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American Government
Final 75 Vocab
95
History
11th Grade
05/27/2014

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Term
Amendment
Definition
A change in or addition to a constitution or law
Term
Amnesty
Definition
A blanket pardon offered to a group of law violators
Term
Anti-Federalist
Definition
Those persons who opposed the ratification of the Constitution
Term
Article
Definition
Numbered sections of a document
Term
Articles of Confederation
Definition
Plan of government adopted by the Continental Congress after the American Revolution; established "a firm league of friendship" among the States, but allowed few important powers to the central government
Term
Asemble
Definition
To gather with one another in order to express views on public matters
Term
Balance the ticket
Definition
When a presidential candidate chooses a running mate who can strengthen his chance of being elected by virture of certain ideological, geographical, racial, ethnic, gender, or other characteristics
Term
Bicameral
Definition
An adjective describing a legislative body composed of two chambers
Term
Bill of Rights
Definition
The first ten amendments to the Constitution
Term
Boycott
Definition
Refusal to buy or sell certain products or services
Term
Charter
Definition
A city's basic law, its constitution; a written grant of authority from the king
Term
Charter Colonies
Definition
Connecticut and Rhode Island, based on charters and self governing
Term
Checks and Balances
Definition
System of overlapping the powers of legislative, executive, and judicial branches to permit each branch to check the actions of the others
Term
Chief Administrator
Definition
Term for the President as head of the administration of the Federal Government
Term
Chief Citizen
Definition
Term for the President as the representative of the people, working for public interest
Term
Chief Diplomat
Definition
Term for the President as the main architect of foreign policy and spokesperson to other countries
Term
Chief Executive
Definition
Term for the President as vested with the executive powere of the United States
Term
Chief Legislator
Definition
Term for the President as architect of public policy and the one who sets the agenda for Congress
Term
Chief of State
Definition
Term for the President as the ceremonial head of the US, the symbol of all the people of the nation
Term
Civil Liberties
Definition
The guarentees of the safety of persons, opinions, and property from the arbitrary acts of government, including freedom of speech and religion
Term
Commander in Chief
Definition
Term for the President as commander of the nation's armed forces
Term
Commerce and Slave Trade
Definition
An agreement during the Constitutional Convention protecting slave holders; denied Congress the power to tax the export of goods from any State, and, for 20 years, th epower to act on the slave trade
Term
Compromise
Definition
An adjustment of opposing principles or systems by modifying some aspect of each
Term
Commerce Power
Definition
Exclusive power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade
Term
Commutation
Definition
The power to reduce the length of a sentence or fine for a crime
Term
Connecticut Compromise
Definition
Agreement during teh Constitutional Convention that Congress should be composed of a Senate, in which States would be represented equally, and a House, in which representation would be based on a State's population
Term
Constitution
Definition
The body of fundamental laws setting out the principles, structures, and processes of a government
Term
Constitutionalism
Definition
Basic principle that government and those who govern must obey the law; the rule of law
Term
Content Neutral
Definition
The government may not regulate assemblies on the basis of what might be said
Term
Deficit Financing
Definition
Practice of funding government by borrowing to make up the difference between government spending and revenue
Term
Direct Tax
Definition
A tax that must be paid by the person on whom it is levied
Term
Discharge Petition
Definition
A procedure enabling members to force a bill that has been pigeonholed in committee onto th efloor for consideration
Term
Due Process Clause
Definition
Part of the 14th Amendment which guarantees that no state deny basic rights to its people
Term
Electoral College
Definition
Group of persons chosen in each State and DC every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President
Term
English Bill of Rights
Definition
Doc written by Parliament and agreed on by William and Mary of England in 1689, designed to prevent abuse of pwer by English monarchs; forms the basis for much in American government and politics today
Term
Establishment Clause
Definition
Seperates Church and State
Term
Executive Agreement
Definition
A pact made by the President directly with the head of a foreign state; a binding international agreement with the force of law but which does not require Senate consent
Term
Executive Article
Definition
Article two of the Constitution, establishes the presidency and gives the ex power of the Fed govnt to the President
Term
Executive Order Clemency
Definition
Directive, rule, or regulation issued by a chief executive or subordinates, based upon constitutional or statutory authority and having the force of law
Term
Executive Power
Definition
The power to execute, enforce, and administer law
Term
Federalists
Definition
Those persons who supported the ratification of the Constitution
Term
Filibuster
Definition
Various tactics aimed at defeating a bill in th eleg body by preventing a final vote
Term
Formal Amendment
Definition
Change or addition that becomes part of the written language of the Constitution itself via one of four methods set fourth in the Constitution
Term
Free Exercise Clause
Definition
The second part of the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom
Term
Impeach
Definition
To bring formal charges against a public official; the House has the sole power to impeach civil officers of the US
Term
Indirect Tax
Definition
A tax levied on one party but passed on to another for payment
Term
Judicial Review
Definition
The power of a court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action
Term
Keynote Adress
Definition
Speech given at a party convention to set the tone for the convention and the campaign to come
Term
Legal Tender
Definition
Any kind of money that a creditor must, by law, accept in payment for debts
Term
Legislative Power
Definition
The power to make a law and to frame public policies
Term
Libel
Definition
False and malicious use of printed words
Term
Liberal Constructionist
Definition
One who argues a broad interpretation of th eprovisions of the Constitution, particularly those granting powers to the Federal government
Term
Magna Carta
Definition
Great Charter forced upon King John of England by his barons in 1215; established that the power of the monarchy was not absolute and guaranteed trial by jury and due process of law to the nobility
Term
Necessary and Proper Clause
Definition
Constitutional clause that gives Congress the power to make laws "necessary and proper" for executing its powers
Term
Pardon
Definition
Release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime, by the President in a federal case or a governor in a State case
Term
Parliamentary Government
Definition
A form of govnt in which the ex branch is made up of the prime minister and that official's cabinet
Term
Parochial
Definition
Church-related school
Term
Party Caucus
Definition
A closed meeting of a party's House or Senate members; also called a party conference
Term
Persona Non Grata
Definition
An unwelcome person; used to describe recalled diplomatic officials
Term
Petition of Right
Definition
Document prepared by Parliament and signed by King Charles I of England in 1628; challenged the idea of the divine right of kings and declared that even the monarch was subject to the laws of the land
Term
Picketing
Definition
Patrolling of a business site by workers who are on strike
Term
Platform
Definition
A political party's formal statement of basic principles
Term
Presidential Electors
Definition
A person elected by the voters to represent them in making a formal selection of the VP and President
Term
Presidential Government
Definition
A form of the govnt in which th eex and leg branches are seperate, indepdent, and coequal
Term
Presidential Primary
Definition
An election in which a party's voters choose a State party org delegates to their party's nat convention and or express a perferance for their party's pres nomination
Term
Proportional Representation
Definition
Rule applied in Dem primaries whereby any candidate who wins at least 15 percent of the votes gets the number of State Dem convention delegates based on his or her share of that primary vote
Term
Proprietary Colonies
Definition
Maryland, Penn, Delaware - organized by a proprietor, a person whom the king had made a grant of land
Term
Quorum
Definition
Least number of members who must be present for a leg body to conduct business; majority
Term
Ratification
Definition
Formal approval
Term
Recognition
Definition
The exclusive power of a Pres to recognize foreign states
Term
Repeal
Definition
recall
Term
Representative Government
Definition
System of govnt in which public policies are made by officials selected by the voters and held accountable in periodic elections
Term
Reprieve
Definition
An official postponement of the execution of a sentence
Term
Resolution
Definition
A msre relating to the business of either house or expressing an opinion; does not have the force of law and does not require the Pres signature
Term
Rider
Definition
Unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so that it will "ride" via the legislative process
Term
Right of Association
Definition
The right to associate with others to promote political, economic, and other social causes
Term
Rule of Law
Definition
Concept that holds that govnt and its officers are always subject to the law
Term
Sedition
Definition
The crime of attempting to overthrow the govnt by force, or to disrupt its lawful activities by violent acts
Term
Seditious Speech
Definition
The advocating, or urging, of an attempt to overthrow the govnt by force, or to disrupt its lawful activities with violence
Term
Separation of Powers
Definition
Basic principles 3 branches are coequal and separate
Term
Shield Laws
Definition
A law which gives reporters some protection against having to disclose their sources or reveal other confidentional info in legal proceedings
Term
Slander
Definition
False and malicious use of spoken words
Term
Strict Constructionist
Definition
One who argues a narrow interpretation of the Constitution's provisions, in particular those granting powers to the Fed Govnt
Term
Subpoena
Definition
An order for a person to appear and to produce documents or other requested materials
Term
Successor
Definition
A person who inherits a title or office
Term
Symbolic Speech
Definition
Expressions by conduct; communicating ideas via facial expressions, body language, or by carrying a sign or wearing an arm band
Term
Prior Restraint
Definition
The govnt cannot curb ideas before they are expressed
Term
Treaty
Definition
A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states
Term
Unconstitutional
Definition
Contrary to constitutional provision and so illegal, null and void, of no force and effect
Term
Unicameral
Definition
An adjective describing a legislative body with one chamber
Term
Unitary Government
Definition
A centralized govnt in which all govnt powers belong to a single, central agency
Term
Virginia Plan
Definition
Plan represented by delegates from Virginia at the Const Convention; called for three branch govnt with a bicameral leg in which each State's membership would be determined by its population or its financial support for the central govnt
Term
Winner-take-all
Definition
An almost obsolete system whereby a presidential aspirant who won the preference vote in a primary automatically won all the delegates chosen in the primary
Term
Alien
Definition
Foreign born resident, non citizen
Term
Civil Rights
Definition
A term used for those positive acts of government that seek to make constitutional guarantees a reality for all people
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