Monster Vocabulary Definitions

Flashcards covering essential political science vocabulary, including legal terms, election processes, and constitutional amendments.

SLANDER

False spoken statements that damage a person’s reputation

SUPER PAC

A political committee that can raise unlimited funds but cannot directly coordinate with candidates

RETROSPECTIVE

Voting based on how well current officeholders have performed in the past

WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS

A court order requiring a detained person be brought before a judge

BANDWAGON EFFECT

The tendency to support the candidate perceived as winning

PRIOR RESTRAINT

Government censorship of speech before it is published

INTEREST GROUP

An organization that seeks to influence public policy

AGENDA SETTING

Media influence over which issues the public thinks are important

LIFECYCLE EFFECTS

Changes in political views that occur as people age

JUDICIAL ACTIVISM

The view that the courts should interpret the Constitution broadly and may strike down laws to protect rights

POLITICAL EFFICACY

The belief that one’s political participation can influence government

EX POST FACTO LAW

A law that criminalizes an act after it was committed

EXIT POLL

A survey of voters taken as they leave polling places

17TH AMENDMENT

Amendment providing for direct election of U.S. senators

PRECEDENT

A past court decision used as a guide for future cases

POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION

The process by which people develop political attitudes and values

LIBEL

False written statements that damage a person’s reputation

PARTY PLATFORM

A political party’s official statement of positions

REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE

A group that accurately reflects the larger population being studied

REFERENDUM

A direct vote by the people on a proposed law or policy

MIRANDA RULE

Requirement that police inform suspects of their rights before questioning

ORIGINAL JURISDICTION

Authority of a court to hear a case first

RULE OF LAW

The principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable under the law

CAUCUS

A meeting of party members to select candidates or set policy goals

APPELLATE JURISDICTION

Authority of a court to review lower court decisions

FREE RIDERS

People who benefit from collective action without contributing

PROSPECTIVE VOTING

Voting based on which candidate or party a voter believes will perform best in the future

POLICY AGENDA

A list of issues that government officials consider priorities

SWING STATES

States where support between major political parties is closely divided and elections are competitive

NARROWCASTING

Targeting media messages to specific audiences

CIVIL RIGHTS

Protections against discrimination and unequal treatment by the government

VALENCE ISSUES

Issues on which most people agree on the desired outcome

WEDGE ISSUES

Divisive issues used to split an opposing group

MARGIN OF ERROR

A statistic expressing the possible difference between poll results and the true public opinion

POLITICAL PARTY

An organization that seeks to win elections and control government

SYMBOLIC SPEECH

Nonverbal expression protected by the First Amendment

15TH AMENDMENT

Prohibits denying the right to vote based on race

24TH AMENDMENT

Band poll taxes in federal elections

FREE EXERCISE CLAUSE

First Amendment protection of religious practice

ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE

First Amendment prohibition on government establishing an official religion

SELECTIVE INCORPORATION

The process by which the Bill of Rights is applied to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment

WINNER TAKE ALL SYSTEM

A system where the candidate with the most votes wins the entire election or all electoral votes

WRIT OF CERTIORARI

An order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up a case for review

OPEN PRIMARY

An election in which voters can choose which party’s primary to vote in regardless of party affiliation

BENCHMARK POLL

An initial poll used to measure a candidate’s standing before a campaign

GRASSROOTS LOBBYING

Efforts to influence public policy by mobilizing ordinary citizens to contact government officials

MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Congressional elections held halfway through a president’s term

CLOSED PRIMARY

A primary limited to registered party members

SALIENCY

The importance or prominence of an issue to the public

CONFIRMATION BIAS

Favoring information that supports existing beliefs

EXCLUSIONARY RULE

Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court

POLITICAL IDEOLOGY

A set of beliefs about the role of government and public policy

HORSE RACE JOURNALISM

Media coverage that focuses on who is winning or losing an election rather than on issues

14TH AMENDMENT

Defines citizenship and guarantees due process and equal protection

REVOLVING DOOR

The movement between government and lobbying or private sector positions

PAC

An organization that raises and spends money to support or oppose candidates

CIVIL LIBERTIES

Constitutional freedoms protecting individuals from government power

DUE PROCESS CLAUSE

Constitutional guarantee that government will not deprive people of life, liberty, or property unfairly

19TH AMENDMENT

Grants women the right to vote

26TH AMENDMENT

Lowered the voting age to $18$

JUDICIAL RESTRAINT

The view that courts should limit the use of their power and defer to elected branches

TIME, PLACE & MANNER

Government regulations on when, where, and how speech can occur, as long as the rules are content-neutral and serve a significant public interest

EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE

Part of the Fourteenth Amendment requiring states to treat individuals equally under the law and prohibiting unjustified discrimination

STARE DECISIS

The legal principle that courts should follow precedent when deciding cases to ensure stability and consistency in the law

MONETARY POLICY

Actions by the Federal Reserve to regulate the money supply and interest rates to influence inflation and economic growth

FISCAL POLICY

Government decisions about taxation and spending used to influence the economy

KEYNESIAN ECONOMICS

An economic theory arguing that government should increase spending or cut taxes during economic downturns to stimulate demand

SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMICS

An economic theory emphasizing tax cuts and deregulation to encourage production, investment, and economic growth

RATIONAL CHOICE VOTING

The idea that voters make decisions based on a cost-benefit analysis of which option best serves their interests

AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF

A “friend of the court” brief filed by individuals or groups not directly involved in a case to provide additional information or perspectives