37 terms in Topic2.1
Congress
The US legislature, composed of the House of Representatives (435 members) and the Senate (100 members), responsible for
US Government and Politics
Congress
The complex route a bill must follow to become law — through committees, floor votes in both chambers, conference commit
US Government and Politics
Congress
Specialised sub-groups of Congress that examine proposed legislation, investigate issues, and oversee executive agencies
US Government and Politics
Congress
A Senate procedure allowing unlimited debate on a bill, effectively requiring 60 votes (out of 100) to pass most legisla
US Government and Politics
Congress
The ways Congress monitors, investigates, and checks the power of the President and executive branch agencies.
US Government and Politics
Congress
The growing ideological divide between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, with fewer moderates and less bipartisan c
US Government and Politics
The US Constitution
The supreme law of the United States, written in 1787, which establishes the structure of government, separates powers b
US Government and Politics
The US Constitution
The deliberately difficult procedure for changing the US Constitution, requiring supermajority support in Congress and a
US Government and Politics
The US Constitution
The first ten amendments to the US Constitution, ratified in 1791, guaranteeing fundamental individual liberties includi
US Government and Politics
The US Constitution
The constitutional principle that power is divided between three independent branches of government — Congress, the Pres
US Government and Politics
The US Constitution
The constitutional division of power between the federal (national) government and the 50 state governments, each with t
US Government and Politics
The US Constitution
The debate between those who believe the Constitution should be interpreted according to its original meaning (originali
US Government and Politics
The US Constitution
The ongoing relevance and contested nature of the 18th-century Constitution in addressing 21st-century political, social
US Government and Politics
The US Presidency
The formal constitutional powers of the President, including commander-in-chief, chief executive, chief diplomat, and th
US Government and Politics
The US Presidency
Directives issued by the President to federal agencies that have the force of law, used to implement policy without cong
US Government and Politics
The US Presidency
The argument that presidential power has expanded far beyond the Framers' intent, particularly in foreign policy and nat
US Government and Politics
The US Presidency
How the President and Congress work together and against each other, including the dynamics of unified government, divid
US Government and Politics
The US Presidency
The Vice President's constitutional role and the President's cabinet of department heads who advise on policy and manage
US Government and Politics
The US Presidency
The political, institutional, and personal factors that determine how much power a President can actually exercise — fro
US Government and Politics
The US Supreme Court
The highest court in the United States, with the power of judicial review to declare laws and executive actions unconsti
US Government and Politics
The US Supreme Court
How Supreme Court Justices are nominated by the President, scrutinised by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and confirmed
US Government and Politics
The US Supreme Court
Why the Supreme Court matters politically — its role in shaping policy, protecting or restricting rights, and acting as
US Government and Politics
The US Supreme Court
The debate about whether the Supreme Court should actively interpret the Constitution to address modern issues (activism
US Government and Politics
US Civil Rights and Liberties
The distinction between civil liberties (freedoms from government interference, protected by the Bill of Rights) and civ
US Government and Politics
US Civil Rights and Liberties
The social and political movement of the 1950s-1960s that fought to end racial segregation and discrimination, achieving
US Government and Politics
US Civil Rights and Liberties
Policies designed to increase representation of historically disadvantaged groups (particularly racial minorities) in ed
US Government and Politics
US Civil Rights and Liberties
The ongoing debate about the extent of racial equality in the US, including policing, voting rights, economic inequality
US Government and Politics
US Elections
The system used to elect the US President, where voters in each state choose electors who then formally cast votes for t
US Government and Politics
US Elections
The process of selecting the US President, including primary elections, caucuses, national conventions, the general elec
US Government and Politics
US Elections
How US election campaigns are funded, including the role of individual donations, PACs, Super PACs, and the ongoing deba
US Government and Politics
US Elections
Elections to the House of Representatives (every 2 years) and Senate (every 6 years, staggered), including the significa
US Government and Politics
US Elections
The use of ballot initiatives, referendums, and recall elections at the state level, allowing citizens to make or repeal
US Government and Politics
US Political Parties
The two major US parties — the Democrats (centre-left, progressive coalition) and Republicans (centre-right, conservativ
US Government and Politics
US Political Parties
Why the US has only two major parties, the barriers facing third parties, and the implications for voter choice and poli
US Government and Politics
US Political Parties
The major ideological groupings within each US party — from moderate to progressive Democrats, and from traditional cons
US Government and Politics
US Pressure Groups
Interest groups in the US that seek to influence government policy through lobbying, campaign contributions, litigation,
US Government and Politics
US Pressure Groups
The close relationships between congressional committees, executive agencies, and interest groups that create mutually b
US Government and Politics