Congress
Process of shaping districts in a way to benefit one party or create disadvantages for the opposing party. It often creates increased partisanship
What is Gerrymandering?
- Winner-take-all System (mostly)
- Needs 270 to win
- Each state has a certain number (House representation plus Senate representation)
- Makes it very difficult for 3rd parties
What is the electoral college?
A presidential appointment for life
What is a federal judge?
This allows rights/freedoms from the Bill of Rights to be applied to the states, not just the federal goverment
What is incorporation?
What is a check on the President?
House of Congress:
- Must be 30 years old
- 100 members
- 6 year terms
- Members elected by the entire state
What is the Senate?
Uses the government's power to spend and tax. Congress passes laws and the President signs them to create this type of policy
What is fiscal policy?
Established by the ruling in Marbury v. Madison, this allows the Supreme Court to rule a law unconstitutional
What is Judicial Review?
prohibits an official church for the United States
What is the Establishment Clause?
The President vetoes a law
What is a check on Congress?
Voting Model where the lawmaker votes how they want to on bills the voters don't care about a lot but will vote according to the wishes of the majority of their constituents on other bills
What is the politico model?
An economic philosophy that encourages government spending (through the creation of jobs or the distribution of unemployment benefits) in order to promote economic growth
What is Keynesian Economics?
A person has the right to know what they are being charged with if arrested
What is Habeas Corpus?
Yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre if there is no fire
What is unprotected speech?
The president appoints members of the Supreme Court and other federal courts
What is a check on the courts?
A congressional committee will use this process if they want to invite/subpoena individuals in order to obtain more information about a topic.
What is a hearing?
- Commander-in-Chief
- Head of State
- Chief Executive
- Chief Legislator
- Chief Jurist
- Chief Diplomat
- Chief of Party
What are the roles of the President?
Judicial philosophy that is sometimes referred to as "legislating from the bench"
What is Judicial Activism?
Recognizes are right to believe and practice our faith, or not, according to the dictates of conscience
What is Free Exercise?
The Supreme Court rules an executive order unconstitutional
What is a check on the President?
Petition to bring a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee. This can be used when a bill has been stuck and is unlikely to make it to the floor.
What is a discharge petition?
A President appointing a campaign contributor, fundraiser, and advocate to a political position
What is political patronage?
Someone who follows judicial restraint is known to accept this concept
What is stare decisis? (let the decision stand)
Once acquitted or convicted of a specific crime, you cannot be prosecuted (or punished again, if convicted) on the same charge by the same government for that same instance of violating that law.
What is Double Jeopardy?
What is a check on the President?