usgov ch5+6 vocab

affirmative action

the use of programs and policies designed to assist groups that have historically been subject to discrimination

black codes

laws passed immediately after the civil war that discriminated against freed slaves and other blacks and deprived them of their rights

brown v board of education

the 1954 supreme court ruling that struck down plessy v ferguson and declared segregation and "separate but equal" to be unconstitutional in public education

civil disobedience

an action taken in violation of the letter of the law to demonstrate that the law is unjust

comparable worth

a doctrine calling for the same pay for workers whose jobs require the same level of education, responsibility, training, or working conditions

de facto segregation

segregation that results from the private choices of individuals

de jure segregation

segregation that results from government discrimination

disenfranchisement

the revocation of someone's right to vote

equal protection clause

a provision of the fourteenth amendment that requires the states to treat all residents equally under the law

equal rights amendment (ERA)

the proposed amendment to the constitution that would have prohibited all discrimination based on sex

glass ceiling

an invisible barrier caused by discrimination that prevents women from rising to the highest levels of an organization—including corporations, governments, academic institutions, and religious organizations

grandfather clause

the provision in some southern states that allowed illiterate whites to vote because their ancestors had been able to vote before the fifteenth amendment was ratified

intermediate scrutiny

the standard used by the courts to decide cases of discrimination based on gender and sex

jim crow laws

state and local laws that promoted racial segregation and undermined black voting rights in the south after reconstruction

literacy tests

tests that required the prospective voter in some states to be able to read a passage of text and answer questions about it; often used as a way to disenfranchise racial or ethnic minorities

plessy v ferguson

the 1896 supreme court ruling that allowed "separate but equal" racial segregation under the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment

poll tax

annual tax imposed by some states before a person was allowed to vote

rational basis test

the standard used by the courts to decide most forms of discrimination; the burden of proof is on those challenging the law or action to demonstrate there is no good reason for treating them differently from other citizens

strict scrutiny

the standard used by the courts to decide cases of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion

title ix

the section of the u.s. education amendments of 1972 that prohibits discrimination in education on the basis of sex

trail of tears

the name given to the forced migration of the cherokees from georgia to oklahoma in 1838-1839

understanding tests

tests requiring prospective voters in some states to be able to explain the meaning of a passage of text or to answer questions related to citizenship; often used as a way to disenfranchise black voters

agent of political socialization

a person or entity that teaches and influences others about politics through use of information

classical liberalism

a political ideology based on belief in individual liberties and rights and the idea of free will, with little role for government

communism

a political and economic system in which, in theory, government promotes common ownership of all property, means of production, and materials to prevent the exploitation of workers while creating an equal society; in practice, most communist governments have used force to maintain control

exit poll

an election poll taken by interviewing voters as they leave a polling place

fascism

a political system of total control by the ruling party or political leader over the economy, the military, society, and culture and often the private lives of citizens

heuristics

shortcuts or rules of thumb for decision making

margin of error

a number that states how far the poll results may be from the actual preferences of the total population of citizens

modern conservatism

a political ideology that prioritizes individual liberties, preferring a smaller government that stays out of the economy

modern liberalism

a political ideology focused on equality and supporting government intervention in society and the economy if it promotes equality

political culture

the prevailing political attitudes and beliefs within a society or region

political socialization

the process of learning the norms and practices of a political system through others and societal institutions

public opinion

a collection of opinions of an individual or a group of individuals on a topic, person, or event

push poll

politically biased campaign information presented as a poll in order to change minds

random sample

a limited number of people from the overall population selected in such a way that each has an equal chance of being chosen

representative sample

a group of respondents demographically similar to the population of interest

socialism

a political and economic system in which government uses its authority to promote social and economic equality, providing everyone with basic services and equal opportunities and requiring citizens with more wealth to contribute more

straw poll

an informal and unofficial election poll conducted with a non-random population

theory of delegate representation

a theory that assumes the politician is in office to be the voice of the people and to vote only as the people want

traditional conservatism

a political ideology supporting the authority of the monarchy and the church in the belief that government provides the rule of law