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Four characteristics of a state:
- - Population
- - Territory
- - Sovereignty
- - Government
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Rule of Law
Concept that holds that government and its officers are always subject to the law.
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Veto
Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legistlature.
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Federalism
Division of power between a central government and several regional governments.
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How many Amendments to the Constitution are there?
27
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What are the first 10 amendments called?
Bill of Rights
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Radicals
Seen as the far left, views can be violent.
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Liberals
- - Also known as Democrats
- - Government should be actively involved to promote social welfare.
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Conservatives
- - Also known as Republicans
- - Keep the status quo, government should be limited in what they control.
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Reactionaries
Repress government power.
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Party in Power
Party that controls the executive branch of the government.
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Party out of Power
- - "the loyal opposition"
- - Opposed to the party in power but loyal to the people/nation.
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Electoral System
Promotes existence of parties.
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Sociological Factors Affecting the Vote:
- - Income/Occupation
- - Education
- - Gender/Age
- - Religion
- - Ethnicity
- - Geography
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Exit Poll
- - Conducted on election day.
- - Specially trained interviewers stationed at the exists of the polls.
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Function/Role of interest groups
- Seek to influence the making and content of public policies (laws).
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Lobbyists
Their major task is to work for those matters that benefit their clients and against those that may harm them.
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Formal Qualifications of President
(Age, Term, Years a Citizen)
- - Age: at least 35 years old
- - Term Limit: two full terms (eight years) (four years each)
- - Years a citizen: a natural born citizen and a resident in the US for 14 years.
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Top four advisory cabinets
- 1. State Department
- 2. Justice Department
- 3. Treasury Department
- 4. Defense Department
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The next four people in line after the President.
- 1. Vice President
- 2. Speaker of the House
- 3. President pro tempore of the Senate
- 4. Secretary of State
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Highest ranking cabinet member.
Secretary of State
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Session of Congress
Period of time during which congress assembles and conducts business.
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Term of Congress
Eash term lasts 2 years
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Mid-term Elections (off year elections)
The even year that a president is not elected.
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Single Member District
Electoral district where one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office.
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Constituencies
The people and interests the senators represent.
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Who is in charge of the House of Representives?
Speaker of the House
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Who is in charge of the Senate?
Vice President
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How many member are in the House of Representatives?
435
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How many members are in the Senate?
100
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How often are elections held for the House of Representatives?
All up for election every 2 years.
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How often are elections held for the Senate?
1/3 elected every 2 years.
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Senate Qualifications
(Age, Citizenship, Inhabitance)
- - At least 30 years old
- - A citizen of the US for at least nine years.
- - An inhabitant of the State which they are elected.
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House of Representative Qualifications
- - At least 25 years old
- - A citizen of the US for at least seven years.
- - An inhabitant of the State which they are elected.
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Electoral College Defects:
- - Popular vote does not always win Presidency.
- - Constitution doesn't require electors to vote according to popular vote.
- - Contest might be decided in the House of Representatives.
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How a bill becomes a law:
Bill originates -> Standing Committee -> Sub-Committee -> Full Committee -> HoR Rules Committee -> Floor for debate/vote --> Conference Committee (works out differences) -> Passes: President --> one of the choices: Sign it into law, veto, pocket veto, goes into law with no signature.
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Conference Committee
Temporary joint committee created to reconcile any differences between the two houses' versions of a bill.
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Standing Committee
Permanent committee in a legislative body to which bills in a specified subject-matter area are referred.
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Reapportionment
Redistribute the seats in the House after each cencus.
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Judicial Review
The power to decide the constitutionality of an act of government.
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How many Supreme Court Justices are there?
9
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How long do S.C.J. serve.
For life/retirement
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Who appoits/approves S.C.J.?
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What is the only way they can be removed against their own will?
- - Impeachment
- - House presents, Senate reviews
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1st Amendment
Freedom of religion
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14th Amendment and the clause included.
- - Guarantees citizenship, due process and equal protection under the law.
- - Due Process Clause: no state shall deny a person of their basic rights.
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Sedition
The crime of attempting to overthrow the government.
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Libel
False and malicious use of printed words.
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Slander
False and malicious use of spoken words.
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Prior Restraint
Government cannot stop something before its published.
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Symbolic Speech
Expression by conduct; communicating ideas through facial expressions, body language, or by carriying a sign/wearing an arm band.
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