The 3 Branches
The role of this branch is to make laws. The members of this branch of our government is called Congress.
What is the legislative branch?
In this type of economic system, the government controls all the factors of production and makes most of the decisions about the economy.
What is a command economy?
These types of powers of Congress are clearly spelled out in the Constitution?
Example: Coining money, declaring war
What are expressed or enumerated powers?
This is a formal statement of a political party or candidates goals and objectives.
What is a platform?
The total number of votes a candidate receives in each state.
What is the popular vote?
The role of this branch is to interpret the laws to decide if they are Constitutional or not.
What is the Judicial Branch?
In this type of economic system, individual private owners control most of the factors of production and make most of the economic decisions, but there is SOME government regulation ( in things like safety and minimum wage rules).
What is a mixed economy?
Any powers not given to the federal government in the Constitution are left for the states. These are called ________________ powers.
Example: Issues drivers licenses, running schools.
What is reserved?
This type of campaigning strategy gets candidates "up close and personal" with voters.
What is retail politics?
Money awarded to the plaintiff in a civil trial is called this.
What are damages?
The role of this branch, which includes the president and vice president, is to enforce laws made by Congress.
What is the Executive branch?
In this type of government system, a small group of religious leaders rule.
What is a theocracy?
Powers that are shared between the national and state governments are called _____________ powers.
Examples: Taxing, Building Roads
What is concurrent?
What type of opinion poll would be conducted at the start of a campaign to "test the waters" on people's feelings about a candidate and the issues?
What is a benchmark poll?
States where the winner of the presidential election is too close to call and could go either way. Candidates will typically focus a lot of time and money campaigning there.
What are battleground states?
This guiding principle means that each of the three branches have their own individual powers and duties in order to make sure none is more powerful than the others.
What is "separation of powers"?
In this type of government system, a leader comes to absolute power and maintains it through control of the police and military.
What is a dictatorship?
Congress has many enumerated powers in the Constitution, but on occassion, its powers may need to be "stretched" in order for it to do its job. What clause stretches the powers of Congress when needed?
In this type of election, voters must choose candidates from within the same political party with which they are registered.
What is a closed primary?
The selection of a small group of people to best represent the whole population being studied in a public opinion poll is called __________________.
What is scientific sampling?
This guiding principle means that there are ways in which one branch can limit ( or keep from getting too large) the power of the other two branches.
What is "checks and balances"?
This guiding principle and system of government means that the national (federal government) divides power between itself and the states.
What is federalism?
What power is given to the President that allows the Executive Branch to "check" the Legislative Branch by rejecting a bill in the lawmaking process?
What is "veto" power?
In this landmark case, the Supreme Court decided that campaign donations by big corporations and labor unions is considered free speech.
What is Citizens United vs FEC?
In a criminal trial, this is the duty of the prosecution to prove the accused is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt with strong evidence.
What is "burden of proof"