Gov't Final (Part I)
A ________ is an institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies
Government
a group of people who live in a define territory that is organized politically
state
a type of government in which rulers are not held responsible to the will of the people
dictatorship
those things a government decides to do
public policies
a centralized government in which all powers are held by a single, central agency
unitary government
a way to change the constitution
Amendment
help keep one branch of government from dominating the actions of others
Checks and Balances
the first ten amendments to the Constitution
Bill of Rights
tehe idea that government should serve the will of the people
Representative Government
the power of the courts to decide whether government acts are constitutional
Judicial Review
is illegal; null and void; and no force and effect
unconstitutional
the division of power between a central government and several regional governments
federalism
a governmental system having basic political powers distributed among three distinct and indpendent branches
seperation of powers
the president's rejection of an act of Congress
veto
dividing electoral districts to limit the voting strength of a particular group
Gerrymandering
people who do not believe their actions can affect politics have no sense of _________
political efficacy
a section in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that declared that no new election laws could be enacted without authrization from the Department of Justice
Preclearance
private organiztions working to affect public policy to benfit its members' concerns
Interest groups
government or political attitudes held by a significant number of people
Public opinion
_________ believed that private pressure groups, which he called factions were dangerous and must be controlled
James Madison
events and issues affecting the country as a whole
public affairs
a technique of persuasion aimed at influencing individual or group behaviors to create a particular belief, regardless of its validity
Propaganda
focus on a range of public affairs and nominate candidates
Political parties
activities by which a group pressures legislators and all aspects of the public policy-making process to get what they want
Lobbying
false and malicious use of the printed word
Libel
expression by conduect such as carrying a sign or wearing an armband
Symbolic speech
patrolling of a business site b workers on strike
Picketing
the crime of attempting to overthrow the government by force
Sedition
false and malicious use of SPOKEN word
Slander
positive acts of government that seek to make constitutional guarantees a reality for all
Civil Rights
protects the right to hold one's own religious beliefs
The Free Exercise Clause
protections against arbitrary acts of government
Civil Liberties
part of the 14th Amendment that declares States cannot deny the basic provisions of the Bill of Rights to their citizens
The Due Process Clause
sets up the separation between church and state
The Establishment Clause
a period of time of more than 40 years which tense and hotile relations existed between the U.S and the former Soviet Union
The Cold War
__________ is rooted in the belief that if communism could be kept within its existing borders, it would collapse under the weight of is own internal weaknesses
Containment
the stategy of maintaing a military might that discourages or prevents an attack by any hostile power
Deterrence
relaxation of tensions
Détente
protects against illegal search and seizure
4th Amendment
provides for freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition
1st Amendment
protects against cruel and unusual punishment
8th Amendment
gives powers not reserved to the federal government to the states
10th Amendment
protects against self-incrimination
5th Amendment
guarantees equal protection under the law
14th Amendment
establishes the power of Congress to tax income
16th Amendment
provides African Americans with the right to vote
15th Amendment
provides for direct election of Senators by voters
17th Amendment
abolished slavery
13th Amendment