politics Flashcards
government policies or programs that seek to redress past injustices again specified groups by making special efforts to prodive members of these groups with access to educational and emplpyment opportunities
affirmative action
those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and were opponents of the constitution
anti-federalists
a system of rule in which the government recognize no formal limit but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions
authoritarian system
federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent
block grants
The first bloodshed of the American Revolution (1770), as British guards at the Boston Customs House opened fire on a crowd killing five Americans
boston massacre
A 1773 protest against British taxes in which Boston colonists disguised as Mohawks dumped valuable tea into Boston Harbor.
boston tea party
A social class that derives social and economic power from employment, education, and wealth, as opposed to the inherited power of aristocratic family of titled land owners or feudal privileges. It’s a term for the middle class common in the 19th century. It’s characterized by their ownership of property and their related culture.
bourgeoise
congressional grants given to states and localities in the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by the law
categorial grants
mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches; major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactment
checks and balances
areas of personal freedom constitutionally protected from government interference
civil liberties
obligation imposed on government to take a positive action to protect citizens from any illegal action of government agencies and of other private citizens
civil rights
(1964) law under Johnson that made segregation illegal in all public facilities, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
civil rights act
Congress has the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states and with the Indigenous Tribes
commerce clause
The Commerce Clause can be found in _______ of the Constitution
Article 1, Section 8
The Clause of Commerce can be interrupted by ________ in favor of national power over the economy
supreme court
Communication in the form of advertising. It can be restricted more than many other types of speech but has been receiving increased protection from the Supreme Court.
commercial speech
a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegate to the national government
confederation
The agreement that the national legislature of the United States would have two houses, with representation in one based on population, and equal representation per state in the other, was called the ______
connecticut or great compromise
a type of federalism existing since the New Deal era in which grants-in-aid have been used strategically to encourage states and localities (without commanding them) to pursue nationally defined goals; also known as “intergovernmental cooperation”
cooperative federalism
Court sentences prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. Although the Supreme Court has ruled that mandatory death sentences for certain offenses are unconstitutional, it has not held that the death penalty itself constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
cruel and unusual punishment