527 group - ✅✅ -a tax-exempt organization created to influence the political
process; 527 groups are not regulated by the federal election commission
because they do not coordinate their activities with a candidate or party
affirmative action - ✅✅
-a policy requiring federal agencies ,universities, and
most employers to take positive steps to remedy the effects of past
discrimination.
Americans with disabilities act - ✅✅ -Passed by Congress in 1991, this act
banned discrimination against the disabled in employment and mandated easy
access to all public and commerical buildings.
Amicus curiae brief - ✅✅ -a friend of the court brief filed by an interest group or
interested party to influence a supreme court decision
appellate jurisdiction - ✅✅-the authority of a court to hear an appeal from a
lower court.
Baker v Carr - ✅✅ -Ruled that the judicial branch of governemtn can rule on
matters of legislative apoortionment. Used the principle of "one person, one
vote". Ordered stated legislative districts to be as equal as possible.
Barron v Baltimore - ✅✅-Ruled that the bill of rights cannot be applied to the
states.
Bill of Attainder - ✅✅ -A legislative Act that provides for the punishment of a
person without a court trial.
block grant - ✅✅ -funds granted to the states for a broadly defined purpose.
because block grants shift resources from the federal government to the states,
they contribute to the growing number of state and local government employees.
Brown v Board of Ed - ✅✅ -Ruled that racially segregated schools violated the
equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. Reversed the principle of
"separate but equal" established in Plessy v Ferguson
, Buckley v Valeo - ✅✅-Upheld federal limits on campaign contributions. Struck
down the portion of the federal election campaign act limiting the amount of
money individuals can contribute to their own campaign. Ruled that spending
money on one's own campaign is a form of constitutionally protected free
speech. Complicated congressional efforts to enact significant campaign finance
reform.
bureaucracy - ✅✅-a large, complex organization of appointed officials
categorical grant - ✅✅-funds provided for a specific or clearly defined purpose.
checks and balances - ✅✅-system in which each branch of government can
limit the power of the other two branches. for example, the senate has the power
to approve or reject presidential appointments to the supreme court.
Civil Liberties - ✅✅ -legal abnd constitutional rights that protect individuals from
arbitrary acts of government. civil liberties include freedom of speech and
guarentees of a fair trial.
civil rights - ✅✅ -policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or
discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals. Civil Rights
include laws prohibiting racial and gender discrimination
Clear and Present Danger Test - ✅✅
-judicial interpretation of the first
amendment that government may not ban speech unless it poses an imminent
threat to society.
closed primary - ✅✅ -a primary in which voters are required to identify a party
preference before teh election and are not allowed to split their ticket.
cloture - ✅✅-a senate motion to end a filibuster. cloture requires a three-fifths
vote.
conference committees - ✅✅-temporary bodies that are formed to resolve
differences between house and senate versions of a bill.