Government Study Guide

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Linkage Institutions

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78 Terms

1

Linkage Institutions

Organizations or structures that connect citizens to government, such as elections, political parties, interest groups, and media.

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2

Political Parties

Groups of people who share common political beliefs and work to influence government policies through elections.

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3

Interest Groups

Organizations that attempt to influence government policies on specific issues.

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4

Party Platform

A document outlining the key positions and policies of a political party.

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5

Social Contract

The theory that individuals consent to form a government for protection and order in exchange for certain freedoms.

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6

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from gaining too much power.

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7

Iron Triangle

A mutually beneficial relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees.

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8

Majority-Minority Districting

Drawing electoral districts to create a majority of minority voters in a district, aiming to increase minority representation.

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9

Poll Taxes

Taxes imposed as a requirement to vote, used historically to disenfranchise African Americans.

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10

Civil Rights

The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

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11

Civil Liberties

Basic freedoms and protections guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

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12

Categorical Grants

Federal funds provided for a specific purpose, with strict limitations on how the money can be spent.

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13

Block Grants

Federal funds given to states with more flexibility in how they are spent, typically for broader areas such as healthcare or education.

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14

Mandates

Direct orders from the federal government that require states or local governments to comply with specific regulations or actions.

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15

Due Process

The legal requirement that the government must respect all legal rights owed to a person under the law.

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16

Symbolic Speech

Non-verbal expressions of opinion, such as flag burning or wearing protest symbols.

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17

Obscene Speech

Speech or expression deemed offensive by community standards; not protected under the First Amendment.

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18

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one political party or group.

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19

Political Action Committees (PACS)

Organizations that raise and spend money to influence elections, supporting specific candidates or causes.

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20

Echo Chamber

A situation where information, ideas, or beliefs are amplified or reinforced through communication and repetition, often within a closed system or community.

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21

Dual Federalism

A political system where both state and national governments remain supreme within their own spheres of influence.

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22

Cooperative Federalism

A system where federal, state, and local governments work together to address issues.

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23

Supremacy Clause

Establishes that the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the supreme law of the land.

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24

Equal Protection Clause

Part of the 14th Amendment, it requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all people.

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25

Establishment Clause

Part of the First Amendment, it prohibits the government from establishing an official religion.

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26

Selective Incorporation

The process by which the Bill of Rights is applied to state governments through the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses.

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27

Affirmative Action

Policies designed to increase opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups, often through race or gender-based preferences.

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28

Freedom of Choice Plan

A strategy to desegregate schools by giving parents the option to choose schools, often used in the South after Brown v. Board.

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29

Motor Voter Laws

Laws that require states to allow individuals to register to vote when applying for or renewing a driver's license.

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30

Grandfather Clause

Laws that allowed white voters to bypass literacy tests or poll taxes, as long as their ancestors had been eligible to vote before the Civil War.

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31

1st Amendment

Freedom of speech, press, assembly, petition, and religion.

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32

2nd Amendment

Right to bear arms.

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33

4th Amendment

Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

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34

5th Amendment

Protection against self-incrimination, double jeopardy, and guarantees due process.

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35

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery.

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36

14th Amendment

Grants citizenship and equal protection under the law.

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37

15th Amendment

Prohibits voting restrictions based on race.

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38

19th Amendment

Grants women the right to vote.

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39

23rd Amendment

Grants Washington D.C. electoral votes.

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40

26th Amendment

Lowers the voting age to 18.

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41

Title IX

Prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities.

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42

Equal Pay Act

Requires equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender.

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43

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution, especially in Article 1, Section 8.

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44

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Established the 'separate but equal' doctrine, legalizing racial segregation.

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45

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Overturned Plessy, ruling that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional.

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46

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Recognized a woman's constitutional right to choose to have an abortion.

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47

Schenck v. United States (1919)

Established the 'clear and present danger' test for limits on free speech.

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48

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Guaranteed the right to legal counsel for defendants in criminal cases.

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49

District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)

Recognized an individual's right to possess firearms for self-defense under the Second Amendment.

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50

Miranda v. Arizona (1966)

Established the requirement that police inform suspects of their rights before interrogation.

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51

Retrospective Voting

Voters evaluate candidates based on their past performance.

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52

Prospective Voting

Voters evaluate candidates based on their future promises or plans.

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53

Rational Choice

Voters make decisions based on the perceived benefits to themselves.

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54

Party Line Voting

Voters choose candidates from one political party based on party affiliation.

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55

Barriers to Turnout

Voter ID laws, registration restrictions, language barriers, and voter apathy.

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56

Participatory Democracy

Emphasizes broad participation in political decision-making.

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57

Pluralists

Focuses on the role of diverse groups in influencing policy.

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58

Elite

Argues that a small group of elites holds most political power.

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59

Winner-Take-All

The candidate who wins the most votes in a state or district takes all the electoral votes or representation.

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60

Proportional Voting

Seats or votes are allocated based on the proportion of votes a party receives.

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61

Closed Primary

Only registered party members can vote in their party's primary.

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62

Open Primary

Any registered voter can participate, regardless of party affiliation.

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63

Caucus

A system where voters meet to discuss and select candidates.

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64

Primary Election

Election to choose party candidates.

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65

Midterm Election

Elections held in the middle of a presidential term, often for congressional seats.

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66

General Election

Election to choose from among candidates for public office.

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67

Local & State Elections

Elections for local government positions and state offices.

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68

Electoral College

System for electing the president, where electors from each state cast votes based on state results.

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69

Connected PACs

Funded by and associated with a specific organization (e.g., labor unions, corporations).

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70

Non-connected PACs

Independent PACs not tied to any specific organization.

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71

Leadership PACs

PACs established by politicians to fund their own or others' political campaigns.

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72

Super PACs

PACs that can raise unlimited money for political causes but cannot directly contribute to candidates.

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73

Federalists v. Anti-Federalists

Debate between those who wanted a strong central government (Federalists) and those who wanted stronger state governments (Anti-Federalists).

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74

Democrats v. Republicans

The two major political parties in the U.S., with Democrats generally favoring a larger government role and Republicans advocating for limited government.

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75

Third Party

Political parties outside the two major parties, often focusing on specific issues or ideologies.

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76

Traditional Media

Newspapers, radio, and television.

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77

New Media

Social media, blogs, and online news platforms.

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78

Biases in Media

Media can have biases based on ownership, editorial lines, and audience targeting. Bias can manifest in story selection, framing, and language.

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