Political Science Exam 4

Front 1

New York Times v. U.S. (1971)

Back 1

Supreme Court ruled that the government could not prevent publication by the New York TImes of the Pentagon Papers, classified government documents about the Vietnam War that had been stolen, photocopied, and sent to the Times and the Washington Post by Daniel Ellsberg, a government employee.

Front 2

Schenck v. US (1918)

Back 2

During World War I, Schenck mailed circulars to draftees. The circulars suggested that the draft was a monstrous wrong motivated by the capitalist system. The circulars urged "Do not submit to intimidation" but advised only peaceful action such as petitioning to repeal the Conscription Act. Schenck was charged with conspiracy to violate the Espionage Act by attempting to cause insubordination in the military and to obstruct recruitment.Holmes, speaking for a unanimous Court, concluded that Schenck is not protected in this situation

Front 3

Telecommunications Act

Back 3

The Telecommunications Act of 1996, provided major changes in laws affecting cable TV, telecommunications, and the Internet. The law's main purpose was to stimulate competition in telecommunication services. The law specifies:
How local telephone carriers can compete
How and under what circumstances local exchange carriers (LEC) can provide long-distance services
The deregulation of cable TV rates

Front 4

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Back 4

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934 and is charged with regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC's jurisdiction covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. possessions.

Front 5

Net Nuetrality

Back 5

Net Neutrality is the shorthand term for the concept that companies which operate a telecommunications network, like the telephone and cable companies, shouldn’t be able to play favorites with the content that goes over the network.

Front 6

embedded reporters

Back 6

news reporters being attached to military units involved in armed conflicts. While the term could be applied to many historical interactions between journalists and military personnel, it first came to be used in the media coverage of the 2003 invasion of Iraq

Front 7

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Back 7

established in 1975 to administer and enforce the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA). That statute limits the sources and amounts of the contributions used to finance federal elections, requires public disclosure of campaign finance information

Front 8

Interest groups

Back 8

a group, however loosely or tightly organized, that is determined to encourage or prevent changes in public policy without trying to be elected.

Front 9

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act (2007)

Back 9

strengthens public disclosure requirements concerning lobbying activity and funding, places more restrictions on gifts for members of Congress and their staff, and provides for mandatory disclosure of earmarks in expenditure bills.

Front 10

Federal Election Campaign Act (1971)

Back 10

Congress attempted to establish comprehensive regulations on the way American political campaigns for Congress and the presidency raise money and disclose the amount and sources of contributions. Tries to control the size of contributions to political campaigns, the source of such contributions, public disclosure of campaign financial information, and public financing of presidential campaigns.

Front 11

Buckley v. Valeo (1976)

Back 11

Supreme Court of the United States upheld a federal law which set limits on campaign contributions, but ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of constitutionally protected free speech, and struck down portions of the law. The court also stated candidates can give unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns

Front 12

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (2002)/
McCain-Feingold Act

Back 12

includes several provisions designed to end the use of nonfederal, or "soft money" (money raised outside the limits and prohibitions of federal campaign finance law) for activity affecting federal elections.

Front 13

Citizens United v. FEC (2009)

Back 13

was a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment. The 5–4 decision, in favor of Citizens United, resulted from a dispute over whether the non-profit corporation Citizens United could air a film critical of Hillary Clinton, and whether the group could advertise the film in broadcast ads featuring Clinton's image

Front 14

Solid South

Back 14

refers to the electoral support of the Southern United States for the Democratic Party candidates for nearly a century from 1877, the end of the Reconstruction, to 1964, during the middle of the Civil Rights era.

Front 15

Catch-all Parties

Back 15

argues against any sort of single-issue litmus tests or ideological rigidity, and advocates multiple ideologies and views within a party

Front 16

Voter Apathy

Back 16

(lack of caring) among voters in an election. Voter apathy is often cited as a cause of low turnout among eligible voters.

Front 17

Caucuses

Back 17

a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.