Unit 1
This philosopher’s concept of "natural rights"—specifically life, liberty, and property—heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson’s drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
John Locke
Unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate allows for this tactic, where a member can speak indefinitely to delay a vote on a bill.
Filibuster
This legal test, established in Schenck v. United States (1919), allowed the government to restrict speech that posed an immediate threat to national security—though it was later narrowed by Brandenburg v. Ohio.
Clear and Present Danger Test
This is the most influential factor in a person's political socialization, typically determining their party identification from a young age.
The family
This model of voting describes a citizen who casts their ballot based on how a candidate or party has performed in the recent past, rather than focusing on future promises.
Retrospective voting
This model of democracy emphasizes limited role for citizens in popular election, where a small group of wealthy and well-educated individuals influence political decision-making.
Elite Democracy
Alexander Hamilton argued in this Federalist Paper that a "vigorous" and "single" executive is necessary to ensure accountability and decisive action.
Federalist 70
This legal doctrine refers to the Supreme Court’s process of applying the Bill of Rights to the states on a case-by-case basis through the Due Process Clause.
Selective Incorporation
Adherents of this political ideology generally advocate for very little government regulation of the economy and believe the government’s only role should be protecting private property and individual liberty.
o win the Presidency, a candidate must receive a majority of the 538 available electoral votes. What is the minimum number of electoral votes required to win?
270
Resulting from the merger of the Virginia and New Jersey Plans, this agreement established a bicameral legislature with a proportional House and an equal-representation Senate.
The Great Compromise
Established in Marbury v. Madison (1803), this is the power of the Court to determine the constitutionality of legislative or executive acts.
Judicial Review
In Wisconsin v. Yoder, the Court ruled that the state could not force Amish students to attend school past 8th grade because it violated this specific First Amendment clause.
Free exercise clause
To ensure a poll is scientifically valid, every person in the "universe" being studied must have an equal chance of being selected, a process known by this term.
Random Sampling
These two constitutional amendments expanded the electorate by prohibiting the use of age (for those 18 and older) and gender as a qualification for voting.
26th and 19th
In this Federalist Paper, James Madison argued that a large republic is the best way to control the "mischiefs of faction.
Federalist 10
These are the three components that make up an "Iron Triangle," creating a powerful, mutually beneficial relationship in policy-making.
Congressinal committees, interest groups and bureaucratic agencies
In New York Times Co. v. United States (1971), the Court established a "heavy presumption against" this government action, which involves blocking the publication of material before it actually happens.
Prior Restraint
This economic theory, favored by many liberals, suggests that the government should stimulate the economy during a recession by increasing spending, even if it leads to a deficit.
Keynesian Economics
A voter who looks at a candidate’s platform and decides that their proposed policies will best benefit the voter's own financial future is practicing this specific model of voting behavior.
Rational choice voting
Brutus No. 1 expressed specific fear that these two Constitutional clauses would grant the federal government nearly unlimited power over the states.
Necessary & Proper Clause and the Supremacy Clause
This powerful committee in the House of Representatives—which has no counterpart in the Senate—is responsible for setting the terms of debate, such as time limits and whether amendments can be added to a bill.
House Rules Committee
For decades, the Court used this three-pronged "test" (named after a 1971 case) to determine if a law violated the Establishment Clause by checking if it had a secular purpose, neither advanced nor inhibited religion, and avoided "excessive entanglement."
The Lemon Test
While Congress handles fiscal policy (taxing and spending), this independent regulatory agency is responsible for monetary policy, including adjusting interest rates and the money supply.
Federal Reserve
This concept explains why some citizens choose not to vote because they believe their individual vote does not matter or that the government does not care about their opinions.
Political Efficacy