Employment Division v. Smith (1990)

Employment Division v. Smith (1990)

Determined that the state could deny unemployment benefits to a person fired for violating a state prohibition on the use of peyote, even though the use of the drug was part of a religious ritual. Although states have the power to accommodate otherwise illegal acts done in pursuit of religious beliefs, they are not required to do so. Neutral laws of general applicability do not violate the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

How can dissenting opinions play a role after a case is decided? Provide an example.

How can dissenting opinions play a role after a case is decided? Provide an example.

They write dissenting opinions when they disagree with the Supreme Court ruling. Not every Supreme Court ruling is unanimous. Some are by 5 to 4, or 6-3, or 7 to 2 or 8 to 1 majorities. Some cases are by other majorities if not all nine justices vote on the case. The minority justices, that is the dissenting justices, write their own opinion to state why the think the majority is wrong and what they would have ruled and why.

What is the role of the president's press secretary ?

What is the role of the president's press secretary ?

The Press Office is responsible for providing support and information to the national and international media regarding the President's beliefs, activities and actions. It works alongside the Office of Communications in crafting and espousing the administration's message.

Pros and Cons of exit polling ?

Pros of exit polling

Exit polling can be a really good source of information if it is done correctly, and most news outlets do have the intention and resources to do it correctly. It gives us a pulse of what's going on in the election and a good directional indication of who's winning. But they're not something to rely on for any significant purposes.

Cons of exit polling

On the flip side, exit polls are often less accurate and less predictive in very close races because the margin of error within the poll itself could intersect with the actual point difference between the candidates themselves. They can also be useful in detecting fraud because if an exit poll greatly conflicts with actual results, it can spur on an investigation to find out why those differences might exist.

Why is polling an important part of the US political system?

Why is polling an important part of the US political system?

Candidates use polls to find out how well or how badly they are doing with voters; someone who is thinking of running for office can also use a poll to find out what constituents in his district think and what the true issues are.

Why is the chief of staff an important asset to the president?

Why is the chief of staff an important asset to the president?

The White House Chief of Staff is the highest ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President. The Chief of Staff is often nicknamed 'The Second Most Powerful Man in Washington' because of the influence and access to the President.

Provide an example showing how the president sometimes might not be leading his political party.

Provide an example showing how the president sometimes might not be leading his political party.

When Jimmy Carter told Congress he would veto bills containing unnecessary "pork barrel" public works projects, he was attempting to act in the national interest, yet he antagonized members of Congress (even members of his own party), who delayed working on much of his legislative program in retaliation until Carter gave in and approved their pet projects.

How do caucuses differ from primaries?

How do caucuses differ from primaries?

a caucus is: "a private meeting of members of a political party to plan action or to select delegates for a nominating convention."


a primary is: "[an] election held to nominate a candidate for a particular party at a forthcoming election for public office."

Briefly explain how the Electoral College works. How does the winner-take-all feature affect elections?

Briefly explain how the Electoral College works. How does the winner-take-all feature affect elections?

Each state receive electors based on the number of HOR plus 2 senators. The person with the majority of votes receives the electoral votes for that state. One needs to receive 270 votes to become president
Candidates do not waste time or money campaigning in states in which they think they have no chance of winning.

Describe the meaning of marginal districts and safe districts.

Describe the meaning of marginal districts and safe districts.

marginal districts-political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55% of the vote.


safe district-a house district in which the winner of the general election carries more than 55% of the vote.

Discuss why the Framers were hesitant to allow a popular vote to determine who would become president.

Discuss why the Framers were hesitant to allow a popular vote to determine who would become president.

The popular vote was turned down largely because, due to lack of widespread communications ability, the voters in each state would pick a regional local, not knowing anything about central figures [after the founding fathers would have passed on], so that regionalism multiplied by 13 would always result in the most populous states deciding the presidency. The electoral college at least gave some weighted influence to the smaller states. The reason for the electoral college has now died with the growth of communications and political parties, and the demise of state sovereignty interests.

What important precedent came from the famous Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

What important precedent came from the famous Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

The court ruled candidates can give unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns.

Why did Political Action Committees (PACs) begin? What do PACs do?

Why did Political Action Committees (PACs) begin? What do PACs do?

In 1947, as part of the Taft-Hartley Act, the U.S. Congress prohibited labor unions or corporations from spending money to influence federal elections, and prohibited labor unions from contributing to candidate campaigns (an earlier law, the 1907 Tillman Act, had prohibited corporations from contributing to campaigns). Labor unions moved to work around these limitations by establishing political action committees, to which members could contribute.

How does political efficacy affect voter intensity?

How does political efficacy affect voter intensity?

Voter intensity gauges the likelihood that people will vote and otherwise participate in elections. It is measured by how strongly people feel about their role as the electorate, whether they feel a personal stake in the policy agenda, and their degree of political socialization. When people feel connected to the political system, they are more likely to vote and participate in campaigns or other political activities.

What is the difference between internal efficacy and external efficacy?

What is the difference between internal efficacy and external efficacy?

Internal Efficacy is one's confidence in their abilities to understand and influence political events. Not to be confused with External Efficacy which is the belief that the governmental system will respond to the citizens, in turn giving them more trust in the government

Describe how the US government has become more cooperative.

Describe how the US government has become more cooperative.

The federal govt has been more involved in state affairs than it used to be. The federal government now uses the money that it gives to the states to have control over policy areas that used to be reserved for the states.

Describe the important precedent set by Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Describe the important precedent set by Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

The ruling increased federal power over interstate commerce by implying that anything concerning interstate trade could potentially be regulated by the federal government. The court ruled that the state of NY could not grant a steamship company a monopoly to operate on an interstate waterway, even thought the waterway ran through NY.

Describe the important precedent set by McCulloch v. Maryland 1819 ?

Describe the important precedent set by McCulloch v. Maryland 1819 ?

The decision reinforced the supremacy clause of the Constitution. Court ruled that the states did not have the power to tax the national bank (and by extension, the federal government)

How did Shays' Rebellion show some of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

How did Shays' Rebellion show some of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

The state could not hold down a rebellion and the federal government did not have the means or ability to help.

List some of the powers held by the central government in the Articles of Confederation.

List some of the powers held by the central government in the Articles of Confederation.

1 To declare war and make peace.

2 To coin and borrow money

3 To detail with foreign countries and sign treaties

4 To operate post offices