Key Concepts in American Government and Politics

Political party

coalitions of people who form a united front to win control of government and implement policy.

Government

refers to institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled.

Bureaucracy

system of administration characterized by a hierarchical structure, fixed rules, and a division of labor.

Federalism

system of government in which power is divided between central and regional governments.

Full faith and credit clause

states are expected to honor public arts, records, and judicial decisions that take place in another state.

Supremacy clause

the U.S. constitution stands supreme over state laws.

Civil rights

protections and privileges that individuals are guaranteed under the law, aimed at ensuring equal treatment, freedom from discrimination.

Civil liberties

areas of personal freedom constitutionally protected from government interference.

Political ideology

is a cohesive set of beliefs and values that form a general philosophy about the role of government.

Political value

American's have strong views about the importance of freedom of expression.

Political attitude

are views about particular issues, persons, or events.

Habeas corpus

protects the individual's right to be free from unlawful detention or imprisonment.

Miranda rights

Persons who are under arrest must be informed prior to police interrogation of their rights to remain silent and to have the benefit of legal counsel.

Civil law

branch of law that deals with disputes that do not involve criminal penalties.

Criminal law

the branch of law that regulates the conduct of individuals, defines crimes, and specifies punishments for criminal acts.

Anti federalist

favored strong state government and a weak, more decentralized national government.

Commerce clause

gives Congress the power to tax, raise an army, declare war, and establish post offices.

Equal protection clause

provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing citizens 'equal protection of the laws'.

Affirmative action

refers to policies and practices aimed at increasing opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups.

Collective action

efforts of a group of people working together to achieve a common goal.

Discrimination

unfair or unequal treatment of individuals or groups.

Home rule

the authority or power granted to a local or regional government to govern itself and make decisions independently from a central or national government.

Dual federalism

the sharing of governmental powers between the federal and state governments (layered cake).

Separation of powers

a fundamental principle in the structure of government, where the powers and responsibilities of government are divided into distinct branches to prevent any one group from gaining too much power.

Administrative law

a branch of public law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government.

Tort law

a branch of civil law that deals with situations where a person's behavior causes harm or injury to another person, either intentionally or through negligence.

Adversarial journalism

journalists may adopt a stance of opposition or combative style towards the government or public officials.

Libertarianism

those who emphasize individual freedom and believe in voluntary association with small government.

Public opinion

the collective attitudes, beliefs, and views held by the general public on particular issues, policies, leaders, or topics.

Conservative

political and social philosophy that emphasizes tradition, stability, and the preservation of established institutions.

Democratic socialist

someone who advocates for a political and economic system that combines elements of democracy with socialism.

Internal affairs

matters, issues, or activities that occur within an organization, government, or country and are related to its internal operations.

International relations

the interactions, relationships, and dynamics that occur within an organization, group, or entity.

Intergovernmental relations

competition among the states and localities to attract individuals and businesses to maximize the efficiency of government services.

Intergovernmental negotiations

discussions, dialogues, or bargaining processes that take place between different governments or government entities.

Liberty

freedom from governmental control.

Democracy

a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process.

Equality of opportunity

the principle that all individuals should have the same chance to pursue opportunities and achieve success, regardless of their background.

Liberal

political ideology or philosophy that emphasizes individual rights, democratic governance, social equality, civil liberties, and government intervention.

Burden of proof

the obligation of a party in a legal dispute to provide sufficient evidence to prove their claims or allegations.

Articles of Confederation

The first written constitution of the United States, ratified by all the states in 1781, primarily concerned with limiting the powers of the central government.

War Powers Act

Legislation that limits the President's ability to engage U.S. forces in hostilities without congressional approval.

1965 Voting Rights Act

Legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

Stamp act

a law passed by the British Parliament in 1765 that imposed a direct tax on the American colonies requiring many printed materials to be produced on specially stamped paper.

Stamp Act

Tax requiring special stamped paper for documents.

Jim Crow Era

Period of racial segregation in the U.S. (late 19th-mid 20th century).

Boston Tea Party

1773 protest against British tea tax by colonists.

Packet-switching theory

Fundamental concept for internet data transmission.

ARPANET

First practical implementation of the internet (1969).

World Wide Web

System for accessing information on the internet.

TCP/IP

Protocol that underlies internet communication.

Great Compromise

1787 agreement for bicameral legislature structure.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

U.S. agency enforcing environmental regulations.

Political speech

Communication expressing political opinions and ideas.

Legislative process

Steps to create laws in Congress.

Senate representation

Equal representation with 2 senators per state.

House representation

Representation based on state population.

Bicameral Congress

Two-house legislative system in the U.S.

Chief Executive

President's role in enforcing laws.

Commander in Chief

President's authority over military operations.

Political socialization

Process of developing political beliefs and values.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by federal and state governments.

Civil disobedience

Nonviolent resistance against unjust laws.

State of the Union

Annual address by the President on national condition.

Social movement strategies

Methods to achieve change through collective action.

Government purpose

Maintain order and protect citizens' rights.

Types of government

Forms include democracy, monarchy, and republic.

Radical elements

Colonial leaders advocating for independence from Britain.

Sons of Liberty

Group organizing protests against British rule.

Constitutional Convention

1787 meeting to address representation conflicts.

Virginia Plan

Proposal for representation based on population.

New Jersey Plan

Proposal for equal representation for each state.