Constitution, Federalism, Civil Rights and Liberties, and Voting

Flashcards of important information from the lecture notes.

What was the result of the Great Compromise?

Created a bicameral Congress with the House based on population and the Senate with 2 senators per state.

What did the 3/5ths Compromise entail?

Counting 5 slaves as 3 people toward population/House seats.

What did the Slave Importation Compromise state?

The importation of slaves could not be banned until 1808.

Article I of the Constitution outlines which branch?

Legislative Branch

Name three enumerated powers of Congress listed in the Constitution.

Declaring war, levying taxes, and coining money.

What is the Interstate Commerce Clause

Gives Congress the ability to regulate the economy.

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause (AKA “elastic clause”)?

Used to stretch Congress’ powers beyond those listed.

Article II of the Constitution outlines which branch?

Executive Branch

Provide examples of the POTUS' formal powers.

Veto, Commander in Chief, State of the Union, pardon, appointments, treaty-making

Article III of the Constitution outlines which branch?

Judicial Branch

What are the elements outlined in Article III (Judicial Branch)?

One Supreme Court and inferior courts as Congress sees fit, life tenure, and powers/jurisdiction.

What does the Full Faith and Credit Clause entail?

Requires states to recognize civil court rulings of other states.

What does the Privileges and Immunities Clause entail?

Prevents state discrimination vs. citizens of other states.

What is the purpose of Article V?

Sets procedures for amending the Constitution.

What does the Supremacy Clause entail?

Places the U.S. constitution and national laws over those of the states.

What rights does the 1st Amendment protect?

Freedom of religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly, petition

What does the Establishment Clause do?

limits gov’t endorsement of religious activity.

What does the Free Exercise Clause entail?

limits gov’t restrictions on your religious beliefs/practices

What does the 2nd Amendment protect?

Right to keep and bear arms.

What does the 4th Amendment protect?

No unreasonable searches/seizures, warrant requirement.

What protection is provided by the 5th Amendment?

No forced self-incrimination or double jeopardy.

What right does the 6th Amendment protect?

Right to counsel and a speedy and public trial.

What protection is provided by the 8th Amendment?

No cruel and unusual punishments.

What does the 9th Amendment state?

Other individual rights (unlisted) exist.

What does the 10th Amendment state?

Powers not enumerated for the national government are for states.

What does the Due Process Clause protect?

States cannot deny citizens their fundamental rights.

What's the purpose of the Equal Protection Clause?

Basis of court rulings in equal rights cases.

What does the 15th Amendment address?

Eliminates suffrage restrictions based on race.

What does the 17th Amendment establish?

Direct election of senators

What does the 19th Amendment grant?

Female suffrage.

What does the 22nd Amendment establish?

Two term limit for presidency.

What does the 24th Amendment prohibit?

Poll taxes outlawed.

What guidelines are outlined in the 25th Amendment?

Rules for presidential disability & v-p vacancies.

What does the 26th Amendment stipulate?

18 year old suffrage.

What does the 27th Amendment address?

Limited timing of congressional pay raises.

What are the alternatives to Federalism?

A unitary system (the national gov’t dominates) or a confederation of states

What are the basic elements of Federalism?

Levels of government (national/state) sharing power

States serve as _ to test policies out

experimentation

Inequality of services between states includes which of the following?

education, health care

What led to cooperative federalism (marble cake)?

The New Deal led the transition from dual federalism (layer cake) to cooperative federalism (marble cake).

Cooperative federalism has two main elements. What are they?

a more active federal government and greater sharing of powers over policies formerly exclusive to states

What is a Categorical Grant?

Federal agencies design programs for states to carry out, limited state input

What are Federal Mandates?

rules states are legally required to follow, with or without funding

What are Conditions on Aid (fiscal federalism)?

using the threat of withholding grants to influence state policies

What is the goal of Devolution?

To shrink the power and responsibilities of the federal government

What are Block Grants:

federal $ given in a general policy area, gives states greater (but not total) control

Devolution is _—

Conservative

U.S. v. Lopez

struck down the federal Gun Free Schools Act as exceeding Congress’ commerce powers

The floor procedure that expedites consideration of complex and controversial legislation is referred to as what?

Committee of the Whole

In the Senate, which powers are unique to them versus the House?

power of impeachment

Who is considered the Top Dog in the House?

Speaker

Who is considered the Top Dog in the Senate?

Majority Leader

Which committee sets limits on floor debate in the House?

Rules Committee

Unlimited floor debate is allowed in the Senate; these can be used to delay action. What are they called?

filibusters

How does the House push a bill stuck in committee on to the floor?

Discharge petition

In the Senate, what is the attempt by an individual Senator to prevent a bill from reaching the floor for consideration?

Hold

What sets aside a floor rule to expedite bill passage?

Unanimous consent

The enumerated and implied powers in the Constitution allow the creation of public policy by Congress, which includes what?

Power of the purse, Declaring war, and Enacting laws

What is a key consideration when analyzing congressional behavior and governing effectiveness?

Political polarization

What is a good example of how the president and Congress must cooperate and compromise?

The federal budget

Over 2/3rds of the federal budget is not set by Congress each year because of the growth in mandatory spending such as what?

entitlements

What are the formal powers that enable the president to check Congress?

Vetoes and pocket vetoes

Implied from the president's vested executive power, or from power delegated by Congress, what is used by the president to manage the federal government?

executive orders

Which executive branch appointments require Senate confirmation?

Cabinet members and Ambassadors

What tasks are performed by bureaucratic departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations represented by?

Writing, then enforcing regulations, and issuing fines for violators

What oversight and methods are used by Congress to ensure that legislation is implemented as intended?

Committee oversight hearings and congressional investigations

How are formal and informal powers of the president used over the bureaucracy to maintain its accountability?

POTUS appointment of agency heads, budget requests, and executive orders to agencies on how to enforce laws

Article III created an independent federal judiciary by doing what?

life tenure and protecting salary levels

What plays an important role in judicial decision-making?

Precedents and stare decisis

Congressional legislation is able to do what to the judicial branch?

modify the impact of prior Supreme Court decisions

Judicial appointments and confirmations do what?

allows election outcomes to effect the ideology of judges

What are constitutionally established freedoms that protect citizens, opinions, and property against arbitrary government interference?

Civil liberties

Decisions demonstrating that minority rights have been restricted are known as what?

state laws and Supreme Court holdings

The leadership and events associated with civil, women’s, and LGBTQ rights are evidence of how what can support and motivate social movements?

the equal protection clause

The government can respond to social movements through what means?

court rulings and/or policies

Some justices insist what in the debate on affirmative action?

the Constitution is colorblind

What is comprised of citizens’ beliefs about government, including their perceptions, relationships, and interactions relative to one another and to their government?

American political culture

Core beliefs about government center around different interpretations and applications of political values, such as which of the following examples?

individualism, the rule of law, limited government

Citizens learn of and develop attitudes about government through the process of what?

political socialization

Key to having a random sample that is a representative group is an example of what?

sampling techniques

Which party generally aligns more closely to liberal ideological positions?

Democratic Party

Which party generally aligns more closely to conservative ideological positions?

Republican Party

What are channels that allow individuals to communicate their preferences to policy-makers which helps people become a part of the policy-making process?

Linkage institutions

Examples of linkage institutions

Parties, Interest Groups, Elections, Media

What roles do the media play in influencing public opinion?

Gatekeeper, Scorekeeper, Watchdog

What impacts the nature of democratic debate and the level of political knowledge among citizens?

Increased media choices, Ideologically oriented programming, Consumer-driven media outlets

The functions and impact of political parties on the electorate and government are represented by what?

mobilization and education of voters, recruitment of candidates, party platforms

The structure of which party has been influenced?

Critical elections, Regional realignments, Campaign finance law

What may impact the influence of an interest group?

Inequality of political and economic resources and unequal access to decision makers

Various social movements develop in response to conditions perceived as negatively impacting specific groups of people. Their political strategies are aimed at what?

changing public policy in a way that benefits the adversely impacted group

Legal protections found in federal legislation and the Fifteenth, Seventeenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Sixth Amendments relate to what?

expanding opportunities for political participation

Structural barriers and type of election also affect voter turnout in the U.S., as represented by:

State voter registration laws, Procedures on how, when, and where to vote, mid-term elections

Examples of political models explaining voting behavior include what?

Rational-choice voting, Retrospective voting, Prospective voting

What is represented by the benefits and drawbacks of modern campaigns?

Dependence on professional consultants, rising campaign costs and intensive fundraising efforts, duration of election cycles

The process and outcomes in U.S. presidential elections are impacted by what phenomenon?

Incumbency advantage phenomenon

What helps selects delegates to the national party convention (where presidents are nominated)?

primaries and caucuses

Where are presidents nominated?

Delegates to the national party convention

The process and outcomes in U.S. Congressional elections are impacted by what phenomenon?

Incumbency Advantage

Federal laws and case law pertaining to campaign finance demonstrate the ongoing debate over the role of money in political and free speech, as set forth in:

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

Federal laws and case law pertaining to campaign finance demonstrate the ongoing debate over the role of money in political and free speech, as set forth in which types of groups?

PACs and SuperPACs