V2 general Vocabulary

Question 1

Elite democracy

Answer 1

a model of democracy in which a small number of people, usually those who are wealthy and well-educated, influence political decision making

Question 2

pluralistic democracy

Answer 2

a model of democracy in which no one group dominates politics an organized groups compete with each other to influence policy

Question 3

participartory democracy

Answer 3

a model of democracy in which citizens have the power to make policy decisions. this model of democracy emphasizes the broad participation of people in politics. However, this is not a direct democracy, in which citizens are directly responsible for making policy decions

Question 4

popular sovereignty

Answer 4

government by the people

Question 5

republicanism

Answer 5

governing through elected representatives

Question 6

individualism

Answer 6

the belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government

Question 7

limited government

Answer 7

having rules or definied processes for government

Question 8

rule of law

Answer 8

everyone must follow the law

Question 9

natural rights/natural law

Answer 9

rights inherent in human beings, not dependent of governments, which include life, liberty, and propertyt

Question 10

social contract

Answer 10

the authority to rule is granted to the government by the people who make a contract with the government

Question 11

equality of opportunity

Answer 11

the idea that each person is gurananteed the same chance to succeed in life

Question 12

judicial review

Answer 12

the power of the courts to review court decisions and actions of the government to see if their consitutional

Question 13

judicial activism

Answer 13

the philosophy that the supreme court should play an active role in shaping national policies by addressing social and political issues

Question 14

judicial restraint

Answer 14

philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say

Question 15

stare decisis

Answer 15

the use of precedents to make rulings

Question 16

selective incoporation

Answer 16

expanding the scope of a right in the bill of rights to include state laws

Question 17

ex post facto law

Answer 17

a legislative act that makes a particular act illegal and punishes people who committed that crime before the law was passed

Question 18

bill of attainder

Answer 18

a legislative act that singles out an individual or group for punishment without a trial

Question 19

de jure segregation

Answer 19

segregation by law

Question 20

de facto segregation

Answer 20

segregation by custom

Question 21

exclusionary rule

Answer 21

prevents the government from using most evidence gathered in violation of the United States Consitution

Question 22

monetary policy

Answer 22

government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates

Question 22

gerrymandering

Answer 22

a practice intended to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating district boundaries

Question 23

fiscal policy

Answer 23

government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending

Question 24

Keynesian economics

Answer 24

the belief the government must manage the economy by spending more money when in a recession and cutting spending when there is inflation

Question 25

supply-side economics

Answer 25

the belief that lower taxes and fewer regulations will stimulate the economy

Question 26

mandatory spending

Answer 26

Government spending on certain programs that are mandated by law

Question 27

discretionary spending

Answer 27

government spending authorized yearly through congressional appropriation

Question 28

precedent

Answer 28

an earlier decision that influences later decisions