unit 1
What is an autocracy?
One person holds the unlimited power.
Bill of rights
guaranteed a list of rights to citizens
What is a veto
the power of a chief executive to block or complicate passage of a legislative bill by refusing to sign it into law
What is Judicial Review?
the Supreme Court has the power to determine whether a law is constitutional or not
Divine right theory
the theory that God created the state and grants the right to rule that state. has the idea of "royal" birth or "divine" right, blood lines.
Supremacy clause
federal law is more powerful than state law. state governments must obey the constitution.
Bicameral legislature
A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts. The U.S. Congress is a bicameral legislature composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
What is the Electoral College
a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.
Difference between confederal and federal
confederal- power is held between a group of independent states who give the central government jobs.
federal- power is divided between a central government and many lower levels of government.
Shay's rebellion
farmers returning from the war were unable to repay debts & lost their farms, which led to a 6 month-long march. led to the constitutional convention
House of Representatives job
elect the president of the electoral college, impeach federal officials, initiate revenue bills (power of the purse)
What is foreign aid?
Any type of assistance that one country voluntarily transfers to another. Countries can provide aid through economic aid, humanitarian aid, and military assistance.
what is the magna carta and the importance of it?
it was a symbol of liberty. gave all free men justice and the right to a fair trial.
Commerce clause
grants Congress the power "to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes."
positives and negatives on lobbyists
positive- make a difference, represent a larger group
negative- rigged system (more money, more influence), often have a bad reputation
What is the Federal bureaucracy?
a complex system developed to manage all of the responsibilities of the US government.
what is the difference between direct democracy and representative democracy?
direct democracy- citizens vote directly on issues through mass meetings and make desicions regarding policy
representative democracy- citizens choose representatives to vote on their behalf.
Virginia plan v. New Jersey plan
Virginia plan- bicameral legislature with representation of each state based on its population or wealth
New Jersey plan- limiting each state to one vote in Congress which provided for equal representation.
What does a discharge petition do?
brings a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee by "discharging" the committee from further consideration of a bill or resolution
Foreign policy
the official ways that a government deals with other countries, especially with things like trade and defense.