exam 2 vocab

Question 1

Federalism

Answer 1

is a political system in which authority is divided between different levels of government (the national and state levels, in America’s case

Question 2

necessary and proper clause

Answer 2

constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers

Question 3

supremacy clause

Answer 3

constitutional declaration (Article VI) that the Constitution and laws made under its provisions are the supreme law of the land

Question 4

dual federalism

Answer 4

the federal system under which the national and state governments are responsible for separate policy areas

Question 5

cooperative federalism

Answer 5

the federal system under which the national and state governments share responsibilities for most domestic policy areas

Question 6

unitary systems

Answer 6

governments in which all power is centralized

Question 7

confederal systems

Answer 7

the local units hold all the power, and the central government is dependent on them for its existence

Question 8

Nullification

Answer 8

the idea that states could render national laws null if they disagreed with them, but the national government never recognized this doctrine

Question 9

categorical grant

Answer 9

federal funds provided for a specific purpose and restricted by detailed instructions, regulations, and compliance standards

Question 10

block grant

Answer 10

federal funds provided for a broad purpose and unrestricted by detailed requirements and regulations

Question 11

unfunded mandate

Answer 11

a federal order mandating that states operate and pay for a program created at the national level

Question 12

devolution

Answer 12

the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states

Question 13

civil liberties

Answer 13

individual freedoms guaranteed to the people primarily by the Bill of Rights

Question 14

civil rights

Answer 14

citizenship rights guaranteed to the people (primarily in the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and Twenty-Sixth Amendments) and protected by the government

Question 15

habeas corpus

Answer 15

the right of an accused person to be brought before a judge and informed of the charges and evidence against them

Question 16

bills of attainder

Answer 16

laws under which specific persons or groups are detained and sentenced without trial

Question 17

ex post facto laws

Answer 17

laws that criminalize an action after it occurs

Question 18

incorporation

Answer 18

the Supreme Court action making the protections of the Bill of Rights applicable to the states

Question 19

establishment clause

Answer 19

the First Amendment guarantee that the government will not create and support an official state church

Question 20

separationists

Answer 20

supporters of a “wall of separation” between church and state

Question 21

accommodationists

Answer 21

supporters of government nonpreferential accommodation of religion

Question 22

Lemon test

Answer 22

the three-pronged rule used by the courts to determine whether the establishment clause is violated

Question 23

compelling state interest

Answer 23

a fundamental state purpose, which must be shown before the law can limit some freedoms or treat some groups of people differently

Question 24

sedition

Answer 24

speech that criticizes the government to promote rebellion

Question 25

clear and present danger test

Answer 25

the rule used by the courts that allows language to be regulated only if it presents an immediate and urgent danger

Question 26

imminent lawless action test

Answer 26

the rule used by the courts that restricts speech only if it is aimed at producing or is likely to produce imminent lawless action

Question 27

Miller test

Answer 27

the rule used by the courts in which the definition of obscenity must be based on local standards

Question 28

fighting words

Answer 28

speech intended to incite violence

Question 29

political correctness

Answer 29

the idea that language shapes behavior and therefore should be regulated to control its social effects

Question 30

prior restraint

Answer 30

censorship of or punishment for the expression of ideas before the ideas are printed or spoken

Question 31

libel

Answer 31

the written defamation of character

Question 32

net neutrality

Answer 32

the idea that Internet providers should provide access to all websites without preference or prejudice

Question 33

exclusionary rule

Answer 33

the rule created by the Supreme Court that says evidence seized illegally may not be used to obtain a conviction

Question 34

free exercise clause

Answer 34

the First Amendment guarantee that citizens may freely engage in the religious activities of their choice