Vocab Quiz 1 Flashcards
Activist approach
view that the Constitution should be interpreted by applying the general principles underlying its provisions
Activists
advocates for change based on a certain belief/ideology
Ad hoc structure
organizing a President’s staff
Adversarial press
a national press eager to break an embarrassing story about a public official
Affirmative action
preference to a certain group intended to promote equality
Amendments
changes or additions to the Constitution
Amicus curiae
“friend of the court” briefs
Annual authorizations
annual permission to spend
Anti-federalists
opposed strong central government
Appropriations
funds allocated by Congress
Articles of Confederation
created a weak central government
Assistance programs
a program financed by taxes (collected from govt) that is used to help the poor
Australian ballot
secret ballot
Authority
the right to use power
Authorization legislation
legislative permission to continue/begin a government program/agency
Background story (news)
public official’s explanation of current policy on the condition that the source remain anonymous
Benefit
satisfaction
Bicameral legislature
lawmaking body with two parts
Bill of attainder
a law that declares a person guilty without trial
(unconstitutional in the U.S.)
Bill of rights
list of individual rights and liberties
first 10 amendments
Blanket primary
All voters can choose candidates from a political party
Block grants
grants from federal government to states for a broad category
Boycott
effort to get people to stop buying goods/services
Brief
legal document representing a party before the court
