Government - Unit 3: Public Policy

majority rules / minority rights

describe how we make decisions in our government; those in opposition to a decision must always have the opportunity to state objections

entitlement programs

programs such as unemployment insurance, disability relief, or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens

public policy

a specific course of action taken by government to achieve a public goal

political party

a group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy

special interest group

a collection of people or organizations that tries to influence public policy

pell grant

financial aid given to those with exceptional financial need that does not have to be paid back

medicaid

a federal and state assistance program that pays for health care services for people who cannot afford them

medicare

a federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older

social security

a system of federal financial support for retired workers and workers unable to continue working because of a disability

laissez faire

idea that government should play as small a role as possible in economic affairs

new deal

franklin delano roosevelt’s plan to reform capitalism through forceful government intervention in the economy

great society

lbj’s platform; increased the size and involvement of the government in society. extension of new deal programs and civil rights (24th amendment, civil rights act of 1964)

new federalism

a policy in 1969, that turned over powers and responsibilities of some u.s. federal programs to state and local governments and reduced the role of national government in domestic affairs (states are closer to the people and problems)

cultural exchange

countries gain a better understanding and sense of goodwill through sports and music

treaty

a formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries

diplomacy

the practice of conducting negotiations between countries

summit

a meeting of leaders for face-to-face talks

foreign aid

economic and military aid to other countries

sanction/boycott

economic restrictions to force a country to change in some way

covert action

a secret political, economic, or military operation sponsored by a government and designed to support a foreign policy objective

intelligence

information about another country and what its government plans to do

military alliance

close association of nations formed to provide mutual help if any one of them was attacked

capitalism

an economic system based on private property and free enterprise

socialism

a system in which society, usually in the form of the government, owns and controls the means of production but there is still some private ownership

communism

the government owns and controls all aspects of production of goods

war powers act

1973. a resolution of congress that stated the president can only send troops into action abroad by authorization of congress or if America is already under attack or serious threat

soft power

the reliance on diplomacy and negotiation to solve international problems

hard power

the reliance on economic and military strength to solve international problems

current us foreign policy

anti-terrorism

deficit

an excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues each year

debt

the total of all accumulated and unpaid budget deficits

monetary policy

government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates

fiscal policy

government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending

discretionary spending

federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

non-discretionary spending

federal spending on programs such as social security that cannot be controlled through the regular budget process