Midterm Review Exam - Final

Thomas Jefferson’s View - Government exists to serve the people; if it fails, the people have the right to alter or abolish it

Confederal - Power is concentrated in regional governments; national government is weak (ex: Articles of Confederation)

Republic - A form of government in which the people elect representatives to govern on their behalf

Virginia Plan - Drafted by James Madison’s and proposal for a bicameral legislature based on population; favored large states

Connecticut Compromise - Blended VA and NJ Plans—Senate with equal representation; House based on population

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists - Federalists supported a strong national government; Anti-Federalists wanted more state power and a Bill of Rights

Federalist Papers - Essays defending the Constitution, written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay

Expressed Powers - Specifically written powers, like taxing and declaring war

Full Faith and Credit Clause - States must respect other states’ laws and judicial decisions

Necessary and Proper Clause - AKA Elastic Clause—allows Congress to declare war and make laws needed to execute its powers

Basic Facts - House—435 members, 2-year terms. Senate—100 members, 6-year terms

Leader of the House of Representative and the senate - Speaker and VP

Congressional Districts/Gerrymandering - Districts drawn for House seats; gerrymandering is manipulating boundaries for political gain

Vacancy Replacement - Governors usually appoint interim senators; states set House special elections

Presidential Power Today - Expanded through legislation, crisis, and media, and has increased over time

Commander in Chief - President leads U.S. military

President’s Cabinet - 15 Cabinets nominated by the President and confirmed by Senate. Advisers who head executive departments

First three Cabinets of the Executive Branch - State, Secretary, and Interior

Department of the state - Leads the nation form policy and manages International relations

Department of the Treasurer - Manages money

Department of interior - Manages cultural recourses

Department of Agricultural - Farming crops

Veto Power - President can reject bills—Congress can override with 2/3

Bureaucracy - When a President takes office administrator switches and employees keep their jobs

Foreign Policy - U.S. strategies in global relations

U.S. Involvement History - US leaders supported internationalism for a Grew post-WWII to contain communism and support global stability

Foreign Policy Leader - The President represent the USA to nations from other countries

Foreign Policy Since WWII - Truman doctrine was made to stop communism

Reaching Voters/Demographics - Targeted messaging via data on age, race, gender, region, checking the candidates websites, ad through the age of 18-30 is television

Electoral College - Body that formally elects the President

Winner Takes All - Most states award all electoral votes to the popular vote winner

PACs - Groups that raise and spend money to influence elections and policy

Jurisdiction Types - Original: First time hearing a case. Appellate: Reviewing a lower court’s decision

Supreme Court - 9. Highest court—reviews constitutional issues

Roles of Chief Justice - Serves as a judge as a formal impeachment trial for the President or Vice President

Civil Matters - Dispute over property

Criminal Matters - Drugs and stuff

Civil Liberties 1st Amendment Freedom of Speech (1st) - Protects expression, with limits when it is likely to lead to lawless actions

Establishment Clause - Forbids the government from having a national religion

Free Exercise Clause - Can freely practice and believe in a religion

Plaintiff - Person bringing a civil case

Defendant - Person being sued or accused

Civil Trial - Resolves disputes over rights or money

Criminal Trial - Determines guilt for violating laws

Defamatory Speech - False statements harming someone’s reputation—limited protection

4th Amendment - Protection against unlawful searches/seizures

Probable Cause/Warrant - Police can’t arrest without reason and they need to be required for legal searches

14th Amendment - Equal protection(to the slaves); applied Bill of Rights to states

Due Process Clause - Ensures fair treatment through law

State Executive - Governor appoints the senate if seat becomes available