The Legislative

BranchUnit 3 Study Guide

Separation of PowersA government principle by

which the legislative, judicial, and executive powers are

essentially held by different groups and people

Checks and BalancesCongress may pass laws and

they go into effect if the President signs the law.

However the Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional.

Checks and BalancesSystem which requires

the different branches of the federal government to work together to seek

the common good

Separation of PowersThe structure of the

government of the U.S. which allows the Legislative Branch to

write laws, the Executive Branch to enforce the laws, and the Judicial Branch to interpret

the laws.

Veto PowerThe Executive Branch

may veto Congressional legislation as its check on

the power of Congress

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A measure which eliminated literacy tests, which often

disqualified potential voters

Plessy v. FergusonThe Supreme Court

decision which upheld the principle of

separate but equal

“Melting Pot” of Cultures

People and cultures combine to a degree in which a homogenous

culture is created from many

Affirmative ActionLegislation which

provided aid to groups of people previously

discriminated against

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

The first Supreme Court case dealing with the

constitutionality of affirmative action

Bringing Charges of Impeachment

A special power delegated only to the

House of Representatives

Approving Presidential Appointments and Treaties

A power delegated only to the U.S. Senate. This is an example of a Legislative Branch “check” on the

Executive Branch

Vice-President

Presiding officer of the U.S. Senate

Over-riding a Presidential Veto

Requires a 2/3 vote of each house of Congress and represents a Legislative Branch “check” on the

Executive Branch

Implied PowerA power that is not specifically given to the government but

which is allowed because of the “Necessary and Proper Clause”

in the Constitution. Ex: The power to establish national

speed limits

ImpeachmentThe investigation that takes place when an

elected official is accused of illegal

activity

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Responsible for overseeing the trial, if a President is impeached,

according to the U.S. Constitution

Impeachment Conviction

According to Article II of the U.S. Constitution, a 2/3 vote is required in the Senate to

convict a president or government official

The Bill of RightsPlaces the GREATEST limit on the power of

the federal government

U.S. ConstitutionThe highest legal

authority in the U.S. government

Lack of InterestThe MAIN reason that people choose not to exercise their civic

responsibility of voting

Democratic and Republican PartiesThe two political parties that have been in power the longest in the history

of the United States

Interest GroupsUnlike political parties, they normally concern

themselves with specific issues or problems.

Primary goal is to influence public policy.

Single Issue PartyAs the name implies, it is centered on issues relating to one topic. Ex.: The Right-to-Life

Party

Political PartyPurposes:•Co-ordinate policies•Join like-minded people•Inform voters of political positions

Federalists PartyThe first American political party to

successfully have a President in office

Two-party SystemThis term best describes the

American political party system because for most of our history

two political parties have competed for office.

Donkey/Elephant• Images which came to

represent the two major parties in the U.S.

• Donkey = Democrats• Elephant = Republicans

LobbyistPrimary role is to

influence government policy on specific

issues

Tenth AmendmentProtects the rights of American people to

express their political views

Teach for AmericaA major, non-governmental

organization, which uses volunteers to teach in low-income communities in the

United States

Political Action Committees (PACs)Kind of organization that can

legally solicit campaign contributions from individuals

and then funnel those donations to candidates for

political office

Interest GroupsTheir most effective method of change is campaigning for a

candidate who supports their position

Public PolicyA course of action

taken by the government to address a specific problem or

issue

American Election Campaigns

Most likely ways to reach voters:•Facebook•Create a web site•Twitter

Public Opinion PollsMay be taken before, during or after an election. They are not

always accurate but are based on scientific standards. They are

often used to focus government attention on specific problems or

issues

Lawmakers – Positive Public Opinion

Lawmakers want to keep opinions of them high

because if public opinion is low they might not get

re-elected for another term.

Public AgendaIssues important to the

public that people want addressed by the

government

The InternetPlayed the single

GREATEST role in the spread of information in the 21st Century.

Glittering GeneralityTechnique that uses

statements that sound good but do not mean anything. Ex.: I can restore economic

prosperity to our nation.

GovernorDeals with issues

focused in one state