Foundational Docs
Formal separation from Britain influenced by Enlightenment ideals
What is the Declaration of Independence?
A fee required in order to vote.
What is a poll tax?
Bicameral houses of Congress
What is the Senate and the House of Representatives?
This Article of the Constitution gives the executive branch its power
What is Article II?
This Article of the U.S. Constitution gives the judicial branch its power
What is Article III?
The first Constitution of the U.S. that favored strong state rights and a weak federal government
What are the Articles of Confederation?
The difference in political views between men and women and how these views are expressed at the voting booth.
What is the gender gap?
This Article of the Constitution gives the legislative branch its power
What is Article I?
Presidential power to not sign a bill and send it back to Congress with reasons
What is veto?
SCOTUS’ power to declare federal legislation invalid if it violates the Constitution
What is judicial review?
Defines powers and limits of each branch of government through checks and balances
What is the Constitution?
Voting model in which citizens look backward to consider a candidates' track record.
What is retrospective voting?
The amount needed in each house to override a presidential veto
What is a 2/3 vote?
Agreement a president makes with another nation that does not require the Senate’s approval
What is an executive agreement?
Bold policy decisions that address pressing needs that are not being addressed by the government
What is judicial activism?
Argument against the Constitution that there too many interests and the government will be too powerful
What is Brutus I?
Donations not regulated by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
What is soft money?
This house impeaches while this house holds the impeachment trial
What is the House of Representatives (impeachment) and the Senate (trial)?
Refusal to sign a bill if President receives a bill at the end of Congress’ legislative
What is pocket veto?
Plays a minimal role in policy making by letting elected officials make policy, and follows precedent and Founding Fathers’ intent
What is judicial restraint?
Letter that defends breaking the law through nonviolent protests against racial injustices
What is the Letter From Birmingham Jail?
The act that banned soft money contributions to the national parties, increased limits on hard money donations. It was designed
What is the BCRA or McCain Feingold Act?
This vote ends a filibuster in the Senate
What is a cloture vote?
Presidential powers of excusing a person from a crime and reducing someone’s prison sentence
What is pardon and reprieve?
SCOTUS has ______ in cases involving 2 or states, the U.S. government and a state government, and U.S. and foreign ambassadors/diplomats
What is original jurisdiction?