Congress
The Presidency
The Judiciary
The Bureaucracy
Supreme Court Cases
100

Bills in the Senate are typically brought to the floor by this procedure

What is unanimous consent?

100

The president's formal foreign policy powers include this military role.

What is commander-in-chief?

100

This principle allows the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

What is judicial review?

100

This system of hiring focuses on merit rather than political affiliation.

What is the civil service system?

100

This case established judicial review.

What is Marbury v. Madison?

200

This term describes the practice of adding funds for local projects into larger appropriations bills.

What is pork-barrel legislation?

200

These orders allow the president to manage the federal government without new legislation.

What are executive orders?

200

The legal doctrine of adhering to precedent is known as this.

What is stare decisis? 

200

Agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups form these alliances

What are iron triangles?

200

This case involved limits on Congress's ability to regulate interstate commerce

What is United States v. Lopez?

300

This is the only chamber where revenue bills must originate.

What is the House of Representatives?

300

These written pronouncements explain how the president interprets legislation.

What are signing statements?

300

This principle ensures that courts respect the rulings of previous decisions

What is legal precedent?

300

This department oversees national security and border protection.

What is the Department of Homeland Security?

300

This case established that racial gerrymandering violated the Equal Protection Clause

What is Shaw v. Reno?

400

The bicameral structure of Congress reflects this political principle

What is republicanism?

400

This power enables the president to veto specific provisions in spending bills.

What is a line-item veto?

400

This term describes the ideological division caused by presidential judicial appointments.

What is polarization?

400

These temporary coalitions focus on specific issues in policymaking.

What are issue networks?

400

This case established the supremacy of federal over state laws.

What is McCulloch v. Maryland?

500

Senators may use this tactic to prolong debate and delay or block legislation.

What is a filibuster?

500

The president must get Senate approval for these appointments.

What are federal judges and ambassadors?

500

Life tenure for justices ensures this characteristic of the judicial branch

What is independence?

500

This Act eliminated the spoils system in federal hiring.

What is the Pendleton Civil Service Act?

500

This case limited executive privilege

What is United States v. Nixon?

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