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122 Cards in this Set
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- Back
administration
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The officials and agencies of the executive branch that help the president plan and carry out policy
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consultate
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A government office in a foreign country that works to protect and promote the interests of its citizens
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domestic
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Referring to matters that affect only the United States
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petition
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A formal request for government action
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reprieve
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A delay in carrying out a court order or sentence
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executive agency
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An independent agency responsible for dealing with specialized areas of government
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executive order
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A rule issued by the president that has the force of law
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popular sovereignty
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The idea that people should have the right to rule themselves.
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ambassador
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An official who represents his or her nation in a foreign country
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Cabinet
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A group of advisors to the President (made up of the heads of the executive depts., the Vice President, and other important officials
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franking privilege
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The right of members of Congress to send work-related mail without paying postage
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poll tax
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A sum of money paid in exchange for the right to cast a ballot
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president pro tempore
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the official who presides over the Senate when the vice-president is away
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spoils system
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The practice of giving jobs as a reward for party loyalty
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immunity
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Legal protection from prosecution
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coalition
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A political alliance with another party or parties
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constituent
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A person who comes from a legislator's district or state
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passport
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An official document that identifies a traveler as a citizen of a particular country
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pocket veto
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A way the president can kill a bill, when Congress is not in session, by refusing to sign it (he puts it in his POCKET and forgets about it!)
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grassroots
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Beginning with the people
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pardon
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A declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment
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red tape
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Inefficiency caused by too many rules and regulations
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Speaker of the House
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The leader of the House of Representatives
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segregation
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The separation of people because of race or ethnic origin
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bureauracy
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a large, complex organization with many departments and different levels of responsibility
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embassy
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A government office in a foreign country which is run by an ambassador
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treaty
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A formal agreement involving two or more countries
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confederation
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A group of individuals or individual states who band together for a common purpose
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executive agreement
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An agreement between the president and the leader of another country
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government corporation
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A business owned an operated by the government that provides services to the public
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amnesty
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A pardon granted to members of a group after they break a law
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dictatorship
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A government that is controlled by one person or a small group of people
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senority system
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A system that gives the most desirable committee assignment to members of Congress who have served the longest
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visa
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A permit that allows a foreign citizen to remain in a country for a certain amount of time
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filibuster
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In the Senate, the practice of talking for hours to delay the vote on a bill
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compact
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An agreement or contract
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standing committee
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A permanent committee in Congress that specializes in a particular area
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civil servant
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Someone who works for the government (an employee of the government)
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impeach
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To formally accuse a government official of wrongdoing
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exit poll
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A survey taken at polling places to find out how people voted
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appropriations
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Funds (money) set aside for a particular purpose
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regulatory commission
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An independent agency that protects the public by controlling certain types of businesses and industries
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pigeonhole
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To set aside a bill in legislative committee without considering it.
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plurality
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In an election, winning more votes that any other candidate but not necessarily a majority
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merit system
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A system in which government jobs are given to those who are most qualified
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draft
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To call up men for military service
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duties
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The things we are required to do
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common law
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Unwritten law based on customs or tradition (precedent - what has always been done)
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public
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Pertaining to people in a community
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repeal
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To cancel
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affirmative action
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A program that is designed to help minorities and women gain access to jobs and opportunities
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political machine
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A strong part organization that can control political appointments and deliver votes
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nonpartisan
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Not involving political parties
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lobbyist
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A person who tries to persuade politicians to support a particular group or position
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split ticket
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The practice of voting for candidates of different parties in an election
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caucus
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A meeting of members of a political party to select candidates
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amend
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To change
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alien
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A person who lives in a country but is not a citizen of that country
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checks and balances
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A system in which each branch of government can check (restrain or stop) the action of the other branches
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search warrant
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A legal document that allows law enforcement officials (police) to search a suspect's home for evidence
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Straight ticket
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The practice of voting for all the candidates of one political party
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civics
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The study of citizenship and government
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initiative
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A procedure through which citizens can propose laws through the use of a petition
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congress
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a formal meeting at which delegates discuss matters of concern
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naturalization
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The process by which resident aliens become citizens
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Federalist
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Someone who supported the Constitution and a strong national government
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mercantilism
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The theory that a country should sell more goods to other countries than it buys
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Enumerated powers
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Powers of the federal government that are specifically mentioned in the Constitution
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responsibilities
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Obligations (duties, jobs, or chores) that are fulfilled voluntarily
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Parliment
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The British legislature
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deport
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To expel, or send out of, a country
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accountable
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Having to explain one's actions to the voters
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compromise
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An agreement between two groups in which each side agrees to give up something in order to get something more important
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libel
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The crime of printing lies about other people
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electoral vote
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A ballot cast by an elector in the Electoral College System
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public opinion
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The attitudes or opinions of a large group of people on a particular issue or person
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eminent domain
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The right of the government to take private property for public use
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majority
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More than half
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impartial
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Not favoring any particular side
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patronage
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Giving jobs or special favors to loyal party workers
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libel
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The crime of printing lies about other people
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citizen
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A member of a community with a government and laws
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PAC
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Political Action Committee; an organization established to raise money for a political candidate
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Ant-Federalist
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A person who opposed (did not agree)with the Constitution before 1789
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colony
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A group of people in one place who are ruled byt the government of another place
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electorate
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A group of people who are eligible to vote in an election
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executive
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Having the power to carry out laws
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platform
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The statement of a political party's goals and positions on various public issues
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judicial
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Having the power to interpret laws
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representative
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A person who represents other citizens in a government
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due process of law
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Judicial (court) procedures established by law and guaranteed byt the Constitution
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precinct
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A geographical area that contains a specific number of voters
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popular vote
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Votes cast directly by the people
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federal system
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A form of government in which power is shared between a national government and the states
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bias
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A one-sided or slanted point of view
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legislature
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A group of people that makes laws for a state or country
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plank
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A section of a political party's platform
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primary election
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An election in which party members choose candidates to run for office
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implied powers
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Congressional powers that are not specifically in the Constitution but are suggested by the Constitutions "necessary and proper" clause
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canvassing
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Going through a district asking for votes and taking polls
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discrimination
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Unfair or less equal treatment of a particular group
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indicted
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to be formally accused (of a a crime) by a grand jury
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legislative
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Having the power to make laws
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referendum
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An election by which voters can approve or reject a law
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double jeopardy
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the retrial (second trial) of a person who was judged not guilty of the crime in a previous trial
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mass media
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The sources of information that are widely distributed, including television, radio, newspapers, and magazines
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lobby
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To try to persuade government officials to support the cause of a special interest group
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toleration
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Respect for and acceptance of people of a different race, religion, or life-style
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pollster
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Someone who takes polls, or samples, of public opinion
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slander
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telling lies about another person with the intent to harm that person
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third party
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A minor political party in the United States
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interest group
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A group of people who share a similar point of view and who join together to promote that point of view
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bail
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Money paied to the court by an accused person as a guarantee that he or she will appear for trial.
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boycott
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To refuse to buy or use a product or service
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suffrage
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The right to vote
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civil rights
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The rights guaranteed to American citizens
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Ant-Federalist
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A person who opposed (did not agree)with the Constitution before 1789
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Supremacy Clause
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The statement in the Constitution that the national government has authority over state law
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quota
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A fixed number of people allowed or required for a particular function or activity
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refugee
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A person who has left his or her home because of war, famine, or political oppression
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ratify
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To vote approval of
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treason
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An act that is dangerous to one's country or gives assistance to its enemies.
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