Final Review for Government
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64 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Name the two voter qualifications in the United States. | Over 18 years of age Citizen of the United States |
| Name the eight sociological factors that can influence the way someone votes. | Geographic Location Education Occupation Race Gender Income Age Religion |
| List the three psychological factors influencing the way someone votes. | The Candidates Themselves The Issues Party Identification |
| What is a "cannot" voter? List five groups of cannot voters | A person who cannot vote -In Prison -Under 18 years old -In a mental institution -Committed a felony -Mentally Disabled |
| Besides cannot voters, what are four reasons discussed in class that people do not vote? | -The weather -Don't care about politics -Don't think their vote counts for anything -Don't like any of the candidates |
| What are the four major sources of law in the United States? | Early Systems of Law Constitutional Law Statutory Law Administrative Law |
| What are the four key principles of the legal system in the United States? | -Equal Justice Under The Law -Due Process of Law- -The Adversarial System- -Presumption of Innocence- |
| What are the four types of civil law in the United States? | Family Law Contracts Property Law Tort Law |
| What are the six steps in a civil case in the United States? | Hire a lawyer Filing the Complaint Pretrial Discovery Resolution without Trial Trial The Award |
| What are the three types of crime as discussed in Section 3? | -Petty Offenses -Misdemeanors -Felonies |
| There are eight steps to a criminal trial in the United States. What are they? | Investigation and Arrest Initial Appearance Preliminary Hearing/Grand Jury Hearing Plea Bargaining Arraignment and Pleas The Trial The Decision Sentencing |
| Name the six constitutional and two informal duties of the President. | commander in chief chief executive chief administrator chief legislator chief diplomat chief of state chief of party chief citizen |
| What is the term and salary of the President? What is/are some of the "non-salaried" compensation the President receives? Name five things | $400,000 per year air force one camp david free medical/dental/health care white house government pays for expenses |
| Name the three Constitutional qualifications to be President. | natural-born citizen of the United States at least 35 years of age lived in the US for 14 years |
| What are four other informal qualifications one must possess to run for the Presidency? | Prior experience in government -Must have access to large sums of money -Must have relatively moderate political beliefs -Personal characteristics vary |
| What are the two Constitutional responsibilities of the Vice-President? | -President of the Senate -Helps decide on the issue of presidential disability |
| How was the election of 1800 significant to the Electoral College in the United States? | Lead to the 12th amendments and changed all the laws for electing the presidents and vice presidents. |
| How many presidential electors are there total? How many must a candidate get to win the presidency? | 538 electors 270 to win |
| What is a "faithless elector?" How common have they been in American politics? | An elector who votes for not what the state wants. 9 times |
| What are 3 problems (as discussed in class) with the Electoral College today? | - "Winner Take All" system (popular vote winner can lose the White House) Third Party Candidates could force election by the house Election by the House (each state gets 1 vote, need 26 or more to be elected) |
| What are 3 proposed changes (as discussed in class) to the Electoral College system? | -Proportional plan (60% pop vote = 60% electoral college vote) -District plan (1 electoral cote for each congressional district won, +2 electoral votes for each state won) -Direct popular election (most votes wins) |
| What are at least 4 factors that come into play when determining who will serve as a Cabinet member? | -Appointee should have a familiar background with the area in which they will head (Tom Vilsack) -Also necessary to satisfy special interest groups (Secretary of Labor should be acceptable to labor groups/unions) -Need high level administrators skills/ expertise -Diversity is increasingly important |
| Why do some nominees turn down Cabinet positions? | They could make more money doing something else. |
| What is the background of a typical Cabinet member? | -College graduates, usually w/ advanced degrees -Leaders in their specific (Cabinet related) fields |
| Describe the different relationships that various presidents have had with their Cabinet members. | -Some presidents have a complicated relationship with their Cabinet (Lyndon B. Johnson), or none at all (Nixon) |
| What are the five functions of political parties in the United States? | -Informer/Stimulator -Governmental -Watchdog -Seal of Approval -Nominating |
| What are the four reasons for a two party system in American government? | -Historical Bias -Electoral System -American Ideological Census -Force of Tradition |
| What are the three roles that minor parties play in U.S. government? | Spolier Innovator Critic |
| What is one major problem that occurs as a result of a multiparty system? | -Instability in the government is one major problem |
| Name and give an example of the four types of minor political parties in the United States. | -Single-Issue Parties ex. Free Soil Party -Ideological Parties ex. Libertarian Party -Splinter Parties ex. Bull Moose Party -Economic Protest Parties ex. Greenback Party |
| Name three segments of the United States population who tend to vote Democratic, and three segments of the United States population who tend to vote Republican. | Democratic African-Americans Catholics Jews Union Members People with lower incomes Republicans White Males Protestants People in the business community People with higher incomes |
| What are the two major political parties in the United States? | -Democrats -Republicans |
| Name the five duties held by each member of Congress. | -Politician -Serve Constituents -Represent Constitutes -Committee Members -Legislatures |
| Know the difference between a session and a term of Congress. | A session is for two years and there is two terms per session |
| What are the three Constitutional qualifications and one informal qualification required of potential members of the House of Representatives? | -Representatives must be at least 25 years old, -be a citizen of the U.S. for at least 7 years, -live in the state they wish to represent -live in the district they wish to represent |
| What are the three Constitutional qualifications required of potential members of the Senate? | -Senators must be at least 30 years old, -be a citizen of the U.S. for at least 9 years -live in the state they wish to represent |
| Be able to list the five representatives and two Senators from the state of Iowa who serve in the United States Congress. Also, be able to state what political party each belongs to, as well as stating the district each representative is elected from. | Bruce Braley- District 1- Democrat David Loebsack- District 2- Democrat Leonard Boswell- District 3- Democrat Thomas Latham- District 4- Republican Steve King- District 5- Republican Charles Grassley-Republican Thomas Harkin- Democrat |
| How long are Senators and Representatives terms of office? | Senators: 6 year terms Representatives: 2 year terms |
| What is the approximate salaried compensation of Congressional members? Also, what are some of the other non-salaried benefits that come with the job? Be sure to name at least four. | -Salary of $174,000 for all members of the House and Senate -Stationary -Gymnasium -Postage for official business -medical clinic |
| How many members serve in the House of Representatives? In the Senate? In Congress total? | 100 in Senate 435 in the House 535 members total |
| What can be said about the demographics of Congress? In other words, what is the typical member of Congress like? | -Most are extraordinarily well educated -Most are white, middle aged (over 50), married, and originally from the state they represent -Not really reflective of the racial/gender/socioeconomic makeup of the U.S. |
| What can be said about incumbents running for reelection in Congress? What are three reasons why this is the case? | -Almost all incumbents(already in office) win reelection if they want it (90%) -Easier to raise campaign funds -Better known to voters -Use their positions to help constituents |
| Who currently serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives? What political party and state does this person belong to? | John Boehner-Republican-Ohio |
| Who serves as President of the Senate? | The Vice President? --Joe Biden |
| What are the four basic types of committees that are present in Congress? | Conference Standing Select Joint |
| Briefly describe what the role of each of the following Congressional support agencies is | The Library of Congress Congressional Budget Office -Provides economic date to Congress -The research library for Congress -Only members of Congress are allowed to check out books. General Accounting Office Government Printing Office -Audits and evaluates the other offices -prints documents produced by and for the federal government |
| Be able to identify the 3 components of the "Lemon Test." | Can't have entanglement with government and religion Clear, secular, non religious purpose Can't help or further religion |
| What three tests does the Supreme Court use to set limits on free speech? | Clear and present danger rule Preferred position doctrine Band Tendency Doctrine |
| What types of speech does the First Amendment not protect? | Fighting Words Defamatory Speech Seditious Speech Student Speech |
| Who establishes standards of indecency? | Local Community Governments |
| What is tough to monitor regarding the Internet and decency? | You can't stop what people look at You can't stop what people post |
| What two principles were established by the DeJonge decision? | Due process clause protects freedom of assembly from state and local governments Freedom of assemble is just as important as the first amendment freedoms |
| What percentage of Americans identify themselves with one particular religion? | 90% |
| Give four examples of how religion is intertwined with people's lives on a daily basis even if they are not religious themselves. (Examples should include military chaplains) | Money 'In God We Trust' Pledge of Allegience Congress (start session with prayer) Military (has priests for people) |
| The Supreme Court has never permitted religious freedom to justify any behavior, especially when religious practices conflict with criminal laws. | Fact |
| Two of the most discussed cases involving the free exercise clause concerned whether or not children could be forced to salute the American flag. | Fact |
| What is the most common form of speech? | Pure Speech |
| Another term for symbolic speech is __________. | Expressive Conduct |
| Know the six parts of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. | -Establish Justice -Ensure Domestic Tranquility -Form a more perfect Union -Provide for the common defence -Promote the general Welfare -Secure the Blessings of Liberty |
| Know the topic of each of the seven articles of the Constitution. | -Article I -- Legislative Branch -Article II -- Executive Branch -Article III -- Judicial Branch -Article IV -- Relationship of states/national government -Article V -- Amending of the Constitution -Article VI -- Supremacy Clause -Article VII -- Ratification Procedure |
| What are the six major principles of the U.S. Constitution? | Popular Sovereignty Federalism Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Judicial Review Limited Government |
| List at least five specific powers of the President as mentioned in Article II, Sections 2-3 of the U.S. Constitution. | -Being Commander in Chief -Pardoning people of federal crimes -Making treaties -Calling Congress into special session -Ensures that the laws Congress passes are "faithfully executed" |
| What are the five ways in which the Constitution can be informally amended? | -Court Decisions-decisions by the Supreme Court -Party Practices-political parties -Custom and Usage -Basic Legislation-legislation by Congress -Executive Action-actions by the President |
| Know the ways in which the Constitution can be formally amended. | -Three-fourths of the states to ratify the Amendment -Each state to call a convention and three-fourths of the convention to approve it |
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