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Punch Cards
A type of voting system that gained notoriety after the 2000 presidential election due to issues like “hanging” and “dimpled” chads.
Prospective Voting
When voters base their decision on what a candidate promises to do in the future.
Retrospective Voting
When voters base their decision on a candidate’s past actions and performance.
“Mobocracy”
Rule by the mob; often a critique of direct democracy.
Common Sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1776 to inspire American independence.
Leviathan
A political philosophy book by Thomas Hobbes advocating for a strong central authority to avoid chaos.
Second Treatise on Government
A work by John Locke that heavily influenced the American Revolution and U.S. Constitution.
Mayflower Compact
A 1620 agreement among Pilgrims to establish self-governance in their colony.
Magna Carta
A 1215 English document that established fundamental rights and influenced American constitutional principles.
The Federalist
A collection of essays supporting the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.
The English Bill of Rights of 1689
An English document that set a precedent for the American Bill of Rights.
Marshall Plan
A U.S. initiative to aid Western Europe after World War II to rebuild economies and prevent the spread of communism.
Delaware
The first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
Political Delegates
Individuals elected to represent the wishes of the majority in a political party or assembly.
Earmarks
Federal funds designated by Congress for specific local projects.
Executive Orders
Presidential directives that establish policies and have the force of law without congressional approval.
Caucuses
Closed meetings of party members to decide candidates and policy positions.
Article 1
The section of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the legislative branch (Congress).
Article 2
The section of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the executive branch (Presidency).
Article 3
The section of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the judicial branch (Supreme Court).
Article 4
The section of the U.S. Constitution that discusses state powers and responsibilities.
Article 5
The section of the U.S. Constitution that outlines the process for amending the Constitution.
Article 1, Section 6
Specifies that senators and representatives receive compensation for their services.
Article 1, Section 3
States that the Vice President is the President of the Senate and may cast a tie-breaking vote.
Article 1, Section 2
Specifies that House representatives must be at least 25 years old.
30
The minimum age requirement for U.S. senators.
18
The voting age established by the 26th Amendment.
Article 1
The section of the U.S. Constitution that contains the Elastic Clause, allowing for implied powers of Congress.
10th Amendment
States that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states or the people.
Unfunded Mandate
A federal requirement imposed on states without accompanying funding.
Anarchism
The philosophical belief in the absence of government and opposition to formal governing structures.
Bill
A proposed law presented for consideration by a legislative body.
Docket
The official schedule or list of cases to be heard by a court.
Lobby
A group that seeks to influence public policy and legislation.
Article III
The section of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the Supreme Court.
Article II
The section of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the executive branch.
Both Houses of Congress
The entities that must override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote.
It Becomes Law
The outcome if the president does not sign or veto a bill within 10 days while Congress is in session.
Pocket Veto
The process by which a president effectively vetoes a bill by taking no action while Congress is adjourned.
“Home Style”
The approach representatives use to appeal to their local constituents.
Two-thirds of the Senate
The number of votes required to approve treaties made by the President.
U.S. President
The highest-ranking official in the military chain of command.
Sum of State’s U.S. Representatives and Senators
The formula for determining a state’s electoral votes.
The Speaker of the House
The official next in line for the presidency after the Vice President.
President Pro Tempore
The most senior member of the Senate majority party; follows the Speaker in presidential succession.
The Secretary of State
The fourth official in the presidential line of succession.
District of Columbia v. Heller
A Supreme Court case affirming the Second Amendment as an individual right.
Engel v. Vitale
A Supreme Court case that struck down school-sponsored prayer in public schools.
Brown v. Board of Education
A Supreme Court case that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
Balanced Budget Act of 1997
A law signed by President Bill Clinton that led to a budget surplus.
McCulloch v. Maryland
A Supreme Court case that reinforced federal supremacy over states.
Theory of Sampling
The concept in political polling that relies on random selection, sample size, and variation for accuracy.
Grand Old Party
A nickname for the Republican Party.
Cooperative Federalism
Also called marble-cake federalism, where state and federal governments share powers and policy responsibilities.
Dual Federalism
A system where federal and state governments operate separately within their own spheres of authority.
Layer-Cake Federalism
A metaphor describing the clear division of responsibilities between federal and state governments.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
A law that outlawed discrimination in public accommodations and employment.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
A law that eliminated literacy tests and other barriers to African American voting rights.
Roe v. Wade
A Supreme Court case that legalized abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Nancy Pelosi
The first female Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
De Facto Segregation
Racial segregation that occurs due to social and economic factors rather than law.
Federalism
A political system where power is divided between national and state governments.
Amicus Curiae Briefs
“Friend of the court” legal opinions submitted by outside parties to influence judicial decisions.
Miranda v. Arizona
A Supreme Court case that established the requirement for police to inform suspects of their rights.
Gag Order
A judicial directive restricting media coverage of a trial to prevent bias.
Marbury v. Madison
A Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review.
