Government Hsa-Smith & Warner 2014

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1. Absolute Monarchy

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A monarch that has complete and unlimited power to rule.

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2. Amendment

Back 2

A change to the U.S. Constitution.

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3. Anarchy

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Absence of a government

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4. Appropriation

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The approval of government spending.

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5. Authoritarianism

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A government that uses strong, and sometimes abusive measures, against the people in order to keep them in line.

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6. Autocracy

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A government where a single person rules.

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7. Checks and Balances

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The system where each branch of government checks the powers of the other two, so one branch does not become too powerful.

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8. Civil Liberties

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Areas of personal freedom where the government is restricted from interfering.

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9. Civil Rights

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Protections and rights given to all U.S. citizens by the Constitution.

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10. Command Economy

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An economic system where the basic economic questions are answered by the government.

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11. Confederation

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A system of government where all key powers are given to the state/local governments.

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12. Constitutional Monarchy

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A monarch who shares his/her powers with an elected legislature.

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13. Contract

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A set of voluntary promises, enforceable by law, between parties who agree to do or not to do something.

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14. Dictatorship

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A government with a single leader who seeks to control all aspects of social, political and economic life.

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15. Direct Democracy

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A democracy where people govern themselves by voting directly on issues as individuals.

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16. Due Process

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The government must follow proper and constitutional procedures in actions it takes against citizens.

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17. Economic Benefit

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The positive aspects of a chosen good or service.

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18. Economic Cost

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The negative aspects of a chosen good or service.

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19. Eminent Domain

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The government's power to take private property for public use.

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20. Establishment Clause

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The United States does not have an official religion, nor does the government favor one religion over another.

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21. Exclusionary Rule

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Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court.

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22. Executive Order

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A rule issued by the President that has the force of law.

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23. Federalism

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System of government where the power is divided between the national, state and local governments.

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24. Federal Reserve System

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The central bank of the United States, created by Congress to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system.

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25. Felony

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A serious crime, usually punishable with a year or more in prison.

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26. Fiscal Policy

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The policy of a government in controlling its own expenses and taxation, which together make up the budget.

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27. Free Exercise Clause

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Americans have the right to worship as they please, or to have no religion if they prefer.

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28. Grand Jury

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A group that decides if there is enough evidence for a case to be brought to trial.

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29. Impeachment

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A formal accusation of misconduct in office against a public official.

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30. Indictment

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A formal charge by a grand jury.

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31. Interest Group

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A group of people with common goals, who organize to influence government decisions.

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32. Judicial Review

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The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

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33. Jurisdiction

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The authority of a court to hear and rule on certain cases.

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34. Limited Government

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Where the power of the government is limited via checks and balances, federalism, and separation of powers.

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35. Lobby

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Direct contact made by a lobbyist in order to persuade government officials to support the policies their interest group favors.

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36. Majority Rule

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All decisions are made by a majority vote. (51%)

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37. Market Economy

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An economic system where the basic economic questions are answered through the interaction of buyers and sellers.

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38. Misdemeanor

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A minor crime punishable by a fine or jail time less than one year.

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39. Mixed Economy

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An economic system that is primarily market but is also influenced by the government and culture.

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40. Monarchy

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A king, queen, emperor or empress rules the country.

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41. Monetary Policy

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The process where the supply of money is controlled, often adjusting an interest rate for the purpose of promoting economic growth and stability.

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42. Oligarchy

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Type of government where a small group of people hold the power.

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43. Opportunity Cost

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The sacrificed item in a trade-off.

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44. Petit Jury

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A trial jury of 6-12 people who give a verdict at a trial based on the evidence presented during the trial.

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45. Political Party

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A group of people with like broad common interests, who organize to win elections, control the government and thereby influence government policies.

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46. Popular Sovereignty

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Rule by the people.

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47. Propaganda

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The use of information or rumors to influence opinion.

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48. Ratification

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The approval of the U.S. Constitution; the approval of an Amendment.

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49. Recall

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A special election to determine whether or not to remove an elected official from office.

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50. Referendum

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An election where the people vote to determine whether or not a particular bill becomes a law.

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51. Regulation

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A rule which organizations and businesses must follow.

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52. Representative Democracy

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A democracy where people elect representatives to make laws and conduct government.

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53. Rule of Law

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A set of rules and procedures the government is expected to follow, established in the Constitution.

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54. Separation of Powers

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The division of power between the legislative, executive and judicial powers of government.

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55. Third Party

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Any political party other than one of the two major parties.

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56. Ticket

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A political party's presidential and vice presidential candidates for the November election.

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57. Traditional Economy

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An economic system where the basic economic questions are answered through culture, family and religion.

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58. Treaty

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A formal agreement between the U.S. and a foreign country that needs Senate approval.

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59. Unitary System

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A system of government that gives all key powers to the central government.

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60. Writ of Habeas Corpus

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The legal procedure that keeps the government from holding you indefinitely without showing cause.

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61. Brown v. Board of Education

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All public schools in the country were to be integrated.

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62. Engle v. Vitale

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The establishment clause was violated by a public school district's practice of starting each school day with a prayer - the establishment clause was intended to keep government out of religion.

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63. Gideon v. Wainwright

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A defendant (regardless of financial status) has the right to an attorney if he/she could be sentenced to more than six months in jail or prison.

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64. Marbury v. Madison

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Established the power of judicial review for the courts.

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65. McCulloch v. Maryland

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Upheld the Supremacy Clause and the Necessary and Proper Clause.

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66. Miranda v. Arizona

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Established the Miranda Warnings - ensure that a person in custody will not unknowingly give up protection against self-incrimination and the right to an attorney.

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67. New Jersey v. T.L.O.

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School officials can search a student's property without probable cause, as long as they have reason to believe a rule/law has been violated.

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68. Plessy v. Ferguson

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Upheld the separate but equal clause among blacks and whites, later over-ruled by Brown v. Education

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69. Tinker v. Des Moines School District

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The Court ruled that the suspension of a student (for wearing clothing that expressed an opinion) violated the student's right to free speech.

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70. Weeks v. United States

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Established the exclusionary rule - illegally obtained evidence cannot be used against the defendant in a trial.

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71. International Monetary Fund

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An international organization which works to foster global monetary cooperation, international trade, and reduce poverty

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72. International Red Cross

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An international agency for the relief of victims of war or disasters

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73. North American Free Trade Agreement

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An agreement between the US, Canada, and Mexico to work to remove trade barriers and resolve trade disputes.

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74. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

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The U S and several nations in Western Europe work to foster global monetary cooperation, international trade and influence policy.
An armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.

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75. United Nations General Assembly

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Discuss, debate, and recommend solutions for major international problems presented to the United Nations

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76. United Nations International Court of Justice

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Settle disputes between member nations over international law.

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77. United Nations Security Council

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Make peacekeeping decisions for the UN.

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78. World Bank

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An agency of the UN that lends money to member nations for investments, foreign trade, and repayment of debts.

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79. Center for Disease Control (CDC)

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Works to control the spread of diseases among humans.

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80. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

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Establishes standards of safety for consumer products.

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81. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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Enforces regulations in the pollution of the environment.

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82. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

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Oversees the hiring and firing practices of businesses.

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83. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

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Promotes airline safety.

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84. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

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Regulates radio, TV, telephones, telegraphs, satellites, and CB radios.

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85. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

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Protects consumers from fraudulent advertisements.

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86. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

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Protects the consumer from poorly processed and improperly labeled foods, drugs, and cosmetics.

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87. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

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Protects workers from hazardous conditions at the worksite.

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88. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

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Regulates the sale of securities (stocks and bonds).

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89. Medicaid

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Provides money to states to help pay the medical costs of people with low incomes.

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90. Social Security

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Requires workers and employers to pay a tax for benefits to be received in the future. The money provides a monthly stipend for retired people and disabled people.

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91. Medicare

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Helps citizens, who are at least 65 years old, to pay for hospital care and some nursing home care; also includes a voluntary medical insurance and prescription plan. Benefits are also available to disabled individuals.

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92. Unemployment Compensation

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Pays benefits to workers who have lost their jobs due to circumstances beyond their control.

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93. Worker's Compensation

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Pays benefits to workers who have job-related injuries or illnesses resulting from working conditions.

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94. Americans with Disabilities Act

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Prohibits discrimination based on physical, mental or emotional disability in employment, public services, public accommodations, transportation and telecommunications.

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95. Civil Rights Act

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Makes racial discrimination in public places illegal. It requires employers to provide equal employment opportunities. Projects involving federal funds could be cut off if there is evidence of discrimination.

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96. Civil Rights and Women's Equity Act

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Provides for jury trials and possible compensatory and punitive damages in cases of sex, religious and disability bias. Also established a Glass Ceiling Commission.

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97. Education Amendment Title IX

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Prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded education programs or activities.

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98. Equal Employment Opportunities Act

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Prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or sex.

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99. Voting Rights Act (1965)

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Prohibits voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race, color or membership in a language minority group. Prohibits the use of discriminatory redistricting plans or voter registration procedures.

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100. Voting Rights Act (1975)

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Mandates bilingual ballots and oral assistance to those who speak Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Native American languages and Eskimo languages.