Gov unit 3 & 4 midterm

Civil Liberties

Fundamental rights and freedoms protected by law from government interference and abuse of power.

Civil Rights

The rights of individuals to receive equal treatment under the law.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantee individual rights.

Due Process

the legal procedures the government must follow before depriving an individual of life, liberty, or property

Incorporation Doctrine

The legal doctrine that applies the Bill of Rights to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment Due Process clause.

Selective Incorporation

The method by which specific rights from the Bill of Rights are enforced against the states, determined by Supreme Court rulings

Establishment Clause

Clause in the First Amendment preventing the government from establishing an official religion.

Free Exercise Clause

Clause in the First Amendment that protects citizens' right to practice any religion.

Lemon Test

A three-part process used to determine whether a law violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The law must have a secular purpose, not advance or inhibit religion, and not foster excessive government entanglement with religion.

Clear and Present Danger

Legal doctrine used to determine when speech can be limited or restricted. Speech can be limited if it shows clear and immediate threat to public/national safety, especially in situations where such speech could incite violence or unlawful acts.

Prior Restraint

An attempt by the government to prevent the publication of information. Very limitedly used.

Symbolic Speech

Nonverbal communication that expresses opinions or ideas.

Hate Speech

Speech that attacks, discriminates, or incites violence against a person or group based on attributes.

Slander

The action of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.

Libel

Written defamation; a false statement that damages a person's reputation.

Fighting Words

Speech that is likely to incite violence or breach of peace.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

A legal order requiring that a person be brought before a judge. Can be suspended in rebellion and invasion of public safety.

Ex Post Facto Law

Legislation that makes an act punishable as a crime even if it was legal at the time it was committed. These laws are prohibited by constitution to prevent individuals from being unfairly punished for actions that were not considered illegal when they were performed. Congress is prohibited from passing ex post facto laws by clause 3 of Article I, Section 9 of the consitution.

Bill of Attainder

Legislative act that punishes an individual or group without a trial.

Exclusionary Rule

A legal principle in U.S. constitutional law that prohibits the use of evidence gathered in violation of an individual's Fourth Amendment rights, which protect against unreasonable searches and seizures. Aims to deter law enforcement from conducting illegal searches and ensures that individuals' constitutional rights are upheld during criminal proceedings.

13th Amendment

Abolished slavery in the United States.

14th Amendment

Grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. and provides equal protection under the law.

15th Amendment

Prohibits the denial of the right to vote based on race.

19th Amendment

Grants women the right to vote.

Equal Protection Clause

Provision in the 14th Amendment that requires equal protection for all persons under the law.

Civil Rights Cases (1883)

Supreme Court cases that limited the scope of the Civil Rights Act of 1875.

NAACP

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, an organization focused on civil rights. Founded to ensure constitutional rights for african americans.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

De Jure Discrimination

Discrimination based on law or official policy.

De Facto Discrimination

Discrimination that occurs in practice but not necessarily ordained by law.

NOW

National Organization for Women, aimed at advancing women's rights.

Equal Rights Amendment

Proposed amendment to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex.

Strict Scrutiny

The highest standard of judicial review used by courts to evaluate laws.

Equal Pay Act of 1963

Legislation aimed at abolishing the wage gap based on sex.

Title IX

Federal law prohibiting gender discrimination in education programs.

Affirmative Action

Policies that support members of disadvantaged groups.

Political Culture

The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes a group.

Individualism

A social theory favoring freedom of action for individuals over collective or state control.

Free Enterprise

An economic system where private businesses operate in competition and largely free of state control.

Rule of Law

The principle that the law applies equally to all individuals.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals develop their political beliefs and values.

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs about political values and the role of government.

Generational Effect

The impact of shared experiences on the political attitudes of individuals born in the same time period.

Life Cycle Effect

The phenomenon where individuals' political attitudes change as they age.

Globalization

The process by which businesses develop international influence or operate on an international scale.

Outsourcing

The practice of obtaining goods or services from an outside supplier.

Focus Group

A diverse group of people assembled to provide feedback on a specific topic.

Scientific Poll

A poll that uses rigorous methods to gather data from a representative sample.

Sample

A subset of individuals selected from a population for the purpose of estimating characteristics of the whole population.

Random Selection

A method used to select individuals from a larger population, ensuring every individual has an equal chance of being chosen.

Representative Sample

A small group that accurately reflects the larger population.

Weighting

The process of adjusting the results of a survey to reflect the demographics of the whole population.

Sampling Error

The difference between the results of random samples taken at the same time.

Mass Survey

A survey that attempts to gather data from a large number of respondents.

Entrance Survey

A poll taken of voters as they enter a polling place.

Exit Poll

A survey of voters as they leave the polling place.

Benchmark Poll

A poll taken at the beginning of a campaign to gauge voter sentiment.

Tracking Poll

A survey that measures changes in public opinion over time.

Random Digit Dialing

A method of polling where phone numbers are generated randomly.

Question Order

The sequence in which questions are presented in a survey.

Question Wording

The specific phrasing of questions in a survey that can influence responses.

Right vs. Privilege

Distinction between inherent entitlements and given benefits subject to regulation.

Party Identification

The political party with which an individual identifies.

Party Ideology

The set of beliefs that drives a political party's policies and positions.

Conservatism

A political ideology that values tradition and is resistant to change.

Liberalism

A political ideology that emphasizes individual rights and social justice. Far left.

Libertarianism

A political philosophy that upholds liberty as the highest political end. 2nd far right. support individual liberty and oppose authority, state power, warfare, militarism and nationalism, but some libertarians diverge on the scope of their opposition to existing economic and political systems.

Laissez-Faire Economy

An economic system with minimal government intervention.

Command-and-Control Economy

An economy where the government directs economic activity.

Mixed Economy

An economic system combining private (individual owned) and public (government owned) enterprise.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during one year.

Economic Recession

A period of economic decline typically recognized by a drop in GDP.

Unemployment Rate

The percentage of the labor force that is unemployed.

Inflation

The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises.

Fiscal Policy

Government policy regarding taxation and spending.

Federal Reserve System

The central banking system of the United States.

Monetary Policy

The process by which the monetary authority controls the money supply.

Medicare

A federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older. For providing health insurance for elderly and permanently disabled. Financed by payroll taxes.

Medicaid

A joint federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income.

Affordable Care Act

Health reform legislation aimed at improving access to affordable health insurance. Means tested (based on income), comprehensive reform of healthcare system.

Party Platform

A formal set of principal goals supported by a political party.

Straight-Ticket Voting

Voting for all candidates of one party in an election.

Split-Ticket Voting

Voting for candidates from different parties in the same election.

Realignment

A significant shift in the political system, where the alignment of voters and parties changes dramatically

Critical Election

An election that results in a significant change in party identification.

Divided Government

A situation in which one party controls the presidency while another controls one or both houses of Congress.

Third Parties

Political parties that challenge the two major parties.

formulation, adoption, implementation and evaluation

four steps of policy making

Engel v. Vitale

A 1962 Supreme Court case that ruled it unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools, because it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Upholds separation of church and state.

Schenck v. U.S.

A 1919 Supreme Court case that upheld the conviction of Charles Schenck for distributing leaflets urging resistance to the draft during World War I, ruling that his actions presented a 'clear and present danger'. Limit speech w clear and present danger.

Tinker v. Des Moines

A 1969 Supreme Court case that ruled students do not lose their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech when they step onto school property, allowing students to wear black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. Students retain 1st amendment right if not violating educational process.

Wisconsin v. Yoder

A 1972 Supreme Court case that ruled the Amish parents' right to free exercise of religion outweighed the state's interest in compelling school attendance beyond the eighth grade. Uses 1st amendment free exercise clause, individual religious freedom over state power.

McDonald v. Chicago

A 2010 Supreme Court case that ruled the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is applicable to the states through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause.

Gideon v. Wainwright

A 1963 Supreme Court case that held the Sixth Amendment's right to counsel is applicable to state courts through the Fourteenth Amendment, thus requiring states to provide an attorney for defendants who cannot afford one.