gov

To round out your study sessions, here is a comprehensive "Master Vocabulary List" for GOV 310L. These are grouped by the major units you will encounter on the exam. Use this as a checklist: if you can't explain a term in five seconds, that's a signal to review it.

## I. Foundations & The Constitution

* Federalism: The division of power between a central (federal) government and regional (state) governments.

* Separation of Powers: The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches (Legislative, Executive, Judicial).

* Checks and Balances: Mechanisms through which each branch can limit the power of the others (e.g., the Presidential Veto or Judicial Review).

* Supremacy Clause (Article VI): Establishes that the Constitution and federal laws take precedence over state laws.

* Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause): Grants Congress the power to pass all laws "necessary and proper" for carrying out its enumerated powers.

* Judicial Review: The power of the courts to declare legislative or executive acts unconstitutional (**Marbury v. Madison**).

## II. Civil Liberties & Civil Rights

* Selective Incorporation: The process by which the Supreme Court has applied specific liberties in the Bill of Rights to the states via the 14th Amendment.

* Establishment Clause: Prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or favoring one over another.

* Free Exercise Clause: Protects a citizen's right to believe and practice their religion as they choose.

* Strict Scrutiny: The highest level of judicial review; used for cases involving race, religion, or state-level alienage.

* Intermediate Scrutiny: Used for gender-based classifications.

* Rational Basis Test: The lowest level of review; used for age, wealth, or federal-level alienage.

* Exclusionary Rule: A law that prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial (**Mapp v. Ohio**).

## III. Institutions: Congress & The Presidency

* Filibuster: A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill by speaking for an extended period.

* Cloture: A procedure for ending a filibuster and taking a vote; requires 60 votes in the Senate.

* House Rules Committee: The "Traffic Cop" of the House that sets the terms for debate and amendments on a bill.

* Delegate Model: A representative who votes according to the preferences of their constituents.

* Trustee Model: A representative who votes based on what they think is best for their constituents.

* Pigeonholing: When a committee chair ignores a bill, effectively killing it in committee.

* The Two Presidencies Thesis: The idea that there are two versions of the president: one who is constrained in domestic policy and one who is powerful in foreign policy.

* Inherent Powers: Powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it.

## IV. Public Opinion & The Media

* Agenda Setting: The media's power to influence which issues the public thinks are important.

* Framing: The power of the media to influence how events and issues are interpreted (the "angle").

* Priming: Preparing the public to use specific issues as a benchmark for evaluating a political leader.

* Selective Exposure: The tendency of individuals to seek out information that aligns with their pre-existing beliefs.

* Calculus of Voting: The formula (V = pB - C + D) explaining why people vote; focuses on costs, benefits, and duty.

## V. Interest Groups & Power

* The Free Rider Problem: When people enjoy the benefits of a group's efforts without contributing (paying dues or volunteering).

* Iron Triangle: A stable, three-way relationship between a Congressional committee, an executive agency, and an interest group.

* Issue Network: A loose, complex, and temporary web of people (journalists, academics, officials) involved in a policy area.

* Pluralism: The theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence.

* Hyperpluralism: The theory that there are so many strong groups that the government is pulled in too many directions, leading to gridlock.

## VI. The Legal System

* Standard of Proof: The level of certainty needed to win a case.

* Criminal: Beyond a reasonable doubt (99\%+).

* Civil: Preponderance of the evidence (51\%+).

* Plenary Power: The complete and absolute power of the federal government over a specific area (like immigration).

### Pro-Tip for the Weekend:

If you are making flashcards, try to pair these terms. For example, put Iron Triangle on one side and Issue Network on the other and explain the difference. This forces your brain to understand the nuance, which is how the exam will test you!

Do you want to run one more "lightning round" on the Institutions (Congress/Presidency) terms to make sure you have the House vs. Senate differences down?