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US Politics
Test #1
61
Other
Undergraduate 2
10/05/2009

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Term
Politics:
Definition
The process by which we choose government officials and make decisions about public policy.
Term
Power:
Definition
People in power decides who gets what, has control, has money, and the ability to do something they normally don’t do
Term
Democracy:
Definition
Form of government in which the people rule either directly or through elected leaders
Term
Civil Society:
Definition
The broad array of voluntary associations that bring citizens together to deal with community and social issues of common concern
Term
Social Capital:
Definition
Bonds of trust and reciprocity between citizens that that form the glue that holds modern societies together
Term
Idealogy:
Definition
Ideas, values, and beliefs about how governments should operate
Term
Virginia Plan:
Definition
Was notable for its role in setting the overall agenda for debate in the convention and, in particular, for setting forth the idea of population-weighted representation in the proposed National Legislature.
Term
New Jersey Plan:
Definition
The plan was created in response to the Virginia Plan's call for two houses of Congress, both elected with proportional representation.[2] The less populous states were adamantly opposed to giving most of the control of the national government to the larger states, and so proposed an alternate plan that would have given one vote per state for equal representation under one legislative body (i.e., a Unicameral Legislature)
Term
Great Compromise:
Definition
Agreement at the Constitutional Convention splitting the legislature into two bodies – one apportioned by population, the other assigning each state two members
Term
Bicameral:
Definition
Composed of two houses
Term
Unicameral:
Definition
One- house legislature
Term
Federalists:
Definition
Supporters of the Constitution and its strong central government
Term
Antifederalists:
Definition
Opponents of the ratification of the Constitution
Term
Judicial Review:
Definition
Power granted to the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of a law
Term
Nullification:
Definition
Doctrine that asserted the right of states to disregard federal actions with which they disagreed
Term
Dual Federalism:
Definition
Approach to federal-state relationships that envisions each level of government as distinct and authoritative within its own sphere of action
COMPETING FOR POWER AT EACH LEVEL
Term
Unitary:
Definition
Federal government has all the power
Term
Federal:
Definition
A form of government in which a union of states recognizes the sovereignty of a central authority while retaining certain residual powers of government.
BROKEN DOWN INTO LEVELS
Term
Creative Federalism:
Definition
Federal-state relationship that sought to involve local populations and cities directly in addressing urban problems during the 1960’s -70’s
Term
Confederation:
Definition
Type of government where states have most of the power ex: EU
Term
Cooperative Federalism:
Definition
Federal-state relationship characteristic of the post-New Deal era that stressed state and federal partnership in addressing social problems
Term
Devolution:
Definition
A movement to grant states greater authority over the local operation of federal programs and local use of federal funds that gained momentum in the 1980’s
Term
Civil Liberties:
Definition
The personal freedoms of individuals that are protected from government intrusion
Term
Civil Rights:
Definition
Personal Rights - some protected by the constitution
Term
Lemon Test:
Definition
The three-part test for establishment clause cases that a law must pass before it is declared constitutional: must have secular purpose; it must neither advance nor inhibit religion; and it must not cause excessive entanglement with religion
Term
Bad Tendency Test:
Definition
Free speech test that prohibits speech that could produce a bad outcome, such as violence, no matter how unlikely the possibility the speech could be the cause of such an outcome
Term
Miller Test:
Definition
Judicial test for obscenity cases that considers community standards, whether the material is patently offensive, and whether the material taken as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value
Term
Slander:
Definition
Oral statements that are false and injure another’s reputation
Term
Libel:
Definition
Written statements that are false and injure another’s reputation
Term
Prior Restraint:
Definition
A practice that would allow the government to censor a publication before anyone could read or view it
Term
Probable Cause:
Definition
A practical and nontechnical calculation of probabilities that is the basis for securing search warrants
Term
Miranda Rights:
Definition
The warning police must administer to suspects so they will be aware of their right to not incriminate themselves
Term
Row vs. Wade:
Definition
The Supreme Court case that legalized abortions in the US during the first two trimesters of a pregnancy
PRIVACY RIGHTS
Term
Dred Scott Case:
Definition
He was a slave who asked for his freedom in the federal courts and lost when the Supreme Court in 1857 ruled that slaves had no constitutional rights
Term
Jim Crow Laws:
Definition
Legislation in the South that mandated racial segregation in public facilities such as restaurants and rest rooms
Term
Segregation:
Definition
Separation between blacks and whites
Term
Civil Rights Act:
Definition
1964 – Historic legislation that prohibited racial segregation in public accommodations and racial discrimination in reemployment, education, and voting
Term
Voting Rights Act:
Definition
1965- Federal Legislation that outlawed literacy tests and empowered federal officials to enter southern states to register African American voters
Term
Plessy v. Ferguson:
Definition
Court ruled the case separate but equal
Term
Brown v. Board of Education:
Definition
"separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." As a result, de jure racial segregation was ruled a violation of the Equal Protection Clause
Term
Suffrage:
Definition
The right or privilege of voting
Term
Affirmative Action:
Definition
Programs that attempt to provide members of disadvantaged groups enhanced opportunities to secure jobs, promotions, and admissions to educational institutions
Term
Equal Opportunity Employment:
Definition
Everyone with needed qualifications has the same rights to employment
Term
Equal Opportunity Employment:
Definition
Everyone with needed qualifications has the same rights to employment
Term
Glass Ceiling:
Definition
A ceiling based on attitudinal or organizational bias in the work force that prevents minorities and women from advancing to leadership positions
Term
What role does society play in a democracy? In the United States, what kind of democracy do we have? What is its relationship with the society?
Definition
It depends on the type of democracy. In a direct democracy there are no representatives for society. Instead, the citizens of the area make decisions about public policy. In a representative democracy, the society is represented by elected and appointed officials who make decisions about public policy. In this case, the societies role in democracy is voting for who represents them. The US has a representative democracy. If the government doesn’t work, the society can get rid of them by voting.
Term
What led to the U.S. revolution? Was it a real revolution? Why or why not?
Definition
The british govt ruled the US. Citizens had no representation and the british kept taxing them. The consequences of this were the stamp act, the boston tea party, and the declaration of independence
Term
What were the Articles of Confederation? Why were there problems with them when they were incorporated? What happened to them?
Definition
-The AOC was the first attempt at a national government. The articles gave the government no separation of powers. The government was too weak, the Articles left much of the power to the states. Congress didn't have the power to tax. To change the Articles, it had to be decided unanimously by all states. Also, 9 out of the 13 states had to approve any major law before it was passed and Congress couldn't regulate commerce. There was no president to lead, no established court system, and every state had only one vote in congress. The AOC were replaced with the constitution.
Term
What were the major problems found in the Constitutional Convention? How were the delegates able to overcome these problems?
Definition
State sovereignty, role of executive, size of federal government, currency, slavery, military, taxes, rights, size of congress. The delegates overcame these problems by writing the US Constitution.
Term
Discuss the process of amending the Constitution. Where is it found in the Constitution?
Definition

Two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to propose an amendment

 

Found in Article V of the Constitution

Term
What were the major problems found in the Constitutional Convention? How were the delegates able to overcome these problems?
Definition
State sovereignty, role of executive, size of federal government, currency, slavery, military, taxes, rights, size of congress. The delegates overcame these problems by writing the US Constitution.
Term
What is federalism? How is it different from confederalism and unitary governments? How does it work in the United States?
Definition
Federalism is a vertically divided government. It is a power-sharing arrangement between the national and state governments in which some powers are granted to the national government alone, some powers are reserved to the states, some powers are held concurrently, and other powers are prohibited to either or both levels of government. Confederalism has sovereign states with a weak national government. Unitary governments have federal control over the entire country. In the US, there is power at the federal level, state level, county level, and city/town level. This gives everyone the chance to become involved in politics.
Term
What are the checks and balances in our government? Are there enough? Why or why not?
Definition
People are the biggest checks. I would say that, given the fact that we are in an economic recession that there aren’t enough checks and balances. If there were more maybe we wouldn’t be in this position.
Term
What are the free exercise clause and the establishment clause? How do the protect/not protect our freedom of religion?
Definition
Free exercise clause is the first amendment provision intended to protect the practice of ones religion free from government interference. The establishment clause is a prohibition against the governments establishment of national religion.
Term
What are the constraints to freedom of speech/press/assembly in the U.S.A? Are they fair? Why or why not?
Definition
-speech: defamation, hate speech, obscenity
-press: classified information can’t be printed, coffins
-assembly: time, place, and manner restrictions
Term
Where can we find the right to privacy? Are we guaranteed this right? Why or why not?
Definition
The Constitution does say that citizens have the right to privacy. Not guaranteed.
Term
Why are there 5 amendments protecting people from the law? Discuss 2 of these amendments and explain what they to protect you.
Definition
Founding Fathers thought it is important that everyone has a fair shake against the government. Bias…personal preference, etc. Speedy trial, search and seizure.
Term
Discuss the Women’s Rights movement in the USA. What are the main problems facing women today?
Definition
The first movement was the suffrage movement, which helped, get women the right to vote in 1920. The second movement was initially focused on the Equal Rights Amendment which failed. The movement has helped give women the right to be equal and on level playing terms compared to men. More respected in the work place, politics, etc. Move away from the stereotypical women view.
Term
Discuss the African American Civil Rights movement in the USA from the founding through the 1950’s. How would you classify the changes in their rights over this time?
Definition
slavery, segregation, Jim Crowe Law...13-15 Amendment
Term
Discuss the African American Civil Rights movement in the USA from the 1960’s to today. What happened in the 1960’s that led to more equality? What are the issues they are facing today?
Definition
voting rights, civil rights, equality in the work place - affirmative action
Term
What are the main civil rights issues today? Why are they difficult to resolve?
Definition
-gay marriage
-abortion
-polygamy
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