Supreme Court Cases
The 1803 Supreme Court case gave the judicial branch, Judicial review, allowing for the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
This principle allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful.
What is checks and balances?
This practice involves drawing congressional district boundaries in a way that favors a particular political party or group, often leading to distorted election results.
What is gerrymandering?
This constitutional principle divides power between a national government and state governments.
What is Federalism?
This system, used by most states, awards all of a state's electoral votes to the candidate who wins the state's popular vote.
What is winner-takes-all?
This 1966 Supreme Court case required that individuals taken into police custody must be informed of their rights to an attorney and against self-incrimination before being questioned.
What is Miranda v. Arizona?
This specific type of congressional committee is permanent and specializes in particular policy areas, such as agriculture or judiciary.
What is a standing committee?
This term refers to the process where voters in a primary election choose delegates who will represent them at a party's national convention, rather than directly voting for a candidate.
What is a Caucus?
These are the two plans that came together to form the constitution.
What are the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan?
This term refers to the close, cooperative relationships that often develop between congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups, which can lead to mutual benefits but also raise concerns about the influence of special interests.
What is Iron Triangles?
This 1963 Supreme Court case ruled that states must provide an attorney to defendants who cannot afford one, applying the Sixth Amendment right to counsel to state courts.
What is Gideon v. Wainwright?
This key Supreme Court case upheld the principle of Congress’s implied powers by allowing the creation of a national bank under the Necessary and Proper Clause.
What is McCulloch v. Maryland?
This is the total number of electors in the Electoral College, which consists of electors from each state and the District of Columbia.
This paper argues that a large republic is the best defense against the dangers of faction, because it makes it harder for any single group to dominate.
What is Federalist Paper No. 10?
This group was created to track political donations and expenditures during campaigns to ensure compliance with federal election laws.
What is the Federal Election Commission (FEC)?
This 1962 Supreme Court case ruled that it is unconstitutional for public schools to sponsor official prayers, even if participation is voluntary, citing the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
What is Engel v. Vitale?
Name one way each branch of government checks the other branches.
What is...?
Executive: Veto (Legislative), Propose laws (Legislative), Appoint judges (Judicial), ...?
Legislative: Override Vetoes (Executive), Impeach the President (Executive), Confirm Appointments (Executive), Approve Treaties (Executive), Confirm Judges (Judicial), Impeach Judges (Judicial)
Judicial: Judicial Review (Executive and Legislative)
This cognitive bias leads people to seek out, interpret, and remember information in a way that confirms their preexisting beliefs or opinions, often influencing their media consumption habits.
What is Confirmation Bias?
This system divides government authority among independent branches and uses checks and balances to prevent any one group from gaining too much power.
What is the Madisonian Model?
This process occurs when a bill is "killed" through inaction in a committee, often because the committee leadership does not want to deal with it.
What is pigeonholing?
Name 5 Supreme Court Cases that deal with the 1st Amendment.
NAACP v Alabama, Wisconsin V. Yoder, New York Times v Nixon, Engel v Vitale, Lemon V Kurtzman, Tinker v. Des Moines, Citizens United v. FEC, Schenck v. US
Draw or write the hierarchy of courts in the judicial system.
What is Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, District Courts
Name 3 of the 4 Supreme Court Cases that relate to gerrymandering. (Extra points for all in order)
What is Baker V Carr (1962), Westberry V Sanders (1964), Thornburg v Gingles (1986), Shaw V Reno (1993)
Name 4 concurrent powers between the state and federal government.
What is...?
Taxing (both can collect taxes)
Borrowing money
Making and enforcing laws
Establishing courts
Building infrastructure (like roads and bridges)
Chartering banks and corporations
Protecting the public's health, safety, and morals
Name as many Amendments (and what they do) as possible, the team with the most wins.
What is...?
Speech, religion, press, assembly, petition.
Right to bear arms.
No quartering soldiers.
No unreasonable searches or seizures.
Due process, no double jeopardy or self-incrimination.
Right to a speedy, public trial.
Right to a jury in civil cases.
No cruel or unusual punishment.
Rights not listed still belong to the people.
Powers not given to federal government belong to states or people.
Limits suits against states.
President and Vice President elected together.
Abolished slavery.
Equal protection and due process for all citizens.
Black men can vote.
Federal income tax established.
Direct election of Senators.
Prohibition of alcohol.
Women's right to vote.
Shortens lame-duck period for President.
Repeals Prohibition (18th Amendment).
Two-term limit for Presidents.
D.C. gets electoral votes.
Bans poll taxes.
Presidential succession rules.
Voting age lowered to 18.
Congressional pay raises take effect after next election.