Studied by 1 person
527 Group
A tax-exempt organization created to influence the political process
Absolutism
A political system in which a ruler holds total power
Adjournment
The suspension of a session of congress
Affirmative Action
A policy designed to give special attention to or compensatory treatment for members of some previously disadvantaged group.
Ambassador
an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.
Amicus Curiae Brief
Literally, a "friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.
Anarchy
absence of government
Anti-Federalists
Opponents of the American Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.
Appellate Jurisdiction
The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts
Apportionment
Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state
Appropriation
A legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency
Austerity
A state of reduced spending and increased frugality in the financial sector.
Autocracy
A country that is run according to the interests of the ruler rather than the people
Autonomous
self-governing
Bicameral
Two house legislature
Bill
a proposed law
Bill of Attainder
a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court
Block Grant
Money given to states for general programs within a broad category
Bond
a formal contract to repay borrowed money with interest at fixed intervals
Bureaucracy
A system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials
Bureaucratic Rule-Making
Regulations to keep laws applicable to changing circumstances. Power granted by Congress.
Cabinet
Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.
Categorical Grant
Funds provided for a specific and clearly defined purpose.
Caucus
a private meeting of party leaders to choose candidates for office
Certoriari
Removing a case from lower court to a higher court for review
Chain of Being
species can be arranged in a linear sequence, idea dates back to Aristotle, aka ladder of nature. shows the fixed plan behind nature, with man at the top
Charter
A document that gives the holder the right to organize settlements in an area
Checks and Balances
A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power
Chief of Staff
the person who oversees the operations of all White House staff and controls access to the president
Citizenship
a person who, by place of birth, nationality of one or both parents, or naturalization is granted full rights and responsibilities as a member of a nation or political community.
Civil Disobedience
A form of political participation that reflects a conscious decision to break a law believed to be immoral and to suffer the consequences.
Civil Law
A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.
Civil Liberties
freedoms to think and act without government interference or fear of unfair legal treatment
Civil Rights
Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.
Civil Service
A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.
Clear and Present Danger Test
law should not punish speech unless there was a clear and present danger of producing harmful actions
Closed Primary
A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote
Closed Rule
A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.
Closed Shop
A working establishment where only people belonging to the union are hired. It was done by the unions to protect their workers from cheap labor.
Cloture
a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote
Coattail Effect
The boost that candidates may get in an election because of the popularity of candidates above them on the ballot, especially the president.
Collective Security
agreement by a group of nations to defend the other in case of an attack on any member
Command Economy
An economic system in which the government makes all economic decisions.
Commerce Clause
Clause stating that Congress can regulate interstate and international commerce.
Commercial Speech
Communication in the form of advertising. It can be restricted more than many other types of speech but has been receiving increased protection from the Supreme Court.
Common Law
(civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions
Communism
A theory or system of social organization based on the holding of all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.
Concurrent Powers
Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.
Confederacy
A loose union of independent states; name of government used by the southern states that seceded during the Civil War
Conference Committee
Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.
Congressional Budget Office
government agency that provides economic data to Congress
Congressional Oversight
a committee's investigation of the executive and of government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends
Congressional Redistricting
The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives.
Consensus
general agreement
Conservatism
A political or theological orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical changes.
Constituency
the residents in the area from which an official is elected
Constitution
A written plan of government
Consul
Under the Roman Republic, one of the two magistrates holding supreme civil and military authority. Nominated by the Senate and elected by citizens in the Comitia Centuriata, the consuls held office for one year and each had power of veto over the other.
Cooperative Federalism
system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems
Critical Election
An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty.
Cross-Cutting Cleavages
Divisions within society that cut across demographic categories to produce groups that are more heterogeneous or different.
Curriculum
course of study in a school or college
De Facto
Racial segregation that occurs in schools, not as a result of the law, but as a result of patterns of residential settlement
De Jure
segregation by law
Defendant
an individual or group being sued or charged with a crime
Delegate Role of Representation
When members of Congress cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents.
Democracy
government by the people
Developed Nation
A nation with established agriculture and industry, advanced technology, and a strong educational system.
Developing Nation
a nation only beginning to develop industrially (primarily agriculture)
Devolution
the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states
Dictatorship
A form of government in which the leader has absolute power and authority.
Diplomacy
The practice of conducting negotiations between countries
Divided Government
Governance divided between the parties, as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.
Divine Right
Belief that a rulers authority comes directly from God.
Docket
a court's list of cases to be heard
Brutus No. 1
An Anti-Federalist essay which argued against a strong central government based on the belief that it would not be able to meet the needs of all US citizens.
Federalist No. 10
Dangers of factions
Federalist No. 51
an essay in which Madison argues that separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny
Federalist No. 70
Hamilton argues that a strong executive is essential in the new government.
Federalist No. 78
Hamilton argues for a strong judicial branch
Letter from Birmingham Jail
Letters written by MLK encouraging non-violent protest against segregation.
The Articles of Confederation
A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.
The Declaration of Independence
Document declaring American independence from Britain
Bill of Rights
First 10 amendments
Domestic
native to a country, not foreign; relating to the life or affairs of a household; a household servant
Double Jeopardy
Being tried twice for the same crime
Due Process
fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.
Egalitarianism
A belief in the equality of all people
Eighth Amendment
No cruel and unusual punishment
Elastic Clause
the part of the Constitution that permits Congress to make any laws "necessary and proper" to carrying out its powers
Electorate
All of the people entitled to vote in a given election
Electors
a person who has the right to vote in an election
Elite Democracy
A political system in which the privileged classes acquire the power to decide by a competition for the people's votes and have substantial freedom between elections to rule as they see fit.
Embargo
A ban on trade
Embassy
the official residence of an ambassador in a foreign country
Eminent Domain
Power of a government to take private property for public use.
Empire
an extensive group of states or countries under a single supreme authority, formerly especially an emperor or empress.
Enfranchise
to give the right to vote
Entitlement Programs
government programs providing benefits to qualified individuals regardless of need
Entitlements
A claim for government funds that cannot be abridged without violating the rights of the claimant; for example, social security benefits or payments on a contract.
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