American Government

1
American Government

• Final Review

2
Theory behind US Government?

• Social Contract

3
When People are the source of Power?

• Popular Sovereignty

4
A Government based upon rule of law?

• Limited Government

5
Division of power between State and National
Government?

• Federal Government

6
Rule by the Many?

• Democracy

7
Rule by one or a Few?

• Dictatorship

8
Two Types of Democracy

• Direct
• Indirect (representatives)

9
What part of the Constitution expresses popular
sovereignty?

• Preamble

10
Three Branches of Government?

• Legislative (make)
• Executive (enforce)
• Judicial (interpret)

11
What keeps branches from becoming too powerful?

• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances

12
Separation of Powers

• Legislative
• Executive
• Judicial

13
Powers given only to National Government

• Exclusive Powers
• (coin money, declare war)

14
These powers create most conflict between St. and
Nat. Government.

• Implied Powers
• (not expressly written in the Constitution)

15
Electoral Votes Needed

• 270

16
When are electoral votes cast?

• December of election year--counted in January.

17
Steps to become President

• Primary/Caucus
• National Conventions
• General Election
• Electoral Vote

18
Total of Electors?

• 538

19
Minimum electors from each State?

• 3
• (two senators of representatives)

20
A Party Election is called what?

• Primary

21
Purpose of National Convention?

• Nominate Pres./VP. Candidates
• Choose Party Platform

22
A simple majority?

• 50 1

23
PARTY MEETINGS ARE CALLED?

• CAUCUSES

24
When the candidate receives the majority of the
popular vote in a state?

• Winner-take-all

25
Who runs most campaigns?

• Candidate and his/her staff

26
What happens if no one wins enough electoral
votes?

• The House selects President
• The Senate selects
• Vice President

27
T/F Popular vote winner can lose election

• Electoral Vote winner, wins election--candidates
  must win in states that have most electoral votes

28
Voting Requirements in Texas

• 18 years old, US citizen
• registered 30 days prior to election
• resident of state and county

29
Number of Texas Electors

• 34
• (2 Senators 32 Representatives)

30
An example of a Presidential check on Congress

• Veto
• Pocket Veto

31
Congressional checks on President

• override veto (2/3 vote)
• Senate refuses to ratify an presidential nominee
  or a treaty

32
Essays written to encourage ratification of the
Constitution

• Federalist Papers

33
The Ultimate Umpire?

• Supreme Court

34
Supreme Court check on Congress and the President

• Judicial Review

35
The Elastic Clause

• Necessary and Proper Clause that supports
  Implied Powers of our government

36
Formal Amendment Process

• Proposal (by Congress)
• Ratification (by States)

37
How are most changes in our Government made?

• Informally--by custom and tradition political
  party practices Supreme Ct. decisions and acts
  of Congress and the President

38
The two Major Political Parties

• Democratic Party
• Republican Party

39
Roles of Minor Parties

• Critics
• Innovators
• Spoilers

40
Role of Party out of power

• Watchdog

41
An Organization with a focused opinion on a
single topic

• Special Interest Group

42
One Trend in Voting

• Split Ticket Voting

43
Main Source of Political Information

• Television

44
This group favors extreme change

• Radicals

45
This group believes government should be active
in change

• Liberals

46
Motto of Liberals

• Freedom over Order
• Equality over Economic Freedom

47
This groups favors status quo

• Conservatives

48
Conservative Motto

• Order over Freedom
• Eco. Freedom over Equality

49
A belief that women are more likely to favor
Dem. over Rep.

• Gender Gap

50
Special Interest Group that is opposed to gun
control

• NRA

51
Pork Barrel Politics

• When members of Congress get federal funds for
  projects in their own districts

52
Drawing of district lines to favor the party or
race in power

• Gerrymandering

53
Talking a Bill to Death

• Filibuster

54
Taking care of constituents needs

• Casework

55
Political Arms of special interest groups used to
raise campaign money

• PACs

56
Committee used to settle differences of the two
houses

• Conference Committee

57
What type of bill must start in the House of Rep.?

• Money Bills

58
Which house is based on population?

• House of Representatives

59
How many members are in the House of
Representatives?

• 435

60
Which house has equal representation?

• Senate

61
This means two houses

• Bicameralism

62
Minimum or Reps. from each State?

• One

63
To bring charges against an official in government

• Impeach

64
Why do incumbents have an advantage?

• more campaign money
• better known

65
Main Function of Congress?

• Lawmaking

66
Presidential Term

• 4years can be elected 2xs--total ten years

67
Hierarchical arrangement of government doing
specialized tasks

• Bureaucracy

68
Protections under 1st Amendment

• free speech
• freedom of religion
• freedom of press
• free to assemble and petition

69
Separation of Church and State

• Establishment Clause

70
Reading of your rights

• Miranda Rights

71
When illegal evidence is thrown out of court

• Exclusionary Rule

72
Case that ended Segregation

• Brown vs Board of Education in Topeka, Kansas

73
Term of a federal judge

• Life

74
Methods used to prevent African Americans from
voting

• literacy tests
• poll taxes
• grandfather clauses
• white primaries