The Constitution and its Principles
Clauses and Compromises
Congress
Political Parties and Behavior
Political Potpourri
100
With the words, "We the People," the Constitution establishes its authority on the basis of this.
What is popular sovereignty.
100
This clause, establishes the United States Constitution, federal statutes, and treaties as "the supreme law of the land".
What is the Supremacy Clause.
100
All states are guaranteed to have this many Senators.
What is two.
100
This term refers to drawing district boundaries to increase or decrease one group's voting strength.
What is gerrymandering.
100
These powers are spelled out in the Constitution, and are sometimes called the "enumerated powers"...you can find most of them in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.
What are the expressed powers.
200
The President's power to veto an act of Congress is an example of this.
What are checks and balances.
200
This compromise resolved the most serious dispute at the Constitutional Convention and created the legislative branch we have today: in the Senate, states would be represented equally; in the House, representation would be based on population.
What is the Connecticut Compromise or the Great Compromise.
200
States are guaranteed to have at least this many Representatives in the House.
What is one.
200
Immigration, health care, education, and environmental policies are all examples of these.
What are public policies.
200
These are powers that both the states and federal government have, ie the power to tax, and the making of new laws.
What are concurrent powers.
300
This refers to a system of government in which a written constitution divides powers between a central, or national government and several regional governments.
What is federalism.
300
This clause, also known as the Elastic Clause, gives powers to congress that are NOT expressly stated in the Constitution, but needed for the government to operate.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause.
300
This term refers to the type of legislature we have which means 2 houses.
What is bicameral.
300
This political party believes in small government, fewer taxes, and less government regulation.
What is the Republican Party.
300
These are the three basic concepts of government the English settlers brought with them to the New World.
What are ordered government, limited government, and representative government.
400
These are the three critical questions/issues the Constitution addresses.
What are the structure of government, powers the government has, and how to prevent tyranny.
400
Your ability to choose and practice any religion, as long as the rituals fall under the laws and norms of society, is protected by this clause.
What is the Free Exercise Clause.
400
The leader of the House of Representatives, known as this, is second in line of presidential succession.
Who is the Speaker of the House.
400
This term is used to describe political parties like the Socialist Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Green Party.
What is a minor party.
400
Created shortly after the Revolutionary War, this deliberately kept the National Government weak, so weak in fact that governing the new nation was nearly impossible.
What is the Articles of Confederation.
500
When the Supreme Court overturns the decision of a lower court, it is exercising this constitutional principal.
What is judicial review.
500
This was a compromise reached between delegates from southern states and those from northern states during the Constitutional Convention. The debate was over if, and if so, how, slaves would be counted when determining a state's total population for representation purposes.
What is the three-fifths compromise.
500
These are the three formal qualifications for Senators.
What are 30 years of age, been a citizen of the US for nine years, and an inhabitant of the State.
500
This amendment, ratified in 1870, declared that the right to vote cannot be denied to any citizen of the United States because of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
What is the 15th Amendment.
500
These are known as linkage institutions, and are known as that because they connect voters to government and their elected leaders.
What are the media, political parties, voting, and interest groups.
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