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
