Foundations of Govt
group of people who are united by common bonds of race, language, custom and/or tradition
a nation
What does Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the constitution cover?
Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches
what are the total number of House members? Senate members?
435, 100
What are the two biggest responsibilities of the Vice President?
to take over the job of the president if necessary, to cast tie breaker vote in Senate
What is a petit jury?
panel of people who get evidence and decides guilt or innocence
What is jus soli and jus sanguinis?
jus soli: citizen based on location of birth
jus sanguinis: citizen based on parent's citizenship
Why did the founding fathers create the first amendment?
to support open discussion and a strong democracy
what is the purpose of the census?
to determine number of representatives in each state
Who is next in line of succession after the President and Vice President?
Speaker of the House
What two rights do the Miranda Rights provide?
the right to protect yourself against self incrimination
the right to an attorney
How does a state gets its authority?
coercive and legitimacy
what was the 4th amendment of the US constitution protect citizens from?
unreasonable search and seizures
what is gerrymandering
drawing state districts to the advantage of a political party
What are the 5 major responsibilities or formal roles of the President?
Chief Agenda Setter, Commander in Chief, Foreign Policy Leader, chief executive, Chief administrator
What is an indictment
a formal charge of a crime that was committed
What is a federal system of government?
system where power is divided between national, state and local levels
In the case of Tinker v Des Moines, what did the Supreme Court rule?
Students free speech rights are protected as long as it does not disrupt the learning environment
what role do committees play within a legislative body?
to amend, report or kill a bill before they are sent to the floor
Why did the framers of the constitution create the electoral college?
they distrusted the uneducated public, more power to small states, too slow of communication
What is voir dire?
the process of selecting jury members
What are the four characteristics that make up a state?
population, sovereignty, government, territory
What are three limitations of speech in schools?
lewd/sexual language, promotion of drugs/illegal activities, school sponsored events
In order for a bill to be sent to the President, what other actions must occur
bill must pass the house and senate in identical form
what is the electoral college and how does it work?
the votes of the electors determine who becomes president, it formalizes the decision of the state's voters; winner take all system in most states
What are the two reasons lawyers can remove potential jurors? Describe those two reasons
challenge for cause: potential bias
peremptory challenge: gut feeling/bad feeling