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Question 1

Absentee ballot

Answer 1

A ballot, usually sent in the mail, that allows those who cannot go to their precinct on election day to vote.

Question 2

Absolutism

Answer 2

The belief that government should have all the power and be able to do what it wants

Question 3

Acquisitive model

Answer 3

A view of bureaucracies that argues agency heads seek to expand the size, budget, and power of their agency

Question 4

Actual malice

Answer 4

Knowingly printing falsehoods in order to harm a person’s reputation

Question 5

Administrative adjudication

Answer 5

The bureaucratic function of settling disputes by relying on rules and precedents

Question 6

Affirm

Answer 6

An action by the Supreme Court to uphold a ruling by a lower court; that ruling is now the legally binding one

Question 7

Affirmative action

Answer 7

Measures to give minorities special consideration for hiring, school admission, and so on, designed to overcome past discrimination

Question 8

Agency capture

Answer 8

The gaining of control (direct or indirect) over a government regulatory agency by the industry it regulates

Question 9

Agency representation

Answer 9

A type of representation in which the representative is seen as an agent, acting on behalf of the district, who is held accountable if he or she does not do as the constituents wish.

Question 10

Agenda-setting

Answer 10

The power of the media to determine which issues will be discussed and debated

Question 11

Amendment

Answer 11

A change or addition to the Constitution

Question 12

American conservatism

Answer 12

The belief that freedom trumps all other political considerations; the government should play a small role in the lives of the people

Question 13

American exceptionalism

Answer 13

The view that the United States is different from other countries

Question 14

American liberalism

Answer 14

The belief that the government should promote equality in politics and economics

Question 15

Americans with Disabilities Act

Answer 15

The major law banning discrimination against the disabled, it requires employers to make all reasonable accommodations to disabled workers; this law was passed in 1990

Question 16

Amicus curiae brief

Answer 16

Literally, “a friend of the court” brief. A brief submitted to the court by a group not involved in the case; it presents further arguments for one side in the case

Question 17

Anarchism

Answer 17

The belief that all governments are repressive and should be destroyed

Question 18

Appellate jurisdiction

Answer 18

The authority to review cases heard by lower courts

Question 19

Appointment power

Answer 19

The president’s power to appoint people to key federal offices.

Question 20

Appropriation

Answer 20

The act of Congress formally specifying the amount of authorized money that an agency can spend