U.S. Foreign Policy, Government Branches, and Legal System Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes detailing U.S. foreign policy, presidential powers, cabinet departments, bureaucracy, legislative processes, and legal/judicial systems.

Foreign Policy

A country's strategy for dealing with other countries.

Hard Power

Also known as the stick; the use of foreign policy tools that force other countries, including war, economic sanctions, and embargoes.

Soft Power

Also known as the carrot; foreign policy tools based on non-coercive means, such as diplomacy, treaties, military aid, economic packages, and humanitarian aid.

Deterrence

The core purpose of keeping nuclear weapons, with effectiveness based on capability and credibility.

Economic Sanctions

Economic penalties applied by one country to another that restrict the level of trade between countries to hit them in the pocketbook.

Embargo

A total end to trade between two countries that makes it illegal to own products from the other country.

Diplomacy

A communication process where states try to advance national interests and resolve conflicting interests using words rather than force.

Public Diplomacy

The use of a positive image to achieve foreign policy goals, where a government tries to influence other governments by influencing their publics.

Humanitarian Aid

Aid including money, food, and supplies given to foreign countries to help them recover from disasters, wars, and related crises.

The Clash of Civilization Thesis

A theory proposed by Samuel Huntington in 1993 asserting that 20th-century ideological divisions will become less important and older sources of conflict like culture and religion will emerge.

Worldview (Paradigm)

A comprehensive mental picture of the world's issues.

Containment Paradigm

A postwar foreign policy paradigm (1940s-60s) focused on resisting Soviet expansionism.

Jus Soli

Law of the Soil; a rule of citizenship where an individual is born on U.S. land.

Jus Sanguinis

Law of the Blood; a rule of citizenship based on having American parents.

Chief Executive

The presidential role responsible for enforcing laws, appointing cabinet department heads, and overseeing federal government employees.

Executive Agreement

An agreement made between a President and another foreign leader that is not binding on future presidents and does not require Senate ratification.

Signing Statement

A written message issued by the President when signing a bill into law, explaining how the President interprets and expects to implement it.

Pardon

A executive judicial power where a crime is completely erased as if it was never committed.

Commute

A judicial power of leniency where a individual remains a convicted felon but is spared serving remaining sentence time.

War Powers Act of 1973

A law requiring the President to notify Congressional leadership within 48 hours of committing armed forces abroad and limiting their deployment to 60 days plus a 30-day withdrawal period without additional authorization.

Executive Order

An administrative command issued by the President that carries force of law but cannot be used for taxes or appropriating funds.

22nd Amendment

Constitutional amendment passed in 1951 that limits a presidential candidate to two terms of office or a maximum of 10 years.

25th Amendment

Constitutional amendment passed in 1967 that clearly outlines presidential succession and procedures for presidential disability.

Red Tape

Standardized bureaucratic rules and procedures that are inefficient and dehumanizing, often involving tedious paperwork.

Mission Creep (Imperialism)

The bureaucratic tendency for government agencies to continually grow, irrespective of the costs and benefits of their programs.

Independent Administrative Agencies

Government entities outside Cabinet departments whose heads serve fixed terms and cannot be fired directly by the President.

Government Corporations

Public agencies that sell a service or product, compete for customers, and are expected to make enough money to sustain themselves.

Whistleblower Protection Act (1989)

Federal legislation that prohibits agencies from retaliating or threatening employees who report acts believed to be illegal or dishonest.

Gerrymandering

Drawing legislative district boundary lines in such a way as to favor a specific political group or party.

Marginal District

A swing district in which a candidate wins an election with less than 55% of the vote.

Franking Privilege

The benefit granted to members of Congress allowing job-related mail to be sent free of postage.

Logrolling

An arrangement where several congresspersons work together to combine earmarks or support each other's legislation.

Delegate Model

A representational voting model where a congressperson casts votes based strictly on what they think their constituents want.

Trustee Model

An attitudinal voting model where a congressperson blends representative approaches and uses their own judgment depending on the issue.

Discharge Petition

A tool used in the House of Representatives requiring a simple majority to force a bill out of a reluctant committee for a floor vote.

Filibuster

A tactic in the Senate where a senator attempts to delay or talk a bill to death using unlimited debate rules.

Cloture

A procedural vote in the Senate used to end a filibuster or debate and force a decision on a measure.

Stare Decisis

A legal principle meaning 'let the decision stand' that guides courts to rely on established precedents.

Bork

The act of destroying a court nominee's confirmation chances by aggressively attacking their character, background, and philosophy.

Concurring Opinion

A written opinion by Supreme Court justices who agree with the majority's ultimate decision but for different legal reasons.

Amicus Curiae Brief

A 'friend of the court' document submitted by outside groups to provide extra arguments and info for a judicial case.

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional and act as chief interpreter, established in Marbury v. Madison (1803).

Civil Law

The legal area dealing with private actions that cause damage to a victim, involving plaintiffs, defendants, and torts.

Tort

A civil wrong or non-criminal act that causes damage or injury to a victim.

Misdemeanor

A crime more serious than a petty offense, typically punishable by fines or less than one year in prison.