How often does congress adjust the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives?
Every ten years
Permanent committees that continue their work from session to session are called?
standing committees
The elaastic clause allows congress to?
stretch its powers to meet new needs
Inn impeachment proceedings, the House may _______, but the Seenate must ________.
impeach/convict
congress cannot..?
favor one state over another
Congress is considered a bicameral body because?
it has two parts
At term of Congress lasts for?
two years
Why do political parties sometimes gerrymander their districts?
to increase their voting strength
Congress gets its lawmaking powers from..?
Constitution
The nonlegislative powers of Congress include the power to...?
check other government branches
The seniority system is....?
used by party leaders to make committee assignments
Congress is bicameral because...?
the Framers sought a compromise on the issue of state representation in Congress
Committee staff members deal with?
lobbyists
People seek help from members of congress because?
they want a voice in government
In what order are actions taken on congressional bills?
committee action, floor action, conference action
A congressional override of a presidential veto is?
rare
Congressional bills dealing with people's claims against the government are called?
private bills
part of the lawmaking process is debating...?
bills on the floor of congress
After being introduced on the floor, a bill moves to...?
the appropriate standing committee
A filibuster can be ended by?
three fifths of the senators voting for cloture
What are the requirements, as listed in the constitution, for becoming President of the United States?
35 years old, native born citizen, resident for at least 14 years
The number of electoral votes each state has is equal to the number of ________, plus the number of ___________. Florida has ___ electoral votes.
representatives / senators / 29
A candidate for president must receive ____ electoral votes to become president. If no candidate receives those votes, the ___________ votes on the candidate. This is done with each state getting ____ vote. In the case of a tie, the ______ votes to break
270 / house of rep / 1 / VP
What is the line of succession after the president and vice president?
Speaker of the house, prez pro tempore, sec of state, sec of treasury, sec of defense, attorney general
Who has the power to cast a tie breaking vote in senate?
the vice president
What is the salary of the president?
$400,000
What is the salary of congress?
$169,300
The statement in the constitution that says "executive power shall be invested in a president" means that thhe president is responsible for what?
The president's main job is to execute, or carry out, the laws passed by congress
Who has the power to approve or reject presidential nominees?
Senate
Presidential appointees to head cabinet departments and other top government offices must be appproved by?
senate
What is a declaration of forgiveness?
pardon
The constitution gives the power to declare war to __________. But Congress shares this power with the president, as he has the power to __________.
congress / send troops
The war powers resolution states that...?
The president must notify congress within 48 hours of sending troops into battle
The most direct benefit of having a US foreign policy that promotes democracy around the world is that it helps....?
encourage peace and protect our national security
the united states will send an ambassador to another country only if the government of that country has..?
a legally recognized government
Which of the president's closest political advisors is the most powerful?
Chief of Staff
The press secretary provides?
the public with statements from and news about the president
What is the core of the executive office?
White house office
How often does the cabinet meet with the president?
Anytime the president deems necessary
What is the advisory group that is chosen by the president to help accomplish the work of the executive branch?
Cabinet
What is the federal bureaucracy?
agencies and employees of the executive branch
What is the spoils system?
Government jobs go to poeple as a reward for political support
What is the merit system?
Government officials hire new workers from lists of people who have passed the test or otherwise met civic service standards
How is the federal court system organized?
Supreme Court- 9 judges no jury, US Court of Appeals- 3 judges 12 courts in US, US District Courts- judges and juries
The federal courts have jurisdiction in eight areas. What are those areas?
Constitution, federal laws, disputes between states, citizens from different states, the federal government, foreign governments and treaties, admiralty and maritime laws, US diplomats
All federal cases must begin in ________, because those courts have ___________ (the authority to hear a case for the first time)
district courts / original jurisdiction
What are the three other names for the appeals court?
federal appeals court, circuit court of appeals, and appellate courts
What does it mean when a judge uses a "precedent" to arrive at an opinion?
he looks at preceding cases that are the same and judges with the decisions made in those cases
The district courts are responsible for determining
the facts of a case
The Marbury v. Madison case established?
Judicial review
How can Congress limit (get around) a court ruling?
by passing a new law or changing the law
How does a case come before the supreme court?
If 4 out of the 9 justices agree to hear it
The seperate but equal doctrine was used to justify ___________ for the next 50 years.
segregation
When can the supreme court rule on the constitutionality of a law?
at the end of the case
The supreme court primarily hears cases that involve?
constitutional questions that center around the bill of rights
The job of the appeals court is to?
review decisions made in a lower district court
Prior to becoming a supreme court justice, all have been what? And is this a requirement?
Lawyers / no
US attorneys are lawyers who prosecute?
people accused of breaking a federal law
The supreme court is made up of ___ associate justices, and led by _______ chief justice.
8 / 1
The US supreme court's decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, overturned a _______ of 'seperate but equal' decision of Plessy v. Ferguson.
precedent
What supreme court case demonstrated the limits of the supreme court?
Worcester v. Georgia
The final authority that determines if a law is acceptable under the constitution rests with _______.
the supreme court
An order to delay a person's punishment until a higher court can hear the case is a _______.
reprieve
Artice III of the constitution provided for the creation of one supreme court and?
such lower courts as congress deemed necessary
The view of the majority of justices on a case is known as the _________.
majority opinion
What is a court calendar called?
docket
What is the detailed explanation of the legal thinking behind a court decision?
opinion
The number of votes needed for a majority in supreme court cases?
five out of nine
The opinion that presents the view of justices who disagree with the majority opinion is called the?
dissenting opinion
An opinion written by a justice who agrees with the opinions but for a different reason is known as the?
concurring opinion
List the steps in decision making.
Written arguments, Oral arguments, Conference, Opinion writing, Announcement
The governor is the head of?
the state executive branch
An example of reserved power is the power to?
administer elections
A felony is a
serious crime
After both houses of a state legislature approve a bill, the bill becomes a law after the approval by the
governor
civil cases involving large amounts of money are handled by?
general trial courts
Supervision of all courts in a state is the responsibility of the state's ________.
supreme court
Which section of the US constitution ensures that a legal marriage in one state must be accepted in all other states?
Article IV (four)
Local governments are created by?
state governments
Which group of people typically provides sewer and water services?
county government
What are the duties of a district attorney?
to bring charges against suspected lawbreakers and prosecute cases in court
In which form of city government are legislative and executive powers held by the same person or group?
commission
In Louisiana, counties are called?
Parishes
Which person or group of people runs New England town government?
selectmen
A city charter most closely resembles..?
a constitution
The duties of a county board of commissioners include?
passing ordinances
What is an ordinance?
a city law
Which of the following usually occurs when people incorporate a village?
more businesses are attracted to the area
A civil suit concerning a complaint of negligence is most likely to involve?
personal injury
What is a defendant in a civil lawsuit most likely to argue?
that no loss occurred to the plaintiff
Most civil lawsuits are settled before the trial, in order to?
avoid the time and expense of a trial
What may be classified as a felony and a misdemeanor?
drunk driving
What is the correct sequence of events in the beginning of a criminal case?
arrest, hearing, indictment, arraignment
In a criminal case, when do the lawyers for each side present their opening statements?
before any witnesses are called
What is the difference in the court procedure for juvenile trials and adult trials?
juveniles don't have the right to a jury trial
After a juvenile has been found delinquent, for which reason might the charges be dropped and the matter removed from the record?
the juvenile completes probation
One way to end a civil lawsuit before trial is to?
mediate a resolution
What would an attorney's answer to a complaint most likely contain?
reasons that the defendant is not responsible for the injuries claimed
What is one of the claims made by critics of the parole system?
many sentences are much shorter than intended
A decision with a minimum and maximum sentence is called
indeterminate
What is the correct sequence of events in the end of a criminal case?
verdict, sentencing, appeal
In which case would an appeal go directly to the state supreme court?
capital case
Why might a youth be placed in a foster home?
The youth was neglected by caregivers
Who is most likely to have the authority to divert juveniles away from court and into special programs?
police officers who handle juvenile cases
What is a way that the juvenile court system uses to protect juveniles?
keeping juvenile offenders' identities secret