Civics Exam 2006 Chapters 1-9

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Unitary Government: All power is held by a single central agency
Federal Government: Powers split between central, state agencies
Confederation: Alliance of independent states, no central agency
Presidential Government: Separation of powers between the executive, legislative (parliament) branch â€“ not separate, legislative controls executive
Direct Democracy: Citizens make laws directly in mass meetings
Representative Democracy: Laws are made by a small group of people chosen by citizens to act as representatives
Anarchy: Complete absence of government
John Locke: Political philosopher, made Social Contract, inspired Constitution, wrote Two Treatises on Government
Nation: Group of like-minded people with common ethnic/religious backgrounds
State: People living in specific political and territorial boundaries
Nation-State: A politically defined area with only people of a common ethnic background living there
Four Characteristics of a State: Population, territory, sovereignty, government
Examples of State, Nation, Nation-State: EX: United Statesâ€”State, Japanâ€”Nation State, Kurdsâ€”Nation
Is â€œUnited Statesâ€ a misnomer?: Yes. Itâ€™s actually one state, not a conglomeration of states. And, the criteria for a state is sovereignty, and each state isnâ€™t sovereign, the federal government holds some control.
What are the four theories on the evolution of state?: Social Contract, Divine Right, Evolutionary, Force
Why do people form governments?: To make and enforce public policies
Parliamentary vs. Presidential Governments: Parliament has more political parties so there are more views represented, but there is more confusion
Five Basic Concepts of Democracy: Respect worth/dignity, respect equality, faith in majority/insist on minority rights, accept compromise, individual freedom
Virginia Plan: Two houses in legislature, both based on population, lower house elected by popular vote, upper house chosen by state legislatures
New Jersey Plan: One house in legislature, equal representation for states, state legislature elected to house, no direct popular vote
Connecticut Compromise: Bicameral legislatures, equal representation in Senate, proportional representation (based on population) in House, combine the Senate and the House
Magna Carta: â€œThe Great Charterâ€, King canâ€™t arbitrarily tax, separation of church and state
Three-Fifths Compromise: Slaves counted as three-fifths a person for representation and taxation
Federalists: Supported the Constitution at the time it was framed
Anti-Federalists: Didnâ€™t support the Constitution at the time it was framed
Why did the Articles of the Confederation fail?: It couldnâ€™t tax, had separate currencies, no amendment process, no national army, no collective agreements with foreign powers
How were the Articles Influenced by experiences with the British?: The British repressed, so in the Articles they made sure for no repression
What were the main arguments made by Anti-Federalists?: Central government was too powerful, states lose right to coin, creation of Constitution controlled by one group of people, no Bill of Rights
Articles vs. Constitution: Constitution gives more power to central government, restricts state rights, allows amendments
Limited Government: Governmentâ€™s powers given by the people, the people choose which powers it has
Federalism: Power divided between central, regional governments
Delegated Powers: Powers given to the government by the people
Expressed Powers: Enumerated rights, specifically stated in the Constitution
Implied Powers: Inferred from expressed powers, not outright stated (privacy)
Inherent Powers: Powers inherent in governments (negotiations)
Reserved Powers: Powers not granted to the federal government and thus given to the states
Concurrent Powers: Held by both federal and state governments: (taxing, courts)
Formal Amendments: Officially added onto Constitution as an amendment
Informal Amendment: Added onto the Constitution but never specifically included in it
Executive Agreement: Decision by two executives without Senate approval, EX: informal amendments such as over foreign policy between the two nations
What are the five informal ways of amending the Constitution?: Executive action, basic legislation, court decision, party practices, custom (cabinet exists because of custom)
What are the four formal ways of amending the Constitution?: Congress proposes and 2/3 vote in both houses, National Convention called by 2/3 of states proposes, ratified by ¾ of state legislatures, ratified by special conventions set up by ¾ of states
Which formal amendment process has never been used?: National Convention
What are the six basic principles of the Constitution?: Popular sovereignty, limited government, separation of powers, checks and balances, judicial review, federalism
What is the layout of the Constitution?: Bill of Rights, Articles, Amendments
What is the Bill of Rights?: The first ten amendments, set constitutional guarantees of freedoms
What are the 27 amendments?: Formal amendments to the Constitution
Full Faith and Credit: Article Four: States must give faith in decisions of other states (EX: driversâ€™ licenses)
Elastic Clause: gives powers when they are deemed â€œnecessary and properâ€
Political Parties: Groups of people seeking to control the government
Two Party System: Two major parties try to control the government
Multiparty system: More than one party fights for control of the government
One Party System: Only one party controls the government (essentially a dictatorship)
Single Issue Party: The party is centered on only one issue (Prohibition Party)
Precinct: A voting district
Perestroika & Glasnost: Principles of openness in Soviet Russia by Gorbachev
What are the principles of the Republican Party?: Less governmental influence, less taxation, use WTA system for caucuses
What are the principles of the Democratic Party?: More governmental influence, more taxation, use PR system for caucuses
What are five things political parties do?: nominate candidates, inform public, stimulate thought, function in government, and serve as a watchdog for other parties
What is the role of third parties?: Critic, innovator, watchdog
Why does American use a third-party system?: Historical biases, tradition, Electoral College
Suffrage: The right to vote
Gerrymandering: Redrawing district lines as a ploy to win an election
Political Efficacy: Belief your vote will count
Straight-Ticket Voting: Voting for one party no matter who the candidate is
Civil Rights Act of 1957: Created Civil Rights Commission, prevents interference with the right to vote
Civil Rights Act of 1960: Provides for referees in federal voting
Civil Rights Act of 1964: Forbids applying registration requirements discriminatorily
Sociological Factors Affecting Voting: Race, Income, Sex, Age, Religion, Party Affiliation
Psychological Factors Affecting Voting: Issues, candidates, parties
Direct Primary: Voters select through ballots (most common way to elect)
Closed Primary: Can only vote in the party you registered for (Louisiana)
Open Primary: Can vote in one or both of the primaries
Blanket Primary: Can vote in one or both party primaries
Mandatory Primary: Delegates are required to follow the voters' vote
Advisory Primary: Delegates are only required to take votes as "advice"
Coattail Effect: Vote for something that a party or candidate supports just because they support it and vice versa
PAC: Political Action Committee, a private group organized to elect or defeat candidates
Ballot: What votes are recorded on
Soft Money: money that is given to a political party but is not given specifically to support a particular candidate
FEC: Federal Election Commission which discloses election spending and enforces funding laws
BCRA: Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (same as McCain Feingold)
McCain Feingold Bill: Limit Campaign spending and donations, prohibits soft money, and requires that politicians take credit for their political ads
McConnell vs. FEC: Bipartisan, tried to overturn the BCRA, infringed the 1st amendment
What are the five ways that a candidate is nominated?: Self announcement, petition, selected in a caucus, selected in a delegate convention, selected in a direct primary
When are Presidental/Congressional elections held?: The Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even number years
What are five sources for campaign funding?: Individuals, families, candidates themselves, special intrest groups, fund-raisers
What are four points of campaign finance laws?: Disclose campaign finance, limit contributions, limit spending
Should campaign funding be limited?: Consider where the money would come from?
McCain/Feignbold or McConnell?: Consider 1st amendment, does it apply?
Public Opinion: Public attitudes hold about government and policies
Intrest Groups: Made to represent specific groups in purposes affecting backers. Can be political, social, religious, economic, but mostly economic.
Straw Vote: Informal vote or poll not used to test scientific/statistical claims
Random Sample: Select random people for sample, not guaranteed accurate
What are five purposes of intrest groups?: Create intrest in public affairs, represent backers, provide info to governments, participate in politics, act as checks and balances
Why is public opinion inaccurate?: The public doesn't all agree, so there isn't one opinion, they just choose a most common opinion
Examples of Straw Votes: Radio call-in poll, asking random people at the mall
What makes a poll scientific?: Getting a cross section, large amount of people polled, clear and consise questions, unbiased questions
People needed to be polled for a poll to be accurate: 1,000
Formula for calculating margin of error: 1/square root of n
n=# of people polled
Good Pollig Practices: Use cross section of population, ask clear, consise and unbiased questions, don't interpret
Bad Polling Practices: Loaded/biased questions, poor representation, interpreted answers
Lobbying: A group influencing the government on a specific topic (gun control, abortion, etc.)
Grassroots: Politics by community members, not public officials
Labor Union: Group of workers to negotiate with management as to work conditions
Grassroots Campaign: Howard Dean's campaign, third party campaigns
What are the purposes of lobbyists?: Stimulate intrest in public affairs, represent members, provide information to government officials, participate in politics, act as checks and balances (mostly economic)
Would America be better or worse without lobbyists?: Consider sources of information, unpopular industries, 1st amendment
Jurisdiction: Authortiy given to a body to administer justice
Original Jurisdiction: Only hears cases that have yet to be ruled on
Appellate Jurisdiction: Only hears cases that are being appealed
Appeal: Challenging a judgment and taking it to another court
Supreme Court: Highest Court, has final word on cases, has both original and appellate jurisdiction, listens to cases with important constitutional bearing
91 District Courts: Inferior courts to deal with less interesting cases
Inferior Courts: Constitutional courts set up by the Supreme court
Should supreme court justices serve for life?: Consider experience, age, political parties leaving a legacy with a justice(they stay with party putting them in gone)
Should justices be elected?: Consider political climates, justices are elected because of stand on one issue only? Shoudl citizens be trusted with choice that could change the constitution?
How do you become a justice?: Be nominated by president, approved by 1/2 the senate
Which article gives the Congress the right to set up other courts?: Article 2
What two courts are set up by the federal system?: Supreme Court and State/Local Courts
Parliament: British system of government. Executive government is composed of members of the Legislative branch, which selects and can remove the Prime Minister
Prime Minister: Head of the Parliament, leader of majority party in lower house
Vote of No Confidence: Parliament can remove the Prime Minister through this
House of Commons: Lower house, Representatives elected, holds most power
House of Lords: Upper house, representatives are nobles/knights, limited power
PRI: Party of Institutionalized Revolution, Mexico's current government, democratic
Constitution of 1917: Basis of Mexico's current government, democratic
Mikhail Gorbachev: Last leader of USSR before split into commonwealth of independent states, created Glasnost and Perestroika
Glasnost: Russian for "publicity", relaxed censorship, increased social freedoms
Perestroika: Russian for "reconstructing", economic reforms, private ownership
Communism: Government of former USSR, common ownership, no economic classes
Ronald Reagan: US President 1981-89, saw USSR as and "Evil Empire", Star Wars
Star Wars: AKA Strategic Defense Initiative, anti-ballistic missiles to shoot down Russian nukes mid air. Arguably, real purpose was to economically destroy Russia- Russia had to build it too, but they didn't have the money to do it. (massive economy sink)
Who reigns in British Government? Who Rules?: The Queen reigns, Parliament rules.
Why did perestroika and glasnost fail?: With newfound openness, atrocities of USSR government revealed and made people revolt against it, also, many not used to the sudden freedom.

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