Government/Civics Final Exam Study Guide – Flashcards
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State
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A political community that occupies a definite territory and has an organized government with the power to make and enforce laws without approval from any higher authority.
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Nation
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Group of people united by bonds of race, language, custom, tradition, and, sometimes, religion.
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Sovereignty
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The supreme and absolute authority within territorial boundaries.
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Social contract theory
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People give gov't power in return they get freedom.
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Politics
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The effort to control or influence the conduct and policies of government.
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Interdependence
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Dependence from another
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Autocracy
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A system of government in which the power to rule is in the hands of a single individual.
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Oligarchy
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A system of government in which a small group holds power.
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Democracy
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Government in which the people rule.
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Economics
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The study of human efforts to satisfy seemingly unlimited wants through the use of limited resources.
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Mixed Market economy
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where decisions are created by producers and consumers, but the administration does have a position in the economy. Market forces conquer in mixed economies.
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Command economy
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An economic system in which the government controls the factors of production.
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Capitalism
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An economic system providing free choice and individual incentive for workers, investors, consumers, and business enterprises.
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Socialism
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A economic system in which the government owns the basic means of production, distributes the products and wages, and provides social services such as health care and welfare.
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Communism
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An economic system in which the central government directs all major economic decisions.
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Free enterprise
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The opportunity to control one's own economic decisions.
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Aristotle
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First student of government
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CHAPTER 2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Revolutionary War
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Stamp act
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Articles of Confederation
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Problems- couldn't levy taxes, no president, no mechanism for enforcing laws, weak government shutdown (reform)
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Constitutional Convention
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3/5 commerce, electoral college (the compromises)
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Declaration of Independence
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Declaring seperation
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CHAPTER 3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Constitution & Amendments
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Major principles of the Constitution
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Popular Sovereignty Limited Government Separation of Powers Checks and Balances Federalism Judicial Review
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Federalism
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A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments.
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Separation of powers
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The division of power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
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Judicial review
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The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional.
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Bill of Rights & Amendments (Focus Exstend protection + voting rights)
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(go to amendment sheets plus practice quiz for the amendments) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwsBL71-1v0 this may help
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Checks and Balances
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The system where each branch of government exercises some control over the other.
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Limited government
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A system in which the power fo the government is limited, not absolute.
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Popular sovereignty
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Rule by the people.
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CHAPTER 4~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Federalism
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Powers of the government
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Delegated powers
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Powers the Constitution grants or delegates to the national government. (Article 1- legislative, Article 2- executive, Article 3- judicial)
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Enumerated powers
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The expressed powers of Congress that are itemized and numbered 1-18 in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.
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Necessary and proper clause
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Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which gives Congress the power to make all laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its duties.
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Elastic clause
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Cause in Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution that gives Congress the right to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers expressed in the other clauses of Article I.
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Inherent powers
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Powers that the national government may exercise simply because it is a government.
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Denied powers
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Cant do powers
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States' rights (position?)
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A position that favors state and local action in dealing with problems.
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Sunset laws
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A law that requires periodic checks of government agencies to see if they are sill needed.
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Bureaucracy
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Government administrators.
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Expressed powers
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Powers directly stated in the Constitution
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Implied powers
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Powers that the government requires to carry out the expressed constitutional powers.
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Reserved powers
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Powers that belong strictly to the states. reserved for state
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Concurrent powers
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Powers that both the national government and the states have. run together
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Natioinalist/Federalist position
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Federalist- favor of fed gov't (for ratification of constitution.)
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Sunshine laws
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A law prohibiting public officials from holding meetings not open to the public.
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CHAPTER 5~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The Legislative Branch
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Bicameral legislature
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A two-chamber legislature
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Term
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time in office
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Requirements to serve in congress
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Reapportionment
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The process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census.
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Gerrymandering
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To draw a district's boundaries to gain an advantage in elections.
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Constituents
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A person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent.
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Committees
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Standing, select or special, and joint committees. Group of people
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Session
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A period of time during which a legislature meets to conduct business.
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Redistricting
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To set up new district lines after reapportionment is complete.
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Incumbents
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Running for relection
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Fillibuster
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A method of defeating a bill in a which a senator talks until a majority either abandons the bill or agrees to modify it.
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Chapter 6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Powers of congress (see constitution/Chapter 3)
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Expressed, Implied, and Inherent. Control over currency Government bonds Establish post offices Establish a federal court system Establish Navey Make laws for washington, DC
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Revenue bills
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A law proposed to raise money.
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Interstate commerce/commerce clause
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trade among the states
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Impeachment
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A formal accusation of misconduct in office against a public official.
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Oversight power
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a part of the checks and balances in our government. The legislative oversight includes watching and reviewing state agencies. These agencies also oversee rules of executive agencies.
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Perjury
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lying under oath.
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Contempt
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willful obstruction of justice.
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Appropriation bills
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A proposed law to authorize spending money.
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Investigation power
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The powers given to governmental agencies and other entities to investigate violations of laws and to gather information regarding laws that are proposed to be enacted.
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Subpoena
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A legal order that a person appear or produce requested documents.
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Immunity
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Freedom from prosecution for witnesses whose testimony ties them to illegal acts.
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CHAPTER 7~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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How a bill becomes a law
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How a bill becomes a law
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Introducing the bill Committee action Floor action Conference action Presidential action
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Rider
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A provision included in a bill on a subject other than the one covered in the bill.
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Pork (pork barrel legislation)
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Waste on a law (extra given to people for stuff in return: done by those that make a law )
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Veto
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Rejection of a bill.
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CHAPTER 8-9-10 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Executive Branch
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Presidential qualifications
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1. Natural born citizen, 2. 35 years old + 3. 14years of residency in the US
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Electoral College System
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Each state has a # of votes based on district.
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Roles of the President
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Chief Executive Commander in Chief Chief Legislature Chief Administrator Chief of Citizens Chief of the Party Chief Diplomat
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Amnesty
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A group pardon to individuals for an offense against the government.
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Executive agreements
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An agreement made between the president and a head of state.
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Executive privilege
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The right of the president and other high-ranking executive officers to refuse to testify before Congress or a court.
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Cabinet departments
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The Cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.
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Presidential succession
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The order in which officials fill the office of president in case of a vacancy.
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Cabinet
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Secretaries of the executive departments, the vice president, and other top officials that help the president make decisions and policy.
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Pardon
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A release from legal punishment
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Executive orders
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A rule issued by the president that has the force of law.
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Treaty
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A formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries.
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Bureaucrats
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One who works for a department or agency of the federal government-civil servant.
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Civil service system
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Practice of government employment based on competitive examinations and merit.
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CHAPTER 11-12~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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The federal court system
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Jurisdiction
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The authority of a court to rule on certain cases.
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Grand jury
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Group that hears charges against a suspect and decides whether there is sufficient evidence to bring the person to trial.
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Petit jury
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A trial jury, usually consisting of 6 or 12 people, that weighs the evidence presented at a trial and renders a verdict.
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Judicial review
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The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional.
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Precedent
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A model on which to base later decisions or actions.
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Due process clause
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Fourteenth amendment clause stating that no state may deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
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Indictment
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A formal charge by a grand jury.
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Supreme Court (cases)
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(see your court case paper)
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Opinion
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A written explanation of a Supreme Court decision; also, in some states, a written interpretation of a state constitution or state laws by the state's attorney general.
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Brief
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A written statement setting forth the legal arguments, relevant facts, and precedents supporting one side of a case.
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CHAPTER 13-14~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Civil liberties & rights of citizens
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Human rights
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Fundamental freedoms.
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Establishment Clause
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The First Amendment guarantee that "Congress shall make no law resecting an establishment of religion"
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Pure speech
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The verbal expression of thought and opinion before an audience that has chosen to listen.
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Defamatory speech
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False speech that damages a person's good name, character, or reputation.
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Slander
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False speech intended to damage a person's reputation.
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Prior restraint
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Government censorship of information before is is published or broadcast.
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Picketing
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To patrol an establishment to convince workers and the public not to enter it.
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2nd Amendment
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This allows people to own guns, but certain restrictions may apply.
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Immigrants
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Person who comes to a new country intending to stay.
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Amnesty
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A group pardon to individuals for and offense against the government.
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Denaturalization
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The loss of citizenship through fraud or deception during the naturalization process.
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4th Amendment
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Prohibits unreasonable searches & seizures Protests right to privacy
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6th Amendment
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Speedy & public trial, Info on nature and cause of charges against them Right to hear and question witnesses Right to counsel/lawyer Change of venue
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14th Amendment
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Rights of citizens "all people born or naturalized in the united states, and subject to the united states where in they resident Citizenship defined Due process of law Privileges or immunites Equal protection Second of civil war amendments
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Due Process
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5th & 14th amendment, cant be denied life, liberty, & property without fair treatment through the judicial system
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Discrimination
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Unfair treatment of individuals based solely on their race, gender, ethnic group, age, physical disability, or religion.
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Affirmative action
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Government policies that award jobs, government contracts, promotions, admission to schools, and other benefits to minorities and women in order to make up for past discriminations.
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Non-resident alien
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A person from a foreign country who expects to stay in the United States for a short, specified period of time.
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illegal alien
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A person without legal permission to be in a country.
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Healthcare
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The prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical and allied health professions.
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Economy
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A system for producing and distributing goods, and services to fulfill people's wants
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Defense
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A means or method of defending or protecting.
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Crime
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An illegal act for which someone can be punished by the government.
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Immigration
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To enter and settle in a country or region to which one is not native.
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Bill of Rights (know and be able to apply)
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First ten amendments (see paper for details)
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Free Exercise Clause
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The First Amendment guarantee that prohibits government from unduly interfering.
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Symbolic speech
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The use of actions and symbols, in addition to or instead of words, to express opinions.
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Seditious speech
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Speech urging resistance to lawful authority or advocating the overthrow of the government.
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Libel
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False written or published statements intended to damage a person's reputation.
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Shield laws
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A law that gives reporters some means of protection against being forced to disclose confidential information or sources in state courts.
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Clear & present danger
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A standard for judging when freedom of speech can be abridged; "no one has a right to shout `fire' in a crowded theater when there is no fire because such an action would pose a clear and present danger to public safety"
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Enemy alien
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A citizen of a nation with which the United states is a war.
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Refugee
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A person fleeing a country to escape persecution or danger.
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Aliens
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A person who lives in a country where he or she is not a citizen.
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Naturalization
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The legal process by which a person is granted citizenship.
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Expatriation
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Giving up one's citizenship by leaving to live in a foreign country.
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5th Amendment
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Grand jury (indietment) Double Jeopardy Self-Incrimination Due process of law Eminent Domain
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8th Amendment
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Prohibits Excessive Bail Excessive fines Cruel & unusual punishment.
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Equal protection
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A guarantee under the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances.
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Segregation
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Separation of people from the larger social group.
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Integration
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Mixing races.
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Resident alien
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A person from a foreign nation who has established permanent residence in the United States.
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CHATER 16-17~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Political Parties, Elections & Voting.
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Political parites
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A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, win elections, conduct government, and determine public policy.
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Theocracy
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A government dominated by religion.
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Precinct
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A local voting district.
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Primary election
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voters nominate party candidates for office
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Nominating Convention
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An official public meeting or a party to choose candidates for office.
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Ticket
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The candidates for president and vice president.
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Plank
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A section of a political party platform.
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Republican
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A government in which voters hold sovereign power; elected representatives, responsible to the people, exercise that power.
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Liberal
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One who believes the national government should be active in promoting health, education, justice, and equal opportunity.
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Conservative
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One who believes government should be limited, except in supporting traditional values and promoting freedom of opportunity.
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Suffrage
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The right to vote.
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Ideologies
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A set of basic beliefs about life, culture, government, and society.
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Third party (minor party)
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Any political party other than one of the two major parties.
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Ward
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A large district comprised of several adjoining precincts.
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Caucus
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A private meeting of party leaders to choose candidates for office.
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National Convention
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A gathering of local and state party members chosen to nominate presidential and vice presidential candidates.
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Platform
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A statement of political party's principles, beliefs, and positions on vital issues.
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Democrat
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Government in which people rule. (liberal)
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Independent
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A voter who does not support any particular party.
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Moderate
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One whose beliefs fall somewhere between liberal and conservative views.
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Electoral College
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A body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.
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Voting rights (laws/amendments)
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