The Judiciary
A trial in which the verdict is determined by a panel of ordinary citizens, who attend the proceedings and make a decision.
What is a jury trial? (or trial by jury)
A law that limits presidential use of military forces to 60 days, with an automatic extension of 30 additional days if the president requests it.
What is the War Powers Act?
A benefit for which eligibility is based on having an income below a government-specified amount.
What is a means-tested benefit?
The decreased value of money as evidenced by increased prices.
What is inflation?
This incident is probably the closest the world has ever gotten to a nuclear war.
What is the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Previous cases or rulings with similar facts that judges identify for use in a new case they are deciding. Judges apply the same legal principles from these past cases to decide the legal dispute they are currently resolving.
What are precedent cases? (or precedents)
This happens when the House of Representatives, by majority vote, formally accuses the President of wrongdoing. Whether to punish (censure, removal from office, or some other penalty) is then decided by the Senate.
What is impeachment?
A collection of public policies ensuring that citizens' basic physiological needs are met.
What are safety net programs?
The hands-off stance of a government in regard to the marketplace.
What is laissez-faire? (or "pure" capitalist economy)
This Supreme Court Justice recently died, leaving a vacancy filled by Amy Coney Barrett, who was appointed by Donald Trump.
Who is Ruth Bader Ginsberg (or RBG)
An approach whereby judges tend to be willing to strike down laws made by elected officials as well as step away from precedents.
What is judicial activism?
Directives issued unilaterally by the President that have the force of law.
What are executive orders?
Payment to private companies engaged in activities that the national government believes support the public good.
What is direct subsidy?
A tax that takes a larger percentage of the income of wealthier taxpayers and a smaller percentage of the income of the lower-income taxpayers.
What is a progressive tax?
This U.S. President used the veto more than any other, before or since.
Who is Franklin Delano Roosevelt (or FDR)?
This principle was built into the Constitution, the belief that judges are and ought to be impartial interpreters of the law, not influenced by political considerations or public opinion.
What is judicial independence?
The presidential powers clearly enumerated in the Constitution, not merely implied.
What are expressed powers?
This theory claimed that the reason for conflict between nations was because of cultural and religious differences, rather than political or economic needs or ideological differences.
What is the "Clash of Civilizations" thesis? (or Clash of Civilizations)
The theory that advocates cutting taxes and deregulating business to stimulate the economy.
What is supply-side economics?
This president was impeached in 1998 for lying under oath.
Who is Bill Clinton?
This is the standard required for deciding liability or wrongdoing in a civil case. The complainant must have this on their side in order to win a case.
What is a preponderance of evidence?
The presidential powers suggested or implied by the Constitution, but not clearly enumerated.
What are inherent powers?
Cooperation and collusion among the U.S. armed forces, the defense industry, and Congress with the potential to gain too much influence over policy (including foreign policy).
What is the Military-Industrial Complex?
The elimination of tariffs and other trade barriers so that international trade is expanded.
What is a free trade policy?
This Kansas governor attempted to stimulate the economy by sharply cutting taxes in 2012. This "Kansas Experiment" is regarded as a failure because the revenue loss meant cuts to education, roads, and other services important to voters.
Who is Sam Brownback?