Foundational Docs
Formal separation from Britain influenced by Enlightenment ideals
What is the Declaration of Independence?
Established the principle of judicial review
What is Marbury v. Madison?
Bicameral houses of Congress
What is the Senate and the House of Representatives?
This Article of the Constitution gives the executive branch its power
What is Article II?
This Article of the U.S. Constitution gives the judicial branch its power
What is Article III?
Top advisors of the President based on a particular policy area
What is the Cabinet?
Giving power back to the states
What is devolution?
Essay that argues that liberty is safest in a large republic due to the existence of many factions
What is Federalist 10?
The first Constitution of the U.S. that favored strong state rights and a weak federal government
What are the Articles of Confederation?
Established the supremacy of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws over state laws
What is McCullough v. Maryland?
This Article of the Constitution gives the legislative branch its power
What is Article I?
Presidential power to not sign a bill and send it back to Congress with reasons
What is veto?
SCOTUS’ power to declare federal legislation invalid if it violates the Constitution
What is judicial review?
Sub-units of Cabinet departments where the President appoints the head, who is known as a “Director”
What are executive agencies?
Type of federalism where national and state powers are divided and separate
What is dual federalism (layer cake)?
Argues that separation of powers within the national government is the best way to prevent concentration of power in the hands of one person or single group
What is Federalist 51?
Defines powers and limits of each branch of government through checks and balances
What is the Constitution?
Congress may not use the Commerce Clause to make possession of a gun in a school zone a federal crime
What is United States v. Lopez?
The amount needed in each house to override a presidential veto
What is a 2/3 vote?
Agreement a president makes with another nation that does not require the Senate’s approval
What is an executive agreement?
Bold policy decisions that address pressing needs that are not being addressed by the government
What is judicial activism?
A cross between a private company and a governmental agency
What are government corporations?
Type of federalism where the division of powers is not clear and responsibilities overlap between national and state governments
What is cooperative federalism (marble cake)?
The federal judiciary must depend on the other two branches to uphold its decisions
What is Federalist 78?
Argument against the Constitution that there too many interests and the government will be too powerful
What is Brutus 1?
Legislative redistricting must be conscious of race and ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965
What is Shaw v. Reno?
This house impeaches while this house holds the impeachment trial
What is the House of Representatives (impeachment) and the Senate (trial)?
Refusal to sign a bill if President receives a bill at the end of Congress’ legislative sessions
What is pocket veto?
Plays a minimal role in policy making by letting elected officials make policy, and follows precedent and Founding Fathers’ intent
What is judicial restraint?
Has unique duties that independent of departmental agencies
What are independent agencies?
Type of federalism where the national government uses money to force states to comply with federal law
What is fiscal federalism?
Supports the idea of the presidency as a branch united in one individual that can execute the law quickly while remaining constrained by their sole responsibility for action to the people through elections
What is Federalist 70?
Article 1, Section 8 allows Congress to pass laws that are not supported under an enumerated power
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)?
Opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and established the “one person, one vote” doctrine
What is Baker v. Carr?
This vote ends a filibuster in the Senate
What is a cloture vote?
Presidential powers of excusing a person from a crime and reducing someone’s prison sentence
What is pardon and reprieve?
SCOTUS has ______ in cases involving 2 or more states, the U.S. government and a state government, and U.S. and foreign ambassadors/diplomats
What is original jurisdiction?
Narrow and industry specific agencies that act as watchdogs and were created to protect the public
What are regulatory agencies?
Type of grant that is specific as to how states can spend money
What is a category grant?
Founding Fathers who penned the Federalist Papers
Who are James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay?