U.S. Government and Politics --- PSCI 1330 Test 4 Final

Marshall Plan

America's massive economic recovery program for Western Europe following World War II

reapportionment

a reallocation of congressional seats among the states every ten years, following the census

appeal

a rehearing of a case because the losing party in the original trial argues that a point of law was not applied properly

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

a series of agreements on international trading terms; now known as the World Trade Organization (WTO)

the Federalists Papers

a series of essays written in support of the Constitution to build support for its ratification

State of the Union Address

a speech given annually by the president to a joint session of Congress and to the nation announcing the president's agenda

Bill of Rights

a summary of citizen rights guaranteed and protected by a government; added to the Constitution as its first ten amendments in order to achieve ratification

advanced industrial democracy

a system in which a democratic government allows citizens a considerable amount of personal freedom and maintains a free-market (though still usually regulated) economy

totalitarian government

a system in which absolute power is exercised over every aspect of life

authoritarian capitalism

a system in which the state allows people economic freedom, but maintains stringent social regulations to limit non-economic behavior

government

a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people

pluralist democracy

a theory of democracy that holds that citizen membership in groups is the key to political power

participatory democracy

a theory of democracy that holds that citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives

elite democracy

a theory of democracy that limits the citizens' role to choosing among competing leaders

cloture

a vote to end a Senate filibuster; requires a three-fifths majority, or sixty votes

Judges in state courts are: a) elected by the people b) appointed by the governor c) chosen by a variety of procedures that include election and appointment d) elected by the state legislature e) chosen by the Supreme Court

c) chosen by a variety of procedures that include election and appointment

Gibbons v. Ogden increased the power of the national government by interpreting the: a) federal police power very broadly b)congressional power to declare war very broadly c) commerce clause of the constitution very broadly d) necessary and proper clause of the constitution very broadly e) national supremacy clause of the constitution to deny the states the power to secede from the union

c) commerce clause of the constitution very broadly

civil liberties

individual freedoms guaranteed to the people primarily by the Bill of Rights

subjects

individuals who are obliged to submit to a government authority against which they have no rights

refugees

individuals who flee an area or country because of persecution on the basis of race, nationality, religion, group membership, or political opinion

courts

institutions that sit as neutral third parties to resolve conflicts according to the law

_____ is an example of monetary policy.

lowering interest rates

deterrence

maintaining military might so as to discourage another actor from taking a certain action

antiterrorism

measures to protect and defend U.S. citizens and interests from terrorist attacks

citizens

members of a political community having both rights and responsibilites

liberals

people who generally favor government action and view change as progress

conservatives

people who generally favor limited government and are cautious about change

standing committees

permanent committees responsible for legislation in particular policy areas

Truman Doctrine

policy of the United States starting in 1947 that the United States would aid free peoples to maintain their freedom in the face of aggressive communist movements

Which of the following is not a step in the policy-making process?

policy revision

Bush Doctrine

policy that supports preemptive attacks as a legitimate tactic in the U.S. war on state-sponsored terrorism

divided government

political rule split between two parties: one controlling the White House and the other controlling one or both houses of Congress

According to the text, citizens are involved in creating policy that:

politicians respond to citizens' preferences in creating public policy

judicial review

power of the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of laws

authority

power that is recognized as legitamate

concurrent powers

powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments

policy entrepreneurship

practice of legislators becoming experts and taking leadership roles in specific policy areas

French and Indian War

a war fought between France and England, and allied Indians, from 1754 to 1763; resulted in France's expulsion from the New World

James Madison defended the creation of a republic form of government in the Constitution, for all except...

a) he believed participatory democracy was the only moral form of government

In the Gideon v. Wainwright ruling, the Supreme Pizza Court: a) incorporated the sixth amendment's guarantee of the right to counsel and made it apply to all states b) declared the death penalty to be constitutional c) relaxed the provisions of the exclusionary rule

a) incorporated the sixth amendment's guarantee of the right to counsel and made it apply to all states

Those who believe the government should be restricted from personal and economic life:

a) libertarians

The range of ideological spectrum of the U.S. is:

a) narrower because of our shared political culture

legitimate

accepted as "right" or proper

preemption

action that strikes and eliminates an enemy before it has a chance to strike you

counterterrorism

activities to stop terrorists from using force and responding when they do

anti-federalists

advocates of states' rights who apposed the Constitution

Decisions of the U.S. Circuit Courts are made by: a) a single judge b) panels of three judges c) federal grand juries d) panels composed of four circuit judges and one Supreme Court justice e) a panel of nine judges, just like on the Supreme Court

b) panels of three judges

The job of confirming presidential appointments belongs to the: a) House of Representatives b) Senate c) Cabinet d) Congress as a whole e) judiciary

b) Senate

Which of the following is true about categorical grants? a) they are guided by few or no rules b) congress members can often take credit for being leaders on certain policy issues because of them c) they are very cheap for the federal government d) they allow for great flexibility at the federal level e) they help eliminate red tape

b) congress members can often take credit for being leaders on certain policy issues because of them

Both the states and the national government may exercise all of the following powers EXCEPT: a) borrow and spend money for the general welfare b) levy import or export taxes on goods c) establish highways d) take private property for public purposes e) charter and regulate banks and charter corporations

b) levy import or export taxes on goods

individualism

belief that what is good for society is based on what is good for individuals

intergovernmental organizations

bodies, such as the United Nations, whose members are countries

economic sanctions

restrictions on trade imposed on one country by another state or group of states, usually as a form of punishment or protest

veto overright

reversal of a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress

oligarchy

rule by a small group of elites

exclusionary rule

rule created by the Supreme Court that evidence illegally seized may not be used to obtain a conviction

miller test

rule used by the courts in which the definition of obscenity must be based on local standards

clear and present danger test

rule used by the courts that allows language to be regulated only if it presents an immediate and urgent danger

imminent lawless action test

rule used by the courts that restricts speech only if it is aimed at producing or is likely to produce imminent lawless action

Department of Homeland Security

the executive department meant to provide a unifying force in the government's efforts to prevent attacks on the United States and to respond to such attacks through law enforcement and emergency relief should they occur

peace dividend

the expectation that reduced defense spending would result in additional funds for other programs

dual federalism

the federal system under which the national and state governments are responsible for separate policy area

cooperative federalism

the federal system under which the national and state governments share responsibilities for most domestic policy areas

articles of Confederation

the first constitution of the United States (1777) creating an association of states with weak central government

diplomacy

the formal system of communication and negotiation between countries

Three-Fifths Compromise

the formula for counting five slaves as three people for purposes of representation that reconciled northern and southern factions at the Constitutional Convention

free exercise clause

the First Amendment guarantee that citizens may freely engage in the religious activities of their choice

establishment clause

the First Amendment guarantee that the government will not create and support an official state church

containment

the U.S. Cold War policy of preventing the spread of communism

police power

the ability of the government to protect its citizens and maintain social order

power

the ability to get other people to do what you want

anarchy

the absence of government and laws

seniority system

the accumulation of power and authority in conjunction with the length of time spent in office

coattail effect

the added votes received by congressional candidates of a winning presidential party

intelligence community

the agencies and bureaus responsible for obtaining and interpreting information for the government

head of state

the apolitical, unifying role of the president as symbolic representative of the whole country

White House Office

the approximately four hundred employees within the EOP who work most closely and directly with the president

Constitutional Covention

the assembly of fifty-five delegates in the summer of 1787 to recast the Articles of Confederation; the result was the U.S. Constitution

original jurisdiction

the authority of a court to hear a case first

appellate jurisdiction

the authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts

legislature

the body of government that makes laws

executive

the branch of government responsible for putting laws into effect

political culture

the broad pattern of ideals, beliefs, and values about citizens and government held by a population

coercive diplomacy

the calibrated use of threats of the use of force aimed to make another actor stop or undo an aggressive action

House Rules committee

the committee that determines how and when debate on a bill will take place

popular soverignty

the concept that the citizens are the ultimate source of political power

Great Compromise

the constitutional solution to congressional representation: equal votes in the Senate, votes by population in the House

national lawmaking

the creation of policy to address the problems and needs of the entire nation

politics

who gets what, when and who; a process of determining how power and resources are distributed in a society without recourse to voilence

libel

written defamation of character

hegemon

the dominant actor in world politics

representation

the efforts of elected officials to look out for the interests of those who elect them

incumbency advantage

the electoral edge afforded to those already in office

Department of State

the executive department charged with managing foreign affairs

Department of Defense

the executive department charged with managing the country's military personnel, equipment, and operations

amicus curiae briefs

"friend of the court" documents filed by interested parties to encourage the court to grant or deny certiorari or to urge it to decide a case in a particular way

True or False: The powers of the presidency have been greatly expanded by amending the Constitution.

False

True or False: When the government is a party in the case before the Supreme Court, the Attorney General represents the United States.

False - Solicitor General

According to Barbour and Wright, examples of nongovernmental organizations include:

Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders

McCulloch v. Maryland

Supreme Court ruling (1819) confirming the supremacy of national over state government

solicitor general

Justice Department officer who argues the government's cases before the Supreme Court

_____ is a federally sponsored program that provides medical care to the poor.

Medicaid

Gibbons v. Ogden

Supreme Court ruling (1824) establishing national authority over interstate business

incorporation

Supreme Court action making the protections of the Bill of Rights applicable to the states

New Jersey Plan

a proposal at the Constitutional Convention that congressional representation by equal, thus favoring the small states

executive agreement

a presidential arrangement with another country that creates foreign policy without the need for Senate approval

precedent

a previous decision or ruling that, in common law tradition, is binding on subsequent decisions

True or false: The history of U.S. foreign policy is mostly one of international activism.

True

According to Barbour and Wright, examples of intergovernmental organizations include:

United Nations, NATO, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), European Union (EU)

Virginia Plan

a proposal at the Constitutional Convention that congressional representation be based on population, thus favoring the large states

communist democracy

a Utopian system in which property is communally owned and all decisions are made democratically

select committee

a committee appointed to deal with an issue or problem not suited to a standing committee

congressional oversight

a committee's investigation of the executive and of government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends

jurisdiction

a court's authority to hear certain cases

unfunded mandate

a federal order mandating that states operate and pay for a program created at the national level

compelling state interest

a fundamental state purpose, which must be shown before the law can limit some freedoms or treat some groups of people differently

republic

a government in which decisions are made through representatives of the people

confederation

a government in which independent states unite for common purpose, but retain their own sovereignty

Shay's Rebellion

a grassroots uprising (1787) by armed Massachusetts farmers protesting foreclosures

social democracy

a hybrid system combining a capitalist economy and a government that supports equality

strict constitutionalism

a judicial approach holding that the Constitution should be read literally, with the framers' intentions uppermost in mind

judicial interpretivism

a judicial approach holding the the Constitution is a living document and that judges should interpret it according to changing times and values

common law tradition

a legal system based on the accumulated rulings of judges over time, applied uniformly - judge made law

unicameral legislature

a legislature with one chamber

regulated capitalism

a market system in which the government intervenes to protect rights and make procedural guarantees

federalism

a political system in which power is divided between the central and regional units

filibuster

a practice of unlimited debate in the Senate in order to prevent or delay a vote on a bill

power to persuade

a president's ability to convince Congress, other political actors, and the public to cooperate with the administration's agenda

presidential veto

a president's authority to reject a bill passed by Congress; may be overridden only by a two-thirds majority in each house

pardoning power

a president's authority to release or excuse a person from the legal penalties of a crime

going public

a president's strategy of appealing to the public on an issue, expecting that public pressure will be brought to bear on other political actors

cabinet

a presidential advisory group selected by the president, made up of the vice president, the heads of the federal executive departments, and other high officials to whom the president elects to give cabinet status

terrorism

an act of violence that targets civilians for the purpose of provoking widespread fear that will force government to change its policies

fascist government

an authoritarian government in which policy is made for the ultimate glory of the state

theocracy

an authoritarian government that claims to draw its power from divine or religious authority

monarchy

an authoritarian government with power vested in a king or queen

capitalist economy

an economic system in which the market determines production, distribution, and price decisions and property is privately owned

socialist economy

an economic system in which the state determines production, distribution, and price decisions and property is government owned

electoral college

an intermediary body that elects the president

critical thinking

analysis and evaluation of ideas and and arguments based on reason and evidence

evaluation

assessing how well something works or performs according to a particular standard or yardstick

foreign aid

assistance given by one country to another in the form of grants or loans

Which of the following is not a criterion used by presidents in choosing Supreme Court nominees? a) the candidates political ideology b) the candidates qualifications c) endorsements received by national news media d) rewards due to a friend or political ally

c) endorsements received by national news media

Divided government occurs when: a) the presidency and the Supreme Court are controlled by different parties b) the president and Congress are unable to agree on a joint political agenda c) one party controls the presidency while the other party controls at least one house of Congress

c) one party controls the presidency while the other party controls at least one house of Congress

The main reason we struggle to recognize our own political culture is that:

c) people generally take their political culture for granted

A mandatory seat belt law is an example of _____ law. a) procedural b) administrative c) substantive d) constitutional e) civil

c) substantive

In the U.S., treaties are negotiated by the president and require: a) no endorsement b) two-thirds approval from the House of Representatives c) two-thirds approval from the Senate d) review by the Supreme Court before they can be implemented

c) two-thirds approval from the Senate

Most nations of the world use a _____ form of government. a) federal b) confederal c) unitary

c) unitary

prior restraint

censorship of or punishment for the expression of ideas before the ideas are printed or spoken

values

central ideas, principles, or standards that most people agree are important

President George W. Bush argued that:

citizens should have the option to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in private accounts

civil rights

citizenship rights guaranteed to the people (primarily in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-sixty Amendments) and protected by the government

executive orders

clarifications of congressional policy issued by the president and having the full force of law

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

collection of nine organizations that help the president with policy and political objectives

joint committee

combined House-Senate committees formed to coordinate activities and expedite legislation in a certain area

enumerated powers of Congress

congressional powers specifically named in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8)

allocative representation

congressional work to secure projects, services, and funds for the represented district

necessary and proper clause

constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers

supremacy clause

constitutional declaration (Article VI) that the Constitution and laws made under its provisions are the supreme law of the land

Which of the following statements is not true concerning tax policy?

consumption taxes are progressive taxes

The Cold War policy of the United States that sought to prevent the spread of communism was known as:

containment

rogue states

countries that break international norms and produce, sell, or use weapons of mass destruction

According to the textbook, the three major types of foreign policy are:

crisis policy, strategic policy, and structural defense policy

Most bills introduced in Congress usually: a) pass one chamber but not the other b) are voted down on the floor of the House or the Senate c) are bottled up in the House Rules Committee d) die by inaction at the committee state e) pass through both the House and the Senate

d) die by inaction at the committee state

nullification

declaration by a state that a federal law is void within its borders

normative

describes beliefs of values about how things should be or what people ought to do rather than what actually is

rules

directives that specify how resources will be distributed or what procedures govern collective activity

Which of the following statements concerning types of public policy is not true?

distributive policy provides what people pay for themselves as a service

A _____ policy is one that takes from the whole taxpayer base but that benefits a particular group, whereas a _____ policy is one that takes from the "haves" and gives to the "have-nots".

distributive; redictributive

concurring opinions

documents written by justices expressing agreement with the majority ruling but describing different or additional reasons for the ruling

dissenting opinions

documents written by justices expressing disagreement with the majority ruling

The delegate to the constitutional convention who had the greatest impact on the document was: a) George Washington b) Thomas Jefferson c) Alexander Hamilton d) Ben Franklin e) James Madison

e) James Madison

Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the right to a speedy trial? a) First b) Second c) Fourth d) Fifth e) Sixth

e) Sixth

Americans believe that the relationship between fairness and democracy is:

e) decisions are fair because they are made democratically

Meeting and greeting foreign dignitaries is an example of which presidential role? a) commander-in-chief b) chief administrator c) head of government d) party leader e) head of state

e) head of state

Which of the following statements concerning "popular sovereignty" is NOT true?

e) it is the basis for an anarchist form of government

The power of the U.S. Supreme Court to declare laws "unconstitutional" is found in what Article of the U.S. Constitution? a) I b) II c) III d) IV e) none of these f) ok seriously enough with the options g) who is even going to pick this one? i) lol I skipped h j) bet you didn't even notice k) ok come on answer the damn question

e) none of these

Stare decisis is the Latin term that refers to the practice of relying on: a) star chamber ruling b) stated decision c) adversarial decision e) precedent

e) precedent

Which of the following was note cited in Griswold v. Connecticut as creating a "zone of privacy"? a) the First amendment b) the Third amendment c) the Fourth amendment d) the Fifth amendment e) the Sixth amendment

e) the Sixth amendment

Which of the following is not among the congressional checks and balances in relation to the executive branch? a) the power to approve treaties b) the power to approve presidential appointments to the federal courts c) congressional oversight of the executive branch e) the power to veto acts of the president d) what happened to d...

e) the power to veto acts of the president

The major differences between the House and the Senate include all of the following except: a) the length of their terms b) the size of the institutions c) the method of determining their constituencies d) their role in the impeachment process e) their power in the legislative process

e) their power in the legislative process

Violation of a civil law is called a: a) crime b) felony c) misdemeanor d) infraction e) tort

e) tort

World Bank

economic institution that makes large, low-cost loans with long repayment terms to countries, primarily for infrastructure construction or repairs

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

economic institution that makes short-term, relatively small loans to countries to help balance their currency flows

free trade

economic system by which countries exchange goods without imposing excessive tariffs and taxes

symbolic representation

efforts of members of Congress to stand for American ideals or identify with common constituency values

legislative liaison

executive personnel who work with members of Congress to secure their support in getting a president's legislation passed

block grant

federal funds provided for a broad purpose, unrestricted by detailed requirements and regulations

categorical grant

federal funds provided for a specific purpose, restricted by detailed instructions, regulations, and compliance standards

The government's use of its taxing and spending powers to regulate the economy is known as _____ policy.

fiscal

structural defense policy

foreign policy dealing with defense spending, military bases, and weapons procurement

strategic policy

foreign policy that laws out a country's basic stance toward international actors or problems

crisis policy

foreign policy, usually made quickly and secretly, that responds to an emergency threat

treaties

formal agreements with other countries; negotiated by the president and requiring approval by two-thirds of the Senate

writ of certiorari

formal request by the U.S. Supreme Court to call up the lower course case it decides to hear on appeal

substantive guarantees

government assurance of particular outcomes or results

procedural guarantees

government assurance that the rules will work smoothly and treat everyone fairly, with no promise of particular outcomes

unitary system

government in which all power is centalized

democracy

government that vests power in the people

con-federal systems

governments in which local units hold all the power

John Maynard Keynes argued that:

governments should use deficit spending to fight recessions and surpluses to fight inflation

factions

groups of citizens united by some common passion or interest and opposed to the rights of other citizens or to the interest of the whole community

due process of law

guarantee that laws will be fair and reasonable and that citizens suspected of breaking the law will be treated fairly

presidential style

image projected by the president that represents how he would like to be perceived at home and abroad

selective incorporation

incorporation of rights on a case-by-case basis

The United Nations is a(n):

intergovernmental organization

multinational corporations

large companies that do buisness in multiple countries

administrative law

law established by the bureaucracy, on behalf of Congress

constitutional law

law state in the Constitution or in the body of judicial decisions about the meaning of the Constitution handed down in the courts

statutory laws

laws passed by a state or the federal legislature

criminal law

laws prohibiting behavior the government has determined to by harmful to society; violation is called a crime

civil laws

laws regulating interactions between individuals; violation is called a tort

ex post facto laws

laws that criminalize an action after it occurs

procedural laws

laws that establish how laws are applied and enforced - how legal proceedings that place

bills of attinder

laws under which specific persons or groups are detained and sentenced without trial

substantive laws

laws whose content, or substance, defines what we can or cannot do

casework

legislative work on behalf of individual constituents to solve their problems with government agencies and programs

bicameral legislature

legislature with two chambers

Which of the following is the main reason that members of Congress do not have the power to make monetary policy?

monetary policy often requires unpopular decisions that members might not be willing to make

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

multinational organization formed in 1949 to promote the Cold War defense of Europe from the communist bloc

weapons of mass destruction

nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons that can kill huge numbers of people at one time

council of economic advisorts

organization within the EOP that advises the president on economic matters

National Security Council (NSC)

organization within the EOP that oversees the budgets of departments and agencies

nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)

organizations comprising individuals or interest groups from around the world focused on a special issue

institutions

organizations in which governmental power is exercised

director of national intelligence

overseer and coordinator of the activities of the many agencies involved in the production and dissemination of intelligence information in the U.S. government, as well as the president's main intelligence adviser

pocket veto

presidential authority to kill a bill submitted within ten days of the end of a legislative session by not signing it

inherent powers

presidential powers implied but not explicitly stated in the Constitution

A maternity-leave program created by a business is an example of a _____ policy.

private

procedural due process

procedural laws that protect the rights of individuals who must deal with the legal system

redistricting

process of dividing states into legislative districts

economics

production and distribution of a society's material resources and servies

pork barrel

public works projects and grants for specific districts paid for by general revenues

roll call voting

publicly recorded votes on bills and amendments on the floor of the House or Senate

If government wanted to create a more progressive tax code, then it would:

raise the capital gains tax

gerrymandering

redistricting to benefit a particular group

racial gerrymandering

redistricting to enhance or reduce the chances that a racial or ethnic group will elect members to the legislature

ideologies

sets of beliefs about politics and society that help people make sense of their world

Which of the following is not an example of a means-tested program?

social security

fighting words

speech intended to incite violence

sedition

speech that criticizes the government

separationists

supporters of a "wall of separation" between church and state

accomdationists

supporters of government non-preferential accommodation of religion

federalists

supporters of the Constitution who favored a strong central government

authoritarian governments

systems in which the state holds all power over the social order

conference committees

temporary committees formed to reconcile differences in House and Senate versions of a bill

Public problems can be difficult to solve for all of the following reasons except:

the government is not responsive to public opinion regarding what constitutes a problem

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

the government organization that oversees foreign intelligence gathering and related classified activities

Cold War

the half-century of competition and conflict after World War II between the United States and the Soviet Union (and their allies)

political correctness

the idea that language shapes behavior and therefore should be regulated to control its social effects

protectionism

the imposition of trade barriers, especially tariffs, to make trading conditions favorable to domestic producers

separation of powers

the institutional arrangement that assigns judicial, executive, and legislative powers to different persons or groups, thereby limiting the powers of each

Marbury v. Madison

the landmark case that established the U.S. Supreme Court's power of judicial review

Speaker of the House

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

naturalization

the legal process of acquiring citizenship for someone who has not acquired it by birth

nuclear triad

the military strategy of having a three-pronged nuclear capability, from land, sea, or air

social contract

the notion that society is based on an agreement between government and the governed in which people agree to give up some rights in exchange for the protection of others

National Security Council (NSC)

the organization within the Executive Office of the President that provides foreign policy advice to the president

majority party

the party with the most seats in a house of Congress

chief of staff

the person who oversees the operations of all White House staff and controls access to the president

Declaration of Independence

the political document that dissolved the colonial ties between the United States and Britain

head of government

the political role of the president as leader of a political party and chief arbiter of who gets what resources

superterrorism

the potential use of weapons of mass destruction in a terrorist attack

judicial power

the power to interpret laws and judge whether a law has been broken

cycle effect

the predictable rise and fall of a president's popularity at different stages of a term in office

chief administrator

the president's executive role as the head of federal agencies and the person responsible for the implementation of national policy

chief foreign policy maker

the president's executive role as the primary shaper of relations with other nations

commander in chief

the president's role as the top officer of the country's military establishment

checks and balances

the principle that allows each branch of government to exercise some form of control over the others

ratification

the process through which a proposal is formally approved and adopted by vote

propaganda

the promotion of information, which may or may not be correct, designed to influence the beliefs and attitudes of a foreign audience

amendability

the provision for the Constitution to be changed, so as to adapt to new circumstances

embargo

the refusal by one country to trade with another in order to force changes in its behavior or to weaken it

habeas corpus

the right of an accused person to be brought before a judge and informed of the charges and evidence against him or her

freedom of assembly

the right of the people to gather peacefully and to petition government

constitution

the rules that establish a government

Joint Chiefs of Staff

the senior military officers from four branches of the U.S. armed forces

legislative agenda

the slate of proposals and issues that representatives think it worthwhile to consider and act on

most favored nation

the status afforded to WTO trading partners; a country gives the same "deal" to member nations that it offers to its "most favored" friend

midterm loss

the tendency for the presidential party to lose congressional seats in off-year elections

honeymoon period

the time following an election when a president's popularity is high and congressional relations are likely to be productive

devolution

the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states

popular tyranny

the unrestrained power of the people

Rule of Four

the unwritten requirement that four Supreme Court justices must agree to grant a case certiorari in order for the case to be heard

constituency

the voters in a state or district

social order

the way we organize and live our collective lives

opinion

the written decision of the court that states the judgement of the majority

social conservatives

those who endorse limited government control of the economy but considerable government intervention to realize a traditional social order; based on religious values and hierarchy rather than equality

economic conservatives

those who favor a strictly procedural government role in the economy and the social order

communitarians

those who favor a strong substantive government role in the economy and the social order in order to realize their vision of a community of equals

economic liberals

those who favor an expanded government role in the economy but a limited role in the social order

social liberals

those who favor greater control of the economy and the social order to bring about greater equality and to regulate the effects of progress

libertarians

those who favor minimal government role in any sphere

lemon test

three-pronged rule used by the courts to determine whether the establishment clause is violated

According to business lobbyists, corporate welfare is needed:

to keep American businesses competitive in the global marketplace

preventive war

to use force without direct provocation in order to assure that a chain of events does not unfold that could put you at immediate risk at some later date

senatorial courtesy

tradition of granting senior senators of the president's party considerable power over federal judicial appointments in their home states

covert operations

undercover actions in which the prime mover country appears to have had no role

analysis

understanding how something works by breaking it down into its component parts

compellence

using foreign policy strategies to persuade, or force, an actor to take a certain action

judicial activism

view that the courts should be lawmaking, policy-making bodies

judicial restraint

view that the courts should reject any active lawmaking functions and stick to judicial interpretations of the past