Vocab

Question 1

legislative power

Answer 1

the power to make a law and frame public policies

Question 2

executive power

Answer 2

the power to execute, enforce, and administer law

Question 3

judicial power

Answer 3

power to interpret laws, determine their meaning, and settle disputes

Question 4

clemency

Answer 4

mercy granted to an offender by a chief executive

Question 5

pardon

Answer 5

release from punishment of a crime by president or governor

Question 6

commutation

Answer 6

the power to reduce length of a sentence for a crime

Question 7

reprieve

Answer 7

official postponement of the execution of a sentence

Question 8

mayor v. city manager

Answer 8

mayor has higher place in grand political scale

Question 9

regressive tax

Answer 9

tax levied at a rate without regard to taxpayers ability to pay

Question 10

progressive tax

Answer 10

tax proportionate to income

Question 11

budget

Answer 11

financial plan used for money, personnel, and property

Question 12

deficit

Answer 12

yearly shortfall between revenue and spending

Question 13

surplus

Answer 13

more income than spending

Question 14

federalism

Answer 14

system of government where a written constitution divides power between central and local government

Question 15

separation of powers (checks + balances, basic american principle of government)

Answer 15

executive, legislative, and judicial powers are divided among 3 different and coequal branches of government

Question 16

charter

Answer 16

a city’s base law; its constitution

Question 17

public policy

Answer 17

all goals that a government pursues in all areas of human affairs that it is involved

Question 18

government

Answer 18

institution through which society makes and enforces public policies

Question 19

public agency

Answer 19

policies/property that is the concern of all

Question 20

private agency

Answer 20

policies/property that are the concern of a select law