The History of US Government
Divided into two houses. US Congress & American State legislature except Nebraska's bicameral
What is the bicameral legislature?
Policy that is controlled by the Federal Reserve
What is monetary policy?
Strategy in the Senate where an individual extends debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote
What is filibuster?
System of managing government through departments run by appointed officials
What is bureaucracy?
The President who warned about America remaining neutral in foreign affairs
Who was George Washington?
Commerce clause case (1824). Decision greatly enlarged Congress' interstate commerce clause power by broadly defining the meaning of "commerce" to include virtually all types of economic activity.
What is Gibbons versus Ogden?
A system of government in which power and responsibility is divided between the federal and state governments
What is federalism?
Amendment that permitted Congress to levy an income tax
What is the 16th Amendment?
Voting for both parties on a ballot
What is ticket splitting?
The political equivalent of an indictment in criminal law
What is impeachment?
People who already hold office; usually win in congressional elections
What are incumbents?
Court case that established the Supreme Court's power to strike down federal laws that violated the constitution. This has allowed for continuous interpretation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court (informal amendment)
What is Marbury versus Madison?
A way of dividing the power of government among the legislative, executive, and judicial branch to prevent tyranny.
What is the Separation of Powers?
The ideological, political, and economic confrontation between the US and the Soviet Union following WWII
What was the Cold War?
Subject-matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas
What is a standing committee?
Relationship between a bureaucracy, an interest group, and a congressional committee
What is an iron triangle?
1974 case where the S.C. unanimously held that the doctrine of executive privilege was implicit in the Constitution but could not be extended to protect documents relevant to criminal prosecutions
What is the United States vs Nixon?
Ruled that the medical school's strict quota system denied a person the equal protection guaranteed by the 14th Amendment
What is Regents versus Bakke?
A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.
A federal health insurance program that covers U.S. residents age 65 and older
What is medicare?
Article II of the Constitution
What is the Executive Branch?
Created a federal civil service so hiring & promotion would be based on merit instead of patronage
What is the Pendleton Civil Service Act?
Law passed in 1973 the requires presidents to consult with congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless congress declares war or authorizes an extension
What is the War Powers Resolution?
The court ruled that the states did not have the power to tax the national bank. Used the backing of the Supremacy Clause to argue that states could not interfere with legitimate federal laws
What is McCulloch versus Maryland?
1632-1704. English philosopher whose Treatises of Government espousing natural rights, consent of the governed, and social compacts greatly influenced the Founding Fathers
Who was John Locke?
A school of economic thought that tends to favor active federal government policy making to stabilize economy wide fluctuations, usually implementing discretionary fiscal policy
What is Keynesian Economics?
Legal argument in support of one of the litigants
What are Amicus Curiae Briefs?
A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies
What is the Pluralist Theory?
Ruled that the decision to obtain an abortion is protected by the right to privacy implied by the Bill of Rights?
What is Roe versus Wade?