Federalism
Powers explicitly granted to the federal government in the Constitution are called:
enumerated powers
What are three rights protected under the First Amendment?
Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition, Religion
Spending government funds on local projects to maintain support from a politician's constituents.
Pork barrel spending
For the process of impeachment, who brings forward the articles of impeachment - beginning the impeachment process?
House of Representatives
Supreme Court opinion that disagrees with the majority opinion.
Dissenting opinion
Decided that the racial segregation policy of "separate but equal" was not really equal and therefore unconstitutional.
Brown v. Board of Education
What does the Supremacy Clause state?
In areas of overlap, federal law is superior to state law
Which amendment protects the rights of a person to own firearms and other weapons?
Second Amendment
Process of exchanging votes between members of Congress.
Logrolling
What is required to successfully impeach a president?
2/3 vote of the Senate
Supreme Court opinion that agrees with the majority opinion, but with different reasoning supporting the opinion.
Concurrent opinion
Decided that through selective incorporation under the 14th Amendment, states and cities cannot limit Second Amendment rights.
McDonald v. Chicago
The Commerce Clause gives the federal government the right to...
Regulate matters concerning trade between states.
What is prohibited by the Eighth Amendment?
Excessive fines and bails, and cruel and unusual punishment
Assistant to the party leader in a congressional house, whose job is to gather party votes and ensure the party collaborates on laws.
Whip
For the purpose of electing the President, how is the number of electors of a state determined?
Total members of Congress from the state (Senators plus Representatives)
Supreme Court cases are important because they establish __________, acting as a basis for deciding similar cases in the future.
Precedent
Decided that students still have their first amendment rights - including the right to symbolic speech - while at school.
Tinker v. Des Moines
Which clause of the Constitution has given rise to implied powers, because it allows Congress to pass laws needed to execute its enumerated powers?
Necessary and Proper Clause
List two rights protected by the Sixth Amendment
Speedy and public trial, right to a lawyer, impartial jury, right to know your accusers and the evidence brought against you.
Idea that representatives should resemble the people they represent, in terms of demographics.
Descriptive Representation
Who is the president of the Senate?
Vice President
When a court has the authority to review the decision of a lower court, this is known as _________ jurisdiction.
Apellate
Decided that "clear and present danger" is a constitutional limit on free speech.
Schenck vs. United States
Constitutional clause that says states must respect each other's public acts, records, and court proceedings.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
Amendment whose equal protection and due process clauses have been used to support the Supreme Court's policy of selective incorporation.
14th Amendment
Type of congressional committee whose purpose is to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
Conference Committee
Term referring to the ability of the president to draw public to an issue due to the high public visibility of their office.
Bully Pulpit
What is the difference between civil law and criminal law?
Civil law pertains to private rights and relationships between people and groups, while criminal law pertains to harm done to the community.
Early Supreme Court case that established the practice of judicial review.
Marbury v. Madison
What is a limit put on the commerce clause by the Supreme Court case United States v. Lopez?
Gun regulation in schools cannot be considered commerce and thus cannot be controlled by the federal government.
How did the 17th Amendment change Congress?
Senators would be directly elected, instead of being appointed by state legislatures.
What are the three broad responsibilities of Congress?
Legislating, Budgeting, Oversight
List three of the five roles of the President
Chief Executive, Chief Diplomate, Chief Legislator, Commander in Chief, Party Leader
What are the three layers of the federal judicial system?
Federal District Courts, Federal Court of Appeals, Supreme Court of the United States
Decided that prior restraint (stopping information from being published) is a violation of the First Amendment.
New York Times v. United States