, Section 8, expanded by McCullough V. Maryland. Congress can expand and make new laws based on existing parts of the constitution
Expressed Power
Power set out in the constitution specifically granted to one of the branches of the national government
Implied Powers
Powers that are inferred from the specific powers listed in the US Constitution
Inherent Powers
Power that the government has because they are the governments
Delegated Powers
Specifically granted to the federal government (coin money, regulate commerce, declare war, etc)
Reserved Powers
Powers not specifically granted to federal government, so it is given to the states
Census
Counts everyone in the US, happens every 10 years, apportion the house of reps, determines how taxes are spent, effects the electoral college votes
Open Primaries
Primary election that voters can vote for whatever party they want
Closed Primaries
Primary election that voters have to vote for which party they chose
Three components of a political party
In the Electorate (the American people)
As an Organization (unelected workers)
In Government (elected officials)
How do political parties differ from interest groups in America?
Parties seek to win elections, interest groups seek to influence public policy
Soft Money
Money spent in support of a candidate without directly donating to their campaign, such as paying for ads or campaign events
Pluralist
Policymaking process is very open to the participation of all groups, with no single group dominating
Hyperpluralist
Too many groups controlling the government, thus weaking there power
Elitist
Upper-class elites hold all the power and makes policy
How many seats in house of Reps
435 total, 38 for Texas
How many seats in the senate
100 total, 2 for Texas
Requirements for senate
Must be 30
Citizen for 9 years
Resident of state where running
Requirements for House of Reps.
25 years old
citizen for 7 years
resident of state where running
Purpose of a filibuster
To use unlimited debate to prolong a vote on a bill
Who can filibuster
The Senate
Impeachment
Done by House of Reps, formally charge president, does not kick them out
Removal
Done by Senate, removes president from office, must be impeached first, requires 2/3 majority
PAC
Political Action Committee, groups that raise money for individuals. Must register with FEC
Super PAC
PAC that is allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money. (Can use dark money)
Flat Tax
A tax that requires everyone to pay the same
Regressive tax
A tax that is lower for wealthy people
Progressive tax
The more income you make, the higher percentages of tax you pay
Proportional Tax
All levels of income pay the same proportion of tax
Where is most of the work of congress accomplished
Congressional and sub committees
How are state electoral votes calculated
Number of Congress Seats
Winner takes all
If someone gets a majority, they get all the votes
Pros of Electoral College System
All states are involved in selecting the President
Protects the voices of smaller states
Gets rid of needs for recounts
Cons of Electoral College System
Gives too much power to swing states, allowing a small amount of states to determine an election
Allows one person vote to be more meaningful than someone in another state
Sometimes will not show the will of the majority
Mean-tested
Benefits given based on need (Ex- Food stamps)
Entitlement Programs
Individuals contribute to fund through payroll taxes and receive benefits based on lifetime contributions (Ex- Social Security)
Social Security
provides economic assistance to people faced with retirement, made by Franklin Roosevelt
Third Parties
Bring issues to publics attention, pulls votes from a major party
Impeachment Process
House investigates through inquiry → house must pass articles of impeachment
Motor Voter Act
You can register to vote while getting your drivers license
Voting Rights Act
Outlawed discriminatory voting practices, including literacy tests
National Debt
Over 33 trillion
Budget Deficit
When you spend more than you bring in
Budget Surplus
When you bring in more money than you spend
McCulloch V Maryland (FRQ)
Birth of implied powers and Elastic Clause, Maryland sued National government saying that they can not create a national bank
United States V. Lopez (FRQ)
Commerce Clause, The national government can not regulate bringing guns to school but the state can
Engel V Vitale
1st Amendment, the state government can not make you pray at school
Wisconsin V Yoder (FRQ)
1st Amendment, Mormon can not be forced to go to school past 16
Tinker V Des Moines Independent Com. School District (FRQ)
1st Amendment, student can where armbands in a form of protest
New York Times V. United States (FRQ)
1st Amendment, halting the publican of important information is agonist the first Amendment
Schenck V. United States (FRQ)
1st Amendment, yelling fire in a movie theater, can not create chaos in times of war
Citizens United V. Federal Election Commission (FRQ)
1st Amendment, Cooperate spending on political campaigns can not be limited
Barker V Carr (FRQ)
14th Amendment/Gerrymandering, the Supreme Court can see over legislative apportionment, Tennessee has to redraw districts
Shaw V. Reno (FRQ)
14th Amendment/Gerrymandering, North Carolina made a majority black district, racially gerrymandered district
Marbury V. Madison (FRQ)
Judicial Review, first time the government declared an action of government unconstitutional
Who presides over the Senate
Vice President
What are Congressional Caucuses
Members of congress who band together to protect mutual interest
Government Budget
A police determination of how much to spend
Feature of Incremental budget
Agencies must justify their budget request
Standing Committees
Appointed to resolve differences in bills for house of reps. + senate
Checks + Balance Example
The senate may remove a sitting president after the house votes to impeach
When do critical election happen
When lots of voters change pattern of long lasting party voting
Party Dealignment
process by which a large group of people loses their loyalty to a political party without developing loyalty to another party.
What did Madison believe in
it was the nature of those who governed to need to check their power
Green Party
Single issue group
Where do political parties receive their power from
Interpretation of the constitution
Party realignment
Very Rare, only happens when a major crisis happens, one party domination is replaced with another
Amicus brief
a written argument submitted of one side of a court case
Federalist 70
Written by Hamilton, we should have a strong president, the legislative branch should be good at making decisions
Brutus I
Written by Robert Yates, the proposed Constitution would usher in a consolidated national government, and that this was a gross error and likely to lead to disaster
Federalist 10
Written by James Madison, wants a large republic, factions are inevitable but can be controlled in a large area
Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson, address to the world that the united states is a thing
Articles of Confederation
Proto type for the constitution
Federalist 51
Written by James Madison, factions must be managed, each branch should be separate and independent
Federalist 78
Written by Alexander Hamilton, need for separate judiciary, must have judicial review
Letters from Birmingham Jail
Written by Martin Luther King, racism bad, civil disobedience can be used to protest unjust laws