Government & Politics Study Guide

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering constitutional structures, state and local governance, legislative processes, elections, and public finance based on the Government & Politics Study Guide.

Constitution

The main document that establishes a government's powers, structure, and limits.

Preamble

The introduction to a constitution that explains its goals and purpose.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting where people gather to write or revise a constitution.

Federalism

A system where power is shared between the national and state governments.

Unitary

A system where most government power belongs to the national government.

Bicameral

A legislature with two chambers, such as the U.S. Congress (House and Senate).

Unicameral

A legislature with only one chamber.

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by the national and state governments, such as taxation.

Appointment

The process of selecting someone for a government position.

Ratification

The official approval of a constitution, amendment, or agreement.

Charters

Legal documents that establish a government or organization and define its powers.

Executive Order

A directive issued by the president or a governor to manage the executive branch.

Impeachment

The formal process of accusing a public official of misconduct, where removal from office is not automatic.

Veto

The power to reject a bill passed by a legislature.

Override

When a legislature votes to overturn a governor's or president's veto, usually requiring a special majority.

Attorney General

The state's chief legal officer who represents the state in legal matters.

Lieutenant Governor

The second-highest executive officer in many states who may take over if the governor cannot serve.

Secretary of State

A state official who often oversees elections, business registrations, and official records, with duties varying by state.

State Treasurer

A state official who manages or oversees certain state funds and financial activities.

Department Secretary

An official who leads a state government department, such as transportation or health.

Appropriations

The legal authorization to spend government money for specific purposes.

Authorizations

Laws or official approvals that establish or permit government programs and activities, which do not always provide funding.

Line-Item Veto

The power to reject specific parts of a spending bill without rejecting the entire bill, depending on the government's laws and constitution.

Tax Cap

A legal limit on how much certain taxes or tax levies can increase.

Term Limits

Rules that limit how long someone can hold a particular elected office.

Municipal Government

Government that serves a local community, such as a city, town, or village.

City Council

An elected group that makes laws and decisions for a city.

Mayor

An elected or appointed leader of a city or town, depending on the local system.

Mayor-Council System

A system where a mayor leads the executive branch and a city council makes laws.

Council-Manager System

A system where an elected council makes policy and hires a professional manager to run daily operations.

Commission System

A local government system where elected commissioners oversee different departments and collectively govern.

County Government

Government that provides services across a county, such as law enforcement, courts, and road maintenance.

Township Government

A form of local government used in some states to manage services for a smaller geographic area.

Special Districts

Government units created to provide specific services, such as water, fire protection, or public transportation.

Zoning

Rules that determine how land can be used, such as for homes, businesses, or factories.

Home Rule

The power of local governments to manage their own affairs within the authority granted by state law.

Dillon's Rule

The principle that local governments have only the powers granted by the state, expressly or by necessary implication.

Civil Service

A system for hiring and promoting government employees based largely on qualifications and merit rather than political connections.

Constituents

The people an elected official represents.

Districts

Geographic areas represented by elected officials.

Single-Member Districts

Electoral districts that elect only one representative.

Multimember Districts

Electoral districts that elect two or more representatives.

Direct Democracy

A system where citizens vote directly on laws or policies instead of relying only on elected representatives.

Recall

A process that allows voters to remove an elected official before the end of their term.

Simultaneous Recall

An election format where voters decide whether to remove an official and, in some systems, choose a replacement in the same election.

Retention Vote

A vote where voters decide whether a judge or certain officials should remain in office, which is technically not the same as a recall election.

Party Identification

The political party a person identifies with or feels connected to.

Majority Leader

A legislative leader who helps organize the majority party's agenda and votes.

Minority Leader

A legislative leader who represents and organizes the party with fewer seats.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer and a leading figure in the U.S. House of Representatives or a state house.

Committee

A smaller group of legislators that studies bills or specific issues.

Standing Committees

Permanent legislative committees that handle particular subjects, such as education, health, or finance.

Administrative Rules Review Committees

Legislative committees that examine regulations created by government agencies to check whether they follow the law and legislative requirements.

Procedural Rules

Rules that explain how a legislature conducts its business, debates bills, and votes.

Oversight

The process of monitoring government agencies and programs to make sure they follow the law and use public resources properly.

Rule Making

The process government agencies use to create detailed regulations to carry out laws passed by the legislature.

Bureaucrats

Government employees who administer programs, enforce regulations, and carry out public policies.

Revenue

Money collected by the government through taxes, fees, and other sources.

Medicaid

A government health insurance program jointly funded by federal and state governments for eligible people with low incomes and certain other qualifying circumstances.

Medicare

A federal health insurance program primarily for people aged 65 and older, as well as certain younger people who qualify because of disabilities or specific medical conditions.

Policy Diffusion

The process by which one government adopts a policy or idea that another government has already used.