Essential Vocabulary

Question 1

Define the following U.S. government term:

representative democracy/republic

Answer 1

form of government in which citizens elect representatives to a legislature

Based on the idea that every citizen deserves to participate in government, whether directly or indirectly. This differs from a monarchy where leadership positions are inherited.

Question 2

Define the following U.S. government term:

statism

Answer 2

a political system in which the state has substantial centralized control over social and economic affairs

Question 3

Define the following U.S. government term:

federalism

Answer 3

a system of shared powers between the central and state governments

Question 4

Define the following U.S. government term:

plurality

Answer 4

the most votes in an election, yet not necessarily a total majority

Question 5

Define the following U.S. government term:

Federalist Party

Answer 5

late 18^th to early 19^th-century political party that supported a strong centralized government

Question 6

Define the following U.S. government term:

Anti-Federalist Party

Answer 6

political party that opposed a strong centralized government, fearing it would take away the rights of states

Question 7

Define the following U.S. government term:

initiative

Answer 7

a petition that is put to a public vote

requires a certain number of signatures
also known as a citizen’s initiative
form of direct democracy

Question 8

Define the following U.S. government term:

referendum

Answer 8

national or local vote to reject or accept a proposal

also known as a ballot question
form of direct democracy

Question 9

Define the following U.S. government term:

recall

Answer 9

a direct vote to end an elected official’s term

occurs after enough citizens have signed a petition
also known as a recall referendum or recall election

Question 10

Define the following U.S. government term:

judicial review

Answer 10

a re-examination of a case by a higher court after a lower court is deemed incorrect in its rulings

The Supreme Court has the power to review laws and treaties and deem any of them constitutional or unconstitutional.

Question 11

Define the following U.S. government term:

executive order

Answer 11

command given by the U.S. President or a state governor

based on constitutional powers or laws passed by Congress
carries the full force of the law

Question 12

Define the following U.S. government term:

impoundment

Answer 12

refusal of the U.S. government to spend funds allocated by Congress

done in an effort to reduce debt
banned in 1974

Question 13

Define the following U.S. government term:

express powers

Answer 13

powers explicitly given to the federal government in the U.S. Constitution

also known as enumerated powers
listed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution

Question 14

Define the following U.S. government term:

implied powers

Answer 14

the powers of Congress not explicitly noted in the Constitution

needed to enforce enumerated powers

Question 15

Define the following U.S. government term:

concurrent powers

Answer 15

powers belonging both to the state and federal government

e.g., charging taxes, protecting the environment, and borrowing money

Question 16

Define the following U.S. government term:

centralists

Answer 16

those who favor the concentration of power in a higher form of government

Question 17

Define the following U.S. government term:

decentralists

Answer 17

those who want to share power between local, state, and federal authorities

Question 18

Define the following U.S. government term:

capitalism

Answer 18

economic system in which means of production (land and factories) are privately owned rather than owned by the government

operated for profit
developed during the Industrial Revolution

Question 19

Define the following U.S. government term:

liberal

Answer 19

In the modern political context, one who:

• believes the government’s duty is to promote equality
• champions minorities, the poor, and disadvantaged
• usually supports environmental causes and opposes extravagant military spending

Question 20

Define the following U.S. government term:

conservative

Answer 20

In the modern political context, one who:

• usually opposes government intervention in social and economic areas
• conversely, prefers a strong army
• generally champions traditional religions

Question 21

Define the following U.S. government term:

socialism

Answer 21

economic system in which workers control the means of production and all wealth is evenly distributed

in Marxist theory, it is marked by an unequal distribution of goods and pay
current nations include China, Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam
it has inspired programs and institutions, however, that exist in many countries including the U.S.

Question 22

Define the following U.S. government term:

Manifest Destiny

Answer 22

19^th-century belief that the U.S. had the God-given right to acquire and control all of North America

Question 23

Define the following U.S. government term:

lobbying

Answer 23

attempts to influence government action by an individual, a legislator, or an advocacy group

Question 24

Define the following U.S. government term:

nonpartisan election

Answer 24

election where candidates run without formal affiliation to any political party

Question 25

# Define the following U.S. government term: caucus

Answer 25

forum where party leaders debate issues, discuss the party platform, and choose delegates for the national convention

Question 26

# Define the following U.S. government term: party convention

Answer 26

forum where members of a specific party discuss their platform and select their Presidential candidate

Question 27

# Define the following U.S. government term: direct primary

Answer 27

an initial election (for a particular party) where popular vote decides the candidates who will move onto the next phase

Question 28

# Define the following U.S. government term: open primary

Answer 28

forum where *any* registered voter can vote to choose the party's political candidate ## Footnote form of direct primary

Question 29

# Define the following U.S. government term: closed primary

Answer 29

forum where members of a specific political party vote to choose the party's candidate ## Footnote form of direct primary

Question 30

# Define the following U.S. government term: turnout

Answer 30

percentage of qualified citizens who actually vote

Question 31

# Define the following U.S. government term: coattail effect

Answer 31

reflex where one candidate's popularity leads to support for other members of his or her political party

Question 32

# Define the following U.S. government term: incumbent

Answer 32

person currently holding political office

Question 33

# Define the following U.S. government term: filibuster

Answer 33

a speech that lasts long enough so that a vote cannot be taken ## Footnote occurs during a debate

Question 34

# Name the U.S. government term: form of government in which citizens elect representatives to a legislature ## Footnote based on the idea that every citizen deserves to participate in government, whether directly or indirectly unlike a monarchy because leadership positions are not inherited

Answer 34

representative democracy/republic

Question 35

# Name the U.S. government term: belief that a central government should regulate economic and political power

Answer 35

statism

Question 36

# Name the U.S. government term: a system of shared powers between the central and state governments

Answer 36

federalism

Question 37

# Name the U.S. government term: the most votes in an election, yet not necessarily a total majority

Answer 37

plurality

Question 38

# Name the U.S. government term: late 18^th to early 19^th-century political party that supported a strong centralized government

Answer 38

Federalist Party

Question 39

# Name the U.S. government term: political party that opposed a strong centralized government, fearing it would take away the rights of states

Answer 39

Anti-Federalist Party

Question 40

# Name the U.S. government term: a petition that is put to a public vote ## Footnote requires a certain number of signatures also known as a citizen's initiative form of direct democracy

Answer 40

initiative

Question 41

# Name the U.S. government term: national or local vote to reject or accept a proposal ## Footnote also known as a ballot question form of direct democracy

Answer 41

referendum

Question 42

# Name the U.S. government term: a direct vote to end an elected official's term ## Footnote occurs after enough citizens have signed a petition

Answer 42

recall ## Footnote also known as a recall referendum or recall election

Question 43

# Name the U.S. government term: a re-examination of a case by a higher court after a lower court is deemed incorrect in its rulings ## Footnote The Supreme Court has the power to review laws and treaties and deem any of them constitutional or unconstitutional.

Answer 43

judicial review

Question 44

# Name the U.S. government term: command given by the U.S. President or a state governor ## Footnote based on constitutional powers or laws passed by Congress carries the full force of the law

Answer 44

executive order

Question 45

# Name the U.S. government term: refusal of the U.S. government to spend funds allocated by Congress ## Footnote done in an effort to reduce debt banned in 1974

Answer 45

impoundment

Question 46

# Name the U.S. government term: powers explicitly given to the federal government in the U.S. Constitution ## Footnote also known as enumerated powers listed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution

Answer 46

express powers

Question 47

# Name the U.S. government term: the powers of Congress not explicitly noted in the Constitution ## Footnote needed to enforce enumerated powers

Answer 47

implied powers

Question 48

# Name the U.S. government term: powers belonging both to the state and federal government ## Footnote e.g., charging taxes, protecting the environment, and borrowing money

Answer 48

concurrent powers

Question 49

# Name the U.S. government term: those who favor the concentration of power in a higher form of government

Answer 49

centralists

Question 50

# Name the U.S. government term: those who want to share power between local, state, and federal authorities

Answer 50

decentralists

Question 51

# Name the U.S. government term: economic system in which means of production (land and factories) are privately owned rather than owned by the government ## Footnote operated for profit developed during the Industrial Revolution

Answer 51

capitalism

Question 52

# Name the U.S. government term: In the modern political context, one who: * believes the government's duty is to promote equality * champions minorities, the poor, and disadvantaged * usually supports environmental causes and opposes extravagant military spending

Answer 52

liberal

Question 53

# Name the U.S. government term: In the modern political context, one who: * usually opposes government intervention in social and economic areas * conversely, prefers a strong army * generally champions traditional religions

Answer 53

conservative

Question 54

# Name the U.S. government term: economic system in which workers control the means of production and all wealth is evenly distributed ## Footnote in Marxist theory, it is marked by an *unequal* distribution of goods and pay current nations include China, Cuba, Laos, and Vietnam it has inspired programs and institutions, however, that exist in many countries including the U.S.

Answer 54

socialism

Question 55

# Name the U.S. government term: 19^th-century belief that the U.S. had the God-given right to acquire and control all of North America

Answer 55

Manifest Destiny

Question 56

# Name the U.S. government term: attempts to influence government action by an individual, a legislator, or an advocacy group

Answer 56

lobbying

Question 57

# Name the U.S. government term: election where candidates run without formal affiliation to any political party

Answer 57

nonpartisan election

Question 58

# Name the U.S. government term: forum where party leaders debate issues, discuss the party platform, and choose delegates for the national convention

Answer 58

caucus

Question 59

# Name the U.S. government term: forum where members of a specific party discuss their platform and select their Presidential candidate

Answer 59

party convention

Question 60

# Name the U.S. government term: an initial election (for a particular party) where popular vote decides the candidates who will move onto the next phase

Answer 60

direct primary

Question 61

# Name the U.S. government term: forum where *any* registered voter can vote to choose the party's political candidate ## Footnote form of direct primary

Answer 61

open primary

Question 62

# Name the U.S. government term: forum where members of a specific political party vote to choose the party's candidate ## Footnote form of direct primary

Answer 62

closed primary

Question 63

# Name the U.S. government term: percentage of qualified citizens who actually vote

Answer 63

turnout

Question 64

# Name the U.S. government term: reflex where one candidate's popularity leads to support for other members of his or her political party

Answer 64

coattail effect

Question 65

# Name the U.S. government term: person currently holding political office

Answer 65

incumbent

Question 66

# Name the U.S. government term: a speech that lasts long enough so that a vote cannot be taken ## Footnote occurs during a debate

Answer 66

filibuster