POLS 1100 Final Exam Flashcards
Review all terms.
Affirmative Action
Policies designed to increase opportunities for historically excluded groups in areas such as employment and education by considering those group memberships in decision processes.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing specific rights and liberties to the public
Bicameral
A legislative body composed of two separate chambers or houses, typically a lower and an upper house, as seen in the U.S. Congress.
Filibuster
A procedural tactic in legislative bodies aimed at extending debate on a bill to delay or block its passage.
Gerrymandering
The practice of redrawing electoral district boundaries to favor one party or class.
Impeachment
A formal process in which officials are accused of unlawful activity, potentially leading to removal from office.
Pork Barrel Legislation
Laws passed by Congress that fund specific projects and their locations within particular constituencies, often seen as a way to gain favor with local voters.
Veto
A constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.
Executive Order
Directives issued by the President of the United States that have the force of law, without the need for Congressional approval.
Inherent Powers
Powers held by the President that are not explicitly specified in the Constitution but are deemed necessary to perform the duties of the office.
War Powers Resolution
A federal law intended to check the President’s power to commit the U.S. to an armed conflict without the consent of Congress.
Judicial Review
The power of courts to assess whether a law or government regulation is consistent with the Constitution.
Miranda Rule
The requirement that police inform suspects of their rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, before questioning.
Supremacy Clause
A clause in the U.S. Constitution stating that federal law takes precedence over state laws and constitutions.
Public Policy
Principles and laws enacted by government to advance societal welfare.
Public Opinion
The collective attitudes and beliefs of the public on various issues.
Citizen Journalism
News reporting conducted by ordinary individuals who are not professional journalists, typically using the internet and digital tools.
Digital Citizens
Individuals who use the internet regularly and effectively, engaging in society, politics, and government.
Political Action Committees / Super PACs
Organizations that collect and spend money to elect or defeat political candidates. Super PACs can raise unlimited sums from corporations, unions, associations, and individuals.
Interest Group
Organizations formed to influence public policy in favor of the interests of their members.
Ballot Initiative
A process that allows citizens to propose and vote on potential laws directly.
Lobbying
The act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, often by interest groups or lobbyists.
Republic
A form of government in which the country is considered a “public matter” with officials elected by its citizens to represent their interests.
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the United States, replaced by the U.S. Constitution due to its weaknesses, such as lack of central authority.
Federalism
A system of government in which power is divided between a central government and regional governments.
Selective Incorporation
A constitutional doctrine that ensures states cannot enact laws that infringe on the constitutional rights of American citizens, particularly through the Fourteenth Amendment.
Bureaucracy
A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
Legal Precedent
Previous court decisions upon which legal issues are decided.
New Media
Digital forms of communicating information, including internet, social media, and other digital technologies that emerged in the late 20th century.
Equality of Opportunity/Outcomes
A concept in political theory where every person has the same chance to succeed (opportunity) and/or ensuring that everyone ends up at the same place (outcomes).
Direct Democracy
A form of government in which citizens decide on policy initiatives directly.
Socialism
A political and economic system in which the means of production, distribution, and exchange are owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
Medicare
A federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and over and for certain younger people with disabilities.
Medicaid
A public assistance program designed to provide healthcare to low-income individuals and families.
Foreign Policy
A government’s strategy in dealing with other nations.
Domestic Policy
Administrative decisions that are directly related to all issues and activity within a nation’s borders.
Interest Groups
Organizations that seek to influence public policy to benefit specific interests without trying to gain control of the government.
Role of Money in Politics
How financial contributions affect political decisions and actions, including campaign financing.
Results of Voter ID Laws
The outcomes or effects these laws have on voter turnout and election integrity, often controversial for potentially disenfranchising certain voter groups.
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
Declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional.
Bush v. Gore (2000)
Resolved the 2000 presidential election in favor of George W. Bush.
Roe v. Wade (1973)
Legalized abortion nationwide.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Established the Miranda rights for detained criminal suspects.
Texas v. Johnson (1989)
Invalidated prohibitions on desecrating the American flag enforced in 48 of the 50 states.
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)
Held that the free speech clause of the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent expenditures for political campaigns by corporations, including non-profit corporations, and unions.
Lawrence v. Texas (2003)
Struck down the sodomy law in Texas and, by extension, invalidated sodomy laws in 13 other states, making same-sex sexual activity legal in every U.S. state and territory.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Established the federal government’s implied powers over the states.
United States v. Lopez (1995)
The first United States Supreme Court case since the New Deal to set limits on Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution.
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
Ruled that the Constitution protected a right to privacy.
Korematsu v. United States (1944)
Upheld the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Chicago v. McDonald (2010)
Held that the right of an individual to “keep and bear arms” protected by the Second Amendment is incorporated by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and applies to the states.
District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)
The Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess a firearm, unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.
Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)
Legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
Shelby v. Holder (2013)
Ruled that two provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were unconstitutional, fundamentally changing how states are monitored in their changes to voting laws.
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Established the principle of judicial review.
