Foundational Docs
Formal separation from Britain influenced by Enlightenment ideals
What is the Declaration of Independence?
Top advisors of the President based on a particular policy area
What is the Cabinet?
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?
Sub-units of Cabinet departments where the President appoints the head, who is known as a “Director”
What are executive agencies?
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?
A cross between a private company and a governmental agency
What are government corporations?
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?
Has unique duties that independent of departmental agencies
What are independent agencies?
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?
Narrow and industry specific agencies that act as watchdogs and were created to protect the public
What are regulatory agencies?
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?