Chapter 7 Flashcards

Front 1

agenda setting

Back 1

The process by which an issue is identified as one that needs to be addressed through policy or law. This is often a political process. (Chapter 7)

Front 2

civil justice

Back 2

A process, separate from criminal justice, in which private wrongs are addressed through legal action. This generally occurs through the filing of lawsuits by one person, organization, group, etc. against another. A tort is one common type of civil justice action. (Chapter 7)

Front 3

Commerce Clause

Back 3

A clause in the U.S. Constitution that gives the federal government the power to regulate commerce with other nations and among the states. This clause has allowed the federal government to make and enforce a variety of criminal laws surrounding issues that involve interstate commerce, which may be very broadly defined. (Chapter 7)

Front 4

Equality

Back 4

Refers to protections that promote equal rights for all persons without discrimination regardless of characteristics such as race, gender, religion, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, income, and more. Equality is a fundamental component of American political culture. (Chapter 7)

Front 5

federalism

Back 5

Having more than one level of government, as in United States, which has a national government as well as 50 state governments in addition to counties and cities. (Chapter 7)

Front 6

interest groups

Back 6

Organized groups of individuals who advocate for a particular policy outcome. (Chapter 7)

Front 7

liberty

Back 7

The freedom and the protection of rights as enumerated in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Liberty is a fundamental component of American political culture. (Chapter 7)

Front 8

National Supremacy Clause

Back 8

A clause in the U.S. Constitution that identifies the federal government as the supreme law of the land. This means if there is a conflict between a federal law and a state law, the federal law will take priority. (Chapters 7, 12)

Front 9

policy window

Back 9

Based on John Kingdon’s theory of public policy, it refers to a time when policy change is most likely to occur for an issue. For a policy window to open for any particular issue, that issue must have been identified as a problem, a solution must be available, and the political climate must support making a change. (Chapter 7)

Front 10

political culture

Back 10

The broad set of values that underlie a particular political system. As such, political culture shapes the development of law and policy. (Chapter 7)

Front 11

preponderance of evidence

Back 11

The burden of proof used in deciding cases heard through civil justice processes (it is also used in some criminal justice hearings and in some administrative hearings). It means that the judge or jury believes it is more likely than not that an incident occurred or that one party caused harm to another. (Chapter 7)

Front 12

problem definition

Back 12

Refers to attempts by interested individuals and groups to advocate how a problem ought to be understood. This often occurs after an issue has been placed on the public agenda (through agenda setting), as individuals and groups debate the causes of and solutions to the problem in question. (Chapter 7)

Front 13

public policy

Back 13

The individual and accumulated decisions made by governments (local, state, or federal) about what should be done to address any issue, including crime. (Chapter 7)

Front 14

statute of limitations

Back 14

A legal provision that sets time limits on how long after an incident court processes can be initiated. (Chapter 7)

Front 15

tort

Back 15

A harm that is classified as a civil wrong and that forms the basis for action under civil justice processes. (Chapter 7)

Front 16

victimless crime

Back 16

A category of crime in which no direct victim is readily identifiable. This includes crimes such as drug possession, prostitution, illegal gambling, and others. (Chapter 7)