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
