US Government CFE Study Guide (2022/2023) Already Passed

US Government CFE Study Guide (2022/2023) Already Passed Separation of Powers The constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law Checks and Balances A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power Republicanism A philosophy of limited government with elected representatives serving at the will of the people. The government is based on the consent of the governed. Democracy A political system in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who can elect people to represent them Federalism A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments Popular Sovereignty A belief that ultimate power resides in the people. Social Contract A voluntary agreement among individuals to secure their rights and welfare by creating a government and abiding by its rules. Natural Rights the idea that all humans are born with rights, which include the right to life, liberty, and property Individual Rights Basic liberties and rights of all citizens are guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Thomas Hobbes believed that people are born selfish and need a strong central authority John Locke English philosopher who advocated the idea of a "social contract" in which government powers are derived from the consent of the governed and in which the government serves the people; also said people have natural rights to life, liberty and property. Representative Government system of government in which public policies are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections Limited Government A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution. consent of the governed People are the source of any and all governmental power Rule of Law the principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern Declaration of Independence Signed in 1776 by US revolutionaries; it declared the United States as a free state. Articles of Confederation 1st Constitution of the U.S. (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade) Federalist Papers Written by Hamilton, Jay, & Madison to support ratification of the U.S. Constitution Judicial Review The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional Full Faith and Credit Clause Constitution's requirement that each state accept the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state Elastic Clause the part of the Constitution that permits Congress to make any laws "necessary and proper" to carrying out its powers Supremacy Clause Constitution is the supreme law of the land U.S. Constitution The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of the U.S. government and the tasks these institutions perform. It replaced the Articles of Confederation. House of Representatives the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population U.S. Senate the upper house of the U.S. Congress Law making process process involving 8 steps: 1. Introduction (bill is introduced in Senate or House of Representatives). 2. Committee (a. bill is sent to committee, b. presented, c. discussed, d. passed, changed, replaced, ignored, killed); 3. Floor (a. bill is presented to full House, b. discussed, c. changed, replaced, ignored, c. voted on); 4-6 Repeat steps in other house; 7. Conference (joint meeting between Senate and House of Representatives to work out differences) 8. President (signs, vetos, pocket vetos law). Qualifications for Senate 30 yrs old, citizen for 9 years, live in state Qualifications for Congress To become a member of the House of Representatives one must be at least 25 years of age, have been a citizen of the US for at least 7 years, and be an inhabitant of the state they are running for representative in. Necessary and Proper Clause Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government Judicial Branch Interprets the laws Legislative Branch Makes laws appellate process the process of asking a higher court to decide whether a trial was conducted properly Supreme Court Consists of nine justices, each appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress. Appointment is for life. Supreme Court exercises the power to determine constitutionality of statutes Executive Branch Enforces laws Duties of the President enforce laws; commander of military; foreign affairs; negotiate treaties; nominate cabinet and justices; review and sign or veto bills; issue pardons; address Congress yearly (State of the Union Address) Duties of the Vice President to cast a vote in the event of a Senate deadlock and to preside over and certify the official vote count of the U.S. Electoral College. Cabinet Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president. Qualifications for President 35 years old, born in the U.S., and has to have lived in the U.S. for 14 years civil rights the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality. Civil Liberties Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens Voting Rights Act of 1965 a law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African-American suffrage Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin 13th Amendment abolished slavery 14th Amendment Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws 15th Amendment Citizens cannot be denied the right to vote because of race, color , or precious condition of servitude 19th Amendment Gave women the right to vote 24th Amendment Abolishes poll taxes 26th Amendment Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18 McCulloch v. Maryland Maryland was trying to tax the national bank and Supreme Court ruled that federal law was stronger than the state law Brown v. Board of Education 1954 - The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated. Marbury v. Madison This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review Plessy v. Ferguson a 1896 Supreme Court decision which legalized state ordered segregation so long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal Miranda v. Arizona Supreme Court held that criminal suspects must be informed of their right to consult with an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police. Tinker v. Des Moines Students have the right to symbolic speech at school as long as it is not disruptive 1st Amendment Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition 4th Amendment Freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures 5th Amendment The Right to Remain Silent/Double Jeopardy, right to due process 6th Amendment Right to a speedy trial 8th Amendment No cruel or unusual punishment Bias A particular preference or point of view that is personal, rather than scientific. Omission The act of leaving out or neglecting emotional appeal tries to persuade the reader by using words that appeal to the reader's emotions instead of to logic or reason Election of 1960 Brought about the era of political television. Between Kennedy and Nixon. Issues centered around the Cold War and economy. Kennedy argued that the nation faces serious threats from the soviets. Nixon countered that the US was on the right track under the current administration. Kennedy won by a narrow margin. Election of 2000 Bush v. Gore; Bush won although Gore won popular vote; controversy over the final vote count in Florida; settled by Supreme Court decision in favor of Bush Reapportionment the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census Redistricting The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population. Gerrymandering Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power. Citizen Responsibilities Vote; be informed; participate in community and government; respect the rights and property of others; show tolerance Citizen duties Obey laws, pay taxes, defend the nation, serve in court, attend school initiatives and referendums voters engage in making or ratifying legislation at the state level only Liberal Ideology A political orientation that favors a more assertive role in the redistribution of economic resources, but emphasizes individual freedom on a range of social issues. conservative A person who believes government power, particularly in the economy, should be limited in order to maximize individual freedom. Democratic Party A political party formed by supporters of Andrew Jackson after the presidential election of 1824. Republican Party 1854 - anti-slavery Whigs and Democrats, Free Soilers and reformers from the Northwest met and formed party in order to keep slavery out of the territories primary election an election held to choose candidates for office general election An election held to choose which candidate will hold office runoff election a "second round" election in which voters choose between the top two candidates from the first round interest group An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy Lobbyist A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches. third party A political party organized in opposition to the major parties in a two-party system