Chapter 2-3
What is the rule of law?
The idea that no one, not the average citizen or anyone in government is above the law.
What is Federalism?
Federalism is a system of government where you have a federal government at the top and local and state governments beneath it.
What two chambers make up Congress? How many members for each?
House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Reps has 438 members while the Senate has 100 members.
What is executive privelege?
The president has the right to withhold from Congress or Court especially if the information pertains to national security.
Try and name all 15 executive departments
Department of State
Department of Defense
Department of the Treasury
Department of the Interior
Department of Agriculture
Department of Justice
Department of Commerce
Department of Labor
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Transportation
Department of Energy
Department of Education
Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Homeland Security
If you recall from our lecture, what is the "SUPREMACY CLAUSE"
It is the declaration that the U.S Constitution is the supreme law of the nation and all laws and treaties of the nation must abide by it.
What are implied and expressed powers?
Define appropriation
Appropriation is where the federal government sets aside funding for a specific purpose.
What are the official roles of the president?
Chief Executive
Chief Administrator
Commander in Chief
Foreign Policy Leader
Chief Agenda Setter
Government corporations are federal agencies that must earn their money through the providing of products and services. An example of a government corporation is the USPS.
What is the electoral college? How many members are within this group?
The electoral college is the voting body that will make the final decision on who become President and Vice President. There are 538 members in the electoral college.
What are categorical grants and block grants?
Categorical grants is federal funding that must be used for a specific purpose such as disaster relief or a particular building project.
Block grants are
What is Congressional Oversight?
Congressional Oversight is where Congress can force a witness to appear during a hearing, especially officials from the executive branch. This is also Congress' way of performing its role in checks and balances.
What are the unofficial roles of the president?
Chief of State
Party Leader
Chief Citizen
Describe what is a plaintiff and defendant.
The plaintiff is the person making the legal complaint, while the defendant is the person who the complaint is filed against.
What are the (6) goals of the constitution? For the exam I am only asking for four.
1. Form a more perfect union
2. Establish justice
3. Ensure domestic tranquility
4. Provide for the common defense
5. Promote the general welfare.
6. Secure the blessings of liberty
Describe some of the problems with federalism with concern to the following issues: poverty, homeland security, environment, immigration, and healthcare
Poverty:
Homeland Security
Environment:
Immigration:
Healthcare:
Define Ex Post Facto Laws
Laws that prevent someone from being prosecuted for a crime that was once legal.
The president's cabinet is made up of the head officials from the ____________
Executive Departments
According to our lecture, the Supreme Court has jurisdiction over what specific matters?
- Interpretation or applications of the constitution, federal laws, and treaties.
- Maritime laws (laws pertaining to activities by commercial or military forces on the ocean)
What are the (6) Principles of the Constitution?
2. Limited Government
3. Separation of Powers
4. Checks and Balances
5. Judicial Review
6. Federalism
Describe Fiscal Federalism
It is a system of spending, taxing, and providing aid in a federal system. Also as a way of the federal government maintaining control through providing funding.
Who are the heads of the House of Representatives and the Senate?
House of Reps: Speaker of the House
Senate: The Senate Majority Leader
The Office of Management and Budget is assigned to do what?
Help the president plan the federal budget and oversee its execution by the executive branch. However, the president's budget proposal must be reviewed by Congress and their budget team.
Describe the purpose of the U.S Territorial Courts
Congress has authorized the creation of local courts to hear cases in the territories and Commonwealths of the United States to include, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, The CNMI, Guam, and the U.S Virgin Islands.