Monster Vocab Test

Question 1

Caucus

Answer 1

When citizens (party members) meet with the purpose of selecting/nominating candidates for an election. This process of face to face meetings begins at the local level and eventually reaches the national level

Question 2

Direct democracy

Answer 2

A form of government where all laws, bills, and issues are voted on directly by the people

Question 3

Block grants

Answer 3

Large sums of money given to the state/local government by the federal government for broad purposes, giving state governments the freedom to do mostly what they would like with it

Question 4

Congressional oversight

Answer 4

When congress keeps watch over the Executive branch, ie the president and federal agencies. This is done by congressional committees holding hearings and investigating bureaucratic agencies

Question 5

Dealignment

Answer 5

Where a large portion of voters lose their affiliation with a political party, changing to nonpartisanship

Question 6

Fiscal policy

Answer 6

A change in the government’s budget that influences the nation’s economy such as changes in income tax and public spending

Question 7

General election

Answer 7

An election of candidates for office in which only one candidate is elected and then takes office

Question 8

Closed primary

Answer 8

An election held by a political party in which only voters registered for the party vote upon that party’s candidate for the general election

Question 9

Motion for cloture

Answer 9

The formal way of breaking a filibuster requiring 3/5’s of the Senate’s vote (60)

Question 10

Super PAC/Independent expenditures

Answer 10

Committees that raise unlimited sums of money from corporations in order to advocate for or against political candidates. They may not donate directly however to candidates and are required by law to disclose all their members

Question 11

Federalism

Answer 11

The separation of power between the State Government and the Federal Government and the constitutional relationship between the two.

Question 12

Political socialization

Answer 12

The process in which an individual acquires knowledge of politics as well as political orientation

Question 13

Expressed/enumerated powers

Answer 13

The powers and authorities of congress specifically listed in the constitution found in Article 1 section 8

Question 14

Lame duck period

Answer 14

The period of time at the end of a presidential term in which Congress does not take the president as seriously because of his limited time remaining. Also during this period the president is able to act with less public and congressional scrutiny

Question 15

Midterm election

Answer 15

Elections held at the midway point of a presidential term electing members of Congress, the House, and 33-34 seats in Senate. States may elect governors or legislature

Question 16

Franking privilege

Answer 16

The right that members of congress and other government officials have that allow them to post mail for free using their signature instead of a stamp

Question 17

Lobbying

Answer 17

Lobbying is the act of trying to influence Congress to introduce, pass, or change laws by communicating directly with a member of congress

Question 18

Grassroots lobbying

Answer 18

The encouragement of people to contact their representatives in regards to an issue or concern to influence policy making, as opposed to direct lobbying

Question 19

Party polarization

Answer 19

The gap (usually increasing) between liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans.

Question 20

Amicus curiae

Answer 20

Latin for “friend of the court”, it represents an interest group that is not a party that provides an informative brief to a case, often biased in favor of the interest group

Question 21

Judicial activism

Answer 21

The theory that the judicial branch is co equal to the legislature and executive- judicial decisions that create new rights and/or policy

Question 22

Horse race journalism

Answer 22

Political journalism that focuses on who wins and loses in elections and polling data, like a horse race

Question 23

Casework

Answer 23

Direct assistance to constituents provided by members of Congress in cases of injustices or transgressions involved with the federal government or federal agencies

Question 24

Casework

Answer 24

Direct assistance to constituents provided by members of Congress in cases of injustices or transgressions involved with the federal government or federal agencies

Question 25

Issue network/iron triangle

Answer 25

An issue network is a group of parties, organizations, or individuals that team up in support of a specific issue related to government policy either on the domestic or foreign level An iron triangle involves multiple private groups such as corps or congress teaming up to support a mutual private interest regarding governmental policy instead of a public interest

Question 26

Political party

Answer 26

A group of people who share similar political views and work together to pass legislation that benefits their interests through the acquisition of political power

Question 27

Gerrymandering

Answer 27

The strategic division of congressional districts in order to favor one party, even if that party is the minority

Question 28

White house staff

Answer 28

personal assistants to the president

Question 29

Filibuster

Answer 29

A strategy used in the senate where members attempt to delay or block the passing of a bill or other matter. A member of the senate may debate for as long as he/she wants, offering many motions that are considered obstructive to the passing of a bill

Question 30

Executive order

Answer 30

Orders the president makes in order to direct federal agencies and officials that cannot be overridden by other branches

Question 31

Critical elections

Answer 31

A significant change in the American political system in which new issues emerge. As a result, the minority party becomes the majority and the voting coalitions shift allegiance

Question 32

Pork barrel spending

Answer 32

The political strategy of using federal funds to support institutions and local projects in a congressional district in order for the representative to maintain their constituents support

Question 33

Entitlements

Answer 33

Annual benefits "promised" by Congress to a certain number of recipients, with the expenditures often being uncontrollable because they're dependent on the number of recipients

Question 34

Original intent

Answer 34

The theory that the Supreme court attempts to understand the message of any particular provision to the federal constitution by determining how the provision was understood at the time it was written, drafted, or ratified and is used by judges to help guide their decisions

Question 35

Log rolling/ reciprocity

Answer 35

The exchanging of votes by Members of congress (i support your bill if you support mine) to speed up the pace of the legislative process

Question 36

Monetary policy

Answer 36

The management of money supply and interest rates by the Federal reserve Bank in order to manage the economy, with the most visible role being the raising and lowering of interest rates

Question 37

Selective Incorporation

Answer 37

The ability of the federal gov to limit the states' lawmaking process to ensure that states don't violate rights provided in the Bill of Rights

Question 38

Suffrage/franchise

Answer 38

The right to vote

Question 39

Fiscal federalism

Answer 39

The way the federal gov provides grants, taxes, and spends with relation to local and states govs in which the federal gov can influence a state's policy by either giving or denying a state grant

Question 40

Writ of certiorari

Answer 40

A supreme court issued document that calls up a case from a lower court

Question 41

Litigation

Answer 41

The process of taking legal action to defend or enforce a legal write aka a lawsuit

Question 42

Uncontrollable spending

Answer 42

The portion of the federal budget spent on programs that congress and the president are unwilling to cut & or change due to lack of political will or capital

Question 43

Political efficacy

Answer 43

A citizens belief that their vote can actually make a difference/political participation matters

Question 44

Gender gap

Answer 44

Female tendency to vote more liberally bc of their support of social services & military and less conservative views

Question 45

Single-member districts

Answer 45

An electoral system in which one elected official represents a geographically defined area

Question 46

Pocket veto

Answer 46

Happens when congress adjourns within ten days of submitting a bill, president does nothing about bill and it gets vetoed and this cannot be overridden

Question 47

Redisricting

Answer 47

When the government reviews or redraws a district in a state every ten years after us census

Question 48

Independent expenditures

Answer 48

Spending for communication on behalf of a candidate made by groups or businesses such as PACs without any consultation with the candidate or their associates

Question 49

Policy agenda

Answer 49

A set of issues that is viewed as important by people involved in policymaking created by the political parties and officials

Question 50

Cooperative federalism

Answer 50

State and national government work together and share power to create policy they both agree on. They also share costs, administration, and blame for unsuccessful policies and programs

Question 51

Stare decisis

Answer 51

Latin for "let the decision stand". Courts regarding previous decisions and using them as precedent for the case being considered

Question 52

Devolution

Answer 52

The transfer of power to a lower level, for policies from the federal government to state and lower governments

Question 53

Demographics

Answer 53

Study of population based on factors like birth and death that change over time as a result of economic, cultural, and political circumstances

Question 54

Political culture

Answer 54

A set of historically based, widely shared values about the nature of political systems people hold that shapes their political behavior and includes their ideas about what makes for a good society

Question 55

Divided government

Answer 55

Occurs when different branches of the federal government are controlled by different political parties

Question 56

Open primary

Answer 56

A type of election that allows voters (regardless of party affiliation) to participate in either the Democrat or Republican nominating contests (primaries)

Question 57

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Answer 57

An organization formed by special interest groups that raises money privately to contribute to election campaigns regulated by the federal election committee

Question 58

judicial review

Answer 58

The Courts ensure that legislative and/or executive actions do not violate the Constitution

Question 59

categorical grants

Answer 59

Federal grants that are set aside to only be spent on certain projects or issues ie road projects

Question 60

Interest group

Answer 60

A group that tries to influence politics and policies for a common cause through lobbying or putting pressure on policymakers to make policies in their favor

Question 61

Pluralism

Answer 61

The optimistic theory that in American democracy because such a wide variety of interest groups contribute to policy making, policy in the US meets the demands of a wide a variety of if not all of its citizens

Question 62

Unfunded mandate

Answer 62

A federal statute or regulation that requires state or local governments to do something without providing monetary incentive or benefits

Question 63

Implied powers

Answer 63

Powers the fed gov has that arent written in the constitution but are assumed to exist that allow gov to make laws necessary and proper i.e. congressional right to maintain a national bank

Question 64

Incumbent

Answer 64

The current holder of a political office (person in political office position/ who won the election)

Question 65

Realignment

Answer 65

When the balance between political parties shifts for a long period of time maybe do to an event or change in party coalition

Question 66

Republic

Answer 66

A type of government that's representatives are elected by citizens to govern and create laws

Question 67

Bipartisan

Answer 67

Support from both the democratic and republican parties for a policy

Question 68

Discharge petition

Answer 68

Used in the House; brings a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration