Constitution
What are concurrent powers?
Term used to describe powers shared by the national and state governments.
What is a mandate?
Terms set by the national government that states must meet whether or not they accept federal grants.
What is affirmative action?
Regents of the U. of California v. Bakke (1978), Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) and Gratz v. Bollinger (2003) all dealt with this issue.
What is political efficacy?
A belief that you play a role in politics and the government is responsive to the participants.
What is a political machine?
An outdated party organization that recruits members by dispensing patronage.
What is the Virginia Plan?
This large-state contribution to the Constitutional Convention called for a strong national government.
What is cooperative federalism?
This concept of federalism views the national and state governments as collaborating to solve common problems.
What is the exclusionary rule?
This rule says that illegally gathered evidence may not be introduced in a criminal trial.
What is a sampling error?
The difference between the results of random poll samples at the same time.
What is the Democratic Party?
The current largest political party
How were deputies to the Constitutional Convention chosen?
They were appointed by the legislatures of the different States.
What is a categorical grant?
Type of federal grant for a specific purpose.
What are free exercise and establishment clauses?
These two clauses in the First Amendment make up what is generally understood as Americans' "freedom of religion."
What is political socialization?
The process by which a person forms his or her political views.
What is a realignment (or critical period)?
A period when a significant shift occurs in the coalitions of national political parties.
What was the average age of the deputies to the Constitutional Convention?
Mid 40's
What is U.S. v. Lopez (1995)?
Landmark case that held a national ban on guns in a school zone had violated the commerce clause.
What is Gitlow v. New York (1925)?
This landmark SCOTUS case said the First Amendment applies to the states, thereby beginning the process of selective incorporation.
What is the Australian ballot?
A government-printed, uniform, secret ballot adopted in the U.S. around 1890.
What was the Whig party?
This political party challenged the Jacksonian Democrats, but the Democrats typically dominated politically throughout this party era.
How many members of the Constitutional Convention had been members of the Continental Congress?
Forty, and two others were later members.
What is Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
Landmark case that held all interstate commerce will be regulated by the national government.
What is Schenck v. United States (1919)?
This landmark case's majority opinion created the "clear and present danger test" to analyze future free speech cases.
What is the motor-voter law? (National Voter Registration Act of 1993)
This law - requiring states to allow citizens to register to vote at the DMV - increased voter registration dramatically.
What are superdelegates?
Party leaders and elected officials who automatically become delegates to the national convention.