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government

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the term generally used to describe the formal institutions through which a land and its people are ruled.

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political efficacy

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the belief that ordinary people can affect what government does by taking action for the government to listen to them

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authoritarian system

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the government recognizes no formal limit but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of social institution

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totalitarian system

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the gov recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutes that may challenge it (hitler)

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democracy

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a political system that permits citizens to play a significant part in governmental process usually through elections

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constitutional government

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formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government

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politics

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referred only to conflicts and struggles over the leadership, structure, and policies of government

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power

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having a share or influence(influence over a governments leadership, organizations, or policies)

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representative democracy (republic)

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a system of government in which the populace selects representatives who play a significant role in the gov decision making

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direct democracy

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a system that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies

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liberty

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freedom from government control and economic freedom

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limited government

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powers are defined and limited by the constitution

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laissez-faire capitalism

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allowed little room of the national government to regulate trade or restrict the use of private property, even in public interest

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equality of opportunity

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all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential

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political equality

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the right to participate in politic equally based on the principle "one person, one vote"

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popular sovereignty

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principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people

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majority rule with minority rights

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the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interest of the minority

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*Americans trust in their government in their government:

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has declined significantly since the 1960's

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*political efficacy is the belief that

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one can influence what government does

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*according to the authors, good citizenship requires

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political knowledge and engagement

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*what is digital citizenship?

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ability to participate in society online

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*what is the difference between a totalitarian government and an authoritarian one?

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in authoritarian government, certain social institutions may restrain the power of the gov

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*in a constitutional government

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formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of gov

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*although not present at the national level, a number of states and cities permit citizens to vote directly on laws and policies. what is this called?

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direct democracy

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*the percentage of foreign-born individuals living in the u.s.

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has increased significantly since reaching its low point in 1970

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*since 1990, which of the following groups has increased as a percentage of the overall population in the united states?

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black, hispanic, and asian

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*as a percentage of the total population in the u.s., which age group has increased the most dramatically from 1900-2010

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the ederly

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*what percentage of americans live in urban areas today?

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80%

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*related to the american conception of liberty

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freedom of speech, economic liberty, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly

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*which of the following is not part of the core value of the american political system

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belief in equality of results

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*the principle of political equality can be best summed up as

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"equality of opportunity"

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amendment

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a change added to a bill, law, or constitution

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antifederalists

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those who favored strong state governments and a weak national gov and were opponents of the constitution proposed at the american constitutional convention 0f 1787

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article of confederation

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americas first written constitution; served as the basis for americas national gov until 1789

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bicameral

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having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses; distinguished from unicameral

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bill of rights

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the first 10 amendments to the constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people

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checks and balances

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mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence activities of the other branches, major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the of the senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments

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elastic clause

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article 1, section 8; (necessary of proper clause) which enumerates the powers of congress and provides congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry them out

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confederation

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a system of gov in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national gov

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electoral college

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the electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for president and vice president

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*in their fight against british taxes such as the stamp act and the sugar act of 1764, new england merchants allied with which of the following groups?

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artisans, southern planters, and laborers

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*how did the british attempt to raise revenue in the north american colonies

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taxes on commerce

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*the first governing document in the us was

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the articles of confederation

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*where was the execution of laws conducted under the article of confederation

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the states

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*which event led directly to the constitutional convention by providing evidence that the government created under the articles was unable to act decisively in times of national crisis

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shays rebellion

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*which states proposal embodied a principle of representing states in the congress according to their size and wealth

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virginia

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*the agreement reached at the constitutional convention that determined that every five slaves would be counted as 3 free persons for the purposes of taxation

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three-fifths compromise

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*what mechanism was instituted in the congress to guard against "excessive democracy"

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bicameralism, staggered terms in office, appointment of senators for long terms, indirect election of the president

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*which of the following best describes the supreme court as understood by the founders

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supreme court of the nation and states

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*theorists such as montesquieu referred to the principle of giving each branch of gov a distinctly different constituency

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mixed regime

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*which of the following were the antifederalists most concerned with?

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potential for tyranny in the central gov

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*which of the following best describes the process of amending the constitution

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it is difficult and has rarely been used successfully to address specific public problems

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block grants

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federal grants-in-aid that allow state considerable discretion in how the funds are spent

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categorial grants

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congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law

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commerce clause

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article 1, section. delegates congress the power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states and within the indian tribes" this clause was interpreted by the supreme court in favor of national power of the economy

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concurrent powers

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authority possessed by both state and national governments such as the power to levy taxes

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cooperative federalism

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a type of federalism existing since the new deal era in which grants in aid have been used strategically to encourage state and localities (without commanding them) to pursue nationally defined goals; also known as "intergovernmental cooperation"

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devolution

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a policy to remove a program from one level of gov by delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government to the state and local governments

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dual federalism

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the system of government that prevailed in the united states from 1789 to 1937 in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state governments

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expressed powers

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specific powers granted by the constitution to congress (article 1, section 8) and to the president (article 2)

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federal system

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a system of government in which the national government shares power with the lower level of government such as states

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federalism

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a system of gov which the power is divided by a constitution between the central (national) government and regional (state) governments

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full faith and credit clause

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provision from article 4 section 1 requiring that states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state

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general revenue sharing

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one unit of gov yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of gov; revenue sharing typically involves the national the national government providing money to state govs

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grants-in-aid

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programs through which congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the federal

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home rule

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power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs

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implied powers

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powers derived from the necessary and proper clause of article 1 section 8; such powers are not specifically expressed, but are implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers

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necessary and proper clause

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provision from article 1 section 8, of the constitution providing congress with the authority to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out its expressed powers

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new federalism

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attempts by presidents nixon and reegan to return power to the states through block grants

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police power

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power reserved to the state government to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens

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preemption

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the principle that allows the national government to override state or local actions in certain policy areas; in foreign policy, the willingness to strike first in order to prevent an enemy attack

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privileges and immunities clause

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provision, from article 4 section 2 of the constitution , that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privileges

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reserved powers

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powers derived from tenth amendment to the constitution, that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states

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states' rights

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the principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government; this principle was most popular in the period before the civil war

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unfunded mandates

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regulations or conditions for receiving grants that impose costs on state and local governments for which they are not reimbursed by federal gov

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unitary system

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a centralized gov system in which lower levels of gov have little power independent of the national gov

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*which term describes the sharing of powers between the national gov and the state gov?

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federal system

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*which amendment to the constitution stated that the powers not delegated to the national gov or prohibited to the states were reserved to the states?

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tenth amendment

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*a state governments authority to regulate the health safety and morals of its citizens is frequently referred to as

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police power

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*which constitutional clause has been central in debates over same sex marriage because it requires that states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions of other states?

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full faith and credit clause

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*many states have amended their constitutions to guarantee that large cities will have the authority to manage local affairs without interference from state gov, this power is called

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home rule

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*the system of federalism that allowed states to do most of the fundamental governing from 1789 to 1937 was

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dual federalism

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*beginning in 1937 the supreme court laid the groundwork for a stronger federal government by

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issuing a number of decisions that dramatically expanded the definition of the commerce clause

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*one of the most powerful tools by which the federal gov has attempted to get the states to act in ways that are desired by the federal gov

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providing grants in aid

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*the process of returning more of the responsibilities of governing from the national level to the state level is known as

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devolution

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*the form of regulated federalism that allows the federal gov to take over areas of regulation formerly overseen by states or local gov is

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preemption

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*when state and local gov must conform to costly regulations or conditions in order to receive grants but do not receive reimbursements for their expenditures from the federal gov it is called

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unfunded mandate

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*to what does the term "new federalism" refer

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efforts to return more policy-making discretion to the states through the use of block grants

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affirmative action

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gov policies or programs that seek to redress past injustices against specified groups by making special efforts to provide members of these groups with access to educational and employment opportunities

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bill of rights

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the first ten amendments to the u.s. constitution, ratified in 1791, they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people

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bill of attainder

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a law that declares a person guilty of a crime without a trial

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brown v board of education

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the 1954 supreme court decision that struck down the separate but equal doctrine as fundamentally unequal, this case eliminated state power to use race as a a criterion for discrimination in law and provided the national gov with the power to intervene by excercising strict regulatory policies against discrimination

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civil liberties

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areas of personal freedom constitutionally protected from gov interference

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civil rights

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obligation imposed on gov to take positive action to protect citizens from any illegal action of gov agencies and other private citizens

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"clear and present danger" test

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test to determine whether speech is protected or unprotected, based on its capacity to present a clear and present danger to society

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de facto

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"by fact" practices that occur even when there is no legal enforcement, such as school segregation in much of the u.s. today

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de jure

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"by law" legally enforced practices such as school segregation in the south before the 1960's

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double jeopardy

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the fifth amendment providing that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime

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due process of law

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the right of every citizen against arbitrary action by national or state gov

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eminent domain

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the right of gov to take private property for public use

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equal protection clause

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provision of the 14th amendment guaranteeing citizens the equal protection of laws, this clause has served as the basis for the civil rights of blacks, women and other groups

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establisment clause

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the first amendment clause that says that "congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" this law means that a "wall of separation" exists between church and state

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exclusionary rule

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the ability of courts the exclude evidence obtained in violation of the fourth amendment

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ex post facto laws

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laws that declare an action to be illegal after it has been committed

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15th amendment

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one of three civil war amendments; voting rights for black men

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fighting words

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speech that directly incited damaging conduct

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14th amendment

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one of three civil amendments; equal protection and due process

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free exercise clause

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the first amendment clause that protects a citizens right to believe and practice whatever religion one chooses

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grand jury

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jury that determines whether sufficient evidence is available to justify a trial, grand juries do not rule on the accused guilt or innocence

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habeas corpus

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a court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention

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libel

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a written statement made in "reckless disregard of the truth" that is considered damaging to a victim because it is "malicious, scandalous, and defamatory"

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miranda rule

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the requirement (articulated by supreme court in miranda vs arizona (1966) that person under arrest must be informed prior to police interrogation of their right to remain silent

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prior restraint

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an effort by governmental agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some other way, censorship, in the us the courts forbid prior restraint except under the most extraordinary circumstances

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right to privacy

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the right to be left alone, which has been interpreted by the supreme court to entail individual access to abortion etc.

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selective incorporation

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the process by which different protections in the bill of rights were incorporated into the fourteenth amendment, thus guaranteeing citizens protection from state and nation gov

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"separate but equal" rule

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doctrine that public accommodations could be segregated by race but still be considered equal

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slander

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oral statement made in "reckless disregard of the truth"

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"speech plus"

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speech accompanied by conduct such as sit ins, picketing, and demonstrations; protections of this form of speech under the first amendment is conditional, and restrictions imposed by state or local authorities are acceptable properly balanced by considerations of public order

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strict scrutiny

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a test used by the supreme court in racial discrimination cases and other cases involving civil liberties and civil rights that places the burden of proof on the gov rather than on the challengers to show that the law in question is constitutional

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13th amendment

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one of three civil war amendments; abolished slavery

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*which of the following rights was not included in the original constitutional?

answer

prohibition of warrantless search & seizure

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*which of the following provided that all of the protections contained in the bill of rights applied to the states as well as national gov

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14th amendment

question

*the process by which some of the liberties in the bill of rights were applied to the states is known as

answer

selective incorporation

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*which protection is not contained in the first amendment?

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freedom from unlawful searches ands seizures

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*the judicial doctrine that places a heavy burden of proof on the gov when it seeks to regulate or restrict speech is called

answer

strict scrutiny

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*which of the following was not a way the 24th amendment of 1964 and the voting rights act of 1965 significantly extended and protected voting rights

answer

requiring all voters to register two weeks before any federal election

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*when did civil rights become part of the constitution

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1868 with the fourteenth amendment

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*the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th amendments taken together define

answer

due process of law

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