FBLA - Public Policy and Advocacy

Members of Parliament are chosen by the...

political parties (party-based elections)

3 multiple choice options

Members of Congress are chosen by the...

popular vote (elected directly by the public)

3 multiple choice options

South Sudan

Country known for violating human rights

Embargo

Complete or partial ban on commerce with another country (usually for political reasons)

Trade Barrier

Government imposed restriction on trade, used to control imports and exports but don't prohibit trade (ex. tariffs, quotas, regulations)

Boycott

Voluntary decision to stop buying from or supporting a company, organization, or country to protest its policies or actions

Tariff

Tax on imported goods to make foreign products more expensive, therefore promoting domestic production

Media and polls have...

impact on elections (media shapes public opinion, creates narratives, and can choose which topics to provide coverage of)

What is NOT a role of a citizen in a Democracy?

Overthrow a government

Right to petition the government

the right to appeal to the government in favor of or against policies

3 multiple choice options

Freedom of association

Allows people to join groups, organizations, or political parties

Independent Judiciary

the ability of courts and judges to perform their duties free of influence

Rule of Law

laws apply equally to everyone

Civil Liberties

Individual rights (freedom of speech, privacy)

The fundamental purpose of government is...

maintain social peace

Public opinion polls...

are taken to collect the attitudes of people (the opinions and beliefs of the public on various issues)

Public assistance programs

government programs that are funded through taxes (ex. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food assistance)

Litigation

process of taking legal action in court to resolve disputes or advocate for legal change (ex. special interest groups do this)

Representation

elected officials acting on behalf of citizens

Mediation

neutral third party helps opposing sides reach an agreement

Arbitration

neutral third party (the arbitrator) listens to both sides and makes a binding decision

Special Interest Groups

Any group, person, or entity that seeks to influence government policy to align with the groups narrow interests

Order of Courts in the U.S.

1. Trial/District (lowest)

2. Appellate/Circuit

3. State Supreme Court

4. U.S. Supreme Court (highest)

Advantage of minor political parties

ability to nominate people for office without having to get signatures

Recall

Process that lets voters remove an elected official from office before their term ends through a petition and vote

Runoffs

A secondary election held when no candidate achieves the required majority in the first election

USDA

U.S. Department of Agriculture: regulates meat, dairy, and poultry

FDA

Food and Drug Administration: regulates foods, drugs, vaccines

FTC

Federal Trade Commission:

regulates trade practices such as advertising and consumer protection

FCC

Federal Communications Commission:

regulates communications such as radio, TV, and internet

Who is responsible for voting on and proposing bills, resolutions, and amendments?

Legislators (Members of Congress of Parliament)

Bills

Proposed laws that must pass both chambers and be signed by the president to become law (taxes go through House of Reps first)

Resolutions

Formal statements or decisions made by the legislative body

Amendments

Changes to the Constitution require congressional approval and ratification by states

At what level do congressional campaigns occur?

Local and regional levels

Congressional Campaigns

Process by how candidates compete for seats in Congress (House of Reps and Senate)

Primary Elections

Political parties select their nominees for the general election (ex. Republicans choosing Trump)

Closed Primary

only registered party members can choose their parties candidate

Open Primary

all registered voters can participate in any party's primary without declaring their party affiliation

General Elections

determine which candidates will hold public office (ex. Presidents, Congressional)

Direct Elections

voters directly cast ballots to choose public officials or decide on policy issues (ex. most elections in the US, ex. Congress)

Referendums and Ballot Initiatives

allow voters to directly decide on specific policy issues or laws

Concurrent powers

...are responsibilities that both the state and federal governments can exercise simultaneously (ex. taxation, law enforcement, establishing courts)

Elitism

a small group of people with the most resources (wealthy, influential) control political power through things like lobbying, financial influence, and policymaking

Majoritarianism

the majority of people hold power

Bureaucratic rule

suggests government officials and agencies hold the most power, not wealthy elites

Pluralism

multiple interest groups compete for power

Private special interest group

economic or business related interests rather than public sector workers (ex. Farmers under the AFBF (American Farm Bureau Federation).

NEA

National Education Association, public sector employees

Government accountability

public officials must justify their actions, decisions, and policies to the public

Ethnic Conflict

When different cultural/ethnic groups compete for the same goals

Terrorism

Politically motivated violence against civilians

Social Responsibility

broad term for ethical behavior by individuals or organizations

Appellate courts

REVIEW cases from trials courts to determine whether legal errors are present (reviewing records, briefs, and legal arguments)

State courts include...

trial and appellate courts

Trial Court

court where cases are first heard, and a judge or jury decides the facts and law. it can be at ANY level (local, state, or federal)

includes circuit courts

Circuit Court

form of a trial court that is held within its specific district or circuit, typically for lower level cases, typically handle criminal and civil cases

Municipal Court

local court that deals with minor offenses like traffic tickets or violations of city laws

Probate Court

A court that handles matters related to wills, estates, and guardianships

Small Claims Court

A court where people can resolve disputes over small amounts of money without lawyers

Expansionary fiscal policy

Increased government spending and tax cuts to boost overall demand, stimulate economic growth, and reduce unemployment

Expansionary monetary policy

Focuses on lowering interest rates and increasing money supply

Which plays an important role in protecting civil liberties?

Supreme Court (interprets Constitution and ensures that laws do not violate civil liberties, such as freedom of speech, due process, and equal protection under the law)

Common Law Systems

based on legal principles derived from judicial decisions and patterns of behavior that have become accepted as legal rules

Steps for selecting a Supreme Court justice

1. The President nominates a candidate

2. Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings to review the nominee

3. Senate votes to confirm or reject the nominee

4. If confirmed by the Senate, the nominee is appointed as a Justice

Who sets foreign policy?

The President, though Congress plays a role through approvals and funding

Security Diplomacy

Diplomacy related to protecting a nations safety and defense interests

Monetary diplomacy

Diplomacy focused on managing financial and monetary relations with other nations, including currency and trade policies

Customary law systems

Based on traditions and customs that have been followed by a community or society over time and are recognized as binding legal norms

Traditional law systems

Legal practices and norms rooted in long standing traditions and practices of a specific culture or community; often passed down orally

Brown vs. Board of Ed

overturned plessy vs. ferguson, declared racial segregation in school unconstitutional

cnn poll and fox news survey

public opinion polls conducted to gauge views on political and social issues

gallup poll

widely recognized research organization that conducts surveys on public opinion, political trends, and social issues

daughters of the american revolution (DAR)

heritage organization that promotes patriotism, historic preservation, and education

Medicare

A federal health insurance program for people 65+ and some younger people with disabilities

Medicaid

A joint federal and state program providing health coverage for low - income individuals and families

Referent Power

Influence based on personal relationships, admiration, or the desire to identify with someone

Expert Power

Influence based on knowledge, skills, or expertise in a particular area

Coercive Power

ability to force compliance through threats, punishment, or authority

Which articles of the Constitution that Describe the Design of Congress?

Article I

1st Amendment

freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petititon

2nd Amendment

right to bear arms

4th Amendment

Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures

5th Amendment

Protects against self incrimination, double jeopardy, and guarantees due process

6th Amendment

Right to a fair and speedy trial

8th Amendment

prohibits cruel and unusual punishment and excessive bail

10th Amendment

Reserves powers not given to the federal government for the states

13th Amendment

abolished slavery

14th Amendment

grants citizenship and equal protection under the law

15th Amendment

grants voting rights regardless of race

19th Amendment

women the right to vote

22nd Amendment

limits president to two terms

26th Amendment

lowers the voting age to 18

Public Interest Group

seeks a collective good for collective reward (for the good of all members of society)

Solidary Incentives

Social rewards like companionship for joining a group

Selective Benefits

Benefits available only to group members

Purposive Incentives

Motivations based on ideological or moral beliefs

Monetary Diplomacy

Use of economic tools like tariffs, sanctions, and currency policies to influence international relations

Fiscal Diplomacy

Government spending and taxation to influence foreign relations

Force Diplomacy

Using military threats or power in negotiations