John Jay, the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, refused to continue his duties because he felt the court
did not have the ability to contribute to national affairs
Early in its history, the Supreme Court faced an issue of major importance that would shape the republic; that is, what happens when a law enacted by Congress
clashed with the U.S. Constitution
The landmark ruling in Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the supreme court's power of
judicial review
The Supreme Court has _____ about 230 times in its history
reversed itself
If a state law appears to conflict with national laws or treaties, the federal courts
can invalidate it
what frees judges from executive and legislative control, reducing the chance that they might deviate from the law
their lifetime tenure
The courts decide _____ when disagreements arise from disputed claims to something of value
civil cases
Many civil cases end when parties settle, or when the changes are simply abandoned and dropped. But if a case is not settled and not abandoned, it ends with
an adjudication
One of the two ways that judges make policy is to rule on matters that no existing legislation addresses, which sets precedents and lead to the creation of
common law
The federal courts are organized in three tiers like a pyramid. The Supreme Court is on the top, the ____ are in the middle, and the ____ are on the bottom.
courts of appeals; district courts
Which latin expression refers to the basis toward existing rulings, that is, the tendency for courts to rely on precedent
stare decisis
The idea of judicial activism means that judges could
use their powers to promote their preferred social and political goals
regardless of the nature of the final ruling, or how the justices arrived at it, the Supreme Courts voting outcome is called the ____, that is, its final decision on who wins and who looses
judgement
Quite often, one or more Supreme Court justices entirely disagree with the majority decision. They express their opposing views in what is called a(n)
dissent
What is the most crucial function of the Supreme Court justices
writing opinions
Supreme court clerks who decide to enter private practice
earn more than the justices who hired them
Senatorial courtesy refers to the process that allows the senate to
share the judicial nomination power with the president
The ____ regularly evaluates potential for federal courts using a three-value scale of "well-qualified", "qualified", and "not qualified
American Bar Association
What concept has proven to be at the center of today's decisions on judicial appointments
political ideology
Beginning with its 2006 term, the Supreme Court has had many close votes, and in each case,
Justice Kennedy cast the deciding vote and mostly sided with the conservative majority
Which two justices are the most recent additions to the Supreme Court, appointed by president Obama
Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan
Most criminal cases end in
a plea bargain
Public opinion is not always reflected in Supreme Court decision. For five decades most Americans have disagreed and still disagree, with its consistent rulings on
school prayer
Which legal procedure supports the argument that the American judicial system should fit a pluralist rather than a majoritarian model
class action
which state supreme court has been more aggressive than most others in following its own liberal constitution path, going further than the U.S. Supreme Court in promoting freedom over order, and equality over freedom
the new jersey supreme court
The U.S. Constitution was written in
1787
The U.S. Constitution was designed to prevent anarchy by
forging a union of states
The principles underlying the Declaration of Independence were rooted in the writings of
John Locke
The Idea of consent on the part of those who are governed is derived from which concept?
social contract theory
Technically, a ____ is a government without a monarch, but also one based on the consent of the governed, who empower the elected representitives responsible to them
republic
What compact among the thirteen original states established the first government of the U.S.
the Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation failed for several reasons, including the fact that the new national government
had no power to tax
Which 1780s event demonstrated that the "league of friendship" under the Articles was incapable of suppressing insurrection and keeping order, creating a sense of urgency at the Philadelphia convention to strengthen the national government?
Shays's Rebellion
The ___ was as set of proposals for a new government, submitted to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which included separation of the government into three branches and division of the legislature into two houses using proportional representation
Virginia Plan
One of the main ideas behind the New Jersey Plan was to
give states with large and small populations equal repesentation
The main "compromise" represented in the Great Compromise settled an ongoing debate by creating the House and Senate, and then
using a diffentent form of representation in each
When the electoral college was created as the nation's official voting system, what lingering and pervasive fear was eliminated?
fear of popular vote controlled by the people
Which form of government is designed so that power resides in the people and is exercised by their elected representatives?
republicanism
The concept of republicanism can be traced all the way back to the ideas of ____, who suggested that a constitution should combine principles of both democratic and oligarchic government
Aristotle
What is the division of power between a central government and regional governments, one that essentially creates two bodies of law?
federalism
What kind of powers are needed by Congress in order to take action on, and therefore expand, its enumerated powers?
implied powers
Which group consisted of opponents of the Constitution at the time it was proposed?
Antifederalists
In the most well-known Federalist Paper, Federalist No. 10, James Madison famously argued that the new Constitution would
break and control factions
The first ten amendments to the Constitution are collectively referred to as
the Bill of Rights
In_____, the Supreme Court declared that the courts have the power to nullify government acts that conflict with the Constitution
Marbury v. Madison
Which method related to the amendment process is legally allowed but has never been used in U.S. history?
proposing amendments via national convention
In some situations, strict adherence to the Constitution can actually be detrimental, and political practice shifts governmental powers without any changes in the Constitution. Which example below demonstrates this?
the president's power to declare war
The U.S. Constitution is the ____ written national constitution in the world, and one of the most ____
oldest; copied
Before any amendments were added to the U.S. Constitution, it provided a judicious balance between ____
securing order and granting freedoms
The Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-sixth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution were similar in that they all expanded
the right to vote to populations previously denied.
Which principle is at play when two or more governments exercise power and authority over the same people and the same territory
federalism
James Madison wrote in Federalist No. 10 that the U.S. Constitution forms a happy combination of "great and aggregate" interests as well as " local and particular " interests, meaning that power
was meant to be either exclusive or shared.
When it was implemented, federalism helped soothe citizens' fears by providing a solution to the problem of
diversity
Which theory narrowly interprets the national government with limited functions and only enumerated powers, while empowering states as separate and sovereign spheres, building a solid wall between the two
dual federalism
Political scientists use the bakery metaphor of a marble cake, with intermingled swirls and random mixtures, to visually represent
cooperative federalism
Which 1819 Supreme Court case expanded the national government's role, through interpretation of the elastic clause, when it ruled that the government could establish a national bank
McCulloch v. Maryland
____ are the broad categories of grants targeted for specific purposes, seen in two forms that both come with tight restrictions allowing little flexibility for their recipients
categorical grants
Grants based on rules that defined who is eligible and for how much are called ___ grants, while those based on competitive applications to perform specific tasks are called ____ grants
formula; project
Certain kinds of grants are "earmarked" for broadly defined areas, such as education or health, allowing the recipient a lot of flexibility in spending the grant money within these areas. These are called
block grants
In the past they were considered "weak links," but since the 1960s, ____ have emerged as capable policy actors, leading to dynamic changes in the American federal system
state governments
A number of citizens, interest groups, and officials inside government try to convince others to accept a particular view of the proper balance of freedom, order, and equality. These individuals are called
policy entrepreneurs
Which group of individuals is often associated with dual federalism, believing that states should control their own activities
conservatives
Which of the following acts of Congress that restricted the states does the text give as an example of partial preemption
Do Not Call Implementation Act
To illustrate the changing political backgrounds of U.S. presidents, the text points out that four of the previous six candidates to be elected president (Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush) had formerly served as
governors
Which term refers to what has become an extremely high-stakes game, affecting all levels of government, and determining a state's seats in the U.S. House
redistricting
A complex process called ____ requires that states show how their proposed redistricting plans will not dilute minority voting strength
preclearance
Which form (or forms) of government does the U.S. Constitution specifically recognize
the national government and state governments
____ are the governing bodies of cities and towns
municipal governments
The Chicago Sanitation District as well as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are examples of government units created to perform particular functions, those that usually spill across ordinary jurisdictional boundaries. What are these units called
special districts
The concept of home rule
gives cities a measure of self-government and freedom of action
As a result of their attempts to benefit from U.S. trade policy, the states
all have international trade directors to connect with foreign nations and promote their export activities
A country has defined and recognized boundaries and its citizens have common characteristics regarding race, religion, customs, and language. What label is given to such a country
nation-state
Of the almost 200 politically sovereign states in the world today, 24 are ___ , which together account for about 2.5 billion people, or 40 percent of the world population
federations
By recognizing the legitimacy of the states as political divisions, the federal system acknowledges the cultivation of diverse interests, which is the foundation of
pluralism
The national government has increasingly created a coercive form of federalism, particularly by using
mandates and restraints
Voting in free elections to choose leaders is the main way that citizens
control government
In the not-so-distant past, ____ controlled all phases of the election campaign
political parties
Probably the most important change in American elections is that
the candidates don't campaign just to get elected anymore
Which primaries allow all those not already registered with a party to choose any party ballot and vote
modified open primaries
Which type of primary has the least restrictions on voters, but also weakens the power of parties
open primary
Critics argued that the chaotic ___ convention was rigged because the chosen candidate never ran in a primary, ultimately leading to major reforms in both parties starting with the next election
1968 Democratic
Unlike Democratic presidential primaries, most Republican primaries have been ____, at least up until 2012.
winner-take-all
What term was coined to describe the tendency for states to move their primaries earlier in the year to gain attention from the candidates and the media
front-loading
What function does the Iowa caucus traditionally serve during a presidential election
it narrows the field of candidates
In 2012, the Republican Party primary
represented the longest presidential primary season in history
Technically, we elect a U.S. president in a
federal election
What is one of the strong arguments that supports presidential selection by electoral votes, rather than by popular vote
it reduces the risk of a nationwide recount
Which situation occurs when a voter selects candidates from different parties for the various offices listed on the ballot, such as a Democratic president but a Republican senator
split ticket
In just about all elections, but particularly in congressional elections, ____ enjoy great advantages and are difficult to defeat
incumbents
Which piece of legislation that took effect in 2004 raised campaign spending limits for individuals, but not groups, and also banned soft money
the BCRA
Organizations known as "527 committees" are issue-advocacy groups that
are rarely used anymore because they have to report their donors
Restore Our Future, Winning Our Future, American Crossroads, and Priorities USA Action are all contemporary examples
Super PACs
Candidates today often buy a "polling package' consisting of the four elements below. Which one beginning in October and conducts short nightly interviews with selected respondents
tracking poll
Which of the following commonly wins an election all by itself
name recognition
What kinds of advertisements both criticize an opponent and advocate policies of the sponsoring candidate
contrast ads
Research indicates that since 1952, ____ of the electorate decides how to vote before the party conventions end in the summer
more than half
Of the main factors that figure into the final voting decision on a president, ____ are the least important to voters
issues
What is by far the most important long-term force affecting U.S. elections, particularly in those who make early voting decisions
party identification
The increased use of ___ has encouraged candidates to personalize their campaign messages
electronic media, particularly television
Some scholars believe that stronger parties would not only strengthen democratic government, but also coordinate policies after the election. But what acts as a barrier to this possibility
divided government
Members of the U.S. Senate serve ____ terms, while members of the U.S. House of Representatives serve ____ terms
six-year; two-year
After each census, congressional seats are assigned based on recent population shifts among the states. What term defines this process?
reapportionment
Which of the following are powers of the Senate but not the House
the power to approve presidential appointments and treaties
Throughout U.S. history, how many presidents have been tried by the Senate for impeachment
two: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton
Since 1950, the rate of reelection for incumbents in the House has been
astonishingly high, at more than 90 percent
How have Americans felt about the performance of Congress in recent years
They have been very critical, with less than a 15 percent approval rating
Of the important advantages given to office holders, which one allows them to send mailings at taxpayer expense
franking privilege
In their financial support, PACs consistently show a strong preference for
incumbents
The formal legislative process begins when a member of Congress
introduces a bill
The text gives the example of a newly proposed bill on "cyberstalking" as one that suddenly made its way on the congressional agenda
as the product of technological change
If the Senate and House versions of a bill differ, they are sent to a(n) ____, where legislators from both chambers create a compromise version
conference committee
A pocket veto occurs when
the president lets a bill die by not signing it over a period of time
Most of the daily work of drafting legislation occurs in the sixteen ____ Senate committees and twenty-one _____ House committees
standing; standing
___ is the process of reviewing the operations of a federal agency to determine whether it is carrying out policies as Congress intended.
oversight
Who is the majority party's leader in the House
the Speaker of the House
Despite the language of the Constitution, the ___ is the real power in the Senate
majority leader
To limit debate rather than letting it go on indefinitely, the Senate uses ____, which takes sixty senators to establish on the floor
cloture
Which two powerful influences on the legislature push Congress toward majoritarianism
parties and the president
What is the main reason why partisanship has been rising in Congress since 1980
the parties are becoming more homogeneous
What is traditionally one of the most important norms of behavior in Congress, one that has become very difficult to achieve in recent years
being willing to compromise
A survey of House members indicated they took an annual average of thirty-five trips back to their districts, averaging well over one hundred days at home. This demonstrates their lives in the world of
constituents
When legislators feel obligated to vote on critical issues the way the majority of the people at home feel, even if they personally disagree with this view, they are acting as
delegates
In a parliamentary system, power is concentrated in the legislature with virtually no checks from outside. It therefore reflects a ___ much more than the American system of government
majoritarian democracy
In 2011, both parties officially banned
earmarks
When the delegates to the Constitutional Convention created the presidency, which concept or philosophy was reflected in their final structure
checks and balances
One of the requirements for the presidency, as stated in Article II of the Constitution, says that the president
must be a natural-born citizen
Which of the following is not one of the five major constitutional powers of the U.S. president
to control the power of the purse
What term refers to the president's rejection of a bill that both the House and Senate have approved
veto
The framers' limited conception and vague description of the president's role has led to
a more powerful presidency
By the end of 2011, President Obama had vetoed ____ bills sent to him from Congress
2
Which has historically been seen as the most controversial use of the president's powers
the power to act as commander in chief of the military
Which term refers to the duties or authorities claimed by the president that are not clearly specified in the Constitution
inherent powers
What presidential directives carry the force of law, though they are not specifically granted in the Constitution
executive orders
The Bush administration defended itself with the theory of the "unitary executive" when it was criticized for
authorizing warrantless wiretapping
At times Congress willingly gives the president more responsibility to administer programs it has created
delegation of powers
Which individual often acts as a first among equals or, in some administrations, the unquestioned leader of the president's inner circle
chief of staff
What is the name of the president's extended executive establishment, which employs about 2,000 and has an annual budget of $500 million
the Executive Office of the President
Which common advisory style for organizing the White House staff was demonstrated by President Eisenhower, mirroring a military command with clear lines of authority
a hierarchial staff model
In his book, Presidential Power, Richard Neustadt stresses that a president's powers are embodied in which single characteristic
persuasion
Presidents' obsessive concern with public opinion can be defended as a way to promote
majoritarian democracy
Which common situation in American government may seem politically schizophrenic and illogical, but doesn't seem to bother the American people
divided government
Which president used his farewell address to lash out at interest groups for distorting the national interest
Jimmy Carter
Which concept refers to the voters' endorsement for a president to carry out the platform spelled out in the campaign
electoral mandate
The test demonstrates the differing intentions of presidents by noting that Lyndon Johnson repeatedly used the words ____ in his inaugural address, while Ronald Reagan used the word ____ fourteen times in his
justice and injustice; freedom
Which president demonstrated a critical change in legislative leadership by asking and receiving more of Congress than ever before in history
Franklin Roosevelt
Which group acts as the communications link between the White House and Congress, informing the president of a pending bill's status and problem areas
legislative liaison staff
For over forty years, form the end of World War II until the late 1980s, ___ around the globe preoccupied American presidents
containing communist expansion
Of the three fundamental objectives of international relations that concern modern presidents, which was particularly reflected in President Obama's decision to ambush Osama bin Laden
maintaining national security
During the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, John Kennedy established a new role model for presidents regarding effective
crisis management
What term describes the federal employees who are experts in their narrow areas and work within specified limits of responsibility
bureaucrats
Since the start of the twentieth century, American government seems to have
grown unchecked
Which federal bureaucracies existed in George Washington's time
the postal service and the treasury department
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are examples of twentieth-century bureaucracies created to
regulate specific industries
What are the biggest units of the executive branch, covering broad areas of government responsibility
departments
Which of the following are examples of cabinet departments
interior, Justice, and Education
What term is used to describe any organization within the executive branch that is not part of a cabinet department
independent agency
The postal service is an example of a(n)
government corporation
The goal of the Pendleton Act of 1883 was to
reduce the level of patronage
people are often surpised or confused about the fact that the country's major administrative agencies
actually make policy
Which of the following is an example of administrative discretion
Congress allowing the FCC to create broadcasting guidelines
Which agencies are granted the broadest discretion by Congress, and therefore have the most freedom to make their own policy decisions
those involved in domestic and global security
Which administrative process do government agencies use with the goal of the issuing regulations
rule making
Airline regulations, such as those issued by the Department of Transportation after Congress threatened to enact a "passenger bill of rights," represent a perfect example
freedom versus order
In his analysis of the way policy is made, Charles Lindblom found that the "rational-comprehensive" model for the decision-making process is
unrealistic
Incrementalism is a primary characteristic of modern policy-making, referring to the fact that in real life policies are made by
making changes bit by bit and step by step
Part of a large organization's culture of bureaucracy is the development of informal, unwritten rules called
norms
Bureaucrats "go by the book" because the "book
is the law and they are obligated to enforce the law
When new regulations in the EPA's amended Clean Air Act were followed so that pollution could be reduced in Los Angles, which common difficulty of implementation was demonstrated
sharing responsibility with many agencies and layers of government
Which regulartory philosophy aims to achieve equilibrium, a situation in which the target problem is balanced by gains that improve lives or business
sustainability
Which common approach to reform focuses on measuring agency results and holding bureaucrats accountable for meeting expectations
setting performance standards
Advocates of ____ envision eliminating layers of bureaucracy and reducing the rules that govern business markets
deregulation
The text describes Dr. Frances Kelsey's actions during the FDA approval process for thalidomide in 1960 to explain why
strict adherence to regulations can be crucial in protecting consumers
In recent years, government welfare programs have increasingly emphasized ___, leading to outsourcing by stat and local governments
social services
The Government Performance and Results Act requires that bureaucratic agencies
identify goals and report on their progress in meeting them