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260 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back

Public Policy

The decisions and actions a government takes to solve problems in the community.

Representative Democracy

A government in which people choose leaders to represent them.

Constitutional Monarchy

A government in which the power of the monarch is limited by a constitution.

Majority Rule

Democratic principle that says a majority of the people has the power to make laws binding on all the people.

Authoritarian Regime

A government in which one person or a small group holds all the power.

Totalitarian

A system in which government controls people's lives.

Ideology

A set of ideas about life and society.

Democracy

Rule by the people.

Direct Democracy

A system in which the people govern themselves.

Representative Democracy

Am system in which the people choose leaders to govern.


Republic

A country with a representative democracy.

Limited Government

The idea that the power of a government can be limited.

Legislature

A group of representatives that makes laws.

Natural Rights

Rights that government cannot take away.

Social Contract

An agreement in which the people agree to give up some freedom in exchange for the government's protection of people's rights.

Indentured Servant

A person who agreed to work for someone else for a certian length of time, in return for passage on a ship, food, shelter, and clothing.

Dissenter

Someone who does not agree with official or common views.

Economy

Wealth and resources; way of producing goods.

Cash Crop

Crops grown in large amounts to be sold.

Plantation

Large farms where crops are grown for sale.

Liberty

Personal Freedom.

Proclamation

Official announcement.

Boycott

Refuse to buy or use.

Repeal

To cancel.

Duty

A tax on imported goods.

Smuggling

Moving goods illegally in or out of the country.

Delegate

Representative.


Constitution

A detailed, written plan for government.

Bicameral

Divided into two parts, or houses.

Confederation

A group that comes together for a common purpose.

Articles of Confederation

The first plan of government for the united states.

Ratify

To approve.

Ordinance

A law.

Ordinance of 1785

Law that set rules for surveying and selling land in the Northwest Territory.

Northwest Ordinance

Law that set rules for governing the new territory.

Shay's Rebellion

Armed uprising in which farmers attacked a federal building in Massachusetts.

Constitutional Convention

Meeting at which the United States Constitution was written.

Great Compromise

Agreement that settled the question of representation in Congress.

Three-Fifths Compromise

Agreement that settled the question of representation of enslaved people in Congress.

Electoral College

Group of electors who choose the president and vice-president.

Federalist

Person who wanted to ratify the Constitution.

Federalism

System in which power is divided between the federal and state governments.

The Federalist Papers

Essays supporting the Constitution.

Anti-Federalist

Person who was against ratifying the Constitution.

Preamble

Introduction to the U.S. Constitution.

Article

Section of the Constitution describing the structure of government.

Legislative Branch

The part of government that makes laws.

Executive Branch

The part of government that enforces the laws.

Judicial Branch

The part of government that interprets the laws.

Interpret

To decide what something means.

Amendment

Any change in the Constitution.

Popular Sovereignty

The peoples right to the rule.

Limited government

The idea that the government can only do what the people allow it to do.

Rule of law

The idea that the law applies to everyone.

Separation of Powers

The division of government into three branches.

Checks and Balances

The ways that each branch of government limits the power of the other two branches.

Enumerated Powers

The powers given to the federal government under the Constitution.

Reserved Powers

The powers set aside for the states.

Concurrent Powers

The powers that both federal and state governments may exercise.

Supremacy Clause

The part of the Constitution that puts federal credit.

Civil Liberties

Basic Freedoms that all citizens have.

Free Speech

The right to express ideas without fear of punishment by the government.

Censorship

Telling the press what to print or broadcast.

Petition

A written request.

Slander

Telling lies about someone.

Libel

Printing lies about someone.

The Accused

Person(s) charged with a crime.

Search Warrant

Court order to search a suspect's property.

Probable Cause

Valid reason.

Due Process

Legal steps that must be followed.

Eminenent Domain

The government's power to take private property.

Indictment

Formal charge by a grand jury.

Double Jeopardy

Being tried twice for the same crime.

Self-Incrimination

Testifying against oneself.

Bail

Money that an accused person pays to remain free while waiting for a trial.

Black Codes

State laws that limited the rights of African Americans.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Poll Tax

Fee that is charged for voting.

Senate

The upper house of the United States Congress.

House of Representatives

The lower of the United States.

Constituent

A voter that a member of Congress represents.

Census

A count of the population.

Gerrymander

To draw congressional district lines to favor one party.

Majority Party

Party that holds the most seats.

Minority Party

Party that does not hold the majority.

Seniority

Years of service.

Expressed Power

A power of Congress that is listed in the Constitution.

Enumerated Power

Another name for a power of Congress that is listed in the Constitution.

Implied Power

A power of Congress that the expressed powers point to.

Elastic Clause

Part of the Constitution that says Congress has implied powers.

Nonlegislative Power

A power that is not related to making laws.

Impeach

To accuse of wrongdoing.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

An order that makes sure prisoners are told why they are being held.

Bill of Attainder

A law that punishes a person without a trial.

Ex Post Fcato Law

A law that makes an act crime after the act has been committed.

Franking Privilege

The special right members of Congress have to send job-related mail without paying postage.

Lobbyist

A person hired to influence government decisions.

Casework

The work of helping people deal with the federal government.

Pork-Barrel Project

When a representative gets government money for projects in one district or state.

Joint Resolution

A resolution passed by both houses of Congress that has the force of law if signed by the president.

Special-Interest Group

A group of people who work together for a common cause.

Rider

Amendment to a bill that is unrelated to the subject matter of the bill.

Filibuster

To talk to a bill to death.

Cloture

A vote by three-Fifths of the Senate to limit debate on a bill.

Voice vote

A vote in which members speak their votes aloud.

Standing Vote

A vote in which members stand to be counted for or against a bill.

Roll-Call Vote

A vote in the Senate in which senators give their vote as their name is called.

Pocket Veto

The president does nothing to a bill for ten days.If Congress is not in session the bill is killed, if Congress is in session the bill is passed.

Elector

A member of the Electoral College that chooses the president.

Executive Order

An order given by the president that has the same force as a law.

Pardon

Presidential order that forgives a crime.

Reprieve

Presidential order that delays punishment.

Amnssty

Pardon for a group of people.

Ambassador

A person who represents the U.S. Government in another country.

Foreign Policy

The plan a nation follows when dealing with other nations.

National Security

Keeping the nation safe from attack.

Treaty

A formal agreement with another nation.

Executive Agreement

An agreement between the president and the leader of another country.

Trade Sanctions

Stopping or slowing down between the president and the leader of another country.

Embargo

An agreement among nations to refuse to trade with a nation.

Cabinet

The heads of the 15 executive deparments.

Federal Bureaucracy

The agencies below the cabinet departments in the executive branch.

Executive Agency

A type of independent agency that deals with specific government programs.

Government Corporation

A business operated by the government.

Regulatory Commission

A type of independent agency that makes rules that business must follow.

Spoils System

System in which workers are given jobs in return for their political support.

Civil Service System

System the government uses to hire workers.

Merit System

System in which workers are hired based on their skills and test scores.

Political Appointee

A person appointed to a federal job by the president .

Dual Court System

A system with both federal and state courts.

Jurisdiction

The authority to hear and decide a case.

Exclusive Jurisdiction

Authority of federal court alone to hear and decide cases.

Concurrent Jurisdiction

Authority of both federal and state courts to hear and decide a case.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority to hear cases for the first time.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority to hear a case appealed from a lower court.

Ruling

An official decision.

Opinion

A detailed explanation of the legal thinking behind a court's decision in a case.

Precedent

A legal ruling that is used as a basis for a decision in a later, similar case.

Litigant

A person engaged in a lawsuit.

Tenure

A status that protects a person from being fired.

Subpoena

A court order requiring someone to appear in court.

Judicial Review

The power to review any federal, state, or local law or action to see if it is Constitution.

Constitutional

Allowed by the U.S. Constitution.

Nullify

To cancel.

Writ of Certiorari

An order from a higher court to see the records from a lower court case.

Docket

A court's calendar.

Caseload

The number of cases handled in a court room.

Brief

A written document explaining on side of a case.

Concurring Opinion

A statement written by a justice who votes with the majority but for different reasons.

Dissenting Opinion

A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion.

Unanimous Opinion

A ruling on which all the justices agree.

Stare Decisis

The practice of using earlier rulings as a basis for deciding cases.

Political Party

A group of people with similar ideas about government.

Two-Party System

A practice by which two major political parties complete for powers.

Third Party

A term used for a minor political party.

Platform

The party's beliefs, principle, and positions on many issues.

National Committee

Group that organizes the party's national convention.

Caucus

Meeting of state and local party members.

Precinct

The smallest election unit.

Political Machine

Powerful local political organization.

Direct Primary

Election in which voters choose candidates to run in the general election.

Closed Primary

Only people who choose a party can vote.

Open Primary

People do not have to choose a party to vote.

Plurality

Winning less than half the votes .

Majority

More than half the vote.

Suffrage

The right to vote.

Register

To sign up to vote.

Polling Place

Location where a person goes to vote.

Ballot

A list of candidates who are running for each office.

Voter Turnout Rate

The measure of how many people turn out to vote.

Apathy

Lack of interest.

Issue

Matter of public concern.

Initiative

Process that lets voters propose new laws or amendments to state constitutions.

Referendum

Process that allows voters to accept or reject a law passed by the state legislature.

Recall

Election in which voters can remove a person from office.

Electoral College

Group of electors that chooses the president.

Popular Vote

The votes cast by the people in the general election.

Winner-Take-All System

Electoral College system in which the winner of a state's popular vote gets all of that state's electoral votes.

Canvass

To go from door to door to gather support for a candidate.

Political Action Committee

Organization set up by interest groups to raise money for candidates.

Public Opinion

The ideas and views of the people.

Mass Media

Media that reach large numbers of people.

Interest Group

Group of people who share the same opinion about an issue about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs.

Public Opinion Poll

A survey in which individuals are asked to answer questions about a particular issue or person.

Pollster

A person who conducts polls.

Public Agenda

The set of issues the government focuses on.

Leak

To give information to the press secretly.

Watchdog

The role played by the media when they try to undercover government waste or spoken.

Shield Law

A law allowing the press to keep sources secret.

Libel

Written false information that harms a person's reputation.

Malice

Evil intent.

Public-Interest Group

A group that supports causes that affect most Americans.

Nonpartisan

Not related to either political party.

Lobbyist

A person who works for an interest group.

Federal System

The sharing of power between the central and state governments.

Reserved Powers

Powers that the U.S. Constitution gives only to the states.

Concurrent Powers

Powers that states and the federal government share.

Supremacy Clause

Clause in the U.S. Constitution that says federal laws are above state laws.

Grants-In-Aid

Money given to the states by the federal governments.

Unicameral

Having one house in the legislative.

Redistricting

To redraw the boundaries of a legislative district.

Malapportionment

An unequal representation in a state legislature.

Session

A meeting of a legislature to conduct business.

Special Session

A legislative meeting called for a specific purpose.

Legislative Referendum

A vote called by a legislature to seek voter approval of a law.

Popular referendum

A question placed on a ballot by a citizen petition to decide if a law should be repealed.

Line-Item Veto

To veto a specific part of a bill.

Commute

To decrease a criminal's sentence.

Parole

To give a prisoner an early release from prison, with certain limits.

Trial Court

A court in which a judge or jury listens to evidence and reaches a verdict in favor of one party or another in the case.

Misdemeanor


The least serious type of crime.

Civil Case

Court cases in which one party in a dispute claims to have been harmed by the other.

Plaintiff

The person in a civil case who claims to have been harmed.

Defendant

The person in a civil who is said to have caused the harm.

Appellate Court

Type of court in which a party who lost a case in a lower court asks judges to review that decision and reverse it.

Felony

A type of crime more serious than a misdemeanor.

Incorporate

To apply for and receive a state charter to set up a local government.

City Charter

A document granting power to a local government.

Home Rule

A status that allows cities to write their own charters, choose their own type of government, and manage their own affairs.

Ordinance

A city law.

At-large election

An election for a city or other area as a whole.

Special District

A unit of government that deals with a single service, such as education, water supply or tanspertation.

Metropolitan Area

A large city and its suburbs.

Suburb

A community near or around a city.

County

A land and political subdivision of a state.

County seat

The town where a county courthouse is located.


Town

A political unit that is smaller than a city and larger than a village.

Township

A subdivision of a county that has its own government.

Town Meeting

A gathering of local citizens to discuss and vote on important issues.


Village

The smallest unit of local government.


Common Law

Law that grew from court and decisions over many years.

Precedent

Earlier ruling on which decisions in later cases are based.

Statute

Law made by a legislature.

Lawsuit

A civil case brought before a court to collect damages for some harm that has been done.

Constitutional Law

Branch of the dealing with forming and interpreting constitutions.

Case Law

Branch of Law based on judges decisions.

Administrative Law

Branch of law that includes all the rules the executive branch makes as it does its job.

Writ of Habeas Corpus

Court order that says officials cannot put a person in prison without explaining why he or she is being held.

Bill of Attainder

A law that punishes a person without a trial.

Ex Post Facto Law

A law that punishes a person for an action that was not illegal when it was done.
Due Process

Principle that says the government must act fairly and follow the law.

Search Warrant

Court order allowing a search.

Exclusionary Rule

Rule that says that evidence obtained by police illegally may not be used in court.
Miranda Warning

List of rights that must be read to a suspect before questioning.
Double Jeopardy

Being charged twice for the same crime.

Bail

Money that a person waiting for a trial may give the court in order to be set free from jail until the trial.
Contract

An agreement between two or more parties to exchange something of vale.

Tort

A wrongful cat for which a person has the right to sue.

Negligence

A lack of proper care and attention.

Plaintiff

The party in a lawsuit who claims to have been harmed.

Defendant

The party in a lawsuit said to have done the harm.
Complaint

A formal notice that a lawsuit is being brought.

Damages

A sum of money ordered by a court to pay of injuries or losses suffered.

Summons

A notice directing a person to appear in court to answer a complaint.

Discovery

A process by which lawyers check facts and gather evidence before a trial.

Crime

An act that breaks the law and harms people or society.
Penal Code

The body of law that describes crimes and punishments.

Misdemeanor

Minor crime for which a person can be fined a small sum of money or jailed for up to a year.

Felony

More serious crime such as murder, rape, kidnapping, or robbery.
Sentence

Punishment for committing a crime.