Foundations
John Locke's three concepts of natural rights that the Founding Fathers incorporated when creating the founding documents
What is life, liberty, and property?
*Bonus 50 pts. if you can tell me WHAT founding document utilized these ideas.
Clause that states that the Constitution is the supreme law of thw land and overrules laws passed by Congress or the States.
What is the Supremacy Clause?
A clause for one of Congress's enumerated power that has increased federal power over time.
What is the interstate commerce clause?
The requirements in Congress to impeach a president.
What is a majority in the house to impeach and a 2/3 vote in the Senate to convict?
Conservative judges tend to adhere to this judicial philosophy
What is originalism?
This Supreme Court case ruled that Congress can regulate local activities if they have aggregate economic effects.
What is Wickard v. Filburn?
The department heads all sit on this important presidential advisory council.
What is the Cabinet?
Two examples of Congressional oversight over the bureaucracy.
What are committee hearings and investigations, passing laws to change policy, cutting/reallocating budgets, impeachment, etc.?
Two forms of free speech that are NOT protected by the 1st amendment.
What are obscenity, defamation, and/or incitement to violence?
The Supreme Court ruled student articles in school newspapers can be censored if they interfere with the educational mission of the school.
What is Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeir?
A person who generally opposes government interference in both economic and social issues would most likely align with this ideological view.
What is libertarian?
Philosophy that makes decisions based on what is best for the country
What is realism?
This is an example of campaigns using biased questions to manipulate or alter prospective voter opinions.
What is push polling?
The system in which voters can vote for multiple candidates for office in order of preference as a way to move away from the current two-party system
What is a ranked choice voting?
These are two weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
What is no executive branch, no judicial branch, no national taxes, no national army, unanimity to amend Articles, etc.?
This Federalist paper argued that a large republic is best suited to control the effects of factions.
What is Federalist 10?
Congress has the power to override a presidential veto with this type of majority.
2/3 of each house.
Two examples of programs or expenses included under the category of mandatory spending.
What are Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and/or interest on the national debt?
According to this principle, courts should follow past precedent and not overturn decisions lightly.
What is stare decisis?
This Supreme Court case ruled that gerrymandering based on race must meet the strict scrutiny standard under the equal protection clause even if the goal is done with the best intentions.
What is Shaw v. Reno?
The positions in government that are based on merit and shouldn't be fired based on politics
What is the civil service?
As part of their role in overseeing our monetary policy, this regulatory commission lowers and raises interest rates to control inflation.
What is the Federal Reserve?
Obscene speech can be banned if offensive to the average person based on __________ _____________
What is community standards?
While the government may not limit assemblies based on the content of the message, they may create reasonable rules around these three concepts.
What are time, place, and manner?
A person who believes the government should play an active role in assisting low-income families and increase taxes to support public services would most likely align with this ideological view
What is liberal?
Philosophy that makes decisions based on universal principles.
What is idealism?
The concept in which corporations are allowed to spend unlimited money for a campaign as long as there is no coordination with the candidate/campaign
What are independent expenditures?
The press keeps an eye on government officials to ensure they act in the public interest
What is watchdog journalism?
Marbury v. Madison solidified this implied constitutional principle.
What is Judicial Review?
The three fifths compromise allowed southern states to partially count enslaved people in terms of these two areas.
What are representation and taxation?
The 60 votes needed in the senate to force the end of debate.
What is cloture?
*Bonus 50 pts if you can explain the strategy that can be used to prevent a vote in the senate
Supreme Court case that declared courts have jurisdiction over issues of legislative apportionment to enforce the principle of "one person, one vote"
What is Baker v. Carr?
The confirmation battle after the death of Justice Scalia proved that the president is still limited in his power to appoint a Supreme Court Justice, because he must gain the approval of this body.
What is the Senate?
This Supreme Court case ruled that Congress had exceeded its power under the Commerce Clause by ruling the Gun Free School Zones Act of 1990 unconstitutional.
What is U.S. v. Lopez?
If the president wants to pass a domestic policy but doesn't want to wait for Congress, they may declare this instead.
What is an executive order?
*Bonus 50 pts. if you can give me an example of one.
This law limits the amount of time the president may send troops overseas without a declaration of war.
The War Powers Resolution
This case determined that speech creating a clear and present danger is not protected.
What is Schenck v. U.S.?
Court case in which lawsuits were filed to challenge a city's gun ban in the wake of the Heller decision.
What is McDonald v. Chicago?
This economic policy emphasizes the government's role in spending to boost the economy
Keynesian fiscal policy
These foreign policy arrangements, similar to an executive order, do not need Senate approval
What are executive agreements?
*Bonus 50 pts. if you can give me an example of one
When the media chooses to focus on who is ahead in an election rather than on the issues, they are exercising this form of journalism.
What is horse race journalism?
Media is one example of an outlet that connects the people to the government, otherwise known by this term
What is a linkage institution?
In Federalist 51, Madison argues the benefits of this element of the Constitution.
What is checks and balances?
The main argument of antifederalist paper, Brutus 1.
What is the idea that a large republic would lead to tyranny and corruption because politicians would be distant from the people?
The chamber of Congress that was designed to be the more responsive.
What is the house of representatives?
Ways of controlling the economy through government spending.
What is fiscal policy?
When case appeals are approved, the Supreme Court grants the ____________ and sends for the case from the lower court.
What is a Writ of Certiorari?
This Supreme Court case held that the freedom of speech clause prohibits the government from restricting the rights of corporations and unions in political campaigns.
What is Citizens United v. FEC?
Since the president cannot technically introduce legislation, he relies on this informal power to push his agenda.
What is the bully pulpit?
Contents of the 25th amendment
What is presidential succession?
*Bonus 50 points if you can describe the reasoning under which the President can be temporarily removed from power
What is Incorporation/Selective Incorporation?
New York Times v. U.S. issues a ruling in favor of the press by using this 1st amendment principle.
What is prior restraint?
Our ideological views are formed by various people and institutions through this process.
What is political socialization?
*Bonus 50 pts. if you can give an example of an institution that contributes to socialization.
Philosophy that encourages focusing on problems at home.
What is isolationism?
If an independent voter cannot participate in a primary, it is because the primary is this type.
What is a closed primary?
These individuals are hired by interest groups to influence and pressure legislators.
What are lobbyists?
Requirements for amending the Constitution
What is 2/3 vote in both houses of Congress and passage by 3/4 of state legislatures.
Amendment added to the Bill of Rights by antifederalists and used in arguments for a radically smaller federal government.
What is the 10th amendment?
The strategy the president can use when unwilling to sign a bill into law but unwilling to utilize a formal veto
*Bonus 100 points if you can explain what the pocket veto is
If the two houses cannot decide on a final version of a bill, this committee is organized to iron out the differences
What is a conferencing committee?
The philosophy that judges should feel free to step in when out branches are bending the law or violating the constitution to protect the rights of the people
What is judicial activism?
This Supreme Court case reaffirmed the federal government's implied powers under the Necessary and Proper clause by ruling that states could not regulate a national bank.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
In this paper, Alexander Hamilton argued that a strong national government required a strong executive as it was essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks.
What is Federalist 70?
What is the State Department?
This case proved students still have some free speech rights in school as long as they do not create a substantial interference with learning
What is Tinker v. Des Moines?
This Supreme Court case narrowed the scope of Schenck by ruling that an assembly must be directly inciting imminent lawless action in order to be shut down.
What is Brandenburg v. Ohio?
A person who believes in laissez faire fiscal policy and supply side economics would most likely align with this ideological view.
What is conservative?
Philosophy that encourages use of military force as a deterrent
What is hawkish?
Those citizens who voted against Trump in 2020 due to the fact that they disagreed with his actions during his 1st term exercised this type of voting.
What is retrospective voting?
The mutually beneficial relationship of the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), the Social Security Administration, and the subcommittee on Social Security is an example of one of these.
What is an iron triangle?