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Ch 9-10, 12, 14
American Federal Government
131
Political Studies
Undergraduate 2
10/13/2015

Additional Political Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Enumerated Powers
Definition
Powers specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution. The first seventeen clauses of Article 1, Section 8 specify most of the enumerated powers of Congress.
Term
Logrolling
Definition
Offering to support a fellow member's bill in exchange for that member's promise to support your bill in the future.
Term
Casework
Definition
Personal work for constituents by members of Congress
Term
Ombudsperson
Definition
A person who hears and investigates complaints by private individuals against public officials or agencies
Term
Trustee
Definition
A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad inteests of the entire society
Term
Instructed Delegate
Definition
A legislator who is an agent of the voters who elected him or her and who votes according to the views of constituents, regardless of personal beliefs
Term
Oversight
Definition
The process by which Congress follows up on laws it has enacted to ensure that they are being enforced and administered in the way Congress intended.
Term
Filibuster
Definition
The use of the Senate's tradition of unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block a bill.
Term
Rules Committee in House of Representatives
Definition
A standing of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the House.
Term
Reapportionment
Definition
The allocation of seats in the House of Representatives to each state after a census
Term
Gerrymandering
Definition
The drawing of legislative district boundary lines for the purpose of obtaining partisans advantage. A district is said to be gerrymandered when its shape is altered substantially to determine which party will win it.
Term
Seniority System
Definition
A cusom followed in both chambers of Congress specifying that the member of te majority party with the longest term of continuous service will be given preference when a committee chairperson (or holder of some other significant post) is selected.
Term
Speaker of the House
Definition
The presiding officer in the House of Representatives. The Speaker is chosen by the majority party and is the most powerful and influential member of the House.
Term
What would happen if the states did not reapportion every 10 years?
Definition
The national Consesus would be wrong due to the poeple/ populations moving and changing. Wouldn't be representative of the people
Term
What does gerrymandering do to reapportionment?
Definition
Changes who represents what in relation to population
Term
What issue did Baker vs. Carr resolve?
Definition
Federal courts have jurisdiciton to hear a constitutional challenge to a legislative apportionment.
Term

T or F

Logrolling is a practice of rolling bills over from one session to the next.

Definition
False
Term

T or F

Logrolling is a practice of rolling bills over from one session to the next.

Definition
False
Term

T or F

A legislator who acts according to their conscience and the broad interests of the entire society are called a trustee.

Definition
False
Term

T or F

An instructed delegate is one who is controlled by a special interest group and they dictate who the representative will vote.

Definition
False
Term

T or F

Congress has the power to check on the executive branch. This is called oversight.

Definition
True
Term

T or F

Gerrymandering refers to the practice of favoring group over another during reapportionment.

Definition
True
Term

T or F

Enumerated powers are those that are listed in the constitution

Definition
True
Term
It takes a vote of 75 senators to stop a filibuster.
Definition
False
Term
Seniority system in Congress means that the oldest members get to select the committees they are on.
Definition
False
Term
The speaker of the House is the Vice President
Definition
False
Term
An ombudsperson hears and investigates complaints by private individuals against public officials or agencies
Definition
True
Term
A representative whose votes match the will of their constitiuents is acting as _____?
Definition
An instructed delegate
Term
The most powerful member of the House of Representatives is ____?
Definition
The Speaker
Term
The committee in the House of Representatives that controls what bills are brought to the floor and the time limit for debate is called _____?
Definition
The Rules Committee
Term
An attempt to tie a bill up so long that it will never come up for a vote is called ____?
Definition
A Filibuster
Term
The practice of favoring one political group over another during reapportionment is called _____?
Definition
Gerrymandering
Term
The practice of redrawing congressional House of Representatives districts every 10 years as required by the Constitution is called _____?
Definition
Reapportionment
Term
The personal work for constituents by members of Congress is called _____?
Definition
casework
Term
The process by which Congress follows up on laws it has enacted to ensure that they are being enforced and applied in the way Congress intended is called _____?
Definition
Oversight
Term
Qualifications for President or Vice President
Definition

-35 years old

-Natural Born Citizen

-Resided in the US for at least 14 years

Term

12th Amendment

 

Definition
An amendment to the constitution, specifies the separate election of the president and vice president by the Electoral College.
Term
Chief of State/Head of State
Definition
Role of the President as ceremonial head of the government
Term
Chief Executive
Definition
Role of the President as head of the executive branch of the government
Term
Pardon
Definition
A release from the punishment for, or legal consequences of, a crime. Can be granted by the President before or after a conviction.
Term
Commander-In-Chief
Definition
Role of the President as Supreme Commander of Military when called into federal service
Term
War Powers Resolution (Act)
Definition
A law passed in 1973 spelling out conditions under which the President can commit troops w/out congressional approval
Term
War Powers Resolution (Act)
Definition
A law passed in 1973 spelling out conditions under which the President can commit troops w/out congressional approval
Term
Chief Diplomat
Definition
Roles of the President in recognizing foreign governments, making treaties, and effecting executive agreements
Term
Executive Agreement
Definition
An international agreement made by the President, w/out senatorial ratification, with the head of a foreign state
Term
Chief Legislator
Definition
Role of the President in influencing the making of laws
Term
Pocket Veto
Definition
A special veto exercised by the chief executive after a legislative body has adjourned. Bills not signed by the chief executive die after a specified period of time.
Term
Impeachment
Definition
An action by the House of Rep. to accuse the President, Vice President, or other civil officers of the US of committing "Treason, Bribery, or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors"
Term
25th Amendment
Definition
Amendment to the constitution that established procedures for filling presidential and vice presidential vacancies and make provisions for presidency
Term
What are the issues the 25th amendment tries to solve?
Definition
Determine what happens if the president becomes incapacitated.
Term
What is the impeachment process; which house does the impeachment; which house does the trial?
Definition
House of Representatives accuses officer involved, draws up articles of impeachment and submits to the Senate. The Senate handles the trial.
Term

T or F

The Role of the President is performing as chief of state is mainly ceremonial and symbolic

Definition
True
Term

T or F

There are no constitutional Requirements to be qualified to be POTUS

Definition
False
Term

T or F 

Congress has invoked the War Powers Resolution saeveral times to limit the Presidents military power

Definition
False
Term

T or F

An executive agreement is an international agreement between the president and foreign heads of state and does not require senate approval

Definition
True
Term

T or F 

The president's ability as chief legislator often depends on the president's personal popularity

Definition
True
Term

T or F

The 25th amendment was an attempt to deal with the problem of presidential disability and incapacity

Definition
True
Term

T or F

The 12th amendment to the constitution calls for separate election of the president and vice president by the Electoral College

Definition
True
Term

T or F

A release from the punishment for, or legal consequences of, a crime is called a pardon and is granted by the president

Definition
True
Term

T or F

The House of Rep. brings charges of impeachment and the Senate holds the trial. Conviction of impeachment requires 2/3 vote of the Senate.

Definition
True
Term

T or F

A pocket veto is used by congress to block presidential nominations

Definition
False
Term
The constitution requires the president to perform which of the following roles
Definition
Commander-In-Chief
Term
An amendment that explains the grounds and procedures for determining presidential disability is _______?
Definition
25th Amendment
Term
Executive Agreements differ fro treaties mainly in that they _______?
Definition
Don't require congressional approval
Term
The President performs his functions as chief of state when he____________, _______________, and ____________?
Definition
Delivers state of the union address, toasts foreign policies, and throws out first baseball of the season
Term
What amendments clarifies process for Electoral College to select President and Vice President?
Definition
12th Amendment
Term
When President Bush replaced Secretary of State Colin Powell w/ Condoleeza Rice, he was exercising his role as ________?
Definition
Chief Executive
Term
Congress has attempted to limit the president's ability to commit troops to a combat zone with __________?
Definition
War Powers Resolution/Act
Term
Presidents spend most of their time fighting to get bills passed or blocking passage of bills. What role are they playing?
Definition
Chief Legislator
Term
Common Law
Definition
A judge-made law that originated in England from decisions shaped according to custom
Term
Precedent
Definition
A court rule bearing on subsequent legal decisions in similar cases.
Term
Stare Decisis
Definition
To stand on decided cases; the judicial policy of following precedents established by past decisions
Term
Jurisdiction
Definition
The authority of a court to decide certain cases. Not all courts have authority to decide all cases. Where it arises and subject matter are 2 jurisdiction issues.
Term
Trial Courts
Definition
The court in which most cases begin
Term
Appellate Courts
Definition
A court having jurisdiction to review cases and issues that were originally tried in lower courts.
Term
Amicus Curiae Brief
Definition
A brief ( document containing legal argument) filed by a third party, or amicus curiae (latin for "friend of the court"), not directly involved in the outcome of the case.
Term
Writ of Certiorari
Definition
An order issued by a higher court to a lower court to send uo athe recors of a case for review
Term
Rule of Four
Definition
A United States Supreme Court procedure by which 4 justices must vote to grant a petition for review if a case is to come before the full court
Term
Majority Opinion
Definition
A court opinion reflecting the views of the majority of the judges
Term
Dissenting Opinion
Definition
A separate opinion in which a judge dissents from (disagrees with) the conclusion reached by the courts and expounds his or her own views about the case.
Term
Judicial Review
Definition
The power of the courts to determine whether a law or action by the other branches of government is constitutional.
Term

T or F

Most of American Law is based on English common law

Definition
True
Term

T or F

Common Law relies on the principle of stare decisis and precedent in deciding a case

Definition
True
Term

T or F

The court poower to declare the actions of Congress, the actions of the president, lan

Definition
Term

T or F

The court power to declare the actions of Congress, the actions of the president, and laws enacted at and level of government, as unconstitutional is judicial review

Definition
True
Term

T or F

The doctrine of judicial review was the first used in the Supreme Court case of Marbury VS Madison.

Definition
True
Term

T or F

Most cases are appealed to the Supreme Court in the form of petitions for writ of certiorari. The court can accept or deny those petitions.

Definition
True
Term

T or F

The Votes of 5 Supreme Court justices are needed to grant certiorari

Definition
False
Term

T or F

The federal district courts are the trial courts of the federal system

Definition
True
Term

T or F

If a Supreme Court justice disagrees w/ a majority opinion in a case just resolved, they may add a dissenting opinion

Definition
True
Term

T or F

Precedent and stare decisis are the same thing

Definition
True
Term

T or F

Jurisdiction is the process of writing the courts opinion

Definition
False
Term

T or F

Friends of the court are third parties to a case that the court may or may not allow taking part in the case (amicus curiae) 

Definition
True
Term
Common law __________?
Definition

-Had its beginning in 12th century medieval England

- Is judge-made law

-Often based on custom and precedent

Term
When the court relies on past decisions and does not give a new majority opinion they are using the legal principle of ________?
Definition
Stare Decisis
Term
When the court declares the actions of Congress, the actions of the president, or laws passed by legislative bodies as unconstitutional, it is called _______?
Definition
Judicial Review
Term
The opinion of the Supreme Court that will be the new interpretation of a rule is called _______?
Definition
Majority Opinion
Term
The power of the court to hear a case is called _______?
Definition
Jurisdiction
Term
Most federal court cases are resolved in the trial courts. They are called _____?
Definition
District Courts
Term
For the Supreme Court to accept a petition to hear a case, _______ justices must vote to accept it.
Definition
Four
Term
Federal Courts are courts of ________?
Definition
Appeal only
Term
Foreign Policy
Definition
A nation's external goals and the techniques and strategies used to achieve them
Term
Diplomacy
Definition
The process by which states carry on political relations with each other; the process of settling conflicts among nations by peaceful means
Term
Moral Idealism
Definition
A philosophy that views nations as normally willing to cooperate and to agree on moral standards for conduct
Term
Political Realism
Definition
A philosophy that views each nation as acting principally in its own interest.
Term

Normal Trade Relations/

Most-Favored-Nation status

Definition
A status granted through an international treaty by which each member nation must treat other members as well as it treats the country that receives the most favorable treatment, This status was formerly known as Most-Favored-Nation status
Term
Department of Defense
Definition
Brings all of the various activities of the American Military establishment under the jurisdiction of a single department headed by a civilian secretary of defense. Formulates a united military strategy.
Term
Department of State
Definition
Ther executive agency that has primary authority over foreign affairs. Supervises US relations with all countries, the UN, and multinational groups.
Term
Cold War
Definition
The ideological, politcal, and economic confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union following WW2
Term
Monroe Doctrine
Definition

James Madison-1832, Set 3 principles

1) European nations should not establish new colonies in the Western Hemisphere

2)European Nations should not intervene in the affairs of independent nations of the Western Hemisphere

3) The US does not interfere in the affairs of European Nations

Term
Isolationist Foreign Policy
Definition
A policy of abstaining from an active role in international affairs or alliances, which characterized US foreign policy toward Europr during most of the 1800's
Term
Containment
Definition
A US  diplomatic policy adopted by the Truman Administration to contain communist power within its existing boundaries.
Term
Dètente
Definition
A french word meaning "a relaxation of tensions". The term characterized US-Soviet relations as they developed under Nixon and Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger
Term

T or F

The first foreign policy of this country was isolationist

Definition
True
Term

T or F

The Monroe Doctrine warned European powers to keep out of the Western Hemisphere

Definition
True
Term

T or F

Dètente, the relaxation of tension, was a policy of the US toward the Soviet Union in the 1970's and 1980's

Definition
True
Term

T or F

Despite passage of the War Powers Resolution by Congress, the President still has the dominant role in foreign policy

Definition
True
Term

T or F

Foreign policy is the sum of the goals, decisions, and actions that govern a nations relations with the rest of the world

Definition
True
Term

T or F

Moral idealism had always been the basis for American foreign policy

Definition
False
Term
Political Realism is a philosophy that sees each nation acting principally in its own interest
Definition
True
Term

T or F

The Cold War developed after WW2 between the USA and the Soviet Union as an ideological political and economic confrontation

Definition
True
Term

T or F 

Most favored nation status is sought by most nations with the US. It is granted by an international treaty by which member nations must treat other member nations as well as it treats the country that receives its most favorable treatment

Definition
True
Term

T or F

President Truman issued the policy of containment to restrain the Germans

Definition
False
Term
The sum of the goals and actions that govern a nations relations with the rest of the world is?
Definition
Foreign policy
Term
Thomas Jefferson's foreign policy was to have peace with all nations and "entangling alliances with non". This is a policy of ______?
Definition
Isolation
Term
The foreign policy that warned european powers to stay out if the western hemispere is called the ______?
Definition
Monroe Doctrine
Term
The Truman Doctrine issued after WW2 that attempted to keep communism form spreading is called_______?
Definition
Containment
Term
The relaxation of tension between the US and the USSR during the 1970' and 1980' is called_____?
Definition
Detente
Term
The Secretary of State is empowered by_______?
Definition
The Secretary's personal relationship with the president
Term
Winston Churchill's speech right after WW2 that warned of communist expansion and domination of Eastern Europe lead to a _________ between the free world and communism
Definition
Cold War
Term
A nation that sees each nation's foreign policy as actring in its self interest has a foreign policy known as ________?
Definition
Political Realism
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