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pronouncement of separation from former mother country, Britain; it founded the US

the original constitution that governed during the Revolutionary war; it was considered weak and heavily flawed

in 1787, war soldiers rebelled in attempt to prevent foreclosures of their land as a result of high interest and tax

1787 meeting in Philadelphia to write a new national constitution

constitutional separation and limitation of powers within the three branches of federal government

the law is applied broadly and equally; no one is above the law

people are the source of authority and power in government

federal government with predefined limits to its power and authority

rights that are inherently given to the people

mutually beneficial agreement between the people and the government

form of government where elected individuals represent the people

form of government where citizens participate directly and individually

political system where the well-educated and wealthy are in power

political system where competing interest groups are in power

Bicameral legislature - House of Reps to be proportional to state population and Senate to be 2 seats/state

slaves are to represent 3/5 of a person

Congress is given authority to prohibit the slave trade; it would be banned after 20 years

amendments need a 2/3 vote of Congress to be proposed and a 3/4 vote of state legislatures to be passed

individuals who advocated for a strong central government and feared tyranny of the majority (the poor)

individuals who oppose a strong central government and support small state governments as well as fear tyranny of the minority (wealthy elite)

sharing of power between state and national governmental power through levels (federal, state, local) not separation

a point in policymaking that allows citizens to influence government

federal funds that allow states to determine which category they will go to

federally funded grants to states for a specific category. If accepted, states have to also accept the national regulation that comes with taking the money

federal requirements also applied to state and local government

enumerated powers given to the national government

powers shared between the federal and state government

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)

congressional powers explicitly expressed in the Constitution

congressional powers implied in the Constitution

impeach, tax, foreign trade/treaties, VP appointment, elect President in case of tie

impeachment trials, President nominees, 2/3 vote for treaties, elect VP in case of tie

congressional ability to tax and spend raised revenue

portion of budget that president requests and Congress appropriates

spending determined by laws and regulations, not by Congress

Senate → president pro tempore, majority leader, minority leader; House → speaker of the house, majority leader, minority leader

(often local) projects that are funded by the federal budget through Congressman

exchanging of favors between politicians, particularly through reciprocal voting

elected representatives are responsible for governing all; elected representatives are responsible fro deciding in line with party

manipulation of district lines to favor a certain group

explicit powers assigned to the president

implicit powers assigned to the president

office/position that gives occupant opportunity to address any issue

informal powers of the president to manage operations of the federal government

an international agreement made by executive branch dealing with routine matters

constitution is supreme and must be upheld/interpreted by SCOTUS judges

court must make decisions that align with past court rulings

loose interpretation of constitution; interpreted generally and applied to modern circumstances

decide cases by strictly interpreting the Constitution

policy making relationship between Congress, bureaucracy, and an interest group

all legislative powers is vested in the US Congress

two houses that make up the bicameral legislature in Congress. House consists of 435 members and Senate consists of 100 members

congressional powers to make a law are deemed necessary and proper

meeting of Senate/House/joint/special committee to gather information and opinions on proposed legislation, conduct an investigation, and evaluate activities of a government department

filibuster → an action (ie prolonged speech) to delay or prevent a decision regarding legislation; cloture → procedure to end debate and take a vote

executive power is vested in the President (+ VP + Cabinet)

Cabinet → body made of 15 heads of executive departments; White House Staff → body responsible for helping the President carry out his role as Chief Executive Officer

President can be in office for a maximum of two terms

all judicial powers are vested in one SCOTUS and other lower level courts

people represent the states in President and vice presidential elections

approval ratings of SCOTUS decisions have generally declined and disapproval ratings have risen

body of government appointed officials in executive branch who works for the President

enumerated rights to protect citizens from the government; found in the Bill of Rights

personal rights to protected citizens social freedom and equality; guaranteed by the constitution

personal rights belonging to racial, ethnic, religious, gender, and class minorities

form of nonverbal and unwritten speech

right to remain silent, right to an attorney, right to a fair and speedy trial, right to know that anything said can be used against them in court, right to know who your accuser is

when the federal law is applied to states, ensuring they cannot override their granted constitutional rights

fourth amendment protection from unreasonable searches and seizures

action taken to include and advocate for racial minorities among other applicants (in education or employment)

freedom of speech, religion, press, petition, and assembly

allows citizens to practice their religion at they wish (as long as it does not interfere with public morals or government interest)

the government cannot establish one religion

right to keep and bear arms

right to privacy and security in one’s own home; no unreasonable searches and seizures

test to determine whether speech is protected or unprotected (harmless or harmful)

right to remain silent

warning must be given the accused, telling them what their rights as the accused are

right to a speedy and public trial, right to know the nature and cause of the accusation

no excessive bail, no cruel and unusual punishment

no state can make or enforce any law that infringes on the rights of US citizens; no state can deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process. Equal protection of laws

law that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence

states cannot deny an person life, liberty, or property without due process of law

all citizens of the US are equally protected under the law regardless of factors like race, gender, religion, etc

first 10 amendments of the constitution

law with purpose to prevent against terrorist attacks

group of activists working to end gender inequality and discrimination

law that prohibited discrimination on basis of race, religion, sex, and ethnicity

prohibited discriminatory voting practices (literacy tests, poll taxes, etc)

prohibited discrimination on basis of sex in education programs and activities (with federal financial assistance)

the values, feelings, and knowledge associated with the political process

the process of forming one’s own political view

characteristics of a population

a collection of views on/way of thinking of politics

economic theory that government should manage economy (spend more in recession, cut spending when inflation occurs)

the process of businesses integrating and influencing internationally

the process in which public policies are made

principle of being independent and self reliant

a set of political views typically held by Republicans; in support of tradition and individualism

a set of political views typically held by Democrats; in support of modernization and equality