Big Principles
Who's Who?
The Legislature
What's Your Position?
AAckronyms
100
That's one of our BIG principles, one that sets the structure for how our government works -- By this principle, the majority of stuff that's done is done by STATE governments. The NATIONAL government sets broad policy guidelines, and uses incentives (grants) and regulation to compel states to do work with those guidelines. This big principle is : __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
What is Federalism?
100
He's the current Vice President
Who is Mike Pence
100
That is, in order, the number of Senators there are, and the number of seats in the House of Representatives
What are 100 and 435?
100
That defines "incumbent"
What is the word for the person currently holding an elected office?
100
These guys help you out after a hurricaine
What is FEMA?
200
That's the way we split up authority: we have a LEGISLATURE to represent us in negotiating and writing policy, an EXECUTIVE to oversee the big bureaucracy that carries the policy out, and a JUDICIARY to make sure we behave according to the Constitution. That principle is (3 wds.)
What is Separation of Powers
200
Those are our two senators from Connecticut
Who are Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy?
200
That's a Conference Committee
What is term for a joint committee (made up of members of both House and Senate) that meets specifically to negotiate/resolve differences between House- and Senate-passed versions of legislation?
200
That's the term for anyone whose interests are represented by someone else; for a Congressperson, it's any of the people he/she represents
What is a "constituent?"
200
This is where you send your 1040
What is the IRS?
300
We have things like the presidential veto, senate approval of presidential nominees, the ability to the court to throw out a law, the ability of Congress to override a veto... all these allow one branch to obstruct or undo the actions of another. That illustrates this principle
What is "Checks and Balances"?
300
That's the title of the head of the Justice Department.
What is the Attorney General?
300
Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk....yep - that's what someone can do to obstruct action in the Senate
What is a filibuster?
300
That's the term for whoever is at the head of the SMALLER of the two political parties in a legislative chamber; there's one in the House and one in the Senate
What is a "minority leader"?
300
These guys help the President prepare the budget proposal for Congress
What is the OMB?
400
That's the reason that it is more accurate to call us a Republic than a Direct Democracy
What is "in a direct democracy citizens would all vote on all policy (oy vey!); in a republic, representatives in a meet to negotiate policy. Our Congress is representatives who negotiate policy.
400
Who is your Congresswoman?
Who is Rosa DeLauro
400
That's the committee in House that oversees the writing of all TAX legislation. Gosh, you'd think they'd just call in the "Tax Committee"
What is the Ways and Means Committee?
400
That's the person who starts a law suit; the one who "complains" if you will.
What is a "Plaintiff"?
400
Thank goodness these folks inspect our meat!
What is the FDA?
500
That's the reason the US is considered a "Liberal Democracy"
What is "although the majority rules on policy issues, every individual is protected from improper government/majority action" (protection of individual liberties, especially those having to do with PUBLIC POLITICAL DISCOURSE and with DUE PROCESS for THE ACCUSED of crime)
500
Paul Ryan
Who is the current Speaker of the House? (the answer "House Majority Leader" is NOT correct, nor any other position!)
500
That's the term for the process - which follows the 10-year census - of adjusting the distribution of the 435 congressional seats so that they stay proportionate to the population. THAT process is then FOLLOWED by redistricting - the redrawing of district lines done by state legislatures.
What is apportionment?
500
Each party has one of these in each chamber - (both a Republican and a Democrat in the House; both a Republican and a Democrat in the Senate)- and the person's job is to keep track of votes and try to encourage party members to vote together
What is a "Whip"?
500
This law ensures that if the government is keeping records on you, you're allowed to see them!
What is the FOIA? (Freedom of Information Act)
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