Amendments
Freedom of religion (establishment & free exercise clauses), speech, press, assembly, and petition.
What is the 1st amendment?
Powerful House standing committee that reviews all bills coming from other House committees before they go to the full House (gatekeeper function); sets time limit for debate decides whether amendments can be added (open or closed rule).
What is the House Rules Committee?
The government should protect "traditional" (Christian) views on marriage, gender roles, & social issues. Oppose gay marriage, the legalization of drugs, and abortion.
A 2010 decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that independent expenditures are free speech protected by the 1st Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law. Leads to creation of SuperPACs & massive rise in amount of third party electioneering (Citizens for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow)
What is Citizens United v. FEC?
The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional. Established in Marbury v. Madison (informal amendment to the Constitution)
What is Judicial Review?
Limits the president to 2 terms
What is the 22nd Amendment?
A group within a standing committee that specializes in a subcategory of the standing committee's responsibility. (Ex. House Committee on Foreign Affairs has subcommittees on Asia, Europe, Africa, etc.)
What are Subcommittees?
belief that America should not seek to become engaged in foreign affairs.
What is Isolationism?
Overrules Plessy v. Ferguson (no stare decisis). Racial segregation violates 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause ("separate is inherently unequal")
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
The jurisdiction of courts to hear a case for the first time (trial). Trial courts (District Courts in the federal system) assess the facts in a case and issue the first decision (guilt, innocence).
What is Original Jurisdiction?
The right to counsel in criminal trials. Gideon v. Wainwright held that states must provide indigent defendants with free lawyers (" public defenders")—the right to a jury in criminal trials.
What is the 6th Amendment?
Decide how to spend money allocated to each spending category by Budget Resolution; 12 subcommittees for major areas of budget (ex. defense, energy, agriculture); major source of earmarking
Belief in as much freedom and as little government as possible (tolerates some government to provide stability & security). Supports free market economy, no government regulation of morality, and low taxes.
What is Libertarianism?
Equal protection clause requires "one man, one vote" principle for redistricting (legislative districts must be roughly equal in population)
What is Baker v. Carr?
The party opposing an appeal from a lower court to an appellate court.
What is the Appellee?
Government cannot inflict cruel and unusual punishment. Meaning of "cruel" based on "evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society." Categorical bans on death penalty: juveniles, retarded, non-murder crimes...
What is the 8th Amendment?
Permanent committees in House and Senate that handle bills dealing with a particular subject area. Examples: Defense, Budget, Education.
What are Standing Committees?
A political ideology that opposes capitalism and supports government control of major aspects of the economy (ex., electricity, health care).
What is Socialism?
Supreme Court declared Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress's Interstate Commerce Clause power and was therefore unconstitutional. First federal law declared to exceed commerce clause since the 1930s (Devolution Revolution?)
What is US v. Lopez?
A judicial order to a party to do or stop doing something (example: a restraining order to stay away from a specific person).
What is an Injunction?
States cannot deny the right to vote based on gender
What is the 19th Amendment?
Temporary congressional committees are appointed for a specific purpose, such as impeachment investigations or the "Super Committee" on the Budget
What are Select Committees?
Major foreign policy ideology. Act in the world only to protect and benefit yourself. (Contrast with idealism)
What is Realism?
Mandatory nondenominational school prayer violates Establishment Clause
What is Engel v. Vitale?
An order by the Supreme Court saying that it will hear a certain case (rule of 4). Granted in cases that raise important constitutional questions or where circuit courts have reached different opinions on a particular issue.
What is a Writ of Certiorari?