Final Review

Question 1

Political Parties

Answer 1

Organized groups that attempt to influence the government by electing their members to government offices

Question 2

Party Identification

Answer 2

An individual voter’s psychological ties to one party or another

Question 3

Incumbency

Answer 3

Holding a political office for which one is running

Question 4

Redistricting

Answer 4

Process of determining the shape of a district

Question 5

Gerrymandering

Answer 5

Manipulation of electoral districts to serve the interest of a particular group

Question 6

Interest Groups

Answer 6

Groups of individuals who organize to influence the government’s programs and policies

Question 7

Pluralism

Answer 7

Theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence (compromise and moderation is a product of this competition)

Question 8

Lobbying

Answer 8

Strategy where interest groups seek to influence the passage of legislation or other public policy by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature

Question 9

Iron Triangle

Answer 9

Stable and cooperative relationships that often develop between a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and interest groups

Question 10

Bureaucratic Capture

Answer 10

Scenario in which agencies are beholden to interest groups than elected officials

Question 11

Bicameralism

Answer 11

A legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses

Question 12

Constituency

Answer 12

Body of voters who elect a representative to the legislature

Question 13

Bill

Answer 13

Proposed law sponsored by a member of Congress and submitted to the clerk of the House or Senate

Question 14

Filibuster

Answer 14

Speaking without interruption to prevent action on legislation

Question 15

Veto

Answer 15

President’s power to prevent a bill from becoming a law

Question 16

Pocket Veto

Answer 16

Presidential veto triggered if no action is taken on legislation passed during the final 10 days of a legislative session

Question 17

Appropriations

Answer 17

Amounts of money approved by Congress that each unit or agency of government can spend

Question 18

Expressed Powers

Answer 18

Specifically defined powers granted to the president in the Constitution

Question 19

Delegated Powers

Answer 19

Constitutional powers assigned to one agency and exercised by another agency with the express permission of the first

Question 20

Executive Orders

Answer 20

A rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect and formal status of legislation, except that it is limited to the executive branch

Question 21

Criminal Law

Answer 21

The branch of law that regulates the conduct of individuals, defines crimes, and specifies punishments for criminal acts

Question 22

Civil Law

Answer 22

The branch of law that deals with disputes that do not involve criminal penalties

Question 23

Plaintiff

Answer 23

Individual or organization that brings a complaint in court

Question 24

Defendant

Answer 24

One against whom a complaint is brought

Question 25

Original Jurisdiction

Answer 25

Authority to initially consider a case

Question 26

Appellate Jurisdiction

Answer 26

Authority to hear appeals from a lower court’s decision

Question 27

Writ of Certiorari

Answer 27

Decision of at least four Supreme Court justices to review a decision of a lower court (means to make more certain)

Question 28

Amicus Curiae

Answer 28

Individuals or groups who are not parties to a lawsuit but who seek to assist the Supreme Court in reaching a decision by presenting additional briefs (means friend of the court)

Question 29

Judicial Review

Answer 29

Power to review and, if necessary, declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional

Question 30

Judicial Activism

Answer 30

Philosophy that the Court should go beyond the words of the Constitution or a statute to consider broader societal implications of decisions

Question 31

Judicial Restraint

Answer 31

Philosophy that the Court should refuse to go beyond the clear words of the Constitution

Question 32

Apportionment

Answer 32

The process that allocates congressional seats among the 50 states

Question 33

Cabinet

Answer 33

The secretaries, or chief administrators, of the major departments of the federal government

Question 34

Electoral College

Answer 34

The electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for president and vice president

Question 35

Executive Agreement

Answer 35

An agreement, made between the president and another country, that has the force of a treaty, but does not require the Senate’s “advice and consent”

Question 36

Commander in Chief

Answer 36

The role of the president as commander of the national military and the state National Guards units (when called into service)

Question 37

Referendum

Answer 37

The practice of referring a measure proposed or passed by a legislature to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection

Question 38

Suffrage

Answer 38

The right to vote

Question 39

Political Action Committees (PAC)

Answer 39

A private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns