Final Exam
UNIT 1- Foundations of American DemocracyKey Concepts
Limited Government: Government power is restricted by law.
Natural Rights: Rights that people have under natural law, including life, liberty, and property.
Popular Sovereignty: The authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.
Republicanism: A political ideology centered on citizenship in a state organized as a republic.
Social Contract: An implicit agreement among the members of a society to cooperate for social benefits.
Declaration of Independence: Document declaring the freedom and independence of the United States.
Constitution of the United States: Supreme law of the United States.
Participatory Democracy: System emphasizing broad participation in politics and civil society.
Pluralist Democracy: System where multiple groups hold power and no single group dominates.
Elite Democracy: System in which a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite, hold power.
Federalist No. 51: Essay by James Madison advocating for the separation of powers within the government.
Federalist No. 10: Essay by James Madison discussing the dangers of factions and advocating for a large republic.
Brutus No. 1: Anti-Federalist paper arguing against the Constitution's ratification.
Faction: A group of individuals, such as a political party, which is united by a common interest.
Federalism: Division of power between the national government and the states.
Checks and Balances: System that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches.
Separation of Powers: Division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent one branch from gaining too much power.
Articles of Confederation: First constitution of the United States.
Shay’s Rebellion: Uprising in Massachusetts against economic injustices and lack of government response.
Great Compromise: Agreement that defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States Constitution.
Electoral College: Body of electors chosen to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.
Three-Fifths Compromise: Agreement counting three-fifths of the slave population for representation and taxation purposes.
Slave Trade Clause in Constitution: Provision allowing the slave trade to continue until 1808.
Amendment Process: Process outlined in the Constitution for proposing and ratifying amendments.
Concurrent Powers: Powers shared by the federal and state governments.
Federal Revenue Sharing: Distribution of tax revenue among different levels of government.
Mandates: Requirements imposed by the federal government on state and local governments.
Categorical Grants: Federal grants with specific purposes and guidelines.
Block Grants: Federal grants given to states for broader purposes with fewer restrictions.
Tenth Amendment: Amendment stating that powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved for the states.
Fourteenth Amendment: Amendment granting citizenship rights and equal protection under the law.
Commerce Clause: Constitutional provision giving Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce.
Necessary and Proper Clause: Clause allowing Congress to make laws necessary for executing its powers.
Enumerated Powers: Powers specifically granted to Congress by the Constitution.
Implied Powers: Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but necessary for Congress to carry out its duties.
Policymaking: Process by which government decisions are made and implemented.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Supreme Court case establishing the principle of national supremacy and upholding the constitutionality of the Bank of the United States.
UNIT 4- Political Ideologies and Beliefs
Political Ideologies
Individualism: Emphasis on individual rights, freedom, and independence.
Equality of Opportunity: Idea that everyone should have an equal chance to succeed.
Free Enterprise: Economic system where businesses are owned and operated by private individuals.
Rule of Law: Principle that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable under the law.
Liberal Ideology with key beliefs: Emphasis on social equality, government intervention, and individual rights.
Conservative Ideology with key beliefs: Emphasis on tradition, limited government, and personal responsibility.
View on Right to Privacy between Liberals and Conservatives: Differing views on the extent of privacy rights and government intervention.
Libertarian Ideology and key beliefs: Emphasis on individual freedom, minimal government intervention, and free markets.
Ideology and Economic Policy: Different approaches to economic issues including Keynesian Economics, Supply Side Economics, Fiscal Policy, and Monetary Policy.
Role of the Federal Reserve: Central banking system of the United States responsible for monetary policy.
Political Participation
15th Amendment: Amendment granting African American men the right to vote.
17th Amendment: Amendment establishing the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.
19th Amendment: Amendment granting women the right to vote.
24th Amendment: Amendment prohibiting poll taxes in federal elections.
26th Amendment: Amendment lowering the voting age to 18.
Voting Rights Act of 1965: Legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers preventing African Americans from voting.
Political Socialization and major agents: Process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs and attitudes.
Political Culture: Shared beliefs, values, and practices that shape political behavior.
Opinion Polls: Surveys used to gauge public opinion on various issues.
Factors for a good poll: Proper sampling, unbiased questions, and representative sample.
Tracking Polls: Continuous surveys tracking public opinion over time.
Exit Polls: Surveys of voters taken as they leave polling places.
Typical voter with the highest turnout rates: Older, wealthier, more educated individuals.
Political Party: Organization providing linkage between the government and the people.
Party Platform: Document outlining the beliefs and positions of a political party.
Party Leadership and Organization: Structure and hierarchy within a political party.
Candidate Centered Campaign: Campaign focused on the candidate rather than party affiliation.
Direct Primaries: Elections in which voters choose candidates to run on a party's ticket.
Open vs Closed Primaries: Primaries allowing either party members or all voters to participate.
Critical Elections: Elections that disrupt the existing political order.
Realignments: Shifts in party coalitions and voter loyalty.
Proportional System: Electoral system where parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes.
Winner take all system: Electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins all the seats.
Iron Triangle: Relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees.
Issue Networks: Alliances of various interest groups and individuals who unite to promote a common cause.
Free Rider problem: Situation where individuals benefit from a collective good without contributing.
Single Issue groups: Groups focused on advocating for a specific issue or cause.
Social Movements and examples: Collective actions to bring about social, political, or economic change.
Incumbency Advantage and factors: Benefits enjoyed by incumbent candidates in elections.
Party Conventions: Events where political parties officially nominate their candidates for president and vice president.
Electoral College: Body of electors chosen to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.
National Popular Vote: Proposal to change the electoral system to a direct popular vote for president.
Political Consultants and their role in a campaign: Professionals providing strategic advice and management for political campaigns.
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002: Legislation regulating the financing of political campaigns.
Soft Money: Money raised by political parties for general purposes, not designated for a particular candidate.
PACs: Political Action Committees that raise and spend money to elect or defeat candidates.
SuperPACs: Independent expenditure-only committees that can raise unlimited funds to support or oppose candidates.
Independent Expenditure: Spending by individuals, groups, or organizations to support or oppose political candidates.
Citizens United vs FEC: Supreme Court case allowing corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts in elections.
Horse-race Journalism: Coverage of political campaigns that focuses on polling data and candidate standings.
Media as Gatekeeper: Role of the media in influencing what subjects become national political issues.
Policy Agenda: Set of issues and policies that government officials consider important.
Media Bias: Prejudice or unfairness in news coverage.
Partisan News Sites: Websites that cater to specific political viewpoints.
Ideologically Oriented Programming: Programs designed to appeal to specific political ideologies.
New York Times vs. United States: Supreme Court case on the publication of the Pentagon Papers.
UNIT 3- Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Civil Liberties
Civil Liberties: Personal freedoms protected by law from government interference.
Bill of Rights: First ten amendments to the United States Constitution guaranteeing individual rights.
Establishment Clause: Constitutional provision prohibiting the establishment of a national religion.
Free Exercise Clause: Constitutional provision protecting the right to practice any religion.
Symbolic Speech: Expression of beliefs through actions rather than speech.
Limits on free speech: Restrictions on speech such as defamation, obscenity, and incitement to violence.
Defamatory Speech: False statements that harm a person's reputation.
Offensive/Obscene Speech: Speech that is considered indecent or offensive.
Schenck vs. United States: Supreme Court case establishing the 'clear and present danger' test for limiting free speech.
Tinker vs. Des Moines: Supreme Court case affirming students' free speech rights in schools.
Prior Restraint: Censorship imposed before a speech is made or a newspaper is published.
2nd Amendment: Constitutional right to bear arms.
McDonald vs Chicago: Supreme Court case incorporating the 2nd Amendment to the states.
Selective Incorporation: Process of applying the Bill of Rights to the states through the 14th Amendment.
Due Process Clause: Constitutional provision ensuring fair treatment under the law.
Equal Protection Clause: Constitutional provision guaranteeing equal protection of the laws.
Miranda Rule: Requirement that individuals under arrest be informed of their rights.
Public Safety Exception: Exception to the Miranda Rule allowing for questioning without informing the suspect of their rights.
Speedy and Public Trial: Right to a prompt and public trial by an impartial jury.
Protection from Warrantless Searches: Protection against searches without a warrant or probable cause.
Right to Legal Counsel: Right to have an attorney present during legal proceedings.
Impartial Jury: Right to a fair and unbiased jury.
Exclusionary Rule: Rule preventing illegally obtained evidence from being used in court.
Gideon vs. Wainwright: Supreme Court case establishing the right to counsel for indigent defendants.
9th Amendment: Amendment stating that rights not enumerated in the Constitution are retained by the people.
Roe vs Wade: Supreme Court case legalizing abortion in the United States.
Civil Rights
NOW (and woman’s movement): National Organization for Women advocating for women's rights.
Letter from Birmingham Jail: Letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. advocating for civil rights.
Civil Rights Act of 1964: Legislation prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
Title IX: Legislation prohibiting sex discrimination in education.
Brown vs Board of Education: Landmark Supreme Court case ending racial segregation in schools.
Public Accommodation Laws: Laws prohibiting discrimination in public places.
Majority Minority Districts: Electoral districts where the majority of the population belongs to a minority group.
Affirmative Action: Policies promoting the inclusion of minority groups in education and employment.
Strict Scrutiny: Highest standard of judicial review used in cases involving civil rights and liberties.
UNIT 2- Interactions among Branches of Government
Legislative Branch
House of Representatives: Lower house of Congress with members elected every two years.
Senate: Upper house of Congress with two members from each state serving six-year terms.
Budget power of Congress: Authority to set revenue and spending levels.
Budget Deficit: Situation where government spending exceeds revenue.
Standing Committees: Permanent committees in Congress responsible for specific areas of legislation.
Speaker of the House: Leader of the House of Representatives.
President of the Senate: Vice President of the United States who presides over the Senate.
Filibuster: Tactic used to delay or block legislation by extending debate.
Cloture: Procedure to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.
Holds: Procedure allowing Senators to prevent a motion from reaching the floor.
Rules Committee: Committee in the House of Representatives responsible for determining the rules of debate.
Committee of the Whole: Committee in the House of Representatives including all members for debate.
Discharge Petition: Procedure to force a bill out of committee for a vote.
Logrolling: Practice of trading votes to gain support for a bill.
Pork Barrel: Government spending for localized projects secured by legislators to bring money to their district.
Party Polarization: Widening ideological gap between the two major political parties.
Trustee: Representative who votes based on their judgment and not the views of their constituents.
Delegate: Representative who votes according to the preferences of their constituents.
Redistricting: Redrawing of electoral district boundaries.
Gerrymandering: Manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party.
Formal Powers of President: Explicit powers granted to the President by the Constitution.
Informal Powers of President: Powers not specified in the Constitution but exercised by the President.
Pocket Veto: Presidential power to veto a bill by not signing it before Congress adjourns.
Executive Order: Directive issued by the President with the force of law.
Executive Agreement: Agreement between the President and a foreign leader without Senate approval.
Signing Statements: Statements issued by the President when signing a bill into law.
22nd Amendment: Amendment limiting the President to two terms in office.
25th Amendment: Amendment outlining the presidential line of succession and disability.
State of the Union: Annual address by the President to Congress on the state of the nation.
Bully Pulpit: Platform used by the President to promote their agenda.
Judicial Review and Marbury vs. Madison: Power of the courts to review and overturn laws and actions of the government.
Federalist 70: Essay by Alexander Hamilton advocating for a strong executive branch.
Federalist 78: Essay by Alexander Hamilton discussing the role of the judiciary.
Judicial Activism: Judicial philosophy where judges interpret the law to create new policies.
Judicial Restraint: Judicial philosophy where judges limit their own power.
Court Jurisdiction: Authority of a court to hear and decide cases.
Bureaucracy: System of government administration consisting of numerous departments and officials.
Regulations/Rulemaking: Process by which federal agencies implement laws through rules and regulations.
Merit System: System of hiring and promoting based on ability and performance rather than political connections.
Patronage: Practice of giving government jobs to supporters.
Issue Network: Alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite to promote a common cause.
Bureaucratic Discretion: Authority given to government agencies to interpret and implement laws.
Oversight and Policy Implementation: Congressional responsibility to oversee the executive branch and ensure laws are carried out.
Key Amendments and Court Cases
The Marshall Court: Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Marshall known for expanding federal power.
Marbury v. Madison (1803): Landmark Supreme Court case establishing judicial review.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Supreme Court case affirming the supremacy of federal law over state law.
Establishment Clause Cases: Court cases addressing the separation of church and state.
Free Exercise Cases: Court cases addressing the right to practice religion freely.
Free Speech Cases: Court cases addressing the limits of free speech.
Due Process Clause Cases: Court cases addressing fair treatment under the law.
Equal Protection Cases: Court cases addressing equal treatment under the law.
Privacy Cases: Court cases addressing the right to privacy.
Free Press Cases: Court cases addressing freedom of the press.
Apportionment Cases: Court cases addressing the distribution of legislative seats.