Theory behind US
Government?
Social Contract
When People are the
source of Power?
Popular Sovereignty
A Government based
upon rule of law?
Limited Government
Division of power
between State and
National Government?
Federal Government
Rule by the
Many?
Democracy
Rule by one or a
Few?
Dictatorship
Two Types of
Democracy
•Direct
•Indirect
(representatives)
What part of the
Constitution expresses
popular sovereignty?
Preamble
Three Branches of
Government?
•Legislative (make)
•Executive
(enforce)
•Judicial (interpret)
What keeps branches
from becoming too
powerful?
• Separation of Powers
• Checks and Balances
Separation of Powers
• Legislative
• Executive
• Judicial
Powers given only to
National Government
Exclusive Powers
(coin money, declare
war)
These powers create most
conflict between St. and
Nat. Government.
Implied Powers
(not expressly written in
the Constitution)
Electoral Votes
Needed
270
When are electoral
votes cast?
December of election
year--counted in
January.
Steps to become
President
• Primary/Caucus
• National Conventions
• General Election
• Electoral Vote
Total # of Electors?
538
Minimum electors
from each State?
3
(two senators + # of
representatives)
A Party Election
is called what?
Primary
Purpose of National
Convention?
•Nominate
Pres./VP.
Candidates
•Choose Party
Platform
A simple majority?
50% + 1
PARTY MEETINGS ARE
CALLED?
CAUCUSES
When the candidate
receives the majority of
the popular vote in a state?
Winner-take-all
Who runs most
campaigns?
Candidate and
his/her staff
What happens if no one
wins enough electoral
votes?
•The House selects
President
•The Senate selects
Vice President
T/F Popular vote
winner can lose
election
• Electoral Vote winner,
wins election-candidates must win in
states that have most
electoral votes
Voting Requirements in
Texas
• 18 years old, US
citizen
• registered 30 days
prior to election
• resident of state and
county
Number of Texas
Electors
34
(2 Senators + 32
Representatives)
An example of a
Presidential check on
Congress
• Veto
• Pocket Veto
Congressional checks on
President
• override veto (2/3
vote)
• Senate refuses to
ratify an presidential
nominee or a treaty
Essays written to
encourage ratification
of the Constitution
Federalist Papers
The Ultimate Umpire?
Supreme Court
Supreme Court check on
Congress and the
President
Judicial Review
The Elastic Clause
Necessary and Proper
Clause that supports
Implied Powers of our
government
Formal Amendment
Process
• Proposal (by Congress)
• Ratification (by States)
How are most changes in
our Government made?
Informally--by custom
and tradition; political
party practices;
Supreme Ct. decisions
and acts of Congress
and the President
The two Major
Political Parties
•Democratic Party
•Republican Party
Roles of Minor Parties
• Critics
• Innovators
• Spoilers
Role of Party “out of
power”
Watchdog
An Organization with a
focused opinion on a single
topic
Special Interest
Group
One Trend in Voting
Split Ticket Voting
Main Source of Political
Information
Television
This group favors
extreme change
Radicals
This group believes
government should be
active in change
Liberals
Motto of Liberals
• Freedom over Order
• Equality over Economic
Freedom
This groups favors
“status quo”
Conservatives
Conservative Motto
•Order over
Freedom
•Eco. Freedom over
Equality
A belief that women are
more likely to favor Dem.
over Rep.
Gender Gap
Special Interest Group
that is opposed to gun
control
NRA
Pork Barrel Politics
When members of
Congress get federal
funds for projects in
their own districts
Drawing of district lines
to favor the party or race
in power
Gerrymandering
Talking a Bill to
Death
Filibuster
Taking care of
constituents’ needs
Casework
Political Arms of special interest
groups used to raise campaign
money
PACs
Committee used to settle
differences of the two
houses
Conference Committee
What type of bill
must start in the
House of Rep.?
Money Bills
Which house is based
on population?
House of
Representatives
How many members
are in the House of
Representatives?
435
Which house has equal
representation?
Senate
This means “two
houses”
Bicameralism
Minimum # or Reps.
from each State?
One
To bring charges
against an official in
government
Impeach
Why do incumbents
have an advantage?
• more campaign money
• better known
Main Function of
Congress?
Lawmaking
Presidential Term
4years; can be
elected 2xs--total
ten years
Hierarchical
arrangement of
government doing
specialized tasks
Bureaucracy
Protections under 1st
Amendment
• free speech
• freedom of religion
• freedom of press
• free to assemble and
petition
Separation of Church
and State
Establishment Clause
Reading of your rights
Miranda Rights
When illegal evidence is
thrown out of court
Exclusionary Rule
Case that ended
Segregation
Brown vs Board of
Education in Topeka,
Kansas
Term of a federal
judge
Life
Methods used to prevent
African Americans from
voting
• literacy tests
• poll taxes
• grandfather clauses
• white primaries