American Government and Politics: A Study Guide

Posted on Aug 10, 2024 in Law & Jurisprudence

I. Vocabulary

Match the Term with its Definition

  1. Jus Sanguinis: Nationality is not determined by place of birth but by parents that are citizens of the state
  2. Writ of Habeas Corpus: A court order that forces the police to present a person in court to face charges
  3. Writ of Certiorari: An order of a higher court seeking review of a lower court case
  4. Denaturalization: To deprive of the rights of citizenship
  5. Jus Soli: The principle of citizenship by birthplace
  6. De Jure Segregation: Separation of races by law
  7. Prior Restraint: Censorship imposed by a government, on expression before the expression actually takes place
  8. De Facto Segregation: Separation of races that occurs without laws requiring segregation
  9. Equal Protection Clause: Provides that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction “the equal protection of the laws.”
  10. Suspect Classification: Any classification of groups meeting a series of criteria suggesting they are likely the suspect of discrimination

II. Amendments

Match the Amendment with its Description

  1. 1st Amendment: Free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, right to assemble freely
  2. 13th Amendment: Abolished slavery
  3. 14th Amendment: Defined citizenship, expanded due process, established equal protection
  4. 15th Amendment: Prohibited denying the right to vote because of race, color, or previous servitude
  5. 16th Amendment: Permitted passage of income tax
  6. 19th Amendment: Gave women the right to vote
  7. 22nd Amendment: Created presidential term limits
  8. 24th Amendment: Banned poll tax
  9. 25th Amendment: Established rules for presidential succession, filling a presidential vacancy, vice-presidential succession
  10. 26th Amendment: Lowered the voting age to 18

III. Court Cases

Match the Court Case with its Decision

  1. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Ruled on “separate but equal”
  2. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954): This decision led to the end of segregation and helped spark the civil rights movement
  3. Marbury v. Madison (1803): Established judicial review
  4. Gideon v. Wainright (1963): Established that the right to counsel was essential for a fair trial
  5. Schenk v. United States (1919): Considered what limits could be set on free speech without violating freedom in the First Amendment
  6. Buckley v. Valeo (1972): Established basic rules on how modern presidential campaigns are financed
  7. United States v. Nixon: Establishes limits to executive privilege and presidential immunity
  8. Miranda v. Arizona (1966): Suspects in custody must be informed of their rights before questioning
  9. Gibbons v. Ogden (1824): Regulates interstate commerce
  10. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): In this decision, the Supreme Court ruled that no state could tax any part of the federal government

IV. Multiple Choice

  1. Which of the following is an example of limited government?
    B – Authoritarian regime
  2. Which of the following forms of government has elected representatives that make decisions on behalf of the people?
    A – Representative democracy
  3. Which principle of American democracy holds government officials accountable to the law?
    A – Rule of law
  4. Which of the following events led colonial leaders to call for the First Continental Congress?
    C – Intolerable Acts
  5. In which of the following bodies must funding laws originate?
    B – The House of Representatives
  6. Which of the following does the Senate have the sole authority to approve or reject?
    B – Treaties with foreign countries
  7. Executive agreements are usually used by a president to support which of the president’s executive powers?
    A – Conducting overseas trade negotiations
  8. Which group of people cast the official vote for the candidates running for president of the United States?
    B – Electors chosen by each state
  9. How do most states today choose their electors to the Electoral College?
    C – Representatives are elected by popular vote
  10. What is Congress’s role in the budget process?
    A – Congress is able to change nearly any aspect of the president’s proposed budget
  11. What is the main role of the Budget Committees in the House and Senate?
    B – To establish spending and revenue guidelines
  12. In most instances, what must a party order to bring an appeal to a court of appeals?
    A – Be prepared to argue that a lower-court case involved a serious legal error
  13. Why do party activists impose “litmus tests” on potential Supreme Court nominees?
    A – To determine his stand on a determined issue or issues that are vital to activists
  14. Which of the following is true about substantive due process?
    A – It involves questions about whether legal procedures are fair.
  15. Which best describes affirmative action policies?
    A – Reverse discrimination

V. Short Answer

  1. Explain how a bill becomes a law.
    A bill can be introduced in either the Senate or the House of Representatives. It is then referred to a standing committee and assigned to a subcommittee for study, hearings, revisions, and approval. The bill then returns to the full committee for more hearings and revisions. In the House of Representatives, the bill goes to the Rules Committee to set conditions for debate and amendments. The bill is then voted on by the full House or Senate. If passed, it is then sent to the other chamber where it undergoes the same process. If the bill passes both chambers, it is then negotiated in a Conference Committee to reconcile any differences between the House and Senate versions. The final bill is then voted on by both chambers of Congress. If passed, it is sent to the President who can sign it into law, veto it, or allow it to become law without their signature.
  2. Describe the Electoral College and how it elects the president in the United States system.
    The Electoral College is a body of electors established by the United States Constitution, constituted every four years for the sole purpose of electing the president and vice president of the United States. Each state gets as many electors as it has members of Congress. The candidate who receives a majority of electoral votes (at least 270) wins the presidency. If no candidate receives a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the president from among the top three candidates.
  3. Enumerate powers shared by national and state governments. Explain the tendency.
    Both the national and state governments in the United States share certain powers. These concurrent powers include the power to:
    • Raise taxes
    • Provide public welfare
    • Administer criminal justice
    • Borrow money
    • Charter banks
    • Build roads
    This sharing of powers is known as federalism and is a key feature of the U.S. system of government. It allows for both national unity and regional diversity, as states can tailor their laws and policies to meet the specific needs of their citizens, while still operating within the framework of the Constitution.