Judiciary Branch
How are Supreme Court Justices appointed? What are the requirements to become a Supreme Court Justice?
Justices are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. There are no requirements.
What is a political party?
a group of people with common interest organized to gain and use political power
What is an interest group?
- group of organized people who share common interest and help to write legislation
- usually hired by private corporations to check on bills that are going through the system
What is freedom of the press?
right to distribute information or opinions in print without censorship from any level of government
What is diplomacy/soft powers and who leads soft power negotiations?
- process of negotiation between countries
- state department leads negotiation efforts
What is the primary responsibility of a Supreme Court Justice?
SCOTUS's primary responsibility is to establish legal precedents.
Precedent --> decision that serves as a rule for settling subsequent and similar cases
What is the winner take all voting system?
a type of voting system where representation is only awarded to the candidate or party that receives the most votes.
What are the types of interest groups? (as mentioned in lecture)
Citizens group - people joined for a common purpose to protect the environment, feed the poor, etc. (groups anyone can join)
Economic Interest Group - corporation, business groups, labor unions, etc. that exist for economic purposes (involved in lobbying to protect their interests)
Describe 3 roles of media in democracy (as described in lecture)
1. Helps to inform the public about current issues and events
2. Provides a forum through which candidates, politicians, and the public can debate policies and issues
3. Acts as a watchdog on the actions of politicians
What is military might/hard power? Who determines the usage of hard powers?
- threat of military action used to leverage power to deter or influence other nations to act
- led by the department of defense
How many cases does the Supreme Court take per year?
100 cases per year
What is proportional representation?
electoral system that elects multiple representatives in each district is proportional to the people who voted for them
What are lobbyists?
person who contacts government officials on behalf of a particular issues for an interest group
What were the "fireside chats" and why were they important?
President FDR used "fireside chats" to deliver the news about the war and the state of the country. First president to use the radio.
What are the 3 foreign defense policies?
1. Isolationism - avoiding participation in foreign affairs
2. Unilateralism - military/political action without consulting its allies
3. Multilateralism - belief that foreign and military policy actions should be taken in cooperation with its allies/other nations
When does the Supreme Court hear a case? (there are multiple reasons give at least one)
Foreign original jurisdiction
Cases involving legal disputes with diplomates
When states are opposing parties to a case
Appellate cases: review cases already heard in lower courts
Key questions involving federal law
Lower court rulings that conflict with a previous SCOTUS decision — inconsistent rulings
What types of people do political parties consist of?
Office holders who pursue policy objectives under the party
The workers and activists who make up the party’s organizational structure
The voters who consider themselves associated with the party
What is a PAC (Political Action Committee)?
a political committee organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates
What is "clickbait"?
dramatic headlines needed to engage public's attention
What is the purpose of the United Nations?
to guarantee the security of member states and to promote economic, physical, and social well-being around the world
What is judicial review?
Power of the Supreme Court to declare laws of Congress unconstitutional
It can overturn laws of Congress, the states, and president if the court believes it violates the Constitution
What were the founders' beliefs on political parties?
Washington warned against parties becoming factions
Federalist Paper #10!
What are Super PACS ?
are committees that may receive unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor unions and other PACs for the purpose of financing independent expenditures and other independent political activity.
What is the "self-selection" bias?
filters out exposure to new information that would challenge or broaden our views
What is the purpose of the International Monetary Fund?
purpose is to stabilize exchange rates among major currencies and set their value in terms of the dollar and gold