Political Science 101: Introduction to American Politics in a Global Perspective - Exam Study Guide

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to American Politics and Civil Rights, focusing on legal frameworks and political ideologies.

Adversarial Legal Systems

A legal system where two opposing sides present their case to an impartial judge or jury, contrasting with inquisitorial systems where the judge plays an active role in investigating cases.

Anarchism

A political philosophy and movement that is skeptical of all authority and rejects involuntary, coercive forms of hierarchy, advocating for stateless societies.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution that guarantee individual liberties and rights, including freedom of speech and religion.

Birthright Citizenship

A legal principle where a person's citizenship status is determined by their place of birth, regardless of their parents' nationality.

Brown vs. Board of Education

The 1954 Supreme Court case that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional.

Case Law

A legal system based on judicial precedent rather than statutory laws, giving judges the authority to interpret laws based on previous court decisions.

Caste System

A hierarchical social stratification system traditionally practiced in India, dividing people into different social classes based on their birth.

Centrism

A political ideology or tendency to hold moderately opposing views, equidistant from the extremes of left- and right-wing politics, often seeking compromise and consensus.

Christian Democracy

A political ideology that emerged in 19th-century Europe, advocating for social policies based on Christian principles, often combining conservative and progressive economic and social views.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

A landmark civil rights and labor law in the United States that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

Code Law

A legal system where all law is contained in comprehensive, systematically organized statutes or codes, with judicial decisions playing a less significant role as precedent.

Communism

A political ideology and economic system advocating for a classless society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the community as a whole, rather than by private individuals.

Community Standards

Local norms and practices that can influence interpretations of law, particularly in case law systems.

Customary Law

A body of rules and principles established by long-standing custom and tradition within a particular community, often unwritten but recognized as legally binding.

Dalits

Historically marginalized groups in India who were once considered 'untouchable' and are outside the traditional Hindu caste system, facing severe social and economic discrimination.

Double Jeopardy

A legal principle that protects individuals from being tried for the same crime more than once after a verdict has been reached.

Economic Conservatism

A political belief in free markets and limited government intervention in the economy, emphasizing the importance of private property and individual entrepreneurship.

Fascism

An authoritarian political ideology that promotes nationalism, a strong centralized government, and often involves the repression of opposition and strict social hierarchies.

Fourteenth Amendment

An amendment to the U.S. Constitution that grants citizenship and equal protection under the law to all persons born or naturalized in the United States.

Greens

Political parties and movements that prioritize environmental protection, ecological sustainability, social justice, nonviolence, and grassroots democracy.

Inquisitorial Legal Systems

A legal system in which the judge, or a part of the court, is actively involved in investigating the facts of the case, calling witnesses, and examining evidence, contrasting with adversarial systems.

Isabel Wilkerson

An American journalist and author, known for her non-fiction works that explore race, social hierarchy, and the Black American experience, including 'The Warmth of Other Suns' and 'Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.'

Jim Crow Laws

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans in the southern United States from the late 19th century until the 1960s.

Liberal Reformism

A political ideology advocating for moderate social reforms within a capitalist framework, focusing on regulation rather than state ownership.

Libertarianism

A political philosophy that emphasizes individual liberty, autonomy, and voluntary association, generally advocating for minimal government intervention in both economic and social spheres.

National Conservatism

A political ideology that combines conservative positions with a nationalist stance, often emphasizing national interest, cultural homogeneity, social tradition, and sovereignty.

Ottoman Civil Codes

Refers to the Mejelle (1869-1876), a civil code of the Ottoman Empire based primarily on Hanafi Islamic jurisprudence, which regulated civil law matters.

Plessy vs. Ferguson

A landmark 1896 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Reconstruction Laws

A series of laws passed by the U.S. Congress after the Civil War (1865-1877), aimed at rebuilding the South, protecting the rights of freed slaves, and integrating them into American society.

Sharia Law

A religious law based on Islamic principles derived from the Quran and Hadith, governing many aspects of personal and community life for Muslims.

Social Conservatism

A political ideology promoting traditional values and norms, often aligned with religious beliefs and advocating for policies such as family and religious rights.

Social Democracy

A political, social, and economic ideology that advocates for democratic governance and a capitalist economy with strong government intervention to promote social justice, welfare, and equality.

Stare Decisis

A legal principle by which judges are obliged to respect the precedents established by prior decisions, meaning 'to stand by things decided' and ensuring consistency in law.