Founding Fathers & Frenemies
Which form of Democracy emphasizes broad participation of citizens in politics and civil society?
Participatory Democracy
What is the term for Congress’s ability to monitor, investigate, and review actions of the executive branch?
Congressional Oversight
What is a writ of certiorari, and what does it allow the Supreme Court to do?
A writ of certiorari is an order by the Supreme Court to a lower court to send up the records of a case for review.
It allows the Supreme Court to choose which cases it wants to hear.
What is the process of measuring public opinion by asking a sample of people questions about politics or policy?
Polling (or Public Opinion Polling)
What is the term for the system where the candidate who gets the most votes wins all of a state's electoral votes?
Winner-Take-All System
Which event exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and convinced many that a stronger central government was needed?
Shay's Rebellion
What is an executive order, and how does it allow the president to bypass Congress?
An executive order is a directive issued by the president that manages operations of the federal government.
It allows the president to take action without passing a law through Congress, though it can be challenged in court or overturned by a future president.
What principle means that courts should follow the decisions made in previous cases?
Stare Decisis or Precedent
What term describes a person's set of beliefs about the role of government and public policy?
Political Ideology
What is the difference between prospective voting and retrospective voting?
Prospective voting: Voting based on what a candidate promises to do in the future.
Retrospective voting: Voting based on how a candidate or party has performed in the past.
Which clause in the Constitution gives Congress the power to make laws that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out its powers?
Necessary and Proper Clause (also called the Elastic Clause)
Describe the difference between discretionary spending and mandatory spending in the federal budget.
Discretionary Spending: Congress must decide each year how much to spend (e.g., military, education).
Mandatory Spending: Automatically spent according to law, without annual approval (e.g., Social Security, Medicare).
What is the exclusionary rule, and which amendment is it connected to?
The exclusionary rule prevents evidence collected illegally (without a proper warrant) from being used in court, which is tied to the Fourth Amendment (protection against unreasonable searches and seizures).
What is a public opinion poll used to measure?
It measures the views and attitudes of the public on specific issues, candidates, or policies.
What are interest groups, and how do they differ from political parties?
Interest groups try to influence policymakers on specific issues but do not run their own candidates for office (unlike political parties).
What’s the difference between a categorical grant and a block grant?
Categorical Grant: Narrow purpose
Block Grant: Broad purpose
Which model of representation allows a member of Congress to sometimes act as a trustee, sometimes as a delegate, depending on the issue?
Politico Model
What is the "wall of separation" doctrine, and how does it relate to the First Amendment?
The "wall of separation" refers to the separation of church and state.
It comes from the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, meaning the government should not promote or favor any religion.
What is the difference between a random sample and a biased sample in polling?
A random sample fairly represents the population because every person has an equal chance of being selected.
A biased sample over-represents some groups and under-represents others, making the results unreliable.
What is party realignment, and what is one historical example?
Party realignment = Major groups of voters switch parties, causing a lasting shift in political coalitions.
Example: The New Deal Coalition in the 1930s.
How does the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution affect conflicts between state and federal law?
Supremacy Clause states that federal law is the "supreme law of the land," meaning federal laws override conflicting state laws
What is a signing statement, and how does it give the president informal influence over a law?
A signing statement is a written comment issued by the president when signing a bill into law, sometimes expressing how the president interprets or plans to enforce parts of the law — which may differ from Congressional intent.
What is the difference between the clear and present danger test and the imminent lawless action test for limiting free speech?
Clear and Present Danger Test (Schenck v. United States, 1919): Speech can be restricted if it creates a clear and immediate threat to national security.
Imminent Lawless Action Test (Brandenburg v. Ohio, 1969): Speech can only be restricted if it is intended to incite immediate illegal activity and is likely to do so.
What does political efficacy mean, and how might low efficacy affect voter turnout?
Political efficacy is a citizen’s belief that they can influence government or politics.
Low political efficacy often leads to lower voter turnout because people feel their vote doesn’t matter.
What effect did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have on political participation?
It outlawed discriminatory practices (like literacy tests) that kept minorities, especially African Americans, from voting.
It dramatically increased voter registration and participation among minority groups.