american government and politics final exam study guide

American government and Politics final exam study guide A system of government in which power is divided between a national (federal) government and various regional governments. - federalism A system of government whereby the states govern the people directly, while the national government concerns itself with foreign affairs. State and national powers divided into entirely different spheres-a model of federalism that looks on national & state governments as co-equal sovereign powers. - dual federalism is based on programmatic mixing of authority & programs among the national, state, and local government. - mixed federalism the principle of dividing governmental powers among different branches of government. - separation of powers a major principle of the American system of government whereby each branch of government can check the actions of the others. - checks and balances a system of government in which political decisions are made by the people directly, rather than by their elected representation. absolutely everyone votes on everything. - direct democracy a form of government in which sovereign powers rest with the people, rather than with a king or a monarch. we are a republic. - republic Under the original constitution, who was to elect the president? - electoral college the power of the supreme court or any court to declare unconstitutional federal or state laws & other acts of government. - judicial review this power is granted to the national government under the United States Constitution. - delegated powers this power is not specifically spelled out in the Constitution, but which can deduced from the text. That these powers are permitted to Congress can be seen in the so-called "elastic clause," the final sentences of article 1 section 8 of the Constitution, which say that congress has the right to create laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers which are specifically stated. - implied powers this power is a power shared by the federal and state governments. These powers include the ability to make laws, roads, defense, parks and enforcement for police, prisons, health, and environment, to name a few. - concurrent powers the constitutional provision that makes the constitution & federal laws superior to all conflicting state & local laws. (the constitution is the supreme law of the land) - supremacy clause who is the most powerful person in the U.S. Senate? - majority leader who is the most powerful person in the U.S. House? - house speaker What are the constitutional requirements to be president? - at least 35 & a natural born citizen Who was John Marshall & why was he important? - Chief Justice of the United States; his court opinions helped lay the basis for United States constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches. who elects members of the House & members of the Senate? - the people elect these members the process by which people acquire political beliefs & values. - political socialization this maybe the old way we use to get information; radio, t.v., newspaper, magazines - traditional