U.S. Government & Policy Lecture Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms from the lecture on U.S. government programs, foreign policy, bureaucracy, and political geography.

Entitlement Programs

Government-funded programs that provide guaranteed benefits, goods, or services to individuals who meet eligibility requirements.

Social Security

Payroll-tax funded program supplying income to retirees, disabled workers, and survivors of deceased workers.

Medicare

Federal health-insurance program for people 65+ and certain disabled individuals, helping cover medical costs.

Medicaid

Joint federal–state program offering health and long-term care coverage to low-income individuals and families.

SNAP (Food Stamps)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that helps low-income households buy food.

SSDI

Social Security Disability Insurance; cash benefits for workers who become disabled and meet work credit requirements.

SSI

Supplemental Security Income; need-based cash assistance for aged, blind, or disabled people with limited income.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; 1949 military alliance providing collective defense against aggression.

CIA

Central Intelligence Agency; gathers, analyzes, and acts on foreign intelligence to protect U.S. national security.

Executive Branch (Foreign Policy)

Led by the President—negotiates treaties, appoints ambassadors, commands the military, and sets diplomatic strategy.

Legislative Branch (Foreign Policy)

Congress ratifies treaties, confirms ambassadors, funds foreign aid/military action, and can declare war.

Judicial Branch (Foreign Policy)

Interprets treaties, international law, and limits of executive authority in foreign affairs.

Bureaucracy

Large, hierarchical organization with specialized roles, formal rules, and merit-based staffing.

Hierarchical Structure

Clear chain of command in which authority flows from top administrators to lower-level employees.

Specialization

Bureaucratic principle where workers focus on specific tasks, increasing expertise and efficiency.

Impersonality

Bureaucratic norm that decisions are based on objective rules rather than personal relationships.

Merit-Based Employment

Hiring and promotion system based on qualifications and performance rather than patronage.

War on Terror

U.S. campaign launched after 9/11 to combat global terrorism; led to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and expanded surveillance.

Department of Homeland Security

Cabinet department created in 2002 to coordinate domestic security and protect against terrorism.

Cabinet Secretary

Head of an executive department; nominated by the President and confirmed by a Senate majority vote.

Federalism in Education

Shared state–federal control where federal funds come with testing mandates and states administer exams and curricula.

No Child Left Behind Act

2001 law tying federal education funds to state testing and accountability standards.

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

2015 law giving states more flexibility while maintaining federal requirements for standardized testing and accountability.

Cold War

Post-WWII geopolitical tension between the U.S. (capitalism) and USSR (communism) featuring arms race and proxy wars.

Containment

U.S. strategy to prevent the spread of communism during the Cold War (e.g., Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan).

Equality of Suffrage

Principle of ‘one person, one vote’ ensuring equal voting rights regardless of demographic factors.

Terrorism

Use of violence or intimidation to pursue political, religious, or ideological objectives by instilling fear.

Government Corporation

Government agency that operates like a business to provide public services (e.g., USPS, Amtrak).

USPS

United States Postal Service; government corporation providing national mail delivery.

Amtrak

National Railroad Passenger Corporation; government-supported service offering intercity rail transportation.

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

New Deal–era government corporation providing electricity, flood control, and economic development in the Tennessee Valley.

National Debt

Total outstanding federal government borrowing; approximately $35 trillion as of mid-2025.

Fiscal Policy

Government decisions on spending and taxation aimed at stimulating growth, controlling inflation, and reducing unemployment.

Conservative Regions of the U.S.

Generally the South, Midwest, Great Plains, and rural areas, which tend to favor right-leaning policies.

Progressive Regions of the U.S.

Typically the West Coast, Northeast, and urban centers, which more often support left-leaning policies.