Edexcel Politics 7. US Politics: Constitution and Congress

Question or Term

Answer

That body which has proved the most significant obstacle to the success of constitutional amendments

A device in which one or more senators can delay action on a bill or any other matter by excessively long debating, speaking, or other obstructive actions

The number of times the party of the incumbent President has gained seats in a mid-term election

The model of representation that is better reflected in the Senate

That which may be too flexible as it has not prevented governments undermining civil liberties such as in the wake of 9/11 through bodies such as the NSA, or historically regards minorities such as African-Americans and Native Americans

That, two recent marginally defeated examples of which are to mandate a balanced budget, and to outlaw flag desecration

That position in government which has become the norm since 1969, with only 13 years without it

Those political entities which decide upon the framework within which elections are undertaken in their area, as opposed to the federal government

That, the principle policy consequence of which is that the States can act as places where new solutions to old problems can be tested

That the advantages of the process of which are that it; prevents the tyranny of a small majority, ensures support by both federal and state governments, makes changes on temporary concerns unlikely, and prevents a federal veto

Question or Term

Answer

That which some argue is balanced in its flexibility in that it allows the government to respond to crises, after which curtailed civil liberties are restored as with internment of Japanese-Americans during the Second World War

Congressional elections that fall in the middle of the President's four year term, often serving as a 'referendum' on the President's performance

The power of the House of Representatives to charge an executive or judicial official by a simple majority, thereby referring them to a Senate trial requiring a two-thirds super-majority to find guilty and thereby remove from office

A 2002 George W. Bush era act that; mandated annual testing in schools, increased federal funding for the poorest schools, and increased federal funding for scientifically based reading programmes

That which Congress can - alongside impeachment - propose to check the Supreme Court

Those bodies within the House of Representatives which recommend matters for debate and provide oversight of various government agencies and programmes

That, which American observers sometimes criticise the UK constitution for potentially allowing due to weaker checks and balances

Usually ad hoc committees with members from one or both chambers of Congress which investigate a particular issue where it falls outside the purview of existing standing committees or is too time consuming for them

A situation of distinct cultures, beliefs, religious convictions, &c. across one country as can be seen amongst the US States

The three 'i's' regarding approaches to comparative politics in alphabetical order