Transcript American Government - Conroe High School

Theory behind US Gov’t.?
Social Contract
When People are the source
of Power?
Popular Sovereignty
A Gov’t. based upon rule of
law?
Limited Government
What keeps branches from
becoming too powerful?
Separation
Checks
of Powers
and Balances
Rule by the Many?
Democracy
Two Types of Democracy
Direct
Indirect
(representatives)
Rule by one or a Few?
Dictatorship
Essays written to encourage
ratification of the Const.
Federalist Papers
What part of the Constitution
expresses popular sovereignty?
Preamble
Protections under 1st
Amendment
free
speech
freedom of religion
freedom of press
free to assemble and
petition
Elastic Clause
Necessary and Proper
Clause that supports
Implied Powers of our
government
Powers given only to Nat.
Government
Exclusive Powers
(coin money, declare war)
These powers create most conflict
between St. and Nat. Gov’t.
Implied Powers
(not expressly written in
the Constitution)
Separation of Church and
State
Establishment Clause
Formal Amendment Process
Proposal
(by Congress)
Ratification (by States)
How are most changes in our
Gov’t. made?
Informally--by custom and
tradition; political party
practices; Supreme Ct.
decisions and acts of
Congress and the
President
Division of Gov’t. between
State and National Gov’t.?
Federal Government
Separation of Powers
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Three Branches of Gov’t.
Legislative
(make)
Executive (enforce)
Judicial (interpret)
This means “two houses”
Bicameralism
Main Function of Congress?
Lawmaking
Which house is based on
population?
House of
Representatives
How many members are in
the House of Rep?
435
Minimum # or Reps. from
each State?
One
What type of bill must start
in the House of Rep.?
Money Bills
Which house has the
“power of the purse”?
House of
Representatives
Committee use to settle
differences of the two houses
Conference Committee
Taking care of
constituents’ needs
Casework
Talking a Bill to Death
Filibuster
Congressional check on Pres.
override
veto (2/3 vote)
Senate refuses to ratify
an presidential nominee
or a treaty
Pork Barrel Politics
When members of
Congress get federal
funds for projects in
their own districts
Steps to become President
Primary/Caucus
National
Conventions
General Election
Electoral Vote
Presidential Term
4years; can be
elected 2xs--total
ten years
Electoral Votes Needed
270
When are electoral votes cast?
December of election
year--counted in
January.
Total # of Electors?
538
Minimum from each State?
3
Party Election?
Primary
Purpose of Nat. Convention?
Nominate
Pres./VP.
Candidates
Choose Party
Platform
SIMPLE MAJORITY?
50% + 1
PARTY MEETINGS ARE
CALLED?
CAUCUSES
When the winner takes all the
popular vote in a state?
Winner-take-all
Who runs the campaign?
Candidate and
his/her staff
What happens if noone wins
enough electoral votes?
House
selects Pres.
Senate selects VP.
T/F Popular vote winner
can lose election
Electoral
Vote winner,
wins election-candidates must win in
states that have most
electoral votes
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
Ultimate Umpire?
Supreme Court
Supreme Ct. check on
Congress and President
Judicial Review
Case that ended
Segregation
Brown vs Board of
Education in Topeka,
Kansas
Term of a federal judge
Life
When illegal evidence is
thrown out of court
Exclusionary Rule
Reading of your rights
Miranda Rights
The two Major Political
Parties?
Democratic
Party
Republican Party
Roles of Minor Parties?
Critics
Innovators
Spoilers
Role of Party “out of power”
Watchdog
What role does a Minor Party
Play?
Spoiler
One Trend in Voting
Split Ticket Voting
Main Source of Information
Television
An Organization with a focused
opinion on a single topic
Special Interest Group
Special Interest Group that is
opposed to gun control.
NRA
Why do incumbents have an
advantage?
more
campaign money
better known
Political Arms of special interest
groups used to raise campaign
money
PACs
A belief that women are more
likely to favor Dem. over Rep.
Gender Gap
This group favors extreme
change
Radicals
This group believes gov’t.
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
Drawing of district lines to favor
the party or race in power
Gerrymandering
To bring charges against
Impeach
Methods used to prevent African
Americans from voting
literacy
tests
poll taxes
grandfather clauses
white primaries
Hierarchical arrangement of
gov’t. doing specialized tasks
Bureaucracy