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100 Cards in this Set
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An agreement between the people and their government signifying the people’s consent to be governed.
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Social contract
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The study of who gets what, when, and how; how policy decisions are made.
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Political Science/Politics
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An economic system said to exist whenever a government has total control over the economy
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Totalitarianism
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Member of the political community to whom certain rights and obligations are attached – who agrees to participate/obey in return for government protections.
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Citizen
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As discussed in class, a government that derives its power from the people.
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Democracy
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A system of government that gives citizens the opportunity to vote for those who will work on their behalf (“middle men”).
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Indirect (representative) democracy
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Characteristic identified by the adage “One person, one vote.”
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(Political) Equality
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Form of government in which power is vested in a sequence of hereditary rulers.
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Monarchy
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Form of government where “the privileged” rule. Privilege and participation in
the government is conditioned on the possession of wealth, social status (class), achievement, or military rank – whatever metric that is valued by the society. |
Oligarchy
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An “evolved” concept. Originally, it meant “Freedom from” government interference. It now includes the modern usage - “Freedom to” engage in activities without arbitrary or capricious discrimination.
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Personal Liberty
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A core political value of American Democracy. It holds that “the primary function of government is to enable the Individual to achieve his/her highest level of development (achievement).”
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Individualism
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“When the largest percentage of a society’s voting population gets its way.”
It has long been a core political value of the American system with some noted exceptions designed to protect individual rights and the liberties of minorities. |
Majority Rule
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As discussed in class, the 1964 Exception to Majority Rule.
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Civil Rights Act of 1964
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As discussed in class, the 1965 Exception to Majority Rule.
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Voting Rights Act of 1965
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As discussed in class, name Our Nation’s Founding Father who was quoted as saying that “Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism.”
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Thomas Jefferson
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Thomas Hobbes argued that people must surrender themselves to rulers in exchange for protection from their own savage nature and from outside enemies.
Name the form of government he advocated as the Best. |
Strong Monarchy
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John Locke argued that people form governments to preserve life, liberty, and property, and to assure justice. Name the government form he advocated as Best
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Democracy
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Members of this very optimistic group (born 1977 – 1994) [26 million] tend to be much more technologically (READ: Internet) savvy and more globally focused than any preceding generation. They admire and reflect the fiscally conservative stance of their grandparents, but may take an extreme the socially liberal/libertarian lifestyles of their parents.
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Generation Y
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People born after World War II (1946 – 1964) [76.8 million]. Enjoyed the benefits of an optimistic society and trusted government to work in their best interests. They are retiring “healthier & wealthier” than any previous generation. They fear their retirements are putting major strain on already overburdened Social Security and Medicare systems. They suspect subsequent generations may not be up to the challenge of leadership. Therefore, they remain informed, registered, and vote in record numbers
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Baby Boomers
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This very libertarian group (1964 – 1977) [50 million] experienced the economic downturn of the late 1980s and were unable to immediately capitalize on the lifelong promise of the “American Dream.” As a result, several of these Americans entered into early mid-life crises (as reflected by their rates of addiction, bankruptcy, and divorce). Scandals (such as Watergate, the Savings & Loan Debacle, Clinton Affairs, and Enron) have undermined their confidence in the government and led them to believe that political leaders ignore their interests. Therefore, they tend to mistrust the political process and government agents.
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Generation X
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As discussed in class, name the “Next Generation” (named by Time magazine) said to prefer Virtual socialization over the Mundane (Real World). Able to tackle many tasks at once, their markedly increased rates of perception appear to be offset by decreasing Attention span
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Generation M
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The coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope (role) of government held by groups and individuals. They often translate into political party support, which in turn affects how one votes at the polls
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political ideology
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The Political Ideology that advocates for individual freedoms and an end to
governmental interference in its citizens’ lives. Favors a SMALL federal government and a free market economy. Argues that people should be allowed to rise/fall according to their own merit. |
Libertarianism
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The Political Ideology that advocates for a small federal government.
Generally believes that a government is best that governs least; favors local/state action over federal (national) action; emphasizes fiscal responsibility especially balanced budgets; and believes that social and domestic problems are best dealt with by the private sector (e.g. churches and charities). |
Conservatism
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The Political Ideology that advocates for a large federal government with
extensive governmental involvement in the economy and provision of social services. Generally believes that government should take an activist role in protecting the rights of women, the elderly, minorities, and the environment. |
Liberalism
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A “defender of the status quo.” Said to believe that “a government is best that governs least.” Favors local/state action over federal (national) action; demands fiscal responsibility (balanced budgets); and feels that domestic issues are better addressed by the private sector than by the government.
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Conservative
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A “laissez-faire” thinker. Said to favor a free market economy and no govern-
ment interference in personal liberties. Fiercely competitive and frugal, these folks reject attempts by the federal government to remedy social ills by spending their tax dollars on public work or welfare programs; believe that federal agencies (FBI/CIA) infringe on civil liberties; oppose “bloated” defense budgets. |
Libertarian
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A “challenger of the status quo.” Said to favor big government; a wide array of social services; and the protection of minority rights.
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Liberal
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Today, most Americans’ positions on specific issues cut across liberal and conservative ideological boundaries, and most people prefer to be categorized as _______________________.
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Moderates
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An American ideal of happy and successful life, which often includes wealth, a house, a better life for one’s children, and, for some, the ability to grow up to be president. Its details are often influenced by one’s political ideology as well as by their social, economic, educational, and personal circumstances.
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American Dream
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document drafted by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 that listed the American colonies’ grievances and proclaimed their right to separate from Great Britain’s monarchy.
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Declaration of Independence
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economic theory designed to increase a nation’s wealth through the development of commercial industry and a favorable balance of trade.
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Mercantilism
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the failed “league of friendship” agreement between the 13 former American colonies. Its chief weakness was the lack of a strong, central government.
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Articles of Confederation
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James Madison’s proposal which advocated that national representation in a legislature be based on each state’s population AKA Big State Plan
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Virginia Plan
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Proposal in which several states advocated that national representation in a legislature be divided equally – with each state getting an equal number of votes AKA Small State Plan
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New Jersey Plan
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Our horizontal federal structure gives each of the branches of the national government some oversight and control over the actions of the others via:
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Checks and Balances
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Property owners, landed rich, merchants who favored a stronger national government and supported the proposed U.S. Constitution. They later formed the first U.S. political party
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The Federalists
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Small farmers, shopkeepers, and laborers who favored strong state govts, a weak national government, and opposed the ratification of the U.S. Constitution
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The Anti-Federalists
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Gives the U.S. Congress the authority to make any laws it needs to carry
out its duties under the Constitution AKA the “elastic” clause. |
Necessary and Proper Clause
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The concept of forensic analysis involves a standard approach or process. Choose the correct combination of steps for this process. (Select THREE)
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Authenticate the evidence.
Collect the evidence and analyze the evidence. Acquire the evidence. |
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The first 10 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
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The Bill of Rights
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Named for the former Revolutionary War Army captain who led the insurrection, it was a 1786 rebellion of 1,500 disgruntled and angry farmers. The Congress under the Articles of Confederation failed to muster an army to put it down. It is credited with shocking the nation’s leaders into recognizing the weak central government’s inadequacies.
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Shays’s [sic] Rebellion
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Mandate that national law takes precedence over all other laws passed by state or local governments
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Supremacy Clause
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The U.S. Supreme Court held in this controversy that the Court has the power to nullify the acts of the nation’s govt when those acts are found to be unconstitutional
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Marbury v. Madison (1803)
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Series of 85 political papers (essays) written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison, et al. in support of ratifying the proposed U.S. Constitution
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The Federalist Papers
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Modern definition: Powers that are written down (specifically) in the U.S. Constitution
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Enumerated Powers
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A document establishing the structure, function, and limitations of a govt
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constitution
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Agreement that reconciled the two plans for the proposed U.S. legislature. It resulted in the creation of a bicameral U.S. Congress.
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The Great Compromise
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Agreement that temporarily “settled” the issue of slavery as far as representation in the proposed U.S. House of Representatives was concerned.
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The Three-Fifths (3/5ths) Compromise
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System of government in which power is held by the People and then shared vertically with the national, state and local governments.
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Federal System
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System of government in which power is held by a strong national government and then shared vertically with state and local governments.
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Unitary System
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Exercise of authority in the areas of public health, safety and the morals of citizens to which the States are allowed to speak first. [10th Amendment]
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Reserve (Police) Powers
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Expressly forbidden by the U.S. Constitution – law that allows a finding of guilt without a trial.
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Bill of Attainder
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Portability clause that ensures your federal rights are respected and travel with you throughout the U.S.
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Privileges & Immunities clause
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Portability clause that ensures your federal responsibilities are respected and travel with you throughout the U.S.
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Privileges & Immunities clause
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Expressly forbidden by the U.S. Constitution -- law passed “after the fact” that declares previously legal actions illegal and subject to penalty.
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Ex post facto law
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1819 U.S. Supreme Court case holding that Congress’ use of the necessary & proper clause is constitutional
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McCulloch v. Maryland
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1824 U.S. Supreme Court decision that Congress has the authority to regulate interstate commerce.
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Gibbons v. Ogden
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1896 U.S. Supreme Court case holding that the segregation of the races (i.e. that state maintenance of “separate but equal”) was constitutional. It was later Overturned by the famous Brown v. the Board of Education cases (consolidated).
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Plessy v. Ferguson
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Putting the Supremacy clause into action -- occurs whenever the federal government overrides existing state or local law in order to impose a new national standard (e.g., created by decision, legislation or executive order).
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Preemption
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When the federal government orders the state and local governments to accomplish a task without providing funding to defray the costs of compliance
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Unfunded Mandate
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Guaranteed by the Eleventh Amendment; making local, state and national government “immune from (law)suit” unless waived.
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Sovereign Immunity
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When local, state and national governments exercise grants of power at the same time (e.g. right to tax; make and enforce laws; establish courts).
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Concurrent Powers
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Addressed the relationship between the Federal & State governments.
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Articles IV – VII (including the conclusion)
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Vested all Legislative powers in the Congress and establishes it as a
bicameral legislature, consisting of a Senate & House of Representatives. |
Article I
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Vested Executive power (the Authority to execute the laws of the nation) in the President of the United States, who serves several roles including: Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces.
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Article II
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Established a Supreme Court and the federal judiciary (courts), defining their jurisdiction and authority to settle disputes
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Article III
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The principle that each legislative district within a state should have the same number of eligible voters.
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one-person, one-vote
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State governments have primary responsibility for:
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education, public health, transportation, economic development, and criminal justice
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The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 addressed:
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how states might join the union (United States)
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The chief elected executive in state government
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governor
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The authority (power) of the chief executive to delete (or add) PART of a bill passed by the Legislature.
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line-item veto
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The authority of a governor to erase a criminal conviction, effectively wiping a person’s record clean.
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pardon
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The authority of a governor to erase all or part of the sentence BUT will keep the criminal conviction on the record.
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commute
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The authority of a governor to release a prisoner before a full sentence has been completed BUT with strings (conditions) attached. If any conditions are violated, the prisoner must serve out the term of the original prison sentence.
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parole
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To return a person (often against their will) to a state to face criminal charges.
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extradite
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How long someone can stay in public office.
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term limit(s)
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The primary function of courts is to _____________, and most are matters of _____________ not ________________ law.
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B. settle disputes; state; federal
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Special type of preemption (putting the Supremacy clause into action), when the national government orders state courts to enforce federal law instead of state law.
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inclusion
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Almost all contests (elections) for state government posts (offices) are:
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partisan
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Almost all contests (elections) for local government posts (offices) are:
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non-partisan
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A special election that serves as a “vote of confidence” that may remove an elected official from office
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recall
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A charter is a mini-constitution for local government. Name the five types.
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special, general, classified, optional and home rule
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A local government that is a geographic district created within a state that has general responsibilities for rural services.
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county
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A local government that emerges from a relatively densely populated area
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municipality
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A local government that performs a particular function – e.g., K-12 education – and taxes in order to accomplish that function.
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special district
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Chief elected executive of a city.
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Mayor
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Chief elected executive of a city.
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city council
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Professional executive hired to act as a CEO, managing a city’s daily operations and recommending policy changes to the mayor and city council.
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(city) manager
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Election where the winner will represent only the voters of a specific district within a jurisdiction – and only voters living in that district were allowed to vote for that position.
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district-based election
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Election in which candidates for office must compete throughout all districts in the jurisdiction as a whole.
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at-large election
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Government organization established to provide a particular service or run a particular facility e.g., METRO or the Port Authority of Houston.
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independent sovereignty
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A formal, legal agreement between a state and an Indian tribe
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blanket agreement
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Formal, legal agreements between the federal government and American Indian nations are called ___________.
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compacts
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Land designated in a treaty. It is under the authority of an Indian nation and is exempt from most state laws and taxes.
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reservation land
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Land owned by an Indian nation and designated by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs as exempt from most state laws and taxes.
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trust land
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Money that comes in from a certain tax or fee and then is restricted (reserved) to a specific use, such as a gasoline tax that is used for road maintenance.
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segregated funds
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Type of tax that is concerned with how much money you earn e.g., income tax
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progressive tax
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Type of tax that is concerned with how much money you spend e.g. sales tax.
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regressive tax
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Thomas Paine “forcefully argued for independence from Great Britain” in this “frank, easy-to-understand” essay - distributed as a pamphlet across the Colonies.
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Common Sense
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