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13789741096Electoral College Pros & ConsElectoral system that is used in electing the president and vice president Pros: The Founding Fathers had enshrined the Electoral College in the Constitution since they believed it was the best method to choose the president The Electoral College ensured that all parts of the country was involved in the selection of the president of the US The Electoral College guarantees their certainty to the presidential election outcome Cons: The reasons for the creation of the Electoral College by the Founding Fathers arent relevant The Electoral College gives off way too much power and allows the presidential election to be decided by a bunch of states The Electoral College ignores the will of the people0
13789741097How many electoral votes are needed to win the presidency?2701
13789741098Age voting trendOlder people are more likely to vote than younger people It decreases over the age of 70 18-24 is the beginning of an increase2
13789741099Blacks voting trendDespite education and income, blacks vote at a higher rate than whites3
13789741100Whites voting trendDemocrats, tend to split between both parties. Majority of the votes are consisted of whites4
13789741101Males voting trend"Gender Gap" in parties. Republicans5
13789741102Females voting trendWomen vote at a higher percentage than men. Democrats6
13789741103pocket vetoA veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.7
13789741104line-item vetoPresidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.8
13789741105signing statementA written declaration that a president may make when signing a bill into law. Usually, such statements point out sections of the law that the president deems unconstitutional.9
13789741106executive orderRules or regulations issued by the president that have the effect of law. All executive orders must be published in the Federal Register.10
1378974110715th Amendment (1870)Right to vote cannot be denied because of race or previous slave states11
1378974110817th AmendmentU.S. Senators are elected directly by voters in each State.12
1378974110919th Amendment (1920)women can vote13
1378974111024th AmendmentProhibits payment of taxes a requirement to vote14
1378974111126th AmendmentLowered the voting age from 21 to 1815
13789741112Civil Rights Act of 1964Outlawed public segregation and discrimination forbade racial discrimination in the workplace. Also created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to prevent discrimination in the workplace16
13789741113Voting Rights Act of 1965aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote under the 15th Amendment to the Constitution17
13789741114Marble Cake FederalismAmerican federalism is portrayed as a system with mingled responsibilities and blurred distinctions between the levels of government.18
13789741115Dual FederalismUsed to describe dual Federalism because the powers and policy assignments of the layers of government are distinct and proponents of it believes that the powers of the national government should be interpreted narrowly19
13789741116Creative Federalisma form of federalism popular during the Johnson administration from 1963 to 1969. It emphasized that the federal government determined the needs of the states.20
13789741117Liberal IdeologyBelieves government should play an active role in creating equal opportunity21
13789741118Conservative IdeologyBelieves the government must defend, act as a national security, and defend American core values22
13789741119Libertarian IdeologyBelieves there should be minimal government involvement in all areas of policy23
13789741120Bully Pulpitthe president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public24
13789741121concurrent powersPowers that the Constitution gives to both the national and state governments, such as the power to levy taxes.25
13789741122reserved powerspowers held by the states through the 10th Amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is "reserved" for the states.26
13789741123Consumer driven mediaMedia whose content is influenced by the actions and needs of consumers27
13789741124Partisan PolorizationA vote in which a majority if democratic legislators oppose a majority of republican leaders28
13789741125Federalist #70On the need for unitary executive29
13789741126pork-barrel legislationlegislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return30
13789741127Rational choice votingVoting based on what is perceived to be in the citizen's individual interest31
13789741128restrospective model of votingVoting to decide whether the party or candidate in power should be re-elected based on the recent past32
13789741129precedentA decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court that is binding on all other federal courts.33
13789741130political socializationthe process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions34
13789741131selective incorporationA judicial doctrine whereby most but not all of the protections found in the Bill of Rights are made applicable to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment.35
13789741132Free Exercise ClauseThe second clause of the First Amendment; it prohibits the U.S. government from interfering with a citizen's right to practice his or her religion.36
13789741133Establishment ClauseClause in the First Amendment that says the government may not establish an official religion.37
13789741134Commerce ClauseThe US Congress shall have power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several states and with Indian tribes38
13789741135Supremacy Clausedeclares that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land"39
137897411368th AmendmentProtection against cruel and unusual punishment40
13789741137Federal Mandateterms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants41
13789741138block grantsMoney from the national government that states can spend within broad guidelines determined by Washington42
13789741139categorical grantsFederal grants for specific purposes, such as building an airport43
1378974114010th Amendmentstates that any power not granted to the federal government belongs to the states or to the people44
13789741141Causes of Shay's Rebellion-America was in an economic depression in the 1780's -Many farmers were losing their land because they couldn't pay their taxes -Farmers wanted the government to print more money to help them get out of debt45
13789741142Congress Power Over Supreme CourtThe senate confirms all Supreme Court appointments The house can impeach justices on the court Congress can alter the number of justices on the court Congress can initiate constitutional amendments thereby seeking to overturn disagreements such as recent attempts concerning flag desecration, school prayers, abortion rights46
13789741143List the enumerated powers of CongressLevy taxes Spend money for common defense and Publix welfare Borrow money Regulate foreign interstate and Indian commerce Establish bankruptcy laws Coin money Establish weights and measures Punish counterfeiters Establish post offices Grants copyrights and patents Create courts inferior to Supreme Court Define and punish piracy Declare war Raise and support an army and navy47
13789741144exit pollelection-related questions asked of voters right after they vote48
13789741145opinion pollinterviews or surveys with samples of citizens that are used to estimate the feelings and beliefs of the entire population49
13789741146Entrance PollA poll that is taken before voters have cast their votes at the polling stations50
13789741147Congressional Leadership (roles)House minority whip House majority leader House minority whip House minority leader President of the senate President pro-tempore of the senate Senate majority leader Senate majority whip Senate minority whip Senate minority leader Speaker of the house51
13789741148Speaker of the houseI have the most powerful position in the lower house. I assign bills to committees and appoint select and conference committee members52
13789741149Vice PresidentI serve as president of the Senate. Although I cannot participate in debates, I can vote in case of a tie.53
13789741150President Pro TemporeI am the most senior member of the majority party and have been appointed to fill in for the Vice President when he is not in attendance at the senate. I usually have better things to do so I often times delegate a newer member to stand in for me54
13789741151House Majority and Minority LeadersHouse Majority: as majority party leader in the lower house, I exert pressure on party members to vote with the party. I am responsible for getting my party's program enacted into law House minority: I am the party leader in the lower house who informs members and assists the minority leader in resisting some of the majority party's programs55
13789741152Senate Majority & Minority WhipsSenate majority: I am the assistant majority leader of the upper house. I assist the floor leaders, communicate as party positions and rally the party members for crucial votes and ochrestrate party support for important legislation Senate minority: I am the leader of the smaller upper house responsible for resisting programs submitted by the majority56
13789741153Trustee v. DelegateTrustee Model: Legislators should consider the will of the people but act in ways that they believe are the best for long term interest of the nation Delegate Model: Legislators should adhere to the will of their constituents57
13789741154Checks on Federal BureaucracyExecutive: President can make appointments to certain offices, which are subjected to approval by the senate Congress: Controls how much funding goes in bureaucratic agencies, conduct investigations and pass laws that affect bureaucracies Judicial: Declares acts of Congress which might favor the bureaucracy unconstitutional58

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