Government Midterm Review

Social Contract

When a group of people let go of some of their rights and accept a government of some sort of authority to protect their other rights.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government that has the Supreme Court, (judicial review) interprets the law, and checks if laws and actions are constitutional.

Executive Branch

The branch of government that has the president, enforces/executes laws, vetoes and signs bills, appoints judges and government officials, and commands armed forces.

Legislative Branch

The branch of government that makes laws, declares war, regulates taxes, has the Congress, and approves presidential appointments.

Government

The system of an organization having authority over a state or community

Delegate

A person chosen to represent a group, usually at a political meeting or convention.

Checks and Balances

Sharing and splitting up powers in the branches of government.

Enumerated

Specifically listed or clearly written down powers given to the government in the Constitution.

Amend

To change or fix something, like editing a law.

Proportional Representation

Dividing seats in the government based on the number of votes each group or party gets. (example of proportional representation is in a country where a party that gets 40% of the votes in an election wins 40% of the seats in the legislature.)

3/5 Clause

Rule in the Constitution that counted enslaved people as ⅗ of a person for deciding the number of representatives each state got in Congress.

Divided Powers

The distribution of powers between the federal government and the states.

Necessary & Proper Clause

Allows the federal government to make laws for the common good of the people even if it violates an amendment.

Anti-Federalists

People who didn’t want a strong central government and wanted more individual powers for the states.

Bill of Rights

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution that outline essential rights.

Electoral College

A group of 538 electors from all 50 states who formally vote for the President and Vice President based on the results of their state’s election.

Democrat

Typically have a liberal viewpoint, higher salaries, social security, universal health care, support social programs and people, pro-choice, pro-same-sex marriage, reform immigration system, increasing tax benefits, and advocate for environmental protections.

Republican

Typically have a conservative viewpoint, support state power over the federal government, pro-life, No immigrants, Gun and taxes are not a big issue, reduce taxes, and emphasize economic growth and energy independence.

Constitution

The main law of the U.S. that outlines how the government works and protects the rights of citizens.

Ratified

Officially approved or accepted, as when states agreed to the Constitution.

Filibuster

A tactic used by Senators to delay or obstruct voting on a bill (senators can keep speaking during a debate to prevent the Senate from voting on a bill)

Pocket Veto

When the President leaves a bill unsigned for 10 days while Congress is not in session.

Veto

To refuse an action or law from another branch to pass. Can still be overridden and turn into a law if ⅔’s of congress support the law, and the people don’t accept it

Precedent

A decision or action that sets an example for future cases or actions, especially in law.a past decision that is used as a guide for making future decisions. Standard set by court (supreme court)

Supremacy Clause

Supreme, federal law that is supreme over any state law.

Popular Sovereignty

The principle that the government's power is based on the consent of the people.

Appeals

Requests to a higher court to review and change the decision of a lower court

Judicial Review

The process by which the Supreme Court checks if laws or actions are constitutional.

Difference between Democrats and Republicans

Republicans fall to the right due to their conservative ideology. Democrats fall to the left due to their liberal ideology.

Differences between the House and Senate

The House has more members (438) and shorter terms (2 years). based on state popularity, makes bills related to taxes and money. The Senate had fewer members (100) and longer terms (6 years). 2 per state, approves treaties and presidential appointments

Federalists

Federalists supported a strong central government and the Constitution

Anti-Federalists

Anti-Federalists wanted more power for states and were worried the Constitution didn’t protect individual rights enough

Special Interest Groups

Organization or companies that try to influence politicians, or the public, to gain support

Political Spectrum and Characteristic of Liberals

• Believes that the government should take care of the people and be hands on

• Be very providing for the people 

• Diverse 

• Believe the government should do everything for the people.

Political Spectrum and Characteristic of Conservatives

• Prefer to be left alone

• Have the government be less controlling on them 

• Normally religious, biblical wise

Political Spectrum and Characteristic of Moderate

People who have very mixed political views, some liberal and some conservative

Role / Purpose of Political Parties

• Political parties help organize people with similar ideas

• Run candidates for office 

• Work to influence government decisions and policies.

Mudslinging

People will list a bunch of bad things on the candidate's opponent to make them look bad, an example would be saying and showing how Donald Trump is racist.

Plain Folk

Candidates would make themselves seem like any regular person, to relate to the people, an example would be like saying how they grew up poor, and relate to poor people of the country. 

Contrast

Candidates would show themselves in a positive light while making their opponent seem bad, an example would be Harris Showing how she is an amazing candidate and all her wonderful skills, and then showing Trump as a good for nothing baby not suitable for president.

Testimonial

Endorsements from celebrities and other well-known people

Transfer

Use of popular symbols to create good feeling of candidate or bad feeling of opponent 

Card Stacking

Using statistics and other numbers to create positive view of candidate or negative view on opponent

Glittering Generalities

Very positive, vague words or phrases, introduces candidate

Bandwagon

Tries to leave the viewer with a sense that since everyone else is doing something, YOU should too

Purpose of Federalism

To divide power between the national and state governments so that no single level of government becomes too powerful

Shared Powers

• Taxing

• Making laws

• Establishing courts

• Creating and running elections

Federalism

• Sharing power between the state and federal government

• 10th amendment is federalism amendment    

How Branches Check eachother

• Judicial checks Legislative:

  • The Supreme Court can declare laws passed by congress unconstitutional 

  • How it’s checked: Congress can propose amendments to the Constitution or rewrite laws to make them constitutional 

• Executive checks Judicial:

  • The President appoints judges to the Supreme Court and other courts 

  • How it’s checked: the senate (part of the Legislative branch) must approve of these appointments 

• Legislative checks Executive:

• Congress overrides a president's veto (⅔’s vote on it)

• How it's checked: The President can veto laws passed by Congress

Who has the power in a representative democracy

The people have the power because they elect leaders to make decisions on their behalf

Powers of Judicial Branch

Has Supreme Court

Does Judicial review (interprets the law)

Checks if laws and actions are constitutional or not

Powers of Legislative Branch

Has congress

Makes laws

Declares war

Regulates tax

Approves of president appointments

Powers of Executive Branch

Has the president

Enforces and executes the law

Veto and signs bills

Appoints judges and government officials

Commands armed forces

Shay’s Rebellion

Happened in 1786

An armed uprising by farmers in Massachusetts who were protesting unfair taxes and economic problem, showing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Framework for our government

• Outlined in the Constitution

• Sets up the structure of the government, including separation of powers between the branches

Purpose of Constitutional Government

Limit the powers of the government and protect the rights and freedoms of the people by following a set of established laws

Philadelphia Convention/ Constitutional Convention

held in 1787 where delegates met to fix the Articles of Confederation, they wrote the Constitution

Articles of Confederation and its problems

States lack unity and had too much power

Money issues, federal government doesn't have much money

No army

No national court system

Federalists argument in AOC

Bill of Rights: Argued it wasn’t necessary because the Constitution already limited government powers

Powers of the National Government: Argued that a strong national government was necessary to maintain order, protect the country, and regulate trade between states.

Anti-Federalist Argument in AOC

Bill of Rights: Argued it is essential to protect individual rights of the citizens 

Powers of the National Government: Argued that a strong central government would take away power from the states and potentially biome similar to the British monarchy

Virginia Plan

Big states

Based on population

Proportional representation

Two chambers of Congress

Federal government would have more power

3 branches

Great Compromise / Connecticut Plan

2 chambers of Congress, HOR based on population, and Senate is equal

Federal government has more power with 3 branches

NJ Plan

Small states

Equal representation

One chamber of Congress

More power with states

“Pleading the 5th”

Listed in the 5th amendment, right to remain silent (no self-incrimination)

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments

Self-Incrimination

The act of admitting or slightly admitted you did something wrong, like a crime or a certain part of it

Double Jeopardy

Can’t be charged again for a crime they were already charged and proved innocent for

Petition

The ability to have a peaceful protest, and request the government to do and take action on something.

Press

Have the right to print and make news about information.

Assembly

The ability to gather in groups and protest

Search Warrent

Police are given permission, from a government official, to search one’s house or private property.

Eminent Domain

The government is allowed to take one’s private property as long as they properly pay them beforehand.

Due Process

Due process(Amendments 4-8 are your due process amendments, all rights given to you if put on trial, going in order for a trial to work)/right to trial by jury: Everyone should be treated fairly according to the law. Fair treatment through the justice system.

Free Exercise Clause

Allowed to practice any religion as long as it doesn’t go against the law

unreasonable searches and seizures

After giving permission, police or government agents are able to search one’s house and confiscate any evidence related to the crime.

Right to bear arms

Right to own a gun or weapon for protection, written in the 2nd amendment

protection of the accused against excessive fines, bail and cruel and unusual

punishments

Listed in 8th amendment

Freedom of Expression

1st amendment

Habeas Corpus

Protects people from being imprisoned without being charged with a crime, ensuring they can challenge their detention in court

Informed of crime

Appellate Court

A court that reviews decisions made by lower courts to determine if any legal mistakes were made during the trial, the highest court is the Supreme Court. (Also the Supreme Court)

Marbury vs. Madison

Marbury was appointed a government job by John Adams before Jefferson took office. Secretary of State during Adam’s term was John Marshall, who never delivered the signed letter about Marbury taking his government job. Madison was Secretary of State during Jefferson’s term, Marbury sued him and the federal government for not giving him his appointed job. The Supreme Court heard the case, but couldn’t do anything since they didn’t have the power to do so. So this causes Judicial Review to form so the Supreme Court has more power (not more than the other two branches). Marbury never got his job.

Establishment Clause

There is no national religion

Why do most bills not become law?

May get lost in committees

May not get enough support in Congress

May get rejected during voting

Differences between House and Senate

• House typically introduces bills related to money and taxes

• Senate confirms presidential appointments, approves treaties

Committees

Smaller groups within Congress that focus on specific issues, such as health or defense, and review bills, all before they reach House or Senate

Committee Process

Bill is reviewed by relevant committee

Is debated, amended, or rejected

If bill is approved it is sent to HOR or Senate for future debate and voting

President

Head of executive branch

Enforces laws

Direct foreign policy

Command military

4yrs each term, 2 terms

House of Representatives

2-year term, unlimited number of re-elections (meaning, you can serve it as long as u want, just that you need to get re-elected every 2 yrs).

Senate

6 year term, unlimited number of re-elections (meaning, you can serve it as long as u want, just that you need to get re-elected every 6 yrs).

Supreme Court Justices

Judge on the highest court

Interpret laws, review cases involving Constitutional issues, make final decisions on legal matters

Appointed by the President, confirmed by the Senate

Serve for life

Montesquieu

Believed that government powers should be separated into 3 branches

Voltaire

Hated slavery and religious prejudice

Supported the right of free speech

Locke

People have the natural right of life, liberty, and property

Rulers have have to protect those rights

Hobbes

People are evil

Should give up their freedom to a government that will ensure order

Must have a strong and controlling government

Rousseau

People are basically good but become corrupt by society

Political authority lies with the people

Joe Biden

46th president

Democrat

Kamala Harris

46th vice president

Democrat

Cory Booker and Andy Kim

Democrat

U.S Senator for NJ

Phil Murphy

Democrat

Governor of NJ