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71 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
define Articles of Confederation
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First constitution of the United States, adopted during the last stages of the revolutionary war where the power was in the states not central gov.
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Define Anti-Federalists
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Opponents of the constitution during the fight over ratification
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Define Confederation
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A loose association of states or territorial divisions in which very little power is lodged in the central government
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Define Constitution
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the basic framework of law that prescribes how government is to be organized, how decisions are to be made, and what powers and responsibilities it shall have.
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Define Connecticut Compromise
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Called the great compromise, between new jersey and Virginia creating the two houses bases on both population and equal state representation
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Define Checks and Balances
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principle that the gov. power shall be divided and that the fragments should balance and check each other to prevent tyranny.
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Define Electoral College
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elected representatives of the states whose votes formally elect the president of the united states
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Define the Elastic Clause
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Article 1 section 8 also called the necessary and proper clause give congress to pass whatever laws needed to do its job
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Define the Bill of Rights
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the first 10 amendments of the constitution, pertaining to the protection of basic liberties
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Define Federal
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Describing a system of which significant governmental powers are divided between a central government and smaller territorial units, such as states
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Define Federalists
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proponents of the constitution during the ratification fight, also the political party of hamiliton, washington and adams
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Define Separation of Powers
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distribution of powers amond the legislatvie, executive and judicial branches
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Define New Jersey Plan
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proposal by the smaller states at the constitutional convention to create a legislature with equal representation by state not population
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Define Social contract
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ideology where a government is not legal unless voted on by the citizens
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Define Tyranny
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a government that systematically violates the rights of its citizens
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Define supremacy clause
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section 6 that states that itself and the laws of the US take precedence over state
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Define Unicameral
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Legislative body with a single chamber
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Define Virginia Plan
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proposed by the large states at the const. convention to create a leg. based on population of states
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Define bicameral
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a legislative body comprising of 2 houses or chambers
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Define Constituent
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a citizen who lives in the district of the elected official
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define Constituency
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district of a legislator
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Define Casework
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services performed by members of congress for constituents
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Define Delegate
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When legislator acts on behalf of constituents
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Define Enumerated Powers
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powers of the federal government specifically mentioned in the constitution
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Define Elastic Clause/Implied Powers
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Gives congress the ability to make whatever laws needed in order to do their job
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Define Filibuster
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Stall tactic in the senate used to talk a bill to death
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Define Franking Privilege
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public subsidization of mail from the members of congress to their constituents
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Define Gerrymandering
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redrawing of district lines to give that party an advantage
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Define Hopper
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The box in the house of representative in which proposed bills are placed.
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Acquisition by Capture
Capture of Wild Animals |
If you catch it, you keep it – “first in time rule” applies.
General Rule: a person who first captures otherwise unowned resources is entitled to the resources. If wild animals are captured the belong to captor. Capture is required, pursuit alone is not enough. |
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Define majority-minority districts
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districts redrawn to give minorities the majority vote
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Define Oversitght
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congressional power to oversee the executive branch and personel to make sure they conform to federal rules
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Define Pocket Veto
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bill is rejected if the president takes no action for 10 days
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Define Partisan
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committed member of a party seeing things only from the single party's view
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Define Pork
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projects meant to bring jobs and credit to the constituency of a congressman
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Define Redistricting
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redrawing the district lines to create equal population inside them
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Define Reciprocity
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deferral by members of congress to the judgment of subject-matter specialists, mainly on minor bills
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Define Standing Committee
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relatively permanent congressional committees that address specific areas of legislation
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Define Seniority
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principle that one attains a position on length of service
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Define Trustee
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when a legislature votes according to what he thinks is best, not his constituents
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Define Veto
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presidential disapproval of a bill that has been passed by both house and senate, can be overridden with a 2/3 vote in both houses
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Define whip
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party sub leader who rounds up votes for bills and checks for votes before the actual vote
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Define Habeas Corpus
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legal doctrine that a person who is arrested must have a timely hearing before a judge
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Define Executive Order
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a rule put in place by president that has the authority of law during his term
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Define Executive Agreement
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Presidents agreement with another country that has the force of law like a treaty but without the backing of the senate
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Define Divided Government
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When the two houses of the legislative branch are controlled by apposing parties
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Define Judicial Review
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Ability of judicial branch to decide if actions by other branches are unconstitutional
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Define Appellate Courts
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courts that hear cases on appeal from other courts
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Define Briefs
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documents setting out the arguments in legal cases, prepared by attorneys and given to the court
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Define Concurring Opinion
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agreeing with the opinion but for different reasons
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Define Dissenting opinion
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disagreeing with the majority
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Define Grand Juries
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groups of citizens who decide whether there is sufficient evidence to bring an indictment against the accused
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Define opinion
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explanation of the majority's reasoning that accompanies a court decision
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Define opinion of the court
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majority opinion that accompanies supreme court decision
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Define original jurisdiction
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the ability of a court to see a particular type of case first
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Define plaintiff
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one who brings suit in a court
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Define Precedents
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Rulings by courts that guide judicial reasoning in subsequent cases.
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Define Standing
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authority to bring legal action because one is directly affected by the issue at hand
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Define Test Case
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a case brought to force the constitutionality of some law
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What were the three themes of the Declaration of Independence
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Social Contract theory, Human right, that the gov was created to protect those rights
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Articles of the confederation
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Was the joining of the states but not powerfull, states could pretty much do what they wanted
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What were the 5 shortcoming of the Articles of the confederation
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would not finance its own activities, could not defen americas interest in foreign affairs, states had power to veto central gov., couldnt deal with foriegn policy, couldnt prevent commercial battles
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How did the founders stop tyranny
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elected officials, limited government, limiting influence of majority by making road blocks
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What is republicanism
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advocating limited government to protect against tyranny
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Why were founders worried
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conventions to keep tabs on legislature were being created in states, unicameral system, property rights threatened
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What are the congressional powers
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Enumerated, Implied
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what were the constraints on congress
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republicanism, bicameralism, prohibited bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, suspension of writs of habeas corpus, granting titles of nobility
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What are the qualifications for Texas Governor
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30, live in texas 5 years, its a 4 year term
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Requirements to become president
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resident for 14 years, naturally born citizen, 35
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What are the roles of the president
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Commander and Chief, Chief Executive, Chief of State, Foreign Policy Leader, Legislative Leader, Party Leader
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What is significant about Marbury vs Madison
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it gave the judicial branch the power of Judicial Review
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