Foundations of Government
In a presidential democracy, the people directly vote for the executive leader. In a parliamentary democracy, who selects the prime minister?
The legislature (parliament)
List 3 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
No military
No taxation
9/13 vote to pass laws
No national currency
No president
A state legislature redraws district boundaries so one political party wins most elections, even when it receives fewer overall votes statewide. What is this practice called?
Gerrymandering
According to the Constitution, which part of the federal government has the power to declare war?
Congress
In Roe v. Wade (1973), the Supreme Court ruled that state laws banning abortion violated the Constitution and could not be enforced. What constitutional power allowed the Court to strike down those laws?
Judicial Review
At the Constitutional Convention, large states wanted representation based on population while small states wanted equal representation. The Great Compromise resolved this by creating what type of legislature?
Bicameral legislature
In this system, the national government can only act with the approval of the states, has little power to tax or enforce laws, and the states can ignore national decisions. What system of government is this?
Confederal
Federal judges are appointed for life and cannot have their salaries reduced while in office, even if their rulings anger the president or Congress. Which constitutional principle is demonstrated here?
Independent Judiciary
Describe the two main steps of the impeachment process in the U.S. government.
House impeaches - majority vote
Senate removes from office - 2/3s vote
List the 3 formal qualifications needed to run for President and 1 informal qualification.
35 years old, 14 year citizen, natural-born
Business/political background
Charisma/personal character
College graduate
In Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), the Supreme Court ruled that states must provide an attorney to defendants who cannot afford one, applying a protection from the Bill of Rights to the states through the 14th Amendment. What constitutional process is being demonstrated?
Incorporation
Police illegally enter a person’s home without a warrant and discover a handgun. The state tries to use the gun as evidence in court, but the search was unconstitutional, and the person also argues they have a right to possess the firearm in their home for self-defense. Which TWO Supreme Court cases apply to this situation?
Mapp v. Ohio and DC v. Heller