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U.S. Government Unit 3 Review

Terms in this set (64)

Define judicial activism:
An effort by judges to take an active role in policymaking by overturning laws relatively often.
The Warren Court was known for
Its active defense of the rights of people accused of crimes.
Define judicial restraint:
An effort by judges to avoid overturning laws and to leave policymaking up to the other two branches of government.
The Rehnquist Court has made a number of important decisions that
Limit the federal government's authority over the states.
What are two ways that a Supreme Court can be overturned?
By an amendment that changes, removes, or adds a constitutional principle. Also by a later court decision.
Why was "separate but equal" an ineffective way to guarantee the Fourteen Amendment
Because the court ruled that the Louisiana law did not violate the 14th amendment as long as the cars for blacks and whites were of equal quality.
What is affirmative action?
Steps to counteract effects of past racial discrimination and discrimination against women.
What are political parties, and why are they important to American democracy?
An organization of citizens who wish to influence government by getting their members elected to office. Party members share similar ideas about what they want the government to do.
Select candidates:
Candidates are nominated is non-partisan candidate don't declare themselves to be members of political party. If party soon candidates for those offices run as members of political parties.
Set goals:
Each party has a platform. The platform is made up of planks. These planks are often turned into government programs, by party members.
Provide leadership
Parties help to provide day-to-day leadership in government. Leadership is necessary to make the laws and carry out the programs that citizens want.
Operate as "watch dogs"
The party not in power makes sure that the public knows when the party in power is not living up to its promises.
Three ways that political parties help citizens are by:
Citizens voice in government, informing citizens, and involving citizens.
________ founded the modern Democratic Party in ____, and they then had the support of slave plantation owners,_______ and _______.
Andrew Jackson founded the modern democracy party in 1828, and they then had the support of slave plantation owners, immigrant workers and farmers.
The Republican Party founded in ____ to replace the _____ Party. It was supported by _________ and _____.The first Republican president was ______.
The Republican Party founded in 1854 to replace the Whigs Party. It was supported by groups opposed to slavery and the North. The first Republican president was Abraham Lincoln.
How do third parties form?
By supporting a cause or idea, by backing a candidate
How can third parties impact elections.
A third party candidate can change the outcome of an election by drawing voters away from the main party. They can also bring up new ideas or pressing for action on certain users.
Democratic Party
Believes that the federal government should take responsibility for many social programs such as aid to the poor.
Republican Party
Generally supports reducing the power of federal government. Republicans believe that state and local government's as well as non-government organizations, should take more responsibility for social programs.
Party strength depends upon these elements:
Both parties are similar in the way they are set up. both parties have local, state, and national organizations.
Self-nomination:
The declaring that you are running for office.
Write-in candidates:
Asks voters to write his or her name on the ballot.
Caucus:
A meeting of party leaders to discuss issues or choose candidates.
Direct primary
An election in which members of a political party choose candidates to run for office in the name of the party
What is the difference between a closed primary and an open primary?
Voters registered as independent cannot vote in a closed primary.
Paying for a primary campaign
In the presidential primaries, candidates raise much of their money from individuals.
Choosing delegates:
Are chosen through a presidential preference, primary election, or through a state wide caucus or convention process.
National Conventions:
The delegate and discuss the candidates, listen to speeches, vote on the nominations, and hammer out the party platforms. Another task of the national convention is to approve the party platform.
Define general election:
Voters make final decisions about candidates and issues.
What is registration, and why is it a requirement to vote?
The process of signing up to be a voter. It was meant to stop voter fraud, such as the same person voting more than once.
Federal congressional and presidential elections are always held on __________________, while primary and local elections are held _________________.
Federal congressional and presidential elections are always held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, while primary and local elections are held at any time, mostly in Spring.
All registered voters are ________ to vote at ______________.
All registered voters are assigned to vote at a polling place near where you live.
What can you do if you will not be able to get to the polling place on Election Day?
Ask for an absentee ballot.
How can your vote matter, even if your candidate or initiative loses?
Even if your candidate loses, your vote still matters. By casting your vote, you perform an important civic duty.
Candidates for office use four ways to get your attention. They are:
(1) posters,bumper stickers, & leaflets (2) personal appearances, (3) direct mail, (4) advertisements in the media
What are interest groups, and how are they important to the election process?
Groups of people who work together for similar interests or goals. An interest group works to convince senators & representatives to support bills that help its members & to oppose bills that hurt them.
What is propaganda, and what is its purpose?
A message that is meant to influence people's ideas, opinions, or actions in a certain way.
Identify and define the six techniques of propaganda that candidates use:
1: glittering generalities- use words & phrases that sound appealing. 2: cars stacking- use only those facts that support your argument. 3: plain folks- tell voters that you are just like them. 4: name calling- attach negative labels to your opponent. 5: bandwagon- appeals to desire to follow the crowd. 6: transfer- connect yourself to a respected person, group, or symbol.
Define initiative and explain the process by which an initiative can become law.
The process by which citizens gather signatures on a petition. Usually 5-10 percent of voters, the proposed law is put to a vote in a statewide election.
Proposition 13 (Jarvis-Gann initiative)
Decreased property taxes by assessing property values at their 1975 value & restricted-annual increases of real propert to an inflation factor, not to exceed 2% per year.
Proposition 187
Alain known as the save our state (SOS) initiative. A 1994 ballot initiative to establish a state-run citizenship screening system & prohibit illegal aliens from using things.
Proposition 209
California civil rights initiative (CCRI). Upon approval in Nov 1996, amended the state constitution to prohibit state governmental institutions.
Proposition 215
California law concerning the use of medical cannabis
Define referendum
The process by which a law proposed or passed by a state legislature is referred to the voters to approve or reject.
To benefits of the initiative and referendum process are that they allowed citizens to _______ and _________
Follow indictments and convictions of lawmaking
Define recall and how it is important to the electoral process.
A process for removing elected officials from office. The recall is an important way that citizens can directly influence state governments.
Define census, and explain how it affects your stats representation in the House of Representatives?
An official count of the population made every ten years to find out how many representatives each state should have.
By law, all congressional districts must:
Have about the same number of people.
How can the redrawing of congressional districts lead to controversy within state governments?
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What is the Electoral College, and how does it work?
The president is chosen not by a vote of the people, but by the electoral votes. Each state has the same number of electors as it has members of congress.
What is a team of electors, and how do a political party's electors earn the right to vote in the Electoral College?
Electors that are chosen by the political parties in each state. When voters cast their ballots in favor or a presidential candidate. When a candidate wins the popular vote in a state, he or she wins the states electoral votes.
How is the number electoral votes per state determined?
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When is the electoral vote held?
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Are electors required to vote for the candidate to whom they are pledged?
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A presidential candidate needs ________ electoral votes to win.
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Three times in history, the winning presidential candidate received fewer popular votes but more electoral votes. Other than Rutherford B. Hayes and George W. Bush who was the other winning President to win the electoral vote but not the popular vote?
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The fewest number of states you must win to clinch the 270 electoral votes:
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Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
Homer Plessy, a black man who refused to leave a "whites only" railroad car. For more than 50 years after the decision, this "separate but equal" standard was accepted as a jurisdiction for laws that segregated blacks from whites.
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) about? What did the Supreme Court decide? How did this decision impact American society?
Linda Brown only lived 7 blocks from a school for white children, but by law had to attend a school for black children 21 blocks away.
Furman v. Georgia
Death penalty cases.
Challenged the 8th amendment
Rose v. Wade
A Texas woman challenged a state law forbidding termination of pregnancy
Challenged 9th amendment.
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