Vocabulary - Part One Flashcards

(26 cards)

0
Q

Hyperpluralist Theory

A

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

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1
Q

Elite and Class Theory

A

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

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2
Q

Linkage Institutions

A

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

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3
Q

Majority rule

A

A fundamental principal of traditional democratic theory.

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4
Q

Pluralist Theory

A

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

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5
Q

Policy Agenda

A

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

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6
Q

Bill of Attainder

A

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

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7
Q

Checks and Balances

A

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

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8
Q

Ex Post Facto Law

A

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

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9
Q

Writ of Habeas Corpus

A

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

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10
Q

Block Grant

A

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

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11
Q

Categorical Grant

A

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

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12
Q

Cooperative Federalism

A

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

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13
Q

Devolution

A

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

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14
Q

Expressed Powers

A

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

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15
Q

Federalism

A

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

16
Q

Implied Powers

A

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

17
Q

Mandates

A

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

18
Q

Reserved Powers

A

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

19
Q

Unitary System

A

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

20
Q

Civil Liberties

A

The legal and constitutional protections against government.

21
Q

Clear and Present Danger Test

A

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

22
Q

Establishment Clause

A

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

23
Q

Exclusionary Rule

A

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

24
Free Exercise Clause
A First Amendment provision that prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion.
25
Miranda Warnings
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.