Poli sci Exam 2 reiview - Exam Review 2 notes PDF

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Chapter 7 1. Which of the following makes it easy for a citizen to register to vote? National Voter Registration Act 2. Which of the following is a reason to make voter registration more difficult? decrease election fraud 3. What unusual step did Oregon take to increase voter registration? The state automatically registers all citizens over eighteen to vote. 6. If you wanted to prove the United States is suffering from low voter turnout, a calculation based on which population would yield the lowest voter turnout rate? voting-age population 7. What characterizes those most likely to vote in the next election? Over forty-five years old 8. Why do Belgium, Turkey, and Australia have higher voter turnout rates than the United States? Compulsory voting laws 12. A state might hold a primary instead of a caucus because a primary is ________. faster and has higher turnout 13. Which of the following citizens is most likely to run for office? Jeffrey Lyons, a 40-year-old lawyer and father of one 14. Where and when do Electoral College electors vote? in their state capitol, in December 15. In which type of election are you most likely to see coattail effects? Presidential 20. Susan is currently working two part-time jobs and is frustrated about the poor economy. On Election Day, she votes for every challenger on the ballot, because she feels the president and Congress are not doing enough to help her. What type of vote did she cast? straight ticket 21. Which factor is most likely to lead to the incumbency advantage for a candidate? gerrymandering of the candidate’s district 24. Which of the following is not a step in the initiative process? signature or veto by state governor 25. A referendum is not purely direct democracy because the ________. government proposes something and the voters approve it

Key Terms Ballot Fatigue- the result when a voter stops voting for offices and initiatives at the bottom of a long ballot Caucus- a form of candidate nomination that occurs in a town-hall style format rather than a day-long election; usually reserved for presidential elections Chronic minority- voters who belong to political parties that tend not to be competitive in national elections because they are too small to become a majority or because of the Electoral College system distribution in their state

Closed Primary- an election in which only voters registered with a party may vote for that party’s candidates Coattail effect- the result when a popular presidential candidate helps candidates from his or her party win their own elections Delegates- party members who are chosen to represent a particular candidate at the party’s state- or national-level nominating convention District system- the means by which electoral votes are divided between candidates based on who wins districts and/or the state Early Voting- an accommodation that allows voting up to two weeks before election day. Electoral College- the constitutionally created group of individuals, chosen by the states, with the responsibility of formally selecting the next U.S. president. Incumbancy advangtage- the advantage held by by officeholders that allows them to often win reelection Incumbent- the current holder of a political office Initiative- law or constitutional amendment proposed and passed by the voters and subject to review by the state courts; also called a proposition Midterm Elections- the congressional elections that occur in the even-numbered years between presidential election years, in the middle of the president’s term Open primary- an election in which any registered voter may vote in any party’s primary or caucus Platform- the set of issues important to the political party and the party delegates. Political action committees (PACs)- organizations created to raise money for political campaigns and spend money to influence policy and politics. Recall- the removal of a politician or government official by the voters Referendum- a yes or no vote by citizens on a law or candidate proposed by the state government. Residency Requirement- the stipulations that a citizen must live in a state for a determined period of time before a citizen can register to vote as a resident of that state. Shadow Campaign- a campaign run by political action committees and other organizations without the coordination of the candidate. Straight-ticket Voting- the practice of voting only for candidates from the same party Super PACs- officially known as Independent Expenditure-Only Committees; organizations that can fundraise and spend as they please to support or attack a candidate but not contribute directly to a candidate or strategize with a candidate’s campaign Two-party primary- a primary election in which the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, become the nominees for the general election

Voter Fatigue- the result when voters grow tired of voting and stay home from the polls Voting-age population- the number of citizens over 18 Voting eligible population- the number of citizens eligible to vote. Winner-take-all system- all electoral votes for a state are given to the candidate who wins the most votes in that state

Chapter 13 1. The Supreme Court’s power of judicial review ________. enables it to declare acts of the other branches unconstitutional 2. The Supreme Court most typically functions as ________. an appeals court 3. In Federalist No. 78, Alexander Hamilton characterized the judiciary as the ________ branch of government Least dangerous 4. Explain one positive and one negative aspect of the lifetime term of office for judges and justices in the federal court system. Why do you believe the constitution’s framers chose lifetime terms? The lifetime terms of justices is to sperate them from party politics and public or political pressure in their court holdings. The downside is that these justices serve for life or until impeachment. 5. What do you find most significant about having a common law system? The judicial branch is involved in the system of law-making in the United States. Through their interpretation of the law, judges are an important part of the legal system and influence the way law is made and interpreted. They don’t just apply the law; they also make it. 6. Of all the court cases in the United States, the majority are handled ________. a. by the U.S. Supreme Court b. at the state level c. by the circuit courts d. by the U.S. district courts At the state level 7. Both state and federal courts hear matters that involve. Both civil and criminal courts 8. A state case is more likely to be heard by the federal courts when ________. It involves a federal question 11. Besides the Supreme Court, there are lower courts in the national system called ________. District and circuit courts 12. In standing by precedent, a judge relies on the principle of ________. Stare decisis 13. The justices of the Supreme Court are ________. nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate

16. The Supreme Court consists of ________. one chief justice and eight associate justices 17. A case will be placed on the Court’s docket when ________ justices agree to do so. Four 18. One of the main ways interest groups participate in Supreme Court cases is by ________. filing

amicus curiae briefs 19. The lawyer who represents the federal government and argues cases before the Supreme Court is the ________. Solicitor General 21. When using judicial restraint, a judge will usually ________ defer to the decisions of the elected branches of government 22. When a Supreme Court ruling is made, justices may write a ________ to show they agree with the majority but for different reasons Concurring opinion 23. Which of the following is a check that the legislative branch has over the courts? a. Senate approval is needed for the appointment of justices and federal judges. b. Congress may rewrite a law the courts have declared unconstitutional. c. Congress may withhold funding needed to implement court decisions. D. All of the above

Key terms Amicus Curiae- literally a “friend of the court” and used for a brief filed by someone who is interested in but not a party to the case. Apellate Court- a court that reviews cases already decided by a lower or trail court and that may change the lower court’s decision. Appellate jurisdiction- the power of a court to hear a case on appeal from a lower court and possibly change the lower court’s decision Associate Justice- a member of the Supreme Court who is not the chief justice Brief- a written legal argument presented to a court by one of the parties in a case Chief Justice- the highest-ranking justice on the supreme court Circuit courts- the appeals courts of the federal court system that reviews decisions of the district courts ; also called court of appeals Civil law- a non-criminal law defining private rights and remedies Common law- the pattern of law developed by judges though case decisions largely based on precedent Concurring opinion- an opinion written by a justice who agrees with the Court’s majority opinion but has different reasons for doing so Conference- closed meeting of the justices to discuss cases on the docket and take an initial vote Court of appeals- the appellate courts of the federal court system that review decisions of the lower (district) courts; also called circuit courts Criminal law- a law that prohibits actions that could harm or endanger others, and establishes punishment for those actions Dissenting opinion- an opinion written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion of the Court

District Courts- the trial courts of the federal court system where cases are tried, evidence is presented, and witness testimony is heard Docket- the list of cases pending on a court’s calender Dual court system- the division of the courts into two separate systems, one federal and one state, with each of the fifty states having its own courts Judicial Activism- a judicial philosophy in which a justice is more likely to overturn decisions or rule actions by the other branches unconstitutional, especially in an attempt to broaden individual rights and liberties Judicial Restraint- a judicial philosophy in which a justice is more likely to let stand the decisions or actions of the other branches of government Judicial Review- the power of the courts to review actions taken by the other branches of government and the states and to rule on whether those actions are constitutional Majority Opinion- an opinion of the Court with which more than half the nine justices agree Marbury v. Madison- the 1803 Supreme Court case that established the courts’ power of judicial review and the first time the Supreme Court ruled an act of Congress to be unconstitutional Oral argument- words spoken before the Supreme Court (usually by lawyers) explaining the legal reasons behind their position in a case and why it should prevail Original Jurisdiction- the power of a court to hear a case for the first time Precedent- the principles or guidelines established by courts in earlier cases that frame the ongoing operation of the courts, steering the direction of the entire system Rule of four- a Supreme Court custom in which a case will be heard when four justices decide to do so Senatorial courtesy- an unwritten custom by which the president consults the senators in the state before nominating a candidate for a federal vacancy there, particularly for court positions Solicitor General- the lawyer who represents the federal government and argues some cases before the Supreme Court Stare Decisis- the principle by which courts rely on past decisions and their precedents when making decisions in new cases Trail Court- the level of court in which a case starts or is first tried Writ of Certiorari- an order of the Supreme Coourt calling up the record of the lower court so a case may be reviewed; sometimes abbreviated cert.

Chapter 14 1. ________ dictate the terms and conditions state governments would have to meet in order to qualify for financial assistance in a specific policy area. Categorical Grants

2. The Tenth Amendment created a class of powers exclusive to state governments. These powers are referred to as ________. Reserved Powers 3, Dillon’s Rules gives local governments the freedom and flexibility to make decisions for themselves FALSE 4. Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government was quite weak relative to the states. What changes were made to strengthen the role of the federal government under the U.S. Constitution? The constitution gave the federal government the power to maintain a Navy and raise and support armies. As well as reserved the right to coin money for the federal government. The constitution also gave Congress the power to collect taxes. 5. In a ________ political culture, the government is seen as a mechanism for maintaining the existing social order or status quo. Traditionalistic 6. Under a ________ political culture, citizens will tend to be more tolerant of corruption from their political leaders and less likely to see politics as a noble profession in which all citizens should engage. Individualistic 7. ________ was the first state to institute all mail in voting and automatic voter registration. Oregon 8. A ________ is an officeholder who represents the will of those who elected him or her and acts in constituents’ expressed interest. Delegate 9. . In a ________ legislature, members tend to have low salaries, shorter sessions, and few staff members to assist them with their legislative functions. Citizen 10. A(n) ________ veto allows the governor to cross out budget lines in the legislature-approved budget, while signing the remainder of the budget into law. Line Item Veto 11. Which branch would you consider to be closest to the people? Why? The state legislature, particularly the state house, where members represent fewer people per district. Constituency service is part of the job of a state representative or senator, and house members’ need to be frequently reelected means they will have to pay attention to the electorate 12. Under consecutive term limits, legislators can serve one time for the number of years allotted and are not permitted to ever compete for the office again. FALSE, They must wait before they run again. 13. The most common term limit across the states that have imposed them is ________ years. Eight 14. When term limits have been overturned, the most common method was ________. A bill passed by the state legislature 15. Term limits have produced a statistically significant increase in the number of women serving in state legislatures. FALSE 16. Currently, ________ states have term limits in place. Fifteen 17. Under the mayor-council system, the legislative and executive responsibilities are separated 18. Which of the following is not one of the three forms of county government? The mayor-concil

system. 19. What are the primary responsibilities of municipal governments? Municipal governments are responsible for providing clean water as well as sewage and garbage disposal. They maintain city facilities, such as parks, streetlights, and stadiums. In addition, they address zoning and building regulations, promote economic development, and provide law enforcement, public transportation, and fire protection. Amendmentoy Veto- A veto that allows a governor to send a bill back to the legislature with a message requesting a specific amendment. Charter- A document that provides a framework and detailed account of local government responsibilities and areas of authority. Commission system- an elected commission that serves as the governing body within a given county. Consecutive term limits- cap allowing a member of the legislature to serve for only a specified period of time in either the state house or senate and forcing a wait before the member of the legislature can run again. Council-Administrator system- an elected council that appoints an administrator to oversee the operation of the county government. Council-elected executive system- a county government in which voters elect both the members of the council and the executive Council-manager system- a structure of government in which elected member of the city council appoint a city manager to carry out administrative functions. Delegate legislator- a legislator who represents the will of those who elected him or her to office and acts in their expressed interest, even when it goes against a personal belief about what is ultimately in the constituency’s best interest. Dillion’s Rule- a legal principle that holds state power and actions above those of local governments and declares state governments to be sovereign relative to local governments. Expressed powers- those powers specifically provided to the congress and the president in the U.S. constitution. Formal Powers- those powers a governor may exercise that are specifically outlined in the state constitution or state law Home rule—principle that provides local government with some degree of independence from their state government, typically detailed in a charter. Implied Powers- those powers not specifically detatiled in the U.S. Constitution, but inferred as necessary to achieve the objectives of the national government Individualistic Political culture- a culture that views the government as a mechanism for addressing issues that matter to individual citizens and for pursuing individual goals.

Lifetime ban- A rule that members can serve only on time in the states legislature for the number of years allotted and may not run again. Line-item veto- a state governor’s ability to strike out a line or individual portions of a bill while letting the remainder pass into law Mayor council rule- a structure of city government in which city council members and the mayor are elected by voters. Moralistic political culture- a culture that views the government as a means to better society and promote the general welfare. Pardon- governor’s action to resolve someone of blame for a crime and secure his or her release from prison. Reduction Veto- a governor’s authority to reduce the amount budgeted in a piece of legislation. Terms Limits- rules that restrict the length of time a member can serve in the state legislature. Traditionalistic political culture- a culture that views the government as necessary to maintaining the existing social order or the status quo. Trustee- an officeholder who believes he or she was elected to exercise judgement and to know best by virtue of having the time and expertise to study and understand an issue.

Powers Delegated powers- those powers that the US Constitution gives to the National govt. Expressed powers-those powers clearly listed in Article 1 sec. 8 of the US Constitution (Congress)And Article II sec. 2 and 3 (Executive) Implied powers- those delegated powers that are assumed to exist in order for the federal government to perform the functions that are expressly delegated. Inherent powers- delegated powers that come with an office or position in the national government. Mostly applies to executive branch Supremacy clause- US constitution as well as laws and treaties created in accordance w/ the US Constitution supersede state and local laws. 10th amendment- The powers NOT delegated to the US by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the States respectively, or the people. Reserved powers-powers that belong to the states, 10th amendment helps define the balance of power in the federal system. Concurrent powers- shared powers between the national government and the states. Necessary and Proper Clause- Under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, Congress has the power "to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or any Department or Officer thereof" (McCulloch v. Maryland) Take Care Clause- Take care clause refers to a clause in the U.S. Constitution that imposes a duty on the President to take due care while executing laws. The purpose of this clause is to ensure that a law is faithfully executed by the President

Who determines the salary of the Governor? -...