Gov Second Quarter Test Vocab

Public Affairs

The communication processes that inform citizens and the government regarding policies and issues.

Opinion Leaders

Individuals who have influence over the opinions and behaviors of others in their social networks.

Interest Groups

Organizations formed by people with common interests to influence public policy.

Straw Vote/Poll

An unofficial poll that is used to gauge the opinion of a group rather than as a scientifically conducted survey.

Public Opinion Polls

Surveys that measure public sentiment on various issues over time.

Bureaucracy

The administrative system governing any large institution, consisting of departments and officials.

Executive Departments

Major administrative units within the executive branch that are responsible for specific areas of governance.

EOP (Executive Office of the President)

A group of advisers and assistants to the president that works on the administration's policy and executive actions.

Staff Agencies

Agencies that provide support and services to line agencies and assist in implementing policies.

Line Agencies

Agencies that fulfill the core functions of government and implement public policy directly.

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Government agencies created to regulate specific areas of economic activity.

Government Corporations

State-owned enterprises that operate like private businesses in delivering services.

Spoils System

A practice in which a political party rewards its supporters with government jobs.

Civil Rights

The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

Civil Liberties

Individual rights protected by law from unjust governmental or other interference.

Schenck v. United States

A landmark Supreme Court case that established the 'clear and present danger' standard for limiting free speech.

Gideon v. Wainwright

A Supreme Court case that ruled that the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to counsel.

Gibbons v. Ogden

A Supreme Court case that clarified the scope of Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause.

Miranda v. Arizona

A Supreme Court case that established the requirement for police to inform suspects of their rights before interrogation.

Regents of UC v. Bakke

A Supreme Court case that upheld affirmative action while ruling against racial quotas in college admissions.

Your Representatives

Maxine Dexter, Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley

14th Amend – Section 1

Part of the Constitution that grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and ensures due process and equal protection.

14th Amend – Section 2

Section of the Constitution that addresses the apportionment of representatives in Congress based on population.

14th Amend – Section 3

Section of the 14th Amendment that prohibits any person who has engaged in insurrection against the U.S. from holding office.

The Lemon Test

A three-pronged test for determining whether government actions violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Free Exercise Clause

A clause in the First Amendment protecting individuals' rights to practice their religion freely.

Libel/Slander

Defamatory statements that harm a person's reputation; libel is written, while slander is spoken.

Seditious Speech

Speech that encourages rebellion against the authority of the state.

Obscenity

Material that offends community standards of decency and has no serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

Prior Restraint

Government action that prohibits speech or other expression before it can take place.

Symbolic Speech

Actions that purposefully and discernibly convey a particular message or statement to those viewing it.

Commercial Speech

Speech done on behalf of a company or individual for the intent of making a profit.

County/County government

The local government unit responsible for administering services and regulations in a specific area.

Mayor-Council Government

A system of city government in which the mayor is the chief executive officer and the council is the legislative body.

Weak Mayor/Strong Mayor

A classification of city government where a weak mayor has limited executive power, while a strong mayor has significant authority.

Current PDX Government

The current municipal government structure and leadership in Portland, Oregon.

Metro

The regional government entity responsible for land use and transportation planning in the Portland metropolitan area.

Metropolitan Areas

Urban regions that encompass a dense core along with suburban areas surrounding it.

Municipal Functions

The range of services and responsibilities carried out by a city or local government.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield

Health insurance organizations that provide a variety of health insurance products.

Medicare/Medicaid

Federal programs that provide health care to individuals based on age or low income.

Gerrymandering

The deliberate manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party.