Federalism
Explain what a block grant is.
A block grant is money given to states by the federal government that gives them a broad area/free reign of how to spend it.
Define what a delegate model is
An official that promises to do exactly what their voters want them to do
What is an executive order, and what does it act as?
An executive order is an order created by the President that holds the weight of the law.
Explain what dissenting opinion means.
The separate opinion of a judge who voted against the majority opinion
What is similar between the court cases Texas v. Johnson and Tinker v. Des Moines?
The First Amendment protected their freedom of speech OR they both involved protection of symbolic speech.
What solution does Madison propose in Federalist 10 to solve the problem with factions?
A large federal government that accommodates for many factions, limiting their power.
Which section of the legislative branch approves treaties?
Senate
What powers does the Executive Branch have to check other branches?
President can veto bills
President is the most public figure and their popularity can influence decisions
Bureaucracy has more knowledge on its specific sphere than other branches
Or any other valid answer
What is the difference between criminal and civil court?
Criminal court is used for someone who broke laws and is facing criminal charges.
Civil court is for resolving financial disputes (lawsuits)
Which court case used the Tinker vs. Des Moines case to argue for sexual innuendo spoken over school announcements?
Bethel vs. Fraser
What is the main problem addressed in Brutus 1?
The federal government, with the supremacy and elastic clause, will soon overpower and limit states' powers.
What does the power of the purse mean, and how can Congress it to check other branches?
Power of the purse: Congress is in charge of federal money/expenses
They can check other branches by limiting or expanding their budget.
What are the 4 different types of government agencies?
Regulatory agencies
Independent Executive Agencies
Government corporations
Cabinet
Explain the difference between Judicial Activism and Judicial Restraint
Judicial Activism: Judges make bold decisions that could overturn previous rulings or make new legislation.
Judicial Restraint: Judges use previous court cases and make decisions from established rulings.
Why was the Exclusionary Rule not applied to the case Nix v. Williams?
They were able to demonstrate that the evidence would have been found without constitutional violation. (Inevitable Discovery)
Explain the 10th Amendment and its purpose within the federal system.
The federal government only has powers stated in the Constitution, everything else is reserved for state powers.
The 10th Amendment is important in balancing power between state and federal and making sure one does not overpower the other.
What did the War Powers Act do for legislative branch?
The War Powers Act expanded Congress power and gave them more control over armed forces. President was required to consult Congress before using military and could not override Congressional rulings
How many cabinets are in the bureaucracy, what are the role of the cabinet heads, and what are the heads called?
15 cabinets
The heads are the President's advisors
They are called Secretary (except for the Attorney General)
Explain how the legislative and executive branch checks on the judicial branch through Supreme Court justices.
The president (executive branch) nominates Supreme Court justices.
The Senate (legislative branch) confirms these justices OR Senate can impeach/remove judges
In New York Times vs. US, the Court ruled in favor of the press. Prior restraint to the publication of the government protected Pentagon Papers was found unconstitutional because…
They were unable to prove that publishing these papers would result in direct and immediate harm.
What is the pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system called?
Fiscal federalism
In the Iron Triangle, how does Congress check bureaucracies?
Examples:
Congress monitors execution after a bill gets passed
Can subpoena agency heads and ask them to testify for proof of proper implementation
Manages agency budget (power of the purse)
The concept of "divided government" means that one political party can control the executive branch while another controls the legislative branch.
Describe a problem that divided government poses for the President, and a way for them to overcome that problem.
Example:
Ideological conflict can make legislature/appointments harder to get approved.
The President can consult parties and compromise on choices that satisfy both.
"The constitution is not an empty bottle... it is like a statute, and the meaning doesn't change." - Justice Scalia
Which idea does this quote best reflect?
A. Judicial activism
B. Judicial restraint
C. Popular sovereignty
D. Judicial review
B. Judicial restraint
In McDonald v. Chicago (2010), the Court ruled that the Second Amendment right to bear arms was applicable to the states. What other right did the Supreme Court use to establish their ruling?
The right to “life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”