Term
|
Definition
| caused by sulfur dioxide from coal-powered utilities, and nitrogen oxides from auto exhausts; can destroy forests, lakes, and buildings |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| programs for minorities, supported by government as a means of providing equality under the law |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an Islamist anti-Western terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a government-subsidized passsenger rail service started in 1971 to promote mass transp ortation use among cities along 21 basic routes, and to decrease auto use there |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an oppressive system of racial segregation of nonwhites in South Africa, a nation that was 80 percent nonwhite; ended in 1994 |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| giving in to unjust demands in order to keep peace |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| agreements reached by countries with the aim of reducing the proliferation of military weapons |
|
|
Term
| Articles of Confederation |
|
Definition
| the first adopted written constitution of the newly independent US. Becuase of its weakness, the period of 1781-1789 became known as the "Critical Period." |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an alliance of aggressive dictatorships in Germany, Italy, and Japan from 1936 to the end of World War II in 1945. Their opponents were the Allies, led by Great Britain and the US, and later the USSR. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the case that established the principle of oone man, one vote. This decision created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a public policy that advocates that the federal budget spend no more money than it receives. An attempt made to pass a constituional amendment mandating this policy failed. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| in 1948 the USSR tried to force the other western allies out of Berlin by blocking land and water access to their zones of occupation. A successful air lift of food, fuel, and other necessities ended the blockade. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| refers to two political parties working together to reach a common policy goal |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| literally "lightnign war." A swift, massive military campaign, like Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939 |
|
|
Term
| Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka |
|
Definition
| in 1954 the US Supreme Court overturned the 1896 ruling in "Plessy v. Ferguson," findihng that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and that segregated schools violate the equal protection of the law, guaranteed by the 14th amendment |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the ability to use the office of the presidency to promote a particular program and/or to influence Congress to accept legislative proposals |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| legislation aimed at placing limits on political candidates accepting money or gifts from individuals and special-interest gropus |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a key aspect of the Constitution of the US protecting the balance of power amont the three branches of government. The concept was first promoted by James Madison in the 'Federalist Papers.' |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| those rights of the people that are protected by the bill of Rights |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a federal law that set limits on exhaust emission sfrom new autos, factories, power plants, and incinerators |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an era of American foreign policy lasting from the end of WWII (1945) to the collapse of the Soviet Union (1991) when American policy was defined as a containment of communism |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an agreement to form, through treaties, mutual defense arrangements, such as NATO, which guarantee that if one nation is attacked, other nations will come to its defense |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an approach to government that decentralizes power, giving more power to the individual states than to the central government |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the preservation and wise use of natural resources |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a document tha tprovides the basic framerwok of a government. The US Constitution is the supreme law of the land |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a policy begun by President Truman in 1946 to halt the expansion of communism, especially in Europe |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the time between the end of the American Revolution and the adoption of the Constitution |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a candidate runninf for office who is not well known and is considered to be the underdog in teh race |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| segregation of schools and other public facilities through circumstance, with no law supporting it |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the government's meeting budgetary expenses by borrowing more money than it can pay back that year |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| led by Thomas Jefferson, they were characterized as the party of the "common man." They believed in a more limited role of the central government. It evolved into the current Democratic Party |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a policy of eliminating government protection, rules, and regulation, over matters such as business practices and the environment. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a foreign policy started by Richard Nixon and supported by Ronald Reagan that resulted in an improvement of relations with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a type of government characterized by citizens attending a town meeting and voting on issues raised, with the majority prevailing |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a race in which voters, including cross-over voters from other political parties, can express a preference for candidates |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| money paid directly to the government in the form of income taxes |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| interest levels established by the Federal Reserve that affect the ability of the consumer to borrow money. Raising and lowering rates is used as a tool to combat inflation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a written judicial opinion that is contrary to the ruling of the majority of the court |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| skilled workers each have a specialized function, resulting in in creased productivity |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| US policies toward Latin America; their main consideration was the protection of the investments made there by US citizens |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a legal concept wherein once a verdict is handed down, one cannot be tried again for the same crime |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the doctrine that stated readiness to use armed forces to aid Middle Eastern countries threatened by communist aggression |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| found in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, it gives Congress the power to make "all laws necessary and proper" to carry out the other defined powers of Congress |
|
|
Term
| Emancipation Proclamation |
|
Definition
| issued by President Lincoln in September 1862, effective January 1st, 1863, freeing the slaves in all territory still at war with the Union |
|
|
Term
| Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
|
Definition
| a federal agency that regulates ari and water pollution, pesticides, radiation, solid waste, and toxic substances. IOt is the main environmental regulatory agency. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a tax on the maufacture, sale, or consumption of goods or services within a country; for example, a sales tax |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| agreement made between the president adn a leader of a foreign country. It does not have to be ratified by the Senate |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an order, signed by the president, that has the effect of law, even though it is not passed by Congress. An example of an executive order is President Clinton's order legalizing the abortion pill RU486 |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the authority of the president to protect confidential presidential communications |
|
|
Term
| Favorable balance of trade |
|
Definition
| refers to a country exporting more than it imports. The US has had an unfavorable balance of trade since WWII |
|
|
Term
| Family Medical Leave Act (1993)q |
|
Definition
| the act that gave unpaid emergency medical leave for employees with a guarantee that their job would not be taken away in the interim |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the American national banking system that provides public supervision over all private national banks and member state banks. Key powers of teh Federal Reserve Board are to regulate the money supply and the rediscount rate charged member banks for loans from the system. These powers help to control inflation and the business cycle. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the overall division of power between the feceral government and the state governments; as defined in the Tenth Amendment of the constitution. It specifically tells the states that they have reserved powers. Powers not delegated to the federal government by the Constitution are given to the respective states. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| written using the pen name Publius; John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison wrote a series of articles urgin the adoption of the Constitution. They argued for a constitution that would establish a government that could deal with "the tyranny of the majority" by creating three branches of government having distinctive and separate powers. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| headed by Alexander Hamilton, this party, made up of the country's upper class, supported a strong national government adn set a policy agenda that would solve the nation's economic problems |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a tactic used in the Senate whereby a vote on legislation can be delayed through exhaustive debate |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| policy that determines how the economy is managed as a result of government spending and borrowing and the amound of money collected from taxes |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an alternative to the progressive income tax where individuals pay the same percentage regardless of how much they earn |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| federally funded program that gives food coupons to low-income people based on income and family size |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| those regulations passed by Congress of issued by regulatory agencies to the states with federal funds to support them |
|
|
