GOV Final

a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed.

the power to make a law and to frame public policies

the power to execute, enforce, and administer law

the power to interpret laws, to determine their meaning, and to settle disputes that arise within the society

Characteristics of a State

Six purposes of government

A principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution.

system of government in which public policies are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections

The legislative assembly composed of delegates from the rebel colonies who met during and after the American Revolution

1st Constitution of the U.S. 1781-1788 (weaknesses-no executive, no judicial, no power to tax, no power to regulate trade)

-this was America's solution in the call for a stronger government-The Philadelphia meetings were long and heated. -Each state sent delegates to the meeting except for Rhode Island.-The delegates who attended were known as the framers of the constitution.

required 9 out of 13 states to ratify (approve) it to become law.

System of government in which power is divided between the national and state governments

the division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws

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.

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.

presidential power to stop a bill from becoming a law by rejecting it

Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution, for example, the authority to print money.

powers that congress has that are specifically listed in the constitution

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution

powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it

powers that the Constitution does not give to the national government that are kept by the states

Those powers that can be exercised by the National Government alone

powers shared by the national and state governments

Constitution is the supreme law of the land

A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crime is alleged to have been committed.

Prevents a state from treating citizens from other states in a discriminatory manner.

A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy

Republicans and Democrats

the strong support of their party and its policy stands

the party that controls the executive branch of government

One of the political parties not widely supported

A political system dominated by two major parties

the number of votes cast for a candidate who receives more than any other but does not receive an absolute majority.

A political system in which only one party exists

A system in which three or more political parties have the capacity to gain control of government separately or in coalition.

supported by two parties

Allowing a political party to put a candidate on the ballot

Parties based on a particular set of beliefs, a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters

Parties that concentrate on only one public policy matter

Parties rooted in poor economic times, lacking a clear ideological base, dissatisfied with current conditions and demanding better times

parties that have split away from one of the major parties

the person already holding an elective office

Loyalty to one's own region of the country, rather than to the nation as a whole

1. recruiting candidates for public office 2. organizing and running elections 3.Presenting alternative policies to the electorate 4. Accepting responsibility for operating the government 5. acting as the organized opposition to the party in power.

Why do we have a two-party system

the right to vote

All of the people entitled to vote in a given election

a procedure of voter identification intended to prevent fraudulent voting

Name taken off voters list after years of not voting

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

the ability to read and write

A requirement that citizens pay a tax in order to register to vote

also known as the Voting Rights Act gave federal protection to black voters which allowed many more to vote and participate in the government.

the farther down the ballot an office is, the fewer the number of votes that will be cast for it

The belief that one's political participation really matters - that one's vote can actually make a difference

a citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party or the other

A voter or candidate who does not identify with a political party.

An election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring

amendments 14, 15, 19, 23, 24, 26; increase in amount of voters

gave African American men the right to vote

Gave women the right to vote

Abolishes poll taxes

Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18

a formal request for government action

The official endorsement of a candidate for office by a political party. Generally, success in the nomination game requires momentum, money, and media attention.

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.

where voters directly select the candidates who will run for office

the list of candidates on which you cast your vote

a ballot completed and typically mailed in advance of an election by a voter who is unable to be present at the polls.

a government-printed ballot of uniform dimensions to be cast in secret that many states adopted around 1890 to reduce voting fraud associated with party-printed ballots cast in public

A voting district

a person elected by the voters to represent them in making a formal selection of the Vice President and President

A statewide primary election of delegates to a political party's national convention, held to determine a party's presidential nominee.

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

an unwelcome person; used to describe recalled diplomatic officials

legal forgiveness of a crime

postponement of a sentence

The power to reduce (commute) the length of a sentence or fine for a crime

a pardon to a group of people

The lower federal courts, beneath the Supreme Court

the official power to make legal decisions and judgments

a person who brings a case against another in a court of law.

an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.

a case involving the rights of citizens

a court's list of cases to be heard

An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review

a statement that presents the views of the majority of supreme court justices regarding a case

an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.

A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his or her opinion

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

federal courts which were created by Congress to hear specific types of cases. Sometimes called "legislative courts," they include: the Court of Military Appeals, the Claims Court, the Tax Court, territorial courts, and the courts of the District of Columbia.