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American Government
Final
133
History
11th Grade
12/20/2007

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Cards

Term
In order to  control behavior in the courtroom a judge might issue what
Definition
contempt of court
Term
Along with a knowledge of the law a judge should have
Definition
absolute honesty and an understanding of human nature
Term
The local cleaning store has ruined your best outfit and refused to rplace it. the best place to file suit is
Definition
small claims court
Term
if you wish to prevent the police in your town from going on strike your suit would be filed under what
Definition
laws of equity
Term
a typical civil suit would be
Definition
two neighbors fighting over the property line
Term
as in many civil and criminal courts the decision of the supreme court must have
Definition
a majority to establish a supreme court decision
Term
final authority for deciding constitutionality on federal laws lies with whom
Definition
supreme court
Term
the proper order for a typical case to a federal case is
Definition
district court to court of appeals to supreme court
Term
the constitution leaves it up to who to decide how the federal court system shuold be organized
Definition
congress
Term
the foreman on the grand jury yelled "guilty.' this is false because
Definition
grand juries establish indictment, not guilt
Term
how many district courts are there? how many without territorial courts?
Definition
94, 89
Term
how many supreme court justices are there?
Definition
9
Term
what is the term of office for a federal judge?
Definition
life
Term
written summaries of legal and other information to support oral arguments are known as what?
Definition
briefs
Term
the first level of state courts to hear all types of cases without restrictons is
Definition
general trial courts
Term
all federal judges owe their appointments to whom
Definition
the president
Term
in a civil case, jury members are
Definition
registered voters
Term

what is a jury that can not reach a decision

Definition
a hung jury
Term
true or false: in civil cases a jury is optional
Definition
true
Term
what kind of jurisdiction is it when a court receives a case from another court on appeal
Definition
appellate jurisdiction
Term
a court order that forces public officials to fulfill their duties
Definition
writ of mandamus
Term
under this legal doctrine an imprisoned person has a right to know why they are imprisoned
Definition
writ of habeas corpus
Term
when the court date arrives, the defendant enters a plea known as
Definition
arraignment
Term
the voting majority of the supreme court justices may offer a written explanation of their decision called
Definition
a majority opinion
Term
a minor offense which carries short prison sentences or fines is
Definition
a misdemeanor
Term
courts which handle cases such as probate, civil suits and minor criminal offenses are
Definition
municipal courts
Term

most cases reach the high court by

Definition
writ of certorari
Term
federal courts that deal with united states overseas possessions
Definition
territorial courts
Term
a legal order by which a judge or court requires the presence of certain witnesses at trial is
Definition
a subpoena
Term
when a court has the right to hear a case for the first time it is
Definition
original jurisdiction
Term
a summary of the prosecutions case against a suspect, given to the grand jury who then decides if there is enough evidence for a trial
Definition

bill of indictment

Term
case which involves matters within the jurisdiction on both the federal and state court level is
Definition
concurrent jurisdiction
Term
power of the court to review the legalities of actions taken by the executive and legislative branch is
Definition
judicial review
Term
court order which prevents you from doing some act
Definition
injunction
Term
laws written by government bodies are what
Definition
statutory laws
Term
the hearings that settle a dead persons estate are conducted in this court
Definition
probate court
Term
stands midway between district courts and the federal court
Definition
court of appeals
Term
serves as trial courts for all federal laws arising under the laws of the united states
Definition
district courts
Term
similar decisions in the past which often decide decision making in the present
Definition
precedents
Term

another name for a court calendar

Definition
docket
Term
members of this type of jury weigh evidence presented during a trial and then decide guilt
Definition
petit jury
Term

lying under oath

Definition
perjury
Term
what is the most serious type of crime
Definition
felony
Term
money a defendant is ordered to pay by a judge to ensure their showing up for the trial
Definition
bail
Term
this type of law is based on customs and tradition
Definition
common law
Term
if you do not behave in court or dont show up on your courtdate the judge can cite you for
Definition
contempt of court
Term
this is a type of law that tries to prevent something from happening
Definition
equity
Term
cases involving a dispute between two or more people are called
Definition
civil cases
Term
why is it a bad idea to make a citizens arrest?
Definition
liabilities
Term
most cases in the US court of appeals are heard by
Definition
a three judge bench
Term
how are most justices of the peace paid?
Definition
commisions
Term
another term for judge is
Definition
magistrate
Term
an example of a concurrent power is the power to
Definition

tax

Term
powers not granted to the federal government nor prohibited to the states are
Definition
reserved
Term

two other names for reserved powers are

Definition
residual and retained
Term
the expression 'executive session' refers to
Definition
committee meeting in secret to decide the fate of a bill
Term
another name for executive sessions is
Definition
markups
Term
at the convention the one major task remaining after the selection of the presidential candidate is
Definition
selection of the vice president
Term
two areas where filibusters have been used most recently are
Definition
civil rights and changes in senate rules to make it easier to end a filibuster
Term
the main criteria usually followed in selecting a partys vice president nominee is
Definition
balancing the ticket
Term
committee hearings usually allow
Definition

witnesses for and against a bill to have their say

Term
true false: the cheif justice means the longest standing judge on the supreme court
Definition
false
Term
the two term tradition was broken by who and is now what
Definition
franklin delano roosevelt, it is now law
Term
other than size, a major difference between the house and senate is
Definition
unlimited debate in the senate
Term
the longest length a person can serve as president is
Definition

ten years

Term
the most terms you can serve as president is
Definition
2
Term
once a bill passes in both houses in the same form it goes where
Definition
to the president
Term
the free mail privilege for congressmen is
Definition
the franking privilege
Term
rule by one person, usually hereditary
Definition
monarchy
Term
marxist term for the workers
Definition
proletariat
Term
in a federal government the supreme law of the land is
Definition
the constitution
Term
list the four broad principles of capitalism:
Definition
free enterprise, profit motive, competition, private ownership of the means of production
Term
motto of the us is
Definition
e pluribus unum
Term
the US motto in english is
Definition
one out of many
Term
three basic beliefs outlined in the declaration of independence
Definition
all men are created equal, all men have rights, and governments are subject to the people
Term
list the five goals of the founding fathers
Definition
ensure domestic tranquility, establish justice, promote general welfare, provide for the common defense, secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity
Term
the official record of proceedings in the house and senate is the
Definition
congressional record
Term
legislation to secure appropriations for projects of doubtful utility which are favored by local interests is called
Definition
pork barrel
Term
national election day is
Definition
tuesday after the first monday in november
Term
each session of congress starts when and ends when
Definition

january 3rd, whenever they want

Term
in the house, a bill may be taken out of committee by the use of a
Definition
discharge petition
Term
the four types of voting in congress are
Definition
rising, teller, roll call, and voice
Term
an amendment added to a bill that usually has nothing to do with it but is actually a delaying tactic is a
Definition
rider
Term
riders can only be used in
Definition
the senate
Term
the term for having to do with a bill is called
Definition
germane
Term
if a congressional chairman keeps a bill from receiving serious consideration he is doing what to the bill
Definition
pigeonholing it
Term
which side of the political spectrum wants more government action
Definition
left
Term
when is inauguration day
Definition
january 20th
Term
what is the minimum amount of electoral votes a state can have
Definition
3
Term
what are the three weaknesses of the electoral college?
Definition

you can win the popular vote and still lose the election, electors dont have to vote for who they are pledged to, if no candidate receives a majority it goes to congress

Term
what are the three requirements to become president
Definition
35 years old, citizen for fourteen years and natural born citizen
Term
reasons the founding fathers set up the electoral college
Definition
they didnt want the president to owe his job to congress, they didnt want to leave it to the people and it shortens the list of candidates
Term
what is the formula for determining the amount of electors in  state?
Definition
house plus two senators
Term
during the late 19th century the public began to demand a greater role in the nomination of candidates and as a result today most candidates are elected by
Definition
primaries
Term
what is the total number of electoral votes
Definition
538
Term

how many electoral votes does wisconsin have

Definition
10
Term
can the number of electors in a state ever change
Definition
yes
Term

how is the electoral vote divided up in each state

Definition
winner takes all
Term
total number of electoral votes needed for victory is
Definition
270
Term

who elects the president if no candidate receives the majority vote

Definition
the house
Term
who elects the vice president
Definition

senate

Term
the senate will chose from how many candidates
Definition
top 2
Term
how is the vote divided up in the senate
Definition

each senator gets one vote

Term

how many votes are needed to win

Definition
51
Term
the house decides the president between
Definition
3 candidates
Term

how is the house vote for president divided up

Definition

each state gets one vote

Term
how many possible state votes are there
Definition
50
Term
how many state votes are needed to win
Definition
26
Term
if neither the house nor senate agrees by what date, who becomes president
Definition
january 20th, speaker of the house
Term

which amendment clarified the electoral college process

Definition
12th
Term
when electors go to state capitals to cast their ballots they are free to
Definition
vote for any candidate
Term
in most states how are electors decided
Definition
state party conventions
Term
when the president dies the vice president takes over by rule of the
Definition
20th amendment
Term
the process for amending the constitution is provided for in the
Definition
constitution itself
Term
who checks the presidents treaty making power
Definition
the senate
Term
according to the constitution, congress is required to meet
Definition
annually
Term
the term elastic clause refers to the
Definition
necessary and proper clause
Term

a third name for the elastic clause is the

Definition
implied powers clause
Term
what is the first step for a bill becoming a law
Definition
the bill is given a number
Term

many federal offices appointed by the president must first be approved by the

Definition
senate
Term
after a bill has been introduced into either house and given a number it is referred to a
Definition
standing committee
Term
who would be responsible for introducing legislation into congress
Definition
congressmen
Term
according to the constitution the house of reps has the sole power to
Definition
introduce bills concerning the raising of revenues
Term
equal voting rights for women
Definition
19th amendment
Term
separate ballots for president and vice president
Definition
12th amendment
Term
presidential succession
Definition
25th amendment
Term
18 year olds can vote
Definition
26th amendment
Term
president of senate votes when
Definition
incase of tie
Term
the penalty of impeachment is
Definition

removal from office and disqualification from holding any federal office in the future

Term
the number hr4900 refers to
Definition
the bills number, there were 4899 bills before it in this session, this bill is from the house
Term
measures introduced into congress are either this or this
Definition
bills or resolutions
Term
most of the constitutional guarantees of the individual freedoms are found in the
Definition
first ten amendments
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