USA Political System & Culture Wars – Vocabulary

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to the U.S. political system and contemporary culture-war issues.

Inauguration

The act of officially putting someone into an important position, or the ceremony at which this is done.

Presidential primaries

The process through which political parties decide on their nominee for president.

Caucus

A meeting of local party members to register candidate preferences or choose delegates for a convention.

Democracy

Literally, rule by the people; a system in which citizens exercise power by voting.

President-Elect

The candidate who has won the election but has not yet been sworn in; the outgoing president remains in office until inauguration.

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

An independent U.S. agency that enforces federal campaign-finance laws.

Super PAC

An independent political group that can raise and spend unlimited money to influence elections, provided it does not coordinate with a candidate’s campaign.

Congress

The legislative branch of the U.S. federal government, responsible for making laws.

Members of Congress

Elected officials who serve in the Senate (100 senators, two per state) or the House of Representatives (435 members, apportioned by population).

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

A federal executive department that promotes and protects the welfare of job seekers, wage earners, and retirees.

Override

When Congress reverses a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Impeachment

The constitutional process for formally charging and potentially removing a president or other official from office.

Executive order

A directive issued by the president that has the force of law within certain limits.

Separation of powers

The division of government into branches with different functions to prevent concentration of authority.

Monarchy

A form of government with a monarch at the head.

Treason

The crime of betraying one’s country, especially by attempting to overthrow the government or harm the sovereign.

Federalists

Those who supported a strong national government during America’s founding era.

Anti-Federalists

Those who favored powerful state governments and opposed a dominant national government.

Constitution

A body of fundamental principles or precedents by which a state or organization is governed.

Ballot / Ballot box

A container (or the voting paper itself) where voters cast and securely store their votes until counted.

U.S. delegates

Individuals chosen in state primaries or caucuses to vote at a party’s national convention for the presidential nominee.

Funding

Money provided, especially by an organization or government, for a particular purpose.

Elector

A person entitled to vote in an election, especially for members of a national parliament.

Lobbying

Efforts by individuals or groups to influence decision-makers to achieve specific policy goals.

Gridlock

A complete standstill in traffic—or politically, when decision-making is blocked and nothing moves forward.

Amendment

A section added to a law or constitution in order to change it.

Republic

A state in which supreme power rests with the people and their elected representatives, and which has an elected or nominated president rather than a monarch.

Vice President

The officer ranking immediately below the president, who serves as deputy and succeeds the president when necessary.

Legislation

Law or laws passed by a government.

Cabinet

The group of senior government ministers who meet regularly to discuss and decide policies.

Armed forces

A country’s military services—typically the army, navy, marines, and air force.

Executive Office

The staff and offices that directly support the President of the United States.

President

The head of state of a republic; in the U.S., both head of state and government.

Supreme Court

The highest federal court in the United States, with final appellate jurisdiction.

Governor

An official who governs a state or region within a country.

Enfranchised

Given the right to vote.

Judicial branch

The branch of government responsible for interpreting laws and administering justice.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing individual liberties.

Declaration of Independence

The 1776 document announcing the American colonies’ separation from Britain.

Checks and balances

Mechanisms that allow each branch of government to limit the powers of the others, preventing concentration of power.

Improve race relations

To enhance harmony and understanding between people of different racial backgrounds.

Embrace one’s heritage

To accept and value one’s cultural or ancestral background.

Preserve traditions

To maintain customs and practices handed down through generations.

Adopt a multicultural perspective

To approach society with appreciation for multiple cultures and viewpoints.

Stand up for one’s rights

To defend and assert the legal and moral entitlements one possesses.

Overcome prejudice

To eliminate preconceived, unfair judgments about individuals or groups.

Assimilate into the community

To adapt to and integrate with the customs and norms of a group or society.

Discriminate against ethnic minorities

To treat people from minority ethnic groups unfairly or unequally.

Abortion

The medical termination of a pregnancy.

Gender identity

A person’s internal sense of being male, female, a blend of both, or neither.

Disability

A physical or mental condition that limits a person’s movements, senses, or activities.

Political affiliation

An individual’s association with a political party or ideology.

Ethnicity

A shared cultural, national, or ancestral heritage.

Right to bear arms

The legal right to possess and carry weapons.

Marital status

A person’s legal relationship state—single, married, divorced, widowed, etc.

Gender-neutral language

Vocabulary that avoids bias toward a particular sex or gender and includes all genders.