Vocabulary - Part One

Question 0

Hyperpluralist Theory

Answer 0

The theory that government policy is weakened and often contradictory because there are so many competing interest groups.

Question 1

Elite and Class Theory

Answer 1

Theory that a small number of very wealthy individuals, powerful corporate interests, and large financial institutions dominate politics.

Question 2

Linkage Institutions

Answer 2

The mass media, interest groups, political parties, and elections; connects citizens to government.

Question 3

Majority rule

Answer 3

A fundamental principal of traditional democratic theory.

Question 4

Pluralist Theory

Answer 4

Theory that many interest groups compete for power in a large number of policy areas.

Question 5

Policy Agenda

Answer 5

A set of issues and problems that policy makers consider important.

Question 6

Bill of Attainder

Answer 6

A legislative act that provides for the punishment of a person without a court trial.

Question 7

Checks and Balances

Answer 7

Features of the Constitution that limit government’s power by requiring that power be balanced among the different government institutions.

Question 8

Ex Post Facto Law

Answer 8

A law applied to an act, committed before the law was enacted.

Question 9

Writ of Habeas Corpus

Answer 9

A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.

Question 10

Block Grant

Answer 10

Federal money given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs.

Question 11

Categorical Grant

Answer 11

Federal money that can be used for specific purposes and come with strings attached.

Question 12

Cooperative Federalism

Answer 12

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and national government.

Question 13

Devolution

Answer 13

A movement to transfer the responsibilities of governing from the federal government to state and local governments.

Question 14

Expressed Powers

Answer 14

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Question 15

Federalism

Answer 15

A way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority of the same land and people.

Question 16

Implied Powers

Answer 16

Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution.

Question 17

Mandates

Answer 17

Rules telling states what they must do to comply with federal guidelines.

Question 18

Reserved Powers

Answer 18

Powers given to the states, or the people, as established in the Constitution and the 10th Amendment.

Question 19

Unitary System

Answer 19

A way of organizing a nation so that all power resides in the central government.

Question 20

Civil Liberties

Answer 20

The legal and constitutional protections against government.

Question 21

Clear and Present Danger Test

Answer 21

Judicial interpretation of the First Amendment that government may not ban speech unless it poses an imminent threat to society.

Question 22

Establishment Clause

Answer 22

Part of the First Amendment stating that Congress may not make laws instituting a religion in the United States.

Question 23

Exclusionary Rule

Answer 23

The rule that evidence, no matter how incriminating, cannot be introduced into a trial if it was not constitutionally obtained.

Question 24

Free Exercise Clause

Answer 24

A First Amendment provision that prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion.

Question 25

Miranda Warnings

Answer 25

The legal concept under which the Supreme Court has nationalized the Bill of Rights by making most of its provisions applicable to the states through the 14th Amendment.