Among the broad purposes of the United States government spelled out in the Preamble to the Constitution is the obligation to
provide for justice and the people's general welfare
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What are the purposes of government outlined in the Preamble to the Constitution
defending the nation against foreign enemies, insuring order and domestic tranquility, and promoting the general welfare of the citizens
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The theory underlying modern democracies was developed to challenge the idea that
Those of royal birth has absolute authority to rule.
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The dominant political unit in the world today is the
State.
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Characteristics of a state
Population- people that are members of a state, Territory- the area in which a state's rules apply, Sovereignty- is the ability to rule within a territory, Government- An organization inside a state that controls all policies and actions
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A federal government is one in which
power is divided between a central government and local governments
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All political powers in a state are concentrated at the central level under which form of government
Unitary
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Equality of opportunity
the idea that each person is guaranteed the same chance to succeed in life
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In the charter colonies, most governmental matters were handled by the colonists.
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Declaration of Independence
signed in 1776 by US revolutionaries, declared the United States a free state.
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What influenced the Framers
Locke's and Rousseau's ideas and state constitutions
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What government directly influenced the Farmers in the development of the Constitution
the Articles of Confederation
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Massachusetts - colony founding, oldest state Constitution, popular vote
colony founding, oldest state Constitution, popular vote
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Which feature did the State Constitutions and the Articles of Confederation have in common
principle of popular sovereignty
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Delegates met at Mount Vernon and Annapolis too
recommend a federal plan to regulate commerce
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Articles of Confederation problems
The government set up by the Articles of Confederation had only a legislative branch, consisting of a unicameral Congress.
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The Federalist was written to
win support for the Constitution in New York.
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The President's Cabinet is an example of informal amendment by
unwritten custom.
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Limited government
the idea that certain restrictions should be placed on the government to protect the natural rights of citizens
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Which of the following is a method of formal amendment
proposal by two-thirds of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of State legislatures
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The basic constitutional rights of the people were first set out in the
Bill of Rights.
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The legislative branch can check the judicial branch by its power to
remove federal judges through impeachment.
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The President's power to veto an act of Congress is an example of
checks and balances
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These are all examples of Checks and Balances. The Supreme Court declares a law passed by Congress to be unconstitutional.- The President vetoes a bill.- The Senate approves the President's nominee for Supreme Court justice.
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The system of federalism provides for what
local action in matters of local concern, a dual system of government, and strength through unity
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Concurrent powers are those
that are exercised simultaneously by the National and State governments.
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Local government power
determine and execute measures within restricted areas.
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Expressed powers - definition and examples
An example of an expressed power is the power to coin money.
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Obligations of the national government to the states
guarantee of a republican form of government 2. Protection against invasion and domestic violence.
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Subunits of state government
local governments, executive, legislative, and judicial branch
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The implied powers doctrine, upheld in McCulloch v. Maryland, gives Congress the power to do what
anything reasonably related to carrying out the expressed powers
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What event brought McCulloch v. Maryland before the Supreme Court
The state of Maryland attempted to tax federal bank notes
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Political party and political party chairperson
groups of people who seek to control government through winning elections and the holding of public office, 2. Is the head of the party's organization
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The two major parties have members who take on which roles
party leaders, loyal party members and votes, and party officeholders
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Membership in either of the two major parties is based upon what
personal choice
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The two-party system developed in the U.S.
mainly because there were conflicts over what document created differing viewpoints. Constitution
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functions of the two major parties
keep the general public informed about key issues, monitor the conduct of its candidates in office, and assure the qualifications of candidates for office
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Past limitations on voting rights
Poll tax, Amendment 14- women under 21, Literacy test, Grandfather clause- Allowed voters who failed the literacy tests to vote if their grandfather was eligible to vote in previous elections.
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Voting Rights Act and its amendments
a law designed to help end format and informal barriers to african american suffrage. ( banned literacy tests)
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Long-term trends marking the expansion of suffrage in the U.S. include what
removing restrictive requirements based on religious belief, eliminating requirements based on race, and eliminating requirements based on tax payments
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Literacy tests worked to deny the right to vote to African Americans primarily because African Americans were asked what
more difficult questions
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Which act first established a federal commission to investigate claims of individual voter discrimination
Civil Rights Act of 1957
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The single most significant predictor of a person's partisan voting behavior is his or her what
party identification
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The 15th Amendment ratified in 187-, did not secure the right of African Americans to vote. Why
The federal government did not intervene to uphold it.
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Gerrymandering is unfair because
it sets district boundaries. decrease one group's voting strength
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The nominating stage is the most important in the electoral process mostly because nominations set real limits to what
the choices that voters can make in general elections
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Ways in which voters are asked to complete election ballots
moving levers on a machine, marking a punch card, returning a mail-in ballot
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Campaign contributions to a presidential candidate can be made by who
any American
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The most costly items in a typical campaign budget today are what
TV ads
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What can PACs do
distribute money to the candidates who are sympathetic to their policy goals, give not more than $5,000 to any one federal candidate in an election, give no more than $15,000 a year to a political party
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Closed primary
a party nominating election in which only declared party members can vote
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What is the earliest and one of the most significant agents in the political socialization process
family
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Attitudes held by a significant number of people concerning governmental and political questions are known as what
public opinion
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A term used to describe the entire group of persons whose opinions a poll seeks to measure is called what
universe
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Public opinion is made known in which ways
interest groups, personal contacts, and the media
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What is the first step in scientific polling
defining the universe
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Senate
one of the two parts of the US Congress, the legislature that makes the country's laws.
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House of Representatives
the lower house of the United States Congress. With 435 popularly elected officials, the House (as it is often called) is the most representative body in the federal government. House seats are apportioned (see apportionment) relative to each state's population.
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Senate qualifications
30 years of age, 9 year US citizen, Inhabitant of the state represented
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House of Representatives qualifications
at least 30 years of age, a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years, and a resident of the state by the date of the general election.
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Non-legislative power held by state legislatures
power to choose a president, removal, confirmation, ratification, amendment powers
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Petit jury
To determine if the accused is guilty or innocent
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Selection of judges for state and local courts
the president/ constitution
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Constitutional Convention
55 men from all the states but Rhode Island med in Philadelphia at the Constitutional Convention
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Why did the convention meet in secrecy
To protect the delegates from outside pressure
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When did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention complete their work
(Give the month, day, and year.)? September 17th,1787 now called "Constitution Day"
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Terms of state legislators
2 or 4 years
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fundamental laws of each state
the State Constitution
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Bicameral nature of state legislatures
elects a speaker to preside
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The first step in the budget process
Consider the important goals you have set in your life-span plan.
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Unreasonable tax classification
people over 65
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Impact of mass media on the public agenda
public agenda the societal problems that political leaders and citizens agree need government attention
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Lobbying
Activities by which group pressures are brought to bear on legislators, the legislative process, and all aspects of the public-policy-making process
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federal regulation of the lobbying act
requires lobbyists to register with the clerk of the house and the secretary of the senate; it required the registration of individuals and groups who collected or spent money for the "principal purpose" of influencing legislation
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. 8 roles of the president
Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Administrator, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Chief Legislator, Chief of Party, Chief Citizen
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National Security Council's purpose
it is to advise the president on all domestic, foreign, and military aspects of the nation's security.
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Budget submission
A plan that outlines what money you expect to earn or receive, and how you will save it or spend it for a given period of time
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Which federal court exercises both original and appellate jurisdiction
the Supreme Court
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The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit differs from the other 12 federal courts of appeals. How so
It hears cases from across the country.
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The Due Process Clause guarantees what
States will not deny people any fundamental or essential liberties
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Why is there no exact definition of the due process guarantees
The Supreme Court only defends the guarantees on a case-by-case basis.
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The right to privacy inherent in the concept of due process has been applied with the most controversy in cases involving what
abortion
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The inclusion of two due process clauses in the Constitution reflects what idea
The Bill of Rights is for the National Government and the 14th Amendment is for the States and their local governments.
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What requires the police to bring a prisoner before the court and explain why he or she should not be released
writ of habeas corpus
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What prevents the accused from being unjustly arrested and imprisoned without cause
writ of habeas corpus
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Under the Establishment Clause, the government still has the power to do what
use tax money to pay for busing students to parochial schools, provide public funds for some uses in church-related schools, exercise control over public, seasonal displays
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Basic principles the Constitution is built around
popular sovereignty, limited Government, separation of powers, checks and balances, Judicial Review, Federalism
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Government
institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies
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Democracy
a type of government in which supreme authority rests with the people
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Autocracy
a kind of government in which a single person holds unlimited political power
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Federalists
people who favored the ratification of the Constitution
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judicial review- the power of the court to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional
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Bill of Rights
list of first ten constitutional guarantees of rights
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Conference Committee- resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill
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Federalism
the division of power among a central government and several regional government
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Expressed powers
powers that are written in the Constitution
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Implied powers
powers that are reasonably suggested, but not stated in the Constitution
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Political party
people who seek to control government through the winning of elections
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Political socialization
the process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions
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Direct primary
intra-party election to pick that party's candidates for the general election