1 Flashcards
(20 cards)
Absentee ballot
A ballot, usually sent in the mail, that allows those who cannot go to their precinct on election day to vote.
Absolutism
The belief that government should have all the power and be able to do what it wants
Acquisitive model
A view of bureaucracies that argues agency heads seek to expand the size, budget, and power of their agency
Actual malice
Knowingly printing falsehoods in order to harm a person’s reputation
Administrative adjudication
The bureaucratic function of settling disputes by relying on rules and precedents
Affirm
An action by the Supreme Court to uphold a ruling by a lower court; that ruling is now the legally binding one
Affirmative action
Measures to give minorities special consideration for hiring, school admission, and so on, designed to overcome past discrimination
Agency capture
The gaining of control (direct or indirect) over a government regulatory agency by the industry it regulates
Agency representation
A type of representation in which the representative is seen as an agent, acting on behalf of the district, who is held accountable if he or she does not do as the constituents wish.
Agenda-setting
The power of the media to determine which issues will be discussed and debated
Amendment
A change or addition to the Constitution
American conservatism
The belief that freedom trumps all other political considerations; the government should play a small role in the lives of the people
American exceptionalism
The view that the United States is different from other countries
American liberalism
The belief that the government should promote equality in politics and economics
Americans with Disabilities Act
The major law banning discrimination against the disabled, it requires employers to make all reasonable accommodations to disabled workers; this law was passed in 1990
Amicus curiae brief
Literally, “a friend of the court” brief. A brief submitted to the court by a group not involved in the case; it presents further arguments for one side in the case
Anarchism
The belief that all governments are repressive and should be destroyed
Appellate jurisdiction
The authority to review cases heard by lower courts
Appointment power
The president’s power to appoint people to key federal offices.
Appropriation
The act of Congress formally specifying the amount of authorized money that an agency can spend
