Exam 1 Topic List - Government & Civics

Vocabulary flashcards generated from Exam 1 topic list covering political terms, branches of government, historical events, documents, constitutional articles, amendments, and court cases.

Republic

A system of government in which the populace selects representatives who play a significant role in government decisions-making

Confederation

A system of government in which a states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government

Unicameral legislature

A legislative assembly having only one chamber or house

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature assembly composed of two chambers or houses

Checks and balances

Mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches; examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the senate's power to approve presidential appointments, and the supreme court's power of the judicial review of congressional enactments

Limited government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution

Separation of powers

The division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision-making

Federalism

A system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional government

Civil liberties

Areas of personal freedom constitutionally protected from government interference

Executive branch

The branch led by the president that carries out laws, receives ambassadors, negotiates treaties, grants pardons, and can veto bills

Legislative branch

The branch of government that makes laws and passes bills, consisting of the house of representatives

Judicial branch

The branch led by the supreme court that evaluates laws, resolves conflicts between federal and state laws, and judges other branches

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to review actions of the legislative and executive branches and if necessary, declare them invalid or unconstitutional

Elastic Clause

Necessary and proper clause, which provides congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its enumerated powers (article I, section 8)

Supremacy Clause

Article VI of the constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision

Federalist

Those who favored a strong national government and supported the constitution proposed at the American constitutional convention of $1787$

Anti Federalist

Those who favored strong state government and a weak national government and who were opponents of the constitution proposed at the American constitutional convention $1787$

Tyranny

Oppressive God that employs cruel/unjust use of power

Government

Institutions and procedures through which a territory and it's people are ruled

Autocracy

Form of Government in which a single individual-a king, queen, or dictator-rules

Oligarchy

A form of government in which a small group-landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants- control most of the government

Authoritarian

A system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions

Totalitarian

A system of rule in which government regnizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it

Pluralism

Competition among groups and organized interests for influence in the government

Direct democracy

A system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies

Representative democracy

A system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decisions-making

Stamp act

Taxes on imported papers, newspapers, paper products in general

Boston Tea party

Sam adams and the sons of liberty dressed as Indians and dumped tea off the east india trading companies monopoly tea

Articles of Confederation

The first draft of the U.S constitution, which granted nearly all governing power to individual states

Great Compromise

House representatives agreed that population and a sensate with a fixed number of two representatives per state

Virginia Plan

Representation based on population or taxes

New Jersey Plan

Equal representation

Three fifths compromise

Enslaved individuals could be counted for population representation

Article 1

This established the legislative branch (congress) where lawmaking takes place

Article 2

Outlining the executive powers of the president, including serving as commander-in-chief

First Amendment

Freedom of speech

Second Amendment

Right to bear arms

Third Amendment

No longer required to house and feed troops

Fourth Amendment

No unreasonable search and seizure by law enforcement

Fifth Amendment

Protect against double jeopardy

Sixth Amendment

The right to a fair and speedy tria;

Seventh Amendment

The right to a trial by jury

Eighth Amendment

Cruel and unusual punishment

Ninth Amendment

Constitutional rights is not exhaustive and that additional rights belong to the people.

Tenth Amendment

Powers not explicitly given to the federal government by the constitution belong to the states or the people.

Marbury v Madison

The supreme court case that established judicial review, granting the court power to strike down laws that violate the constitution

Constitutional Amendment Process

First it was that they needed to be agreed on by all the states under the articles of confederation, while under the constitution $\frac{3}{4}$ths of the stes needed to agree on it