American Government (POSC100) Final Exam Study Guide

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms and concepts for the American Government (POSC100) final exam, including elections, the three branches of government, and domestic/foreign policy.

19th Amendment

The amendment passed in $1920$ that granted women the right to vote nationwide.

Primary Election

An election held by political parties to nominate their candidates for the General Election ballot; no one is elected, only nominated.

Caucus

A local, in-person meeting run by political parties to select candidates for general elections, often involving public deliberation and voting by show of hands or grouping.

Electoral College

The process for electing the President and Vice President, consisting of $538$ electors.

270

The number of electoral votes required for a candidate to win the presidency.

Voter Turnout

A measure of the percentage of voters that have actually taken part in an election.

Open Primary

A primary election where voters of any affiliation may vote in the primary of any party.

Closed Primary

A primary election where only voters registered with a given party can vote in that party’s primary.

Gerrymandering

The practice of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to give one political party, incumbent, or group an unfair advantage.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation that enforces the $15 ext{th}$ amendment by outlawing racial and systemic discrimination in voting, such as literacy tests.

Political action committee (PAC)

A $527$ organization that pools voluntary campaign contributions to donate to campaigns, support or oppose candidates, and influence legislation, regulated by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Super PAC

An organization that can raise unlimited amounts of money from individuals, corporations, and unions, but cannot make direct contributions to federal candidates or parties.

17th Amendment

The amendment that established the direct popular vote of the people for the election of Senators.

Speaker of the House

The most powerful leader in the House of Representatives, responsible for leading the House, controlling debates, and assigning committees.

Standing Committees

Permanent committees in Congress that are the most important for lawmaking because they handle specific policy areas and review bills.

Congressional Oversight

The effort by Congress to control the bureaucracy through hearings and investigations.

House of Representatives

The chamber of Congress consisting of $435$ members based on state population, serving $2 ext{-year}$ terms.

Senate

The chamber of Congress consisting of $100$ members ($2$ per state) serving $6 ext{-year}$ terms.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate where senators delay or block a vote by extending debate.

Pork-barrel spending

Government spending for local projects intended to benefit a lawmaker’s district or state to gain political support.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing congressional district boundaries following the census.

Reapportionment

The process of redistributing the $435$ seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on changes in population.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution for Congress, such as collecting taxes or declaring war.

Implied Powers

Powers not directly stated in the Constitution but inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Commander in Chief

The presidential role as the head of the U.S. military and director of the armed forces.

Executive Privilege

The power that allows the president to withhold certain communications from Congress, courts, or the public to protect confidentiality.

Vesting Clause

The part of Article II of the Constitution stating that the executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States.

Executive Order

A directive issued by the president that manages operations of the federal government and has the force of law.

Bureaucracy

The complex structure used to organize large-scale institutions.

Cabinet Departments

The $15$ major departments in the executive branch.

Political Appointees

Individuals selected by the president to serve at the top levels of the bureaucracy.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

An agency that helps the president prepare the federal budget, processes federal rules, and oversees executive agencies.

Agency Capture

A situation that occurs when a regulatory agency becomes too favorable toward the industries it is meant to regulate.

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

Supremacy Clause

The constitutional clause establishing that federal law is the supreme law of the land.

Briefs

Written statements submitted to the Court that explain the arguments of each side in a case.

Monetary Policy

Economic policy involving the adjustment of interest rates and the money supply to control inflation and stabilize the economy.

Fiscal Policy

Economic policy involving the raising or lowering of taxes and changes in government spending.

Tariff

A tax placed on goods imported into the country.

Welfare State

A term describing a government that provides social programs and economic support, such as healthcare and unemployment benefits, for its citizens.

Contributory Programs

Social programs like Social Security and Medicare that workers pay into through payroll taxes.

Diplomacy

The representation of a government to other foreign governments.

Nuclear Proliferation

The process by which new countries gain access to nuclear weapon capabilities.

Collective Security Arrangement

An agreement in which countries cooperate to protect one another against attacks or threats.

Executive Agreement

An agreement made by the president with another country that does not require Senate approval, unlike a treaty.

United Nations

An organization founded in $1945$ to help resolve international disputes.

World Bank

An organization whose main mission is to provide financial assistance and development support to poorer countries.

Soft Power

The type of power demonstrated when the U.S. provides aid after a disaster.

Annexation of Crimea

The term for Russia’s $2014$ seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.

Director of National Intelligence

A position created after the September $11$ attacks to improve coordination among U.S. intelligence agencies.

Containment

A foreign policy aimed specifically at stopping the spread of communism.

Deterrence

A policy of preventing attacks by threatening strong retaliation.

Preventive War

A war launched to stop a possible future threat before it becomes dangerous.

Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)

A doctrine stating that an attack between two nuclear powers would result in the complete destruction of both sides.

Cuban Missile Crisis

A $1962$ confrontation between the U.S. and the Soviet Union over nuclear missiles placed in Cuba.

Cold War

A period of political, military, and ideological tension between the U.S. and the Soviet Union following World War II.

Wolfowitz Doctrine

A $1990 ext{s}$ foreign policy idea emphasizing that the U.S. should maintain military dominance and prevent rival superpowers from emerging.

Petrodollar

A U.S. dollar earned through the sale of oil on the international market.