Studied by 9 people
Constitution
a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.
Legislative Power
the power to make a law and to frame public policies
Executive Power
the power to execute, enforce, and administer law
Judicial Power
the power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within the society
population, territory, sovereignty, government
Characteristics of a State
Form a more Perfect Union2. Establish Justice3. Insure Domestic Tranquility4. Provide for a Common Defense5. Promote General Welfare6. Secure Blessings of Liberty
Six purposes of government
Limited Government
A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.
Representative Government
system of government in which public policies are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections
Continental Congress
The legislative assembly composed of delegates from the rebel colonies who met during and after the American Revolution
Articles of Confederation
1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)
Creating the Constitution
-this was America's solution in the call for a stronger government-The Philadelphia meetings were long and heated. -Each state sent delegates to the meeting except for Rhode Island.-The delegates who attended were known as the framers of the constitution.
Ratification of the Constitution
required 9 out of 13 states to ratify (approve) it to become law.
Federalism
System of government in which power is divided between the national and state governments
Separation of Powers
the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
Judicial Review
Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws
Process of Amending the Constitution
The Constitution provides that an amendment may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Executive Agreement
A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.
Electoral College
A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president
Cabinet
Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.
Veto Power
presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by rejecting it
Delegated Powers
Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution, for example, the authority to print money.
Expressed Powers
powers that congress has that are specifically listed in the constitution
Implied Powers
Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution
Inherent Powers
powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it
Reserved Powers
powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the states
Exclusive Powers
Those powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone
Concurrent Powers
powers shared by the national and state governments
Supremacy Clause
Constitution is the supreme law of the land
Extradition
A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.
priviledges and immunities clause
Prevents a state from treating citizens from other states in a discriminatory manner.
Political Party
A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy
Major Parties
Republicans and Democrats
Partisanship
the strong support of their party and its policy stands
Party in power
the party that controls the executive branch of government
Minor Party
One of the political parties not widely supported
two-party system
A political system dominated by two major parties
Plurality
the number of votes cast for a candidate who receives more than any other but does not receive an absolute majority.
One-party system
A political system in which only one party exists
Multiparty system
A system in which three or more political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition.
Bipartisan
supported by two parties
Ballot access
Allowing a political party to put a candidate on the ballot
Ideological Parties
Parties based on a particular set of beliefs, a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters
Single-issue parties
Parties that concentrate on only one public policy matter
economic protest parties
Parties rooted in poor economic times, lacking a clear ideological base, dissatisfied with current conditions and demanding better times
Splinter parties
parties that have split away from one of the major parties
Incumbant
the person already holding an elective office
Sectionalism
Loyalty to one's own region of the country, rather than to the nation as a whole
Functions of political parties
recruiting candidates for public office 2. organizing and running elections 3.Presenting alternative policies to the electorate 4. Accepting responsibility for operating the government 5. acting as the organized opposition to the party in power.
History, what we are used to, just happens
Why do we have a two-party system
Sufferage/Franchise
the right to vote
Electorate
All of the people entitled to vote in a given election
Registration
a procedure of voter identification intended to prevent fraudulent voting
Purge
Name taken off voters list after years of not voting
Gerrymandering
Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.
Literacy
the ability to read and write
Poll Tax
A requirement that citizens pay a tax in order to register to vote
Civil Rights Act of 1965
also known as the Voting Rights Act gave federal protection to black voters which allowed many more to vote and participate in the government.
ballot fatigue
the farther down the ballot an office is, the fewer the number of votes that will be cast for it
political efficacy
The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference
party identification
a citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other
Independent
A voter or candidate who does not identify with a political party.
off-year election
An election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring
Expansion of the Electorate
amendments 14, 15, 19, 23, 24, 26; increase in amount of voters
15th Amendment
gave African American men the right to vote
19th Amendment
Gave women the right to vote
24th Amendment
Abolishes poll taxes
26th Amendment
Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18
Petition
a formal request for government action
Nomination
The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party. Generally, success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention.
Caucus
A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.
Direct Primary
where voters directly select the candidates who will run for office
Ballot
the list of candidates on which you cast your vote
Absentee Ballot
a ballot completed and typically mailed in advance of an election by a voter who is unable to be present at the polls.
Australian ballot
a government-printed ballot of uniform dimensions to be cast in secret that many states adopted around 1890 to reduce voting fraud associated with party-printed ballots cast in public
Precinct
A voting district
Presidential electors
a person elected by the voters to represent them in making a formal selection of the Vice President and President
presidential primary
A statewide primary election of delegates to a political party's national convention, held to determine a party's presidential nominee.
National Convention
The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.
Executive order
A rule issued by the president that has the force of law
persona non grata
an unwelcome person; used to describe recalled diplomatic officials
Pardon
legal forgiveness of a crime
Reprieve
postponement of a sentence
Commutation
The power to reduce (commute) the length of a sentence or fine for a crime
Amnesty
a pardon to a group of people
Inferior courts
The lower federal courts, beneath the Supreme Court
Jurisdiction
the official power to make legal decisions and judgments
Plaintiff
a person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
Defendent
an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
Civil case
a case involving the rights of citizens
Docket
a court's list of cases to be heard
writ of certiorari
An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review
Majority opinion
a statement that presents the views of the majority of supreme court justices regarding a case
Precedent
an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.
dissenting opinion
A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his or her opinion
Marbury v. Madison
This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review
Special courts
federal courts which were created by Congress to hear specific types of cases. Sometimes called "legislative courts," they include: the Court of Military Appeals, the Claims Court, the Tax Court, territorial courts, and the courts of the District of Columbia.
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