WGU c181 OA study guide

checks and balancesAns- each branch has a power to say no to the other 2 branches. balancing out all 3 branches so 1 doesn't become more powerful central ideas of federalist paper 51Ans- that separation of powers and checks and balances will prevent mob-rule. if powers distributed even between 3 branches BiacameralAns- having two branches or chambers in the legislative branch enumerated powersAns- Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution; including the power to collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war. Necessary and Proper Clause/Elastic ClauseAns- Constitutional clause that gives congress the power to make all laws "necessary and proper" for executing its powers FederalismAns- a form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states( each state has different rules they have to follow but then there are more rules that the whole country has to follow) Federalist Paper #10Ans- No faction (group with a common political purpose) or interest group can control or take over power. The 3 branches of government make sure that does not happen judical reviewAns- the right of the Supreme Court to determine if a law violates the Constitution Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)Ans- 1971 must not discourage or advance religion and does not entangle the government with religion. Citizens United v. Federal Election CommissionAns- ruled that individuals, corporations, and unions could donate unlimited amounts of money to groups that make independent political expenditures. (ex. super PACS) Sherbert v. Verner (1963)Ans- a lady declined a job because the job conflicted with her religion. it was forcing her to give up her religious beliefs because they wouldn't give her unemployment benefits Tinker v. Des Moines (1969)Ans- Students have the right to symbolic speech at school as long as it is not disruptive District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)Ans- Individuals have a right to own a loaded handgun at home for self defense McDonald v. Chicago (2010)Ans- The right of an individual to "keep and bear arms" cannot be ban by state or local government Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)Ans- A person who cannot afford an attorney may have one provided for them by the government Miranda v. Arizona (1966)Ans- The accused suspects must be notified of their rights before being questioned by the police Mapp v. Ohio (1961)Ans- Evidence illegally gathered by the police may not be used in a criminal trial Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)Ans- Supreme Court decision in which the Court ruled that the Constitution completely guarantees citizens' right to privacy. (woman had the right to birth control) Roe v. Wade (1973)Ans- increased the right to privacy to include the right to an abortion in the first 3 months of the pregnancy Lawrence v. Texas (2003)Ans- state law may not ban sexual relations between same- sex partners Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)Ans- Slaves are not citizens (they were viewed as property) and therefore have no legal rights Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)Ans- Legalized racial segregation in publicly owned facilities on the basis of "separate but equal." Brown v. Board of Education (1954)Ans- overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated. de facto segregationAns- Segregation resulting from economic or social conditions or personal choice. de jure segregationAns- government forced segregation Civil Rights Act of 1964Ans- outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin Civil Rights MovementAns- political movement for african americans equality before the law California vs. BakkeAns- Case which challenged affirmative action laws and mandated that quotas can not be used. (quotas= all different races and genders etc.) 24th AmendmentAns- Abolishes poll taxes 19th AmendmentAns- Gave women the right to vote 13th AmendmentAns- abolished slavery 14th AmendmentAns- Declares that all people born in the U.S. are citizens and are guaranteed equal protection of the laws 15th AmendmentAns- States cannot deny any person the right to vote because of race. Jim Crow LawsAns- Laws designed to enforce segregation of blacks from whites Black CodesAns- Southern laws designed to restrict the rights of the newly freed black slaves equality of opportunityAns- giving people an equal chance to succeed equality of outcomeAns- given the same opportunity and privileges two people should end up in the same position or at least equal position. 1st AmendmentAns- Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition 2nd AmendmentAns- Right to bear arms 3rd AmendmentAns- the housing of soldiers 4th AmendmentAns- Protection against Unreasonable Search and Seizure 5th AmendmentAns- double jeopardy, i'll plead the 5th, gov. cant take your property, why the are arresting you and right to due process( sums up your rights) 6th AmendmentAns- The right to a Speedy Trial by jury, representation by an attorney for an accused person 7th AmendmentAns- Right to a trial by jury in civil cases (rights in civil cases) 8th AmendmentAns- No cruel or unusual punishment, excessive bail, fines 9th AmendmentAns- Citizens entitled to rights not listed in the Constitution 10th AmendmentAns- states deciding their own laws with out the federal government being involved (ex. marijuana) Civil LibertiesAns- freedom to think and act without government interference. what the government can not take from you (negative rights) civil rightsAns- governments decision to provide you with these kinds of rights. ( right to vote, right to a jury trial in criminal cases, right to equal employment opportunity) positive rights Marbury v. MadisonAns- This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review BureaucracyAns- an organization in which employees have specific job responsibilities and work(part of the executive branch that does all the hard work of applying the law) GridlockAns- the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government Divied GovernmentAns- one party controls the white house and another party controls one or both houses of congress inherent powersAns- powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it( executive orders, executive privilege and power to pardon) executive orderAns- A rule issued by the president that has the force of law 3 formal powers of the president in policy making or legislative processAns- veto power, pocket veto, sighing legislation commander in chief appointment power RedistrictingAns- The drawing of new electoral district boundary lines in response to population changes. repportionmentAns- The reallocation of how many districts each state has GerrymanderingAns- the process of drawing congressional district lines to favor a political party House of Representatives membersAns- -435 and they serve 2 years -elected to represent the peoples interest -members per state- based on population size of each state -they can introduce bills on new taxes/ revenue they can vote to declare war after president ask them -can start the impeachment process -screen bills and set rules for debate implied powersAns- Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution Senate membersAns- -100 members and they serve 6 years -elected for the states interest -members per state- 2 per state -they must confirm appointments for presidential appointments for the supreme court, ambassadors, department bureaucracy etc. -they must confirm any foreign treaties and must be approved by 2/3 vote -holds trials and hears evidence on impeachment. they hold trails and take the evidence from the house of representatives interest groupAns- An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy LobbyingAns- to influence or persuade representationAns- the efforts of elected officials to look out for the interests of those who elect them agenda buildingAns- the process by which new issues are brought into the political limelight program monitoringAns- keeping track of government programs; usually done by interest groups Political Action Committee (PAC)Ans- an interest group that raises funds and donates to election campaigns Super PACsAns- a type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates.( they have a big influence in elections) direct lobbyingAns- interest groups are meeting directly face to face with government officials (done by professional lobbyist ) grassroots lobbyingAns- members of the interest groups meet with government. lettering writing, campaigns and protests etc. coalition buildingAns- working with other interest groups with the purpose of achieving the same goal pluralityAns- each voter is allowed to vote for only one candidate, the candidate who has the most is elected Electoral CollegeAns- the body of electors who formally elect the United States president and vice-president. there are 270 electoral votes you need to win to be elected conventional participationAns- peaceful participation. examples includes voting, donating to a campaign, and writing letters to officeholders. unconventional participation (direct action)Ans- political participation that has unusual or extreme measures. things that gain attention. examples: protests, boycotts, and picketing etc. suffrage(franchise)Ans- the right to vote SuffragettesAns- a woman advocating the right to vote horse race journalismAns- Election coverage by the mass media that focuses on which candidate is ahead rather than on national issues. watchdog journalismAns- Journalism that attempts to hold government officials and institutions accountable for their actions. political socializationAns- The process by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs. Primary PrincipleAns- what is learned first is learned best structuring principleAns- early learning tends to provide the basic structure for later learning Dual Federalism (Layer Cake)Ans- A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain superior within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies. (clear differences between state and national powers, functions and responsibilities) relationship between the nation and states is characterized by tension rather than cooperation Cooperative Federalism (Marble Cake)Ans- A system of government in which states and the national government share powers and policy assignments. overlap between state powers and national powers Social Contract TheoryAns- the people have the right to create/abolish their government Popular SovereigntyAns- A belief that ultimate power resides in the people. Republic/RepublicanismAns- A form of government in which power lies with the people and people exercise their power through elected representatives. ConfederationAns- an alliance of independent states that agree to cooperate on specified matters. Articles of ConfederationAns- the compact among the 13 original states that established the first government of the united states what were some of the major weakness of the articles or confederation?Ans- all the 13 states had to agree on amending the articles Shay's RebellionAns- showed the need for a strong central government with the ability to restore order ( showed the weakness of the articles of confederation) Virginia PlanAns- they paved the way for a new government. This included 3 branches of government: legislature, executive and judicial. New Jersey PlanAns- called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population. making the small states equal to the big states PreambleAns- Introduction to the Constitution, beginning, "We the People of the United States..." Separation or powersAns- government power is divided into 3 branches Legislative BranchAns- Makes laws Executive BranchAns- Enforces laws Judicial BranchAns- Interprets the laws (reviews/clarify/apply them) FederalistsAns- supporters of the Constitution (wanted a strong government) Anti-FederalistsAns- people who opposed the Constitution (protect the states from dictatorship of a strong government) Indirect DemocracyAns- gives citizens the opportunity to vote for representatives Direct DemocracyAns- allows the people to directly make laws and govern themselves(people make all the decisions) Elite TheoryAns- theory that upper class elites exercise great influence over public policy MajoritarianismAns- (majority rules.) the government should do what the majority of the people want. citizens are informed, knowledgeable and consistent PluralismAns- (no to majority rules, listens to informed interest groups) believes citizens are uninformed and inconsistent and will only listen to informed interest groups TotalitarianismAns- government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator ( ex. North Korea) AnarchismAns- opposes government in any form. believed society would function better without a government. CapitalismAns- system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit. (ex. united states. small business and restaurants, free to make your own money) SocialismAns- system in which society, usually in the form of the government, owns and controls the means of production. (controlled by the government) LibertarianAns- opposed to using government to promote either order or equality. (freedom) liberalAns- open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values. (freedom, equality) CommunitariansAns- Those who are willing to use government to promote both order and equality.(order, equality) conservativeAns- A person who believes government power, particularly in the economy, should be limited in order to maximize individual freedom. (order and freedom) Laissez-faireAns- "let people do as they please" opposes any government intervention with business FillbusterAns- delay a vote on proposed legislation by making long speeches/refusing to stop talking or introducing irrelevant issues. expressed powersAns- powers directly stated in the constitution Supremacy ClauseAns- Federal law is supreme over state law issue framingAns- The way that politicians or interest group leaders define an issue when presenting it to others. skewed distributionAns- When the results are not symmetrical (appears to favor one side over the other) normal distributionAns- A function that represents the distribution of variables as a symmetrical bell-shaped graph.(doesn't favor) Due Process ClauseAns- part of the 14th Amendment which guarantees that no state deny basic rights to its people