vocab tests

Question 1

amicus curiae brief

Answer 1

“friend of the court” brief filed by An interest group to influence a Supreme Court decision

Question 2

Appellate jurisdiction

Answer 2

Authority of a court to hear an appeal from a lower court

Question 3

Balancing the ticket

Answer 3

Occurs when a presidential nominee chooses a vice presidential running mate who has different qualities in order to attract more votes for the ticket

Question 4

Bill of attainder

Answer 4

Legislative act inflicting punishment including deprivation of property, without trial, on named individuals or members of a group

Question 5

Blanket primary

Answer 5

Election to choose candidates that is open to independence and allows voters to choose candidates from all parties

Question 6

Block grant

Answer 6

Money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose rather than for a narrow purpose example school lunch program

Question 7

Bully pulpit

Answer 7

President uses his position to communicate with people. Use radio TV Townhall meeting speaking to special interest groups

Question 8

Bureaucracy

Answer 8

Non-elected government officials and workers chosen by merit system. Make official decisions following an established process and behave with impersonality

Question 9

McCulloch versus Maryland 1819

Answer 9

Declared that Congress has implied powers necessary to implement its enumerated powers and established supremacy of the Constitution and federal laws over state laws

Question 10

United States versus Lopez 1995

Answer 10

Ruled that Congress may not use the commerce clause to make possession of a gun in school zones of federal crime. Recognize the importance of state sovereignty and local control

Question 11

Engle versus vitale 1962

Answer 11

Declared school sponsorship of religious activities violates the establishment clause

Question 12

wisconsin v yonder

Answer 12

Held that compelling Amish students to 10 school pass the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause

Question 13

Tinker versus Des Moines 1969

Answer 13

Rule that public school students could wear black armbands in school to protest Vietnam. Symbolic speech protected as long as it doesn’t cause a disruption

Question 14

New York Times v US 1971

Answer 14

Pentagon papers case. Nixon wanted to prevent publication. Case bolstered freedom of the press, establishing a “heavy presumption against prior restraint” even in cases involving national security

Question 15

Case work

Answer 15

When congressional staff help a constituent solve a problem

Question 16

Categorical grant

Answer 16

Money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose rather than for a broad purpose

Question 17

Caucus

Answer 17

Face-to-face meeting of party members at the local or state level to determine their party’s candidate for office

Question 18

Checks and balances

Answer 18

System in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches

Question 19

Civil liberties

Answer 19

Basic rights and freedoms guaranteed in the bill of rights/constitution (speech, privacy, fair trial)

Question 20

Civil rights

Answer 20

Basic right to be free from unequal treatment based on certain protected characteristics, such as race, gender, disability

Question 21

Clear and present danger doctrine

Answer 21

Judicial interpretation of the first amendment that government may not ban speech unless speech poses an eminent threat to society

Question 22

Closed primary

Answer 22

Party election to choose candidates that is closed independence. Boat or may not cross party lines

Question 23

Cloture

Answer 23

Senate motion to end a filibuster that requires 3/5 vote

Question 24

Conference committee

Answer 24

works out a compromise between differing house-senate version of a bill

Question 25

Cooperative federalism

Answer 25

system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems (marble cake)

Question 26

Dealignment

Answer 26

when voters no longer identify with one of the two major parties and become independant voters

Question 27

Delegate model

Answer 27

method of representation that follows the will of the people

Question 28

Devolution

Answer 28

a process by which the national government gives more power and authority to the states

Question 29

direct election

Answer 29

election of an official directly by the people rather than by an intermediary group such as Electoral College

Question 30

direct primary

Answer 30

election in which the people choose candidates for office

Question 31

Schenck v Us (1919)

Answer 31

speech creating a “clear and present danger” is not protected by the 1st amendment “can’t yell fire in a crowded theatre”

Question 32

Gideon v Wainwright (1963)

Answer 32

Guaranteed that states must provide lawyers for those unable to afford them in criminal proceedings. Warren Court’s judicial activism

Question 33

Roe v Wade (1973)

Answer 33

Extended the right of privacy to a woman’s decision to have an abortion. established national abortion guidelines; no state interference in 1st trimester