American Politics and the US
Constitution - C963 WGU
"King Caucus" refers to - ANS-the use of each party's congressional caucus to nominate
presidential candidates during the early nineteenth century.
14th Amendment - ANS-Declares that all persons born in the U.S. are citizens and are
guaranteed equal protection of the laws
1957 Civil Rights Bill - ANS-Bill passed by LBJ that helped begin first steps towards Civil
Rights movement.
A brokered convention occurs when: - ANS-No candidate acquires a majority of a party's
delegates before the start of its convention.
A law alleged to violate the Constitution's protection of free speech would be heard by the
Supreme Court under: - ANS-Appellate jurisdiction.
According the Supreme Court's ruling in Brandenberg v. Ohio, political speech can be
restricted only if it does which of the following? - ANS-Creates a danger of imminent lawless
action.
According to Angus Campbell, which of these statements supports the saying that "all
politics is local"? - ANS-There is a fundamental influence of local policy concerns on national
elections.
There is an advantage to the party not currently occupying the presidency during mid-term
elections.
In many parts of the country, straight-ticket voting is prevalent.
According to the Supreme Court, when is it legal to take private property for public use? -
ANS-For the creation of jobs
For the enhancement of government revenues (for example, taxes).
For the building of roads
For the creation of public parks
Advantages of Federalism - ANS-checks growth of tyranny, allows unity without uniformity,
encourages experimentation, provides training and creates opportunities for future national
leaders, keeps government closer to the people
,advice and consent - ANS-Terms in the Constitution describing the U.S. Senate's power to
review and approve treaties and presidential appointments.
Affordable Care Act of 2010 - ANS-requires an organization with 50 or more employees to
make health insurance available to employees or pay an assessment and gives employees
the right to buy health insurance from another provider if an organization's health insurance
is too expensive
After the Articles of Confederation went into effect, how was the British government able to
continue impacting what would happen in the United States? - ANS-The British government
was able to put pressure on the states through its occupation of land west of the United
States.
The British government could refuse to accept the currency of the United States as a means
to pay off any lingering debts.
The British government was able to form individual relationships with the states.
Although not specifically stated in the Constitution, Congress has decided that it is within its
authority to open a national bank in order to help them regulate commerce. - ANS-Implied
Power
Although you think you are being taxed twice by the government, each year you continue to
pay a federal income tax and state income tax. - ANS-Concurrent Power
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - ANS-Legislation passed in 1990 that prohibits
discrimination against people with disabilities. Under this Act, discrimination against a
disabled person is illegal in employment, transportation, public accommodations,
communications and government activities.
Amicus briefs are - ANS-known as "friend of the court" briefs
An argument offered in opposition to judicial activism is: - ANS-The intrusion into democratic
politics of unelected, and therefore unaccountable, judges.
Anti-Federalists - ANS-Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states
were contemplating its adoption.
appellate jurisdiction - ANS-The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower
courts
Articles of Confederation - ANS-A weak constitution that governed America during the
Revolutionary War.
Atkins v. Virginia (2002) - ANS-execution of developmentally disabled offenders is
unconstitutional
,Automobile Workers v Johnson Controls, Inc (1977) - ANS-USSC: "Decisions about the
welfare of the next generation must be left to the parents who conceive, bear, support, and
raise them, rather than to the employers who hire those parents"
Baker v. Carr (1962) - ANS-"One man, one vote." Ordered state legislative districts to be as
near equal as possible in population; Warren Court's judicial activism.
ballot fatigue - ANS-the phenomenon by which voters cast fewer votes for offices listed
toward the bottom of the ballot
Barron v. Baltimore (1833) - ANS-The guarantee in the 5th Amendment that private property
shall not be taken "for public use, without just compensation" is not applicable to state
governments as well as the federal government.
Before a voter can cast a ballot, what is he or she required to do in virtually all states? -
ANS-Before a voter can cast a ballot, she must register to vote.
Before the presidential election, you watched each debate and watched the news every day,
so you feel confident that you are choosing the right candidate for president.
The most important issue for you personally is healthcare, so before going to the polls you
searched and found where each candidate on the ballot stands on the issue of healthcare. -
ANS-Research
Besides making campaign contributions, what can interest groups do to influence elections
on a large scale? - ANS-Interest groups can inform voters and the public (perhaps through
voter guides with candidate ratings) to make them aware of the candidates' positions on key
issues.
bicameral legislature - ANS-A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2). Example:
Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of Representatives and The
Senate.
Bicameral legislature consisting of two chambers.
Senators are appointed rather than popularly elected.
The House of Representatives has state representation that varies based on the size of a
state's population.
The National government given increased powers. - ANS-Virginia Plan
Bill of Rights - ANS-The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) - ANS-speech that does not call for illegal action is protected,
and even speech that does call for illegal action is protected if the action is not "imminent" or
there is reason to believe that the listeners will not take action
, Breedlove v. Suttles (1937) - ANS-The Supreme Court upheld poll taxes as constitutional in
the 1937 case
brokered convention - ANS-no candidate gets a majority of delegates, leaving party elites to
pick a nominee
Browder v. Gayle (1956) - ANS-Court ruled that segregation on buses was unconstitutional
Brown v. Board of Education (1954) - ANS-unanimously held that the racial segregation of
children in public schools violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
Brown claimed that Topeka's racial segregation violated the Constitution's Equal Protection
Clause because the city's black and white schools were not equal to each other and never
could be. Overruled Plessy v. Ferguson's "separate but equal" doctrine and would eventually
led to the desegregation of schools across the South
Budget Act of 1921 - ANS-Enhanced the President's legislative role by requiring the
President to submit an annual federal government budget to Congress for it's consideration,
accompanied by a budget message setting out the president's rationale and justifications.
budget resolution - ANS-A resolution binding Congress to a total expenditure level,
supposedly the bottom line of all federal spending for all programs.
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (2014) - ANS-for religious reasons, some for-profit corporations
could be exempt from the requirement that employers provide insurance coverage of
contraceptives for their female employees
Caucus - ANS-A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for
public office and to decide the platform.
Checks and Balances - ANS-A system that allows each branch of government to limit the
powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Checks on Congress - ANS-By President
Can veto legislation
Can use executive agreements
Can use executive orders
Negotiates treaties (not Congress)
By Judiciary
Can overturn acts of Congress as unconstitutional if they violate the law
Can influence laws by interpretation
Serve during good behavior to maintain independence of judiciary
Checks on Judiciary - ANS-By President
Nominates judges
Power of pardon
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