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Fall 2015 Final Exam Review
Answers are in italics
Matching: Make sure you know not just the text book definition but also how each key term can be applied to our government.
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majority rule - parties representing the majority make most laws
mixed economy - combines elements of capitalism and socialism
federal system - national and state governments share power
State - community with organized government in a territory
communist state - all economic decisions made by the government
social contract theory - states exist to serve their people
Voting - right and responsibility of citizenship
Monarchy - one person inherits throne and heads the state
economic assistance - food stamps or rent subsidies
confederacy - union of sovereign states with a weak central power; abandoned by U.S. in favor of federal system with
strong central power
rule of law - consistent enforcement of laws; allows anyone who breaks the law to be held accountable
checks and balances - functions that allow different branches of government to limit the power of other branches
Constitution - establishes the basic structure of government and rights of the people; serves as the supreme law for a
country
whip - persuades members of their party to vote a certain way on bills
quorum - number of members needed to take an official legislative action
caucus - closed meeting used by members of a party to make decisions
majority leader - assists the Speaker in planning the legislative program of the party
Bill of Rights - first 10 amendments, which identify freedoms of citizens
Amendments - changes to the original Constitution
Federalism - power is divided between national and state governments
enumerated powers - powers that are listed by number in the Constitution
President - head of the federal executive branch
federal courts - body of the judicial branch
governor - head of the state executive branch
First Amendment - includes right to free speech
Second Amendment - includes right to bear arms
judicial review - courts’ ability to interpret the Constitution and overturn laws
Executive power - given by Founders; includes veto power, military command
Shadow war - may use private military and drones; no approval by Congress
Pardon - releases a person from legal punishment
Pocket veto - no action required, and the bill does not become law
Party leader - role includes rewarding loyal party members with positions
Judicial appointment - presidential power; subject to approval by Congress
Executive privilege - claimed by president; ability to withhold information negotiated by Wilson to end WWI; not
approved by Congress
Treaty of Versailles - negotiated by Wilson to end WWI; not approved by Congress
Executive order - policy with the force of law; needs no approval by Congress
Annual budget - focuses on presidential economic priorities; sent to Congress
True/False: make sure you know even the smallest detail. Be able to relate to a scenario.
38. What are the constitutional qualifications needed to be the President of the United States? natural born citizen,
attained to the age of thirty-five years, and fourteen years a resident within the United States.
39. List the powers of the Executive branch. Being able to veto, or reject, a proposal for a law, Appoint federal posts, such as
members of government agencies, Negotiate foreign treaties with other countries, Appoint federal judges, Grant pardons,
or forgiveness, for a crime
Multiple Choice: Know not only the definition but also how you could apply it to our government.
40. What principals does the 10th amendment support? Federalism
41. What was the Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison? stripped the President of his power to appoint federal
judges
42. What type of authority is established by using “We the People” in the Constitution? popular sovereignty
43. In a democracy, who does the supreme authority belong to? people
44. Why did America to choose a modern democracy as its form of government? Challenged the idea that those of royal
birth have absolute authority to rule
45. Where does the largest source of revenue for the US Government come from? income taxes
46. List the features of a free enterprise system. emphasis on private ownership, competition, and profit
47. What is the purpose of the first ten amendments? guarantee the rights of individuals
48. What does separation of powers look like? power is distributed among three independent branches of government
49. List the checks and balances between each branch of the government.
Legislative Branch
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Checks on the Executive
o Impeachment power (House)
o Senate approves treaties and ambassadors
o Trial of impeachments (Senate)
o Approval of replacement Vice President
o Selection of the President (House) and
o Power to declare war
Vice President (Senate) in the case of no
o Power to enact taxes and allocate funds
majority of electoral votes
o President must, from time-to-time, deliver a State of the
o May override Presidential vetoes
Union address
o Senate approves departmental
appointments
Checks on the Judiciary
o Senate approves federal judges
o Power to set courts inferior to the Supreme Court
o Impeachment power (House)
o Power to set jurisdiction of courts
o Trial of impeachments (Senate)
o Power to alter the size of the Supreme Court
o Power to initiate constitutional
amendments
Checks on the Legislature - because it is bicameral, the Legislative branch has a degree of self-checking.
o Bills must be passed by both houses of Congress
o House must originate revenue bills
o Neither house may adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other house
o All journals are to be published
Executive Branch
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Checks on the Legislature
o Veto power
o Vice President is President of the Senate
o Commander in chief of the military
o Recess appointments
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Emergency calling into session of one or both houses of
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May force adjournment when both houses cannot agree on
adjournment
Compensation cannot be diminished
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Checks on the Judiciary
o Power to appoint judges
o Pardon power
Checks on the Executive
o Vice President and Cabinet can vote that the President is unable to discharge his duties
Judicial Branch
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Checks on the Legislature
o Judicial review
o Compensation cannot be diminished
o Seats are held on good behavior
Checks on the Executive
o Judicial review
o Chief Justice sits as President of the Senate during presidential impeachment
50. What was the Great Compromise? What dispute did it settle? how small and large states would be represented in
Congress
51. What amendments were initially drafted to ensure equality for African Americans? What do they ensure?
a. 13th Amendment: Abolished slavery
b. 14th Amendment: granted citizenship to all persons "born or naturalized in the United States," including former
slaves, and provided all citizens with “equal protection under the laws,”
c. 15th Amendment: prohibited states from disenfranchising voters “on account of race, color, or previous condition
of servitude.”
52. Describe the rights of the 1st amendment. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
53. Why does a two party system exist in America? conflicts about the Constitution created opposing viewpoints
54. How have minor parties contributed to US Politics? causing major parties to adopt their ideas
55. Describe the membership of both the House and the Senate? How many representatives for each state and why? How
are they chosen? What is the difference between the House and Senate?
a. Qualifications:
House of Representatives
25 years of age
A citizen of the United States for at least 7 years
At the time of election, be a resident of the state
U.S. Senate
30 years of age
A citizen of the United States for 9 years
At the time of election, be a resident of the state
b. How Many: There are a total of 535 Members of Congress. 100 serve in the U.S. Senate and 435 serve in the U.S.
House of Representatives.
c. How are they chosen: There are a total of 535 Members of Congress. 100 serve in the U.S. Senate and 435 serve in
the U.S. House of Representatives.
d. Difference: In the House of Representatives, the majority party holds significant power to draft chamber rules
and schedule bills to reach the floor for debate and voting. In most cases, House rules will limit debate so that
important legislation can be passed during one legislative business day. In the Senate however, the majority has
the power to schedule when various bills come to the floor for voting but a single Senator can slow legislation
from coming to the floor for a vote. Since debate in the Senate is not concluded until 60 senators vote for a
cloture motion to approve a bill for consideration, the majority must also coordinate with the minority part to
set the rules for debate on legislation. Under this system, legislation can be debated for one or two weeks on the
Senate floor alone.
56. What are reserved powers? who has them? Powers not expressly granted to the federal government and therefore reside
with the states
57. What is bicameralism? Why was it preferred by the famers? Two houses, it allowed for fair and equal representation of
the states at the national level
58. Who resides over the senate? Vice President and in his absence the President pro Tempore
59. Why does Congress create committees? divide the workload
60. What is a filibuster? What is its purpose? prevent action on a bill
61. How does a bill become a law? Introduced by a member to one of the Houses Committee review of bill, either holds,
recommends or sends on to House of reps  if passed the on to Senate  if passed on to president to either sign and pass
or veto
62. How are electoral votes distributed to each state? Each State is allocated a number of Electors equal to the number of its
U.S. Senators (always 2) plus the number of its U.S. Representatives
63. What is the process for having an amendment added to the Constitution? The Constitution provides that an amendment
may be proposed either by the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the
Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures.
64. How do you become a Supreme Court judge? For how long? How many? Presidential appointment, life term, 9 justices
65. What powers does Congress have? declare war and levy taxes, necessary and proper clause, Impeach a federal official,
Approve presidential appointments to key federal offices, Confirm all federal judicial appointments, Ratify treaties, Try
impeached officials
66. Miranda v. Arizona refers to what amendment? Describe the rights outlined in that amendment. The Fourth
Amendment, protects against unreasonable search & seizure without a warrant or probable cause and arbitrary arrests
67. What was the outcome of Roe v. Wade? The right to privacy has been applied to the protection of women’s access to an
abortion
68. Describe the rights listed in the 2nd amendment. A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed
69. Describe the rights in the 6th amendment. guarantees the rights of criminal defendants, including the right to a public
trial without unnecessary delay, the right to a lawyer, the right to an impartial jury, and the right to know who your
accusers are and the nature of the charges and evidence against you.
70. What are the qualification to vote in the US? A U.S. citizen. At least 18 years old by the general election. A resident of
your precinct at least 30 days prior to Election Day.
71. What Article of the Constitution can you find the blueprint for the Executive branch? Article 2
72. What is the difference between the popular vote and the Electoral Vote? What is the Electoral College? How many
electoral votes are there? What if they don’t get the number of needed electoral votes? the popular vote simply means
an aggregate of all voters from all states in America. The electoral vote is the choice expressed collectively by the electors
from each state, which determines the winner of elections for president and vice president in the US, 538 total, needs 270
to win. If no candidate receives a majority of Electoral votes, the House of Representatives elects the President from the 3
Presidential candidates who received the most Electoral votes. Each state delegation has one vote.
73. How many terms can the president serve? Who served more than that? 2 terms (8 years), Roosevelt
74. What serves as the model ethical law in the US? 10 commandments
75. What system of law did early colonists depend on? English common Law
76. Define the three different opinions of the court. Dissenting (disagree with decision of the court), Majority (decision of
the court), Concurring (agree with majority but for a different reason)
77. What is a court precedent? How is it created? Definition: an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or
guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances. Created when an appels court makes a decision that lower
courts must follow
78. Define plaintiff and defendant. In a civil trail the party accusing someone of causing harm is the plaintiff, the person
accused of causing the harm is the defendant.
79. What is the role of a jury during a trial? to give a verdict based on the evidence presented
80. What is a court martial? Where do they occur? a judicial court for trying members of the armed services accused of
offenses against military law, Military courts
81. How many federal court of appeals are there? 12