American Government Clep – Terms Questions and Answers

Three Branches of Government - Answer- Judicial, Executive, Legislative Check and Balances - Answer- Having two parties compete for the same power to keep each in line. Majority Leader - Answer- Second or principle deputy to the Speaker of the House. Minority Leader - Answer- Leader of the party of opposition in the House. Whips - Answer- Deputies who hold an administrative position in each of the two main parties. Supreme Court - Answer- Interprets the meaning of the Constitution and applies it to actual situations. Lobbyist - Answer- Paid individuals whose job is to convince Congress members to vote one way or another on bills. Constitutional Convention - Answer- An 1787 gathering in Independence Hall of representatives from the states which abolished the Articles of Confederation and wrote the Constitution. It created the federal system, three branches of government, two chambers legislation and 3/5 representation of slaves. Declaration of Independence. - Answer- A document passed by the Second Continental Congress in 1776 declaring the Independence of the 13 colonies and creation of the United States. Federalism - Answer- A governmental system in which each citizen is subject to two governments. In the United States it's the Federal and state government. Incumbent - Answer- A person who currently holds an office. Federalist Papers - Answer- A series of essays written by James Madison, John Jay and Alexander Hamilton in Support of the passage of the Constitution. Jim Crow Laws - Answer- A series of laws passed in the South after the Civil War which promoted segregation and racism. Lemon Test - Answer- A set of requirements addressing legislative actions involving in religion. General Welfare Clause - Answer- Allows Congress to collect taxes to be used for the protection and general welfare of the citizens. Elastic Clause - Answer- Allows Congress to pass all laws considered necessary and proper to preform their responsibilities. Also called the necessary and proper clause. Commerce Clause - Answer- Allows Congress to regulate trade with foreign nations and between individual states. We the People Clause - Answer- Another name for the Preamble to the Constitution. Supremacy Clause - Answer- Clause in the Constitution which declares that the Constitution and laws made by the Federal Government are the "supreme law of the land." Casework - Answer- Congressional representative's efforts to help a constituent (voter,elector) resolve a problem with the Federal bureaucracy. Uniformity Clause - Answer- Declares that all taxes be uniform throughout the United States. Reserved Powers Clause - Answer- Declares that powers and rights not given to Congress by the Constitution are held by the states and citizens. Comity Clause - Answer- Explains that citizens of one state have the same rights as citizens of other states. Guarantee Clause - Answer- Guarantees Republican governments in each state. Block Grant - Answer- Money awarded to a specific state by the Federal Government with general provision on how it is to be used. Catergorical Grant - Answer- Money awardee to a specific state by the Federal Government with specific provisions on how it is to be spent. Hard Money contributations - Answer- Money legally donated to a specific candidate used for the purpose of campaigning. Maximum hard money donations are limited by law. Soft Money Contirbutions - Answer- Money which is donated to political parties for "party building" purposes, often used by candidates to evade hard money limitations. Implied Powers - Answer- Powers which a person takes to be implies or allowed due to the express powers they hold. Express Powers - Answer- Powers which are specifically stated or authorized by law. Established Clause - Answer- Prohibits Congress from passing laws "respecting an establishment of religion." Writ of Habeas Corpus - Answer- Protects individuals from being held without charge. Reapportionment - Answer- Redistribution of Congressional seats after each census. Gerrymandering - Answer- Redrawing voting districts to give one party or person an unfair advantage. Realignment - Answer- Shifts or changes in public opinion. Bill of Rights - Answer- The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. Legislative Powers - Answer- Sole law making bod