American Government 4e MIDTERM EXAM Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts, legal cases, and political structures of American Government as outlined in the midterm study guide.

English freedoms

A legacy of historical liberties that influenced life and politics in the thirteen colonies.

American Exceptionalism

The concept describing the unique origin, meaning, and role of the United States in the world.

Pure democracy

A system of government without constitutional limits where the majority rules without protection for minority rights.

Republicanism

A form of government with constitutional limits that define specific actions the government can and cannot perform.

Federalists

Supporters of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution who favored a stronger central government.

Anti-Federalists

Opponents of the U.S. Constitution who feared a strong central government and advocated for a Bill of Rights.

Iron triangles

The functional relationship and interaction between politicians, the media, and experts.

Bubble effect

The phenomenon in modern media where individuals only consume information that reinforces their existing beliefs.

Government

The formal institutions and processes through which a territory and its people are ruled.

Monarchy

A form of government where a single person, usually a king or queen, holds power, often inherited.

Democratic republic

A representative democracy where the success of the system depends on the civic engagement of its citizens.

Civic engagement

The participation of citizens in the political process to ensure the success of a representative democracy.

Natural rights

The idea, popularized by John Locke, that individuals have inherent rights that the government must protect.

Collective goods

Goods provided by the government, such as public safety or infrastructure, that would be underproduced by the private sector.

Articles of Confederation

The first governing document of the United States, which was characterized by significant structural weaknesses.

Great Compromise

An agreement during the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature with different representation in each house.

Three-Fifths Compromise

A Constitutional Convention agreement to count each enslaved individual as $\frac{3}{5}$ of a person for taxation and representation.

Separation of powers

The division of government authority into different branches to ensure no single entity gains full control.

Checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches.

Federalist Papers

A series of essays written to persuade the public and states to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, added to protect individual rights and civil liberties.

Federalism

A system of government that organizes and balances power between the federal government and state governments.

Supremacy Clause

A constitutional provision stating that the Constitution and federal laws take precedence over state laws.

Enumerated powers

The specific powers granted to the federal government as listed in the U.S. Constitution.

Implied powers

Powers not specifically listed in the Constitution but considered necessary for the federal government to carry out its duties.

Dual federalism

A system where the federal and state governments operate in clearly defined, separate jurisdictions.

Cooperative federalism

A system where federal, state, and local governments work together to implement policies and solve problems.

Civil liberties

Individual freedoms, such as freedom of speech, that are protected from government interference.

Civil rights

Government guarantees of equal protection and treatment under the law, regardless of characteristics like race or gender.

Brandenburg v. Ohio

A Supreme Court case that established the modern legal boundaries for protected free speech.

Establishment Clause

A First Amendment provision that prohibits the government from establishing an official religion, supporting the separation of church and state.

Exclusionary rule

A legal principle that prevents evidence gathered in violation of the Constitution from being used in a trial.

14th Amendment

The amendment that guarantees equal protection under the law and extends civil liberties to state actions.

Brown v. Board of Education

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Federal legislation passed to end discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Jim Crow laws

State and local laws that enforced racial segregation and limited the rights of African Americans after the Civil War.

Affirmative action

Policies and programs designed to address historical inequalities in education and employment.

Public opinion

The collective beliefs and attitudes of the public regarding political issues, candidates, and institutions.

Sampling errors

Statistically calculated inaccuracies that can affect the reliability of opinion poll results.

Political socialization

The process by which individuals learn and develop their political values and beliefs from groups like family and school.

Bandwagon effect

A psychological phenomenon where individuals support a candidate or cause because they see others doing so.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

Electoral College

The formal body of electors that officially elects the President and Vice President of the United States.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to give one political party an unfair advantage.

FCC

The Federal Communications Commission, which is the agency responsible for regulating media and communications in the United States.

Partisanship

Strong loyalty or support for a specific political party, often leading to polarized views.