Current Events - 1
This military alliance recently considered ending its practice of holding annual summits.
What is NATO?
In the 2026 midterms, every seat in this chamber is up for election.
What is the House of Representatives?
This term refers to the state’s final authority over its territory and population.
What is sovereignty?
This political system concentrates power in leaders or institutions not fully accountable to voters.
What is authoritarianism?
This country’s parliament meets in Westminster.
What is the United Kingdom?
In February 2026, the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s sweeping use of these.
What are tariffs?
This institution remains central to 2026 debates over interest rates, inflation, and political independence.
What is the Federal Reserve?
This concept means political leaders can be held responsible for their actions by voters, courts, legislatures, or other institutions. Democracies have this to their voters in a way Autocrats don't.
What is accountability?
This is the process by which people develop political beliefs and values.
What is political socialization?
This Cold War wall divided a major European city until 1989.
What is the Berlin Wall?
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to allow it to end this immigration protection for migrants from Haiti and Syria. What is the name of the program that provided the protection?
What is Temporary Protected Status, or TPS?
The DHS funding standoff affected this airport security agency.
What is the TSA?
This occurs when someone benefits from a public good without helping provide it.
What is free riding?
This concept explains why people may not act together even when they share common interests.
What is the collective action problem?
This South African leader became president after spending 27 years in prison.
Who is Nelson Mandela?
Jerome Powell’s decision to remain on the Federal Reserve Board after his chair term was framed as a defense of this principle.
What is Federal Reserve independence?
The Supreme Court’s tariff ruling checked this kind of presidential action.
What is unilateral executive action?
This term describes organizations outside the state, such as unions, churches, advocacy groups, professional associations, and social movements.
What is civil society?
This is when leaders use public office or state resources to reward loyal supporters.
What is patronage?
This political thinker wrote "The War Over Iraq: Saddam’s Tyranny and America’s Mission"
Who is William Kristol?
This European Union institution had frozen funds to Hungary over rule-of-law concerns.
What is the European Commission?
The 2026 fight over Department of Homeland Security funding showed how congressional budget conflict can create the risk of this.
What is a government shutdown?
This term describes a system that combines democratic institutions with authoritarian practices.
What is a hybrid regime?
This occurs when democratic institutions remain in place but are gradually weakened from within.
What is democratic backsliding?
This political thinker wrote The world America made
Who is Robert Kagan?
The Supreme Court’s tariff ruling limited President Trump’s use of this kind of emergency statute to impose trade penalties.
What is an emergency powers law?
Kevin Warsh’s nomination to lead the Federal Reserve advanced through this Senate committee.
What is the Senate Banking Committee?
This concept argues that earlier political choices can shape or constrain future options.
What is path dependence?
This Supreme Court case established judicial review.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
Professor Kusluch has two dogs - what are their names?
Who are Maze and Mia?