Politics Vocab

Front 1

political efficacy

Back 1

the ability to influence gov. and politics

Front 2

autocracy

Back 2

a form of gov in which a single individual rules (king, queen, dictator)

Front 3

oligarchy

Back 3

a form of gov in which a small group controls most of the governing decisions (military officers or wealthy merchants)

Front 4

democracy

Back 4

a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials

Front 5

pluralism

Back 5

the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the gov. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation

Front 6

laissez-faire capitalism

Back 6

an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government

Front 7

equality of opportunity

Back 7

a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use watever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential

Front 8

Virginia Plan

Back 8

introduced by Edmund Randolph- called for representation in the national legislature based on the pop. of each state

Front 9

New Jersey Plan

Back 9

introduced by William Patterson- called for equal state representation in the national lesgislature regardless of pop.

Front 10

Great Compromise

Back 10

Senators= equal for each state
House of Representative= based on each states' pop.

Front 11

elastic clause

Back 11

section of the Constitution that enumerates the powers of Congress and provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry them out

Front 12

judicial review

Back 12

the power of the courts to review and it necessary declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional

Front 13

federalism

Back 13

where there is more power at the national level, without completely undermining the power of the state governments

Front 14

tyranny

Back 14

oppressive gov. that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority

Front 15

federalism (def.)

Back 15

a system of gov. in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central gov. and regional gov.

Front 16

reserved powers

Back 16

powers that are not specifically delegated to the national gov. or denied to the states

Front 17

police power

Back 17

power reserved to the state gov. to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens

Front 18

concurrent powers

Back 18

authority possessed by both state and national govs.

Front 19

grants-in-aid

Back 19

programs through which Congress provides money to state and local govs. on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the fereral gov.

Front 20

cooperative federalism

Back 20

a type of federalism existing since the New Deal era in which grants-in-aid have been used strategically to encourage states adn localities to pursue nationally defined goals

Front 21

preemption

Back 21

the principle that allows the national gov. to override state or local actions in certain policy areas

Front 22

expressed power

Back 22

specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress and to the president

Front 23

implied powers

Back 23

powers not expressed but implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers

Front 24

civil liberties

Back 24

areas of personal freedom with which govs. are constrained from interfering

Front 25

Lemon test

Back 25

a rule articulated in Lemon v. Kurtzman that gov. aid toward religious schools would be accepted if 1) it had a secular purpose 2) its effect would neither promote nor inhibit the practice of religion and 3) it did not lead to entangle gov. and religious institutions in each other's affairs

Front 26

due process of law

Back 26

the right of every citizen against arbitrary action by national or state govs.

Front 27

exclusionary rule

Back 27

the ability of courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amend. (it means that if incriminating material is found through illegal search and seizure, it cannot be used as evidence in court)

Front 28

double jeopardy

Back 28

the Fifth Amend. right providing that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime

Front 29

Miranda rule

Back 29

a requirement that person under arrest must be informed prior to police interrogation of their rights to remain silent and to have the benefit of legal counsel

Front 30

right to privacy

Back 30

the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures

Front 31

civil rights

Back 31

obligation imposed on gov. to take positive action to protect citizens from any illegal action of gov. agencies as well as other private citizens

Front 32

13th Amend.

Back 32

abolished slavery

Front 33

14th Amend.

Back 33

guaranteed equal protection and due process

Front 34

15th Amend.

Back 34

guaranteed voting rights for African American men

Front 35

Jim Crow laws

Back 35

laws enacted by southern states following Reconstruction that discriminated against African Americans

Front 36

strict scrutiny

Back 36

test used by the Supreme Court in racial discrimination cases and other cases involving civil liberties and civil rights.
It places the burden of proof on the gov.--not on the challengers-- to show that the law in question was constitutional