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Civil Rights Act of 1964
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Key Terms
Term
Definition
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Prohibits discrimination based on race or gender in employment or public accommodations (restaurants, hotels). Created EEOC to enforce. Based on Congr...
Commerce Clause
Art. 1, Sec. 8 of the Constitution (enumerated power). Congress has the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states ["In...
Confederation
Nonbinding union of sovereign states (example = European Union, America under Articles of Confederation).
Congressional Demographics
Rich highly educated white male protestant lawyers & businessmen! Women VERY underrepresented! (<17%)
Connecticut Compromise
Solves big state-little state debate over representation in federal legislature at Philly Convention. Created bicameral legislature with equal represe...
Cooperative Federalism
System of federalism where federal & state governments help each other perform governmental duties. Also known as marble-cake federalism. E.g., After ...
Related Flashcard Decks
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Civil Rights Act of 1964 | Prohibits discrimination based on race or gender in employment or public accommodations (restaurants, hotels). Created EEOC to enforce. Based on Congress's interstate commerce clause power (discrimination impacts interstate commerce). The most important federal civil rights law. |
Commerce Clause | Art. 1, Sec. 8 of the Constitution (enumerated power). Congress has the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states ["Interstate Commerce Clause"], and with the Indians. Interpreted by the Supreme Court very broadly (Gibbons v. Ogden) until Lopez & Morrison. |
Confederation | Nonbinding union of sovereign states (example = European Union, America under Articles of Confederation). |
Congressional Demographics | Rich highly educated white male protestant lawyers & businessmen! Women VERY underrepresented! (<17%) |
Connecticut Compromise | Solves big state-little state debate over representation in federal legislature at Philly Convention. Created bicameral legislature with equal representation for states in Senate and proportional representation in House (seats based on population). |
Cooperative Federalism | System of federalism where federal & state governments help each other perform governmental duties. Also known as marble-cake federalism. E.g., After hurricanes federal and state agencies work together to provide relief. Can cause confusion and/or conflict among among different levels of government. Best explanation of how federalism works today (instead of dual federalism) |
Condition of Aid | A technique of fiscal federalism used by Congress to control states. Requires states to do something in order to get the money (ex. South Dakota v. Dole, raise drinking age 21 to get highway money). |
Department of Defense | Cabinet-level agency in charge of the armed forces and military policy. HQ = The Pentagon. (Secretary Panetta) |
Department of State | Cabinet-level agency in charge of foreign policy & international affairs. (Secretary Clinton) |
Descriptive Representation | The idea that politicians can only represent people like them (ex. only women can represent women, blacks represent blacks, etc.) |
Devolution Revolution | The effort to reduce the size & power of the federal government by returning (devolving) power to the states. Associated with economic conservatives, President Reagan & the Tea Party. |
Doctrine of Implied Powers | Established by CJ Marshall in McCulloch v. Maryland. Congress has the power to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out its enumerated powers. So it can create a National Bank to carry out its power to coin money. Major cause of growth of federal power. |
Dual Federalism | System of federalism that strictly separates federal power (ex. foreign relations) and state power (ex. protect against crime). Each level of government is dominant within its own sphere. Probably how the Founders thought America would work (enumerated federal powers + reserved state powers). Also known as "layer-cake federalism." |
Electoral College | Constitutional system for electing president and vice president. Each state has electors = to number of senators + representatives (DC also has 3 because of 23rd Amendment). Citizens of state vote for candidate. Winner gets all electoral college votes (except Maine & Nebraska which uses proportional system). Winner of majority of electoral college votes becomes president. If no majority then President picked by House from top 3 candidates. |
Congress' Enumerated Powers | Power to tax, borrow & coin money, regulate foreign & interstate commerce, establish army, declare war, make all laws necessary & proper for carrying out the enumerated powers (elastic clause) |
Exclusionary Rule | Evidence obtained in violation of 4th Amendment is not admissible in criminal trial. (Weeks v. U.S., Mapp v. Ohio) |
Exit Poll | A poll of voters exiting the polls (voting locations) to attempt to predict the outcome of the election. May create a bandwagon effect. |
Federalism | A system of government in which power is divided between one central government and several regional governments (dual or cooperative). Used in USA and a few other countries. Most countries have unitary governments. |
Federalist Papers | Written in 1788 by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay to support ratification of the Constitution. Fed 10 (factions) & Fed 51 (separation of powers, checks & balances) |
Federalists | Supporters of the new constitution in 1787. Supported a strong central government. Hamilton, Washington, Marshall. Became first political party (vs. Jefferson's Democratic-Republicans) |
Fiscal Federalism | Federal government using money (grants) to influence & control states. |
Formal Amendment Process | Article V; the (very difficult) process of adding or deleting words to the constitution (27 times since 1788); propose by 2/3 vote of Congress or Constitutional Convention (never used); ratify by 3/4 vote of state legislators or state convention (only used once) |
Franking Privilege | The right of congresspeople to send job-related mail to their constituents without paying postage. Incumbency advantage. |
Gender Gap | Belief / observation that women are more likely to support Democratic / liberal candidates & issues than men. Women are more likely to support spending on welfare & education, and to oppose higher levels of military spending. |
General Election | Election in which the winner becomes an elected government official. |