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U.S. Government Basics > Essential Vocabulary > Flashcards

Essential Vocabulary Flashcards

Haven't taken any politics classes since high school? Brush up on everything from filibusters to Federalists with this deck!

1
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

representative democracy/republic

A

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.

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2
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

statism

A

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

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3
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

federalism

A

a system of shared powers between the central and state governments

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4
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

plurality

A

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

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5
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

Federalist Party

A

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

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6
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

Anti-Federalist Party

A

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

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7
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

initiative

A

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

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8
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

referendum

A

national or local vote to reject or accept a proposal

also known as a ballot question
form of direct democracy

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9
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

recall

A

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

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10
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

judicial review

A

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.

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11
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

executive order

A

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

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12
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

impoundment

A

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

done in an effort to reduce debt
banned in 1974

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13
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

express powers

A

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

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14
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

implied powers

A

the powers of Congress not explicitly noted in the Constitution

needed to enforce enumerated powers

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15
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

concurrent powers

A

powers belonging both to the state and federal government

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

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16
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

centralists

A

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

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17
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

decentralists

A

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

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18
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

capitalism

A

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

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19
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

liberal

A

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
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20
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

conservative

A

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
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21
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

socialism

A

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.

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22
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

Manifest Destiny

A

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

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23
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

lobbying

A

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

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24
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

nonpartisan election

A

election where candidates run without formal affiliation to any political party

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25
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

caucus

A

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

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26
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

party convention

A

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

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27
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

direct primary

A

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

28
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

open primary

A

forum where any registered voter can vote to choose the party’s political candidate

form of direct primary

29
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

closed primary

A

forum where members of a specific political party vote to choose the party’s candidate

form of direct primary

30
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

turnout

A

percentage of qualified citizens who actually vote

31
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

coattail effect

A

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

32
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

incumbent

A

person currently holding political office

33
Q

Define the following U.S. government term:

filibuster

A

a speech that lasts long enough so that a vote cannot be taken

occurs during a debate

34
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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
unlike a monarchy because leadership positions are not inherited

A

representative democracy/republic

35
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

belief that a central government should regulate economic and political power

A

statism

36
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

a system of shared powers between the central and state governments

A

federalism

37
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

plurality

38
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

Federalist Party

39
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

Anti-Federalist Party

40
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

initiative

41
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

national or local vote to reject or accept a proposal

also known as a ballot question
form of direct democracy

A

referendum

42
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

a direct vote to end an elected official’s term

occurs after enough citizens have signed a petition

A

recall

also known as a recall referendum or recall election

43
Q

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

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

A

judicial review

44
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

executive order

45
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

done in an effort to reduce debt
banned in 1974

A

impoundment

46
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

express powers

47
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

the powers of Congress not explicitly noted in the Constitution

needed to enforce enumerated powers

A

implied powers

48
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

powers belonging both to the state and federal government

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

A

concurrent powers

49
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

centralists

50
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

decentralists

51
Q

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

operated for profit
developed during the Industrial Revolution

A

capitalism

52
Q

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
A

liberal

53
Q

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
A

conservative

54
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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.

A

socialism

55
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

Manifest Destiny

56
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

lobbying

57
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

election where candidates run without formal affiliation to any political party

A

nonpartisan election

58
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

caucus

59
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

party convention

60
Q

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

A

direct primary

61
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

forum where any registered voter can vote to choose the party’s political candidate

form of direct primary

A

open primary

62
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

forum where members of a specific political party vote to choose the party’s candidate

form of direct primary

A

closed primary

63
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

percentage of qualified citizens who actually vote

A

turnout

64
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

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

A

coattail effect

65
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

person currently holding political office

A

incumbent

66
Q

Name the U.S. government term:

a speech that lasts long enough so that a vote cannot be taken

occurs during a debate

A

filibuster

U.S. Government Basics (8 decks)

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