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American Government, part 1
flash cards for BYU's GOV 41
253
Social Studies
12th Grade
02/25/2012

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Term
Charter colony
Definition
Authorization: Royal grant to founding grp
Administered by: elected governor (popular vote)
Law making bodies: elected council (popular vote) and elected assembly
Term
Royal colony
Definition
Auth: Directly under control of monarch
Adm: monarch appointed governor
Law m Bodies: gov. appointed council and elected assembly
Term
Proprietary colony
Definition
Auth: owned by a single person who received royal grant
Adm: colony owner appointed governor
Law m Bodies: colony owner appointed council and elected assembly
Term
Federalist Papers
Definition
a series of newspaper articles that effectively argued for the adoption of the Constitution.
Term
Mayflower Compact
Definition
the oldest colonial constitution written by the Pilgrims in 1620.
Term
Mercantilism
Definition
the economic system in which colonies existed only for the profit and benefit of the mother country.
Term
Declaration of Independence
Definition
the formal document announcing the separation of the colonies from Britain.
Term
Sons of Liberty
Definition
the name of a radical group composed of young middle-class colonists who protested against British controls.
Term
Salutary neglect
Definition
the beneficial neglect of the thirteen colonies by the king because of European and domestic distractions.
Term
committees of correspondence
Definition
organized groups who circulated papers and letters through the colonies in an effort to keep leaders and others informed on the latest developments.
Term
Growing royal anger with the American colonies was due to
Definition
costs of colonies was exceeding income generated
Term
The British action which restricted the “triangular trade” conducted by colonists to earn hard-money profits was the
Definition
Sugar Act of 1764
Term
The Intolerable Acts
Definition
closed Boston harbor and inflicted other
punishments on Massachusetts.
Term
The plan of government in America prior to the Constitution and after the Second Continental Congress was the
Definition
Articles of Confederation
Term
Which of the following did the Articles of Confederation fail to provide?
Definition
the power to tax
Term
The major argument against the adoption of the Constitution was that it
Definition
gave the national government too much power and did not guarantee personal liberties
Term
For the Constitution to be ratified how many states needed to give their approval?
Definition
nine
Term
The practice of slavery had ended in the northern colonies before the Revolutionary War began.
Definition
False
Term
Which type of colony was best suited to and least affected by the policy of salutary neglect?
Definition
charter colony
Term
Which of the following was probably the greatest obstacle to colonial unity and cooperation prior to the Revolution?
Definition
differences in life styles
Term
Which of the following was probably the most important factor in getting the Constitution ratified in most states?
Definition
the promise to quickly add a “bill of rights”
Term
checks and balances
Definition
the way one branch of government limits the actions of another
Term
branch of government that enforces the law
Definition
executive
Term
branch of government that makes the law
Definition
legislative
Term
branch of government that interprets the law
Definition
judicial
Term
separation of powers
Definition
the division of governmental powers between different branches
Term
judicial review
Definition
the right of the courts to examine the declare acts or laws unconstitutional
Term
loose construction
Definition
the use of implied powers to meet the changing needs of society and extend federal authority
Term
What can the state refuse to a family that recently moved there from another state?
Definition
the right to vote in local elections until the adults have established residency
Term
Law enforcement officers cannot interfere with activities carried on in the privacy of one's home.
Definition
False
Term
defense
Definition
the largest single share of the federal budget
Term
the executive branch may check the power of the judicial branch by
Definition
appointing judges
Term
the legislative branch may check the power of the judicial branch by
Definition
impeaching judges
Term
6 basic purposes of government outlined in the preamble
Definition
create a more perfect union
establish justice
insure domestic tranquility
provide for the common defense
promote the general welfare
secure the blessings of liberty
Term
help for victims of natural disasters
Definition
insure domestic tranquility
Term
social security benefits
Definition
promote the general welfare
Term
priority of federal law over a similar or contradictory state law
Definition
form a more perfect union
Term
balance of government regulation against civil freedoms
Definition
secure the blessings of liberty
Term
the largest percent of the american tax dollar is spent on national defense
Definition
false
Term
federal regulations have increased greatly in recent history
Definition
true
Term
Charles de montesquieu
Definition
the individual who developed the idea of separation of powers
Term
the executive branch may check the power of the legislative branch by
Definition
using veto power on legislation
refusing to spend money appropriated by congress
calling special sessions of congress
Term
the legislative branch may check the power of the executive branch by
Definition
impeaching executive branch officials
controlling budgets and appropriations
ratifying appointments and treaties
Term
the constitutional concept of implied powers has allowed for new laws to be created to meet the needs of a changing nation
Definition
true
Term
strict construction
Definition
the idea that only those powers specifically outlines in the constitution are lawful
Term
the father of the constitution
Definition
james madison
Term
the framers of the constitution were average american citizens
Definition
false
Term
private property may be purchases by the government over the objections of property owners if it is needed for the public good
Definition
true
Term
the ninth amendment
Definition
citizens have other rights besides those specifically mentioned in the constitution
Term
the third amendment
Definition
no longer applicable
Term
the right of eminent domain
Definition
the government may take private property in the interest of greater public good, but must justly compensate the owner
Term
writ of habeas corpus
Definition
a document the prevents a person from being held in jail indefinitely without being charged
Term
bill of attainder
Definition
a prohibited law allowing an individual to be found guilty of a crime without due process
Term
the thirteenth amendment
Definition
forbids slavery or servitude in the united states
Term
a naturalized citizen may not
Definition
become president of the united states
Term
the doctrine of "clear and present danger" allows government to
Definition
suspend or restrict the civil rights of the citizens
Term
forbidden law, making enforcement and punishment retroactive
Definition
ex post facto
Term
ex post factor laws
Definition
makes a crime of an action that was not illegal at the time it was performed
ex: a state law that will take effect next january says companies cannot donate more than $1000. any attempt to prosecute company x for making a contribution of $2000 THIS year would be ex post facto = illegal
Term
immunity
Definition
a promise by the court not to prosecute if the individual will fully cooperate
Term
libel
Definition
published, untrue statement damaging someones reputation
Term
in a democracy like the US, the wished of the majority always outweigh the wishes of a minority.
Definition
false: certain basic rights must be safeguarded no matter how unpopular their expression might be
Term
in order for a revolutionay speech to be considered cause for arrest, the government must prove that it constituted
Definition
a clear and present danger
Term
the right keep and bear arms is an absolute privilege granted under the bill of rights.
Definition
false: the government places many restrictions on the use of arms
Term
a judge is most likely to issue a search warrant
Definition
when the police have good reason to believe that a crime has been committed
Term
the due process clause in the fifth and 14th amendments defines a citizens rights to fair and equal protection under state and federal laws.
Definition
true
Term
the american colonist based their decision to revolt against british rile on
Definition
the belief that they were being denied their rights as british subjects
Term
federal protections written into the bills of rights have always applied to state law as well.
Definition
false: not until 1868 did the due process clause of the 14th amendment give the courts legal means of extending federal rights guarantees to cases involving state laws.
Term
noncitizens living in the US receieve equal protection under the guarantees of the constitution.
Definition
true
Term
first amendment
Definition
freedom of press
freedom of speech
freedom of assembly and petition
freedom of religion
Term
second amendment
Definition
right to bear arms
Term
third amendment
Definition
freedom from quartering troops
Term
fourth amendment
Definition
freedom from unreasonable search and seizure
Term
fifth amendment
Definition
right to own property
right to not be tried twice for the same crime
right to not have to testify against oneself
right not to deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law
Term
the sixth amendment
Definition
right to confront witnesses
right to call witnesses
right to an attorney
right to face accusers
right to know charges
Term
the eighth amendment
Definition
right to a reasonable bail
right not to be subjected to cruel or unusual punishment
Term
the ninth and tenth amendments
Definition
the national government cannot enlarge its powers beyond those granted by the Constitution
Term
the fourteenth amendment
Definition
uqual protection under the law and prevents states from restricting civil rights
Term
the 24th amendment
Definition
abolished poll taxes
Term
coalition
Definition
a union of cooperating parties common to the political system of other nations
Term
Small political parties can easily gain national representation.
Definition
false
Term
todays democratic party favors
Definition
a strong federal government
Term
the first political parties in the US were?
Definition
federalists and anti federalists
Term
liberal
Definition
an individual who favors greater government involvement in solving social and economic problems
Term
socialist
Definition
an individual whose political views are radical left
Term
american political parties are most active at this level
Definition
state
Term
precinct system
Definition
the political system most often used today to decide party candidates and policy
Term
lame duck period
Definition
the period of time between the election of a new president and the swearing-in ceremonies during which the outgoing president is still in charge
Term
the last step involved in the process of choosing a new president
Definition
the presidential inauguration is held
Term
inauguration
Definition
the swearing in ceremony of a new president
Term
crossover voting
Definition
voting of party members for all of the candidates of another party during an open primary or general election
Term
primary
Definition
a public election in which a political party chooses its candidates for the general election
Term
independents
Definition
voters who do not consider themselves a member of any political party
Term
spoils system
Definition
the giving out of favors by a political party to its supporters
Term
moderate
Definition
a person with a political middle of the road viewpoint
Term
conservative
Definition
a person who believes in limiting government involvement in social and economic issues
Term
platform
Definition
summary of a political party
s beliefs and goals
Term
precinct
Definition
the grass roots level of a political party's organization in a city or town
Term
advantage of two party system over multiparty systems
Definition
it provides stable governments that change only at election time
Term
the modern republican party inherited the political tradition of the
Definition
federalists and whigs
Term
the failure of third parties to win national elections can be traced to
Definition
the tendency of the major parties to take over the ideas of third parties once these ideas become popular
Term
a right wing politician would most likely believe in
Definition
less government control over auto manufacturers
Term
the majority of american voters can usually be found in the political camp of the
Definition
moderates
Term
most important task of the national convention
Definition
select the party's candidate for president
Term
lame duck politician
Definition
one who is waiting to leave office after a successor has been elected
Term
what three requirements must a group with common political beliefs have in order to truly be called a political party?
Definition
shared beliefs
program
chance of success
Term
five functions or accomplishments of political parties
Definition
organize a political majority
provide electable candidates
educate voters
finance election campaigns
winners run to government
Term
the six levels at which major political parties are organized
Definition
1.) national
2.) state
3.) county
4.) city/town
5.) ward
6.) precinct
Term
what system has largely replaced the party caucus method of deciding political candidates and policy?
Definition
convention
Term
the three important political activities accomplished at state and national party conventions
Definition
nominate candidates
develop platform
votes on rules for party operation
Term
the two ways in which delegate may be chose for national party conventions
Definition
1.) primaries
2.) nominating conventions
Term
today, winning political parties control and run the governement by way of the spoils system
Definition
false
Term
the federalist party eventually became the
Definition
republican party
Term
the antifederalist party eventually became the
Definition
democratic party
Term
socialist
Definition
an individual who favors government takeover of resources, industry, and social issues to make them the responsibility of everyone
radical left
Term
reactionary
Definition
an individual who denounces most government regulation and who is generally very anticommunist
radical right
Term
conservative
Definition
an individual who feels the national government is too large and would prefer to see economic and social problems handled by the private sector and by local and state governments
rightwing
Term
liberal
Definition
an individual who wants the government to solve major social and economic problems
left wing
Term
the first step in electing president
Definition
party members announce their candidacy for the presidency
Term
the second step in electing president
Definition
state primaries or nominating conventions take place
Term
the third step in electing president
Definition
the party's national convention is held, and delegates choose a presidential candidate
Term
the fourth step in electing president
Definition
a party's presidential candidate campaigns against the opposing party's candidate.
Term
the fifth step in electing president
Definition
the general election takes place
Term
the sixth step in electing president
Definition
inauguration is held
Term
closed primary
Definition
a primary open only to registered members of a party
Term
open primary
Definition
A primary open to all voters who then declare their choice of party in the voting booth
Term
crossover voting
Definition
Primary voting in which Republicans can vote for Democratic candidates and Democrats for Republicans
Term
dark horse
Definition
a compromise candidate chosen at a national convention because of a deadlock over the front runner
Term
crossover primaries
Definition
poses some potential for one party to legally sabotage the other party's attempts to determine its most popular candidate
Term
franchise
Definition
the right to vote
Term
only property owners could vote in early america
Definition
true
Term
today, states may restrict voting privileges by
Definition
setting residency requirements
Term
a primary election
Definition
most likely to be restricted to voters who have registered as members of a political party
Term
blue-collar workers
Definition
most likely to vote for the democratic party
Term
off year election
Definition
an election year when no presidential race is scheduled
Term
poll tax
Definition
a tax on the right to vote
Term
bloc voting
Definition
the voting of people who have similar characteristics
Term
recount
Definition
an official second count of election results
Term
split-ticket voting
Definition
individual voting that supports members of both parties rather than just one party
Term
write-in voting
Definition
addition of a candidate to the ballot by a voter
Term
absentee ballot
Definition
a ballot mailed to a voter who will be out of town at voting time
Term
during the first presidential election, what percent of the population were legal voters?
Definition
10%
Term
secret ballot was first developed in
Definition
australia
Term
recall
Definition
process which allows voters to remove an elected
official from office before his or her term is complete
Term
general elections are held
Definition
every even numbered november
Term
Federal election commission
Definition
FEC
established to administer the laws dealing with campaign financing
Term
To qualify for public campaign money, presidential candidates must
Definition
raise a minimum of $5,000 in each of at least twenty different states (no single contribution can be more than $250)
Term
what influences public opinion?
Definition
economic forces
Term
what has encouraged the growth of pressure groups?
Definition
freedom of speech and assembly, political system response, and the size of the government
Term
most states allow lobbyist to take legislators out to dinner and provide limited free services
Definition
true
Term
proposition/initiative
Definition
legislation proposed by the public by way of petition and decided by popular vote at the next general election
Term
referendum
Definition
referring a legislative matter to the voters fir their approval or rejection
the process of voter approval or rejection of completed legislation
needed to approve or reject amendments to a states constitution
Term
promulgation
Definition
last step in the initiative process
Term
petition
Definition
lists of signatures supporting initiative, referendum, or recall measures
Term
recall
Definition
process by which voters can remove government officials from office
requires the most amount of petition signatures to be called to a vote
Term
straw poll
Definition
an informal and unscientific poll
Term
pressure group
Definition
a group of individuals organized to push for legislation favorable to their ideas and goals.
Term
propaganda
Definition
information designed to persuade people to think a specific way
Term
lobbyist
Definition
an individual who attempts to influence members of congress on behalf of a pressure group
Term
public opinion
Definition
general attitudes and feelings of citizens regarding contemporary issues
Term
mass media
Definition
the modern means of giving out information
radio, tv, newspapers, magazines, etc
Term
the most accurate poll on a major question of national policy wold be
Definition
a cross sampling of people from several widely scattered states
Term
the biggest problem facing someone who wants to conduct an accurate poll is
Definition
people's opinions change too rapidly to measure
Term
editorial page
Definition
the best place to look in a newspaper for articles designed to both inform and persuade
Term
primary job of pressure group
Definition
obtain favorable action from government for the cause it supports
Term
the biggest polling failure in US history
Definition
The
Literary Digest poll in 1936 is considered to be the biggest polling
error in United States history.
Term
what is the age requirement for a state representative?
Definition
25 years old
Term
gerrymandering
Definition
the process of creating strangely shaped districts to favor the party in power
Term
speaker
Definition
the presiding officer of the house of representatives
Term
standing committees
Definition
the permanent committees of congress
Term
where does the power to impeach reside?
Definition
house
Term
the increased influence and power of congress over time can be traced to which two expressed powers?
Definition
regulating interstate commerce and taxing
Term
Members of congress may not be sued for what they say in the halls of congress.
Definition
true
Term
president pro tempore
Definition
title of person presiding in the senate in the absence of the vice president
Term
impeachment
Definition
to accuse o bring charges against government officials
Term
whip
Definition
assistants to majority and minority leaders who keep party members informed and see that party members get to the floor for important votes.
Term
conference
Definition
committees which meet to iron out differences between house and senate versions of the same bill
Term
standing committees
Definition
permanent congressional committees that do most of congress's work.
Term
franking privilege
Definition
privilege extended to members of congress to send mail without paying postage
Term
speaker
Definition
presiding officer of the house
Term
why was bicameralism chosen as the principle for the united states congress?
Definition
Term
what is the purpose of national reapportionment?
Definition
assigning seats in the house of representatives according to changing population patterns
Term
one man, one vote would tend to prevent what?
Definition
a rural congressional district being drawn the same size as an urban district
Term
who handles the major part of congressional business?
Definition
the standing committees
Term
the power of congress to declare war is
Definition
an expressed power
Term
what does the confirmation process allow the senate to do?
Definition
judge the abilities of the presidents appointees to the cabinet and to the supreme court
Term
the biggest source of federal tax revenue
Definition
income tax
Term
what do members of congress not receive?
Definition
a tax-free salary and expense account
Term
speaker of the house
Definition
the title of the presiding officer of the house
Term
president of the senate
Definition
the title of the presiding officer of the senate
Term
what is the total number of members in the house of reps?
Definition
435
Term
what is the total number of members in the senate?
Definition
100
Term
how are the total seats in the house of reps apportioned?
Definition
by population
Term
how are the total seats in the senate apportioned?
Definition
two per state
Term
what are the qualifications for office in the house of reps?
Definition
25 yrs old
citizen for 7 yrs
resident of state
Term
what are the qualifications for office in the senate?
Definition
30 yrs old
citizen for 9 years
resident of state
Term
what is the length of term in office for the house of reps?
Definition
2 yrs
Term
what is the length of term in officer for the senate?
Definition
6 yrs
Term
how are lawmakers in the house/senate replaced due to death or resignation?
Definition
usually appointed by the state governor until a special election
Term
how often is reapportionment done?
Definition
every 10 years
Term
all committee work is legislative in nature.
Definition
false
Term
committee chairmen are members of the majority party.
Definition
true
Term
what are the judicial powers of congress?
Definition
establish courts
impeach federal officials
make federal laws
Term
reserved powers
Definition
powers given to the states that are not held by the federal government
Term
who can formally introduce a bill in the house/senate
Definition
members of congress
Term
the purpose of a congressional hearing?
Definition
gather and examine information
Term
pigeonholed bills
Definition
bills which are set aside in committee and never considered again
Term
fillbuster
Definition
the tactic used int he senate to stop or delay action on a bill by the use of unlimited debate
Term
rider
Definition
an amendment to a bill that differs in subject matter from the bill it is attached to, often delaying action on the bill
Term
veto
Definition
a formal refusal by the president to sign a bill into law
Term
pocket veto
Definition
an action in which the president refuses to accept or reject a bill before congress adjourns; the bill dies because congress is not in session and the president didnt sign it
Term
lobby
Definition
a pressure group that represents a special interest group seeking to influence legislation
Term
override
Definition
a two-thirds vote by both houses of congress to reject a presidential veto
Term
resolution
Definition
a bill that gives congressional opinion or viewpoint or that requests information from the executive branch
Term
filibuster
Definition
the effort of a senator or group of senators seeking to prevent the consideration of a bill by the use of unlimited and constant debate
Term
quorum
Definition
the number of legislators who must be present before a bill can be voted on
Term
closure or cloture rule
Definition
the senate rule that can end a filibuster
Term
hearing
Definition
an information-gathering meeting held by a congressional committee or subcommittee to explore the value of a proposed bill
Term
bill
Definition
a proposal for a new law
Term
where do most bills originate with?
Definition
private individuals and pressure groups
Term
how does a member of the house introduce a bill by?
Definition
dropping the bill into the hopper
Term
congressional committee hearings give congress
Definition
a way of reducing the number of bills introduced each session to a manageable number
Term
when a house committee reports out a new bill, it is placed on a calendar. the next step is to...
Definition
send it to the rules committee to establish the bills priority
Term
where does unlimited floor debate on a bill take place?
Definition
the senate
Term
in order to record a senators vote for all to see, the vote must be
Definition
a roll-call vote
Term
rules committee
Definition
a powerful house committee that decides the fate of thousands of bills during each session of congress
Term
where can filibusters happpen?
Definition
the senate
Term
discharge procedure
Definition
forces pigeonholed bills to the floor
Term
ways to force the rules to send pigeonholed bills to the house floor
Definition
suspension of rules
unanimous consent
discharge procedure
Term
voice vote
Definition
presiding officer listens to the ayes and nays and then decides which side clearly has the most support
no public record
Term
rising vote
Definition
the presiding officer count heads when the members stand to support or oppose the bill
recorded
Term
roll call vote
Definition
a voice vote where each lawmakers aye or nay is recorded
Term
temporary conference committee
Definition
resolves the conflicts that arise between house and senate when they both pass different versions of the same billl
Term
what happens when the president does not sign a bill within ten working days while congress is in sesion?
Definition
it automatically becomes law
Term
committee of the whole
Definition
refers to house when it acts as one large committee
Term
appropriation bills
Definition
bills that deal with money
Term
excise tax
Definition
a tax charged to specific goods and services
Term
personal income taxes
Definition
the largest and most important source of federal income
Term
export tax
Definition
the government cannot levy this tax
Term
who first approves appropriation bills?
Definition
the house appropriations committee
Term
where must appropriation bills begin?
Definition
the house
Term
the OMB
Definition
the special conference committee which works out compromises between the house and senate appropriation bills
Term
GDP gross domestic product
Definition
the total value of all goods and services in one year
Term
deficit spending
Definition
the government's spending more money than it collects
Term
boondoggle
Definition
a useless project funded by congress
Term
inflation
Definition
"too many dollars chasing too few goods."
Term
tariff, duty, or customs tax
Definition
a tax charged to imports
Term
national debt
Definition
the total amount owned by a nation to its creditors
Term
IRS internal revenue service
Definition
the nation's tax collecting agency
Term
pork barrel
Definition
the total of all questionable funding and appropriations made in a legislative session.
Term
recession
Definition
a slowdown in the national economy causing high unemployment and low production
Term
federal budget
Definition
the annual government plan of income and spending
Term
regressive tax
Definition
a single rate tax that weighs more heavily on low income people than on the wealthy, such as a sale tax
Term
a loophole in the tax laws gives
Definition
corporations and individuals a way of greatly reducing their tax payments.
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