Final Exam Terms American Government

Mrs Dilisio '25

Delegates

People with authority to represent others at a conference or convention

Apportioned

Distributed, as in seats in a legislative body

Gerrymandering

The drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group

Eminent Domain

The power of a government to take private property for public use

Naturalization

The legal process by which citizens of one country become citizens of another

Impeached

To bring formal charges against a public official

Perjury

The act of lying under oath

Majority leader

The floor leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in each house of congress

Minority Leader

The floor leader of the party that holds the minority of seats in each house of congress

Filibuster

A stalling tactic in which senators monopolize the Senate floor with talk and other delays so a bill cannot be brought to vote 

Presidential succession

Scheme by which a presidential vacancy is filled

Domestic affairs

All matters not directly connected to the realm of foreign affairs

Pardon

Release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime, by the president (in a federal case) or a governor (in a state case)

Clemency

Mercy or leniency granted to an offender by a chief executive

Treaty

A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states

Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case 

Plaintiff

In civil law, the party who brings a suit or some other legal action against another (the defendant) in court  

judicial review

The power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action

Docket

A court’s list of cases to be heard

Record

A transcript of proceedings made in trial court

civil liberties

Guarantees protections arbitrary

due process

Doctrine that holds that the government must act fairly and in accord with established rules in all that it does 

Libel

False and malicious use of printed words

Assemble

To gather with one another in order to express views on public matters

Discrimination

Bias, unfairness

Double Jeopardy

 Part of 5th amendment stating that no person can be put in jeopardy of life or limb twice; once a person has been tried for a crime, he or she cannot be tried again for the same crime

Miranda Rule

Constitutional rights that police must read to a suspect before questioning can occur

Exclusionary rule

Ruling stating that evidence gained as the result of an illegal act by police cannot be used against the person from whom is was seized

probable cause

Reasonable grounds, a reasonable suspicion of crime

involuntary servitude

Forced labor 

Alien

Foreign-born resident, or noncitizen

Assimilation

The process by which people of one culture merge into, and become part of, another culture

Segregation

Separation of one group from another on the basis of race

Integration

Incorporating people of different races equally into society without separating the races from each other

affirmative action

A policy of taking active steps to remedy  past discrimination

Suffrage

Right to vote 

Literacy

 Person's ability to read or right

political efficacy

One’s own influence or effectiveness on politics

Ballot box

Device that voters use to register a choice in an election

referendum

Instructions or commands a constituency gives to its elected officials

List 5 civil liberties:

1. Religion

1. Speech

2. Press

3. Assembly 

4. Petition

List 3 Sociological Factors that influence American voters:

Age, Education, Race

Requirements to be a qualified voter

State residency requirements 14 yrs, natural born citizen, at least 18