1: Foundations of the US Government
Vocabulary:
Government
Institution
Politics
Power
Authority
Legitimacy
Theories of State Formation
Divine right theory
Evolution theory
Power theory
Social contract theory
State of nature
Types of Government
Autocracy
Monarchy
Oligarchy
Theocracy
Direct democracy
Representative (indirect) democracy
Parliamentary system
Presidential system
Federal system
Unitary sytem
Confederal system
Majority rule
Minority rights
Democratic Principles
Rule of Law
Natural rights
Universal suffrage
Declaration of Independence
Articles of Confederation
Constitutional Convention
Articles
Amendment
Division of Powers
Separation of powers
Checks and Balances
Veto
Writ of habeas corpus
Bill of attainder
Ex post facto law
Judicial review
Limited government
Federalism
Virginia Plan
New Jersey Plan
Connecticut Compromise
Bicameral
Unicameral
Bill of Rights
Federalist
Anti-Federalist
2: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Vocabulary:
Freedom of Religion
Establishment clause
Free Excercise Clase
Freedom of Press
Prior restraint
Freedom of Speech
Libel
Slander
Defamation
Obscenity
Fighting words
Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment)
Desegregation
Integration
De jure segregation
Imminent lawless action
Clear and present danger
Pure speech
Symbolic speech
Political speech
Commercial speech
Freedom of Assembly
Probable Cause
Reasonable suspicion
Warrant
Search and Seizure
De facto segregation
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Voting Rights Act
Affirmative action
Equal Rights Amendment
Exclusionary rule
Self-Incrimination
Double jeopardy
Due process
Eminent domain
Cruel and unusual punishment
Capital punishment
Due Process Clause (5th and 14th Amendment)
Title IX of the Educational Amendments
American with Disabilities Act
Documents/Outside Resources:
Schenck v. US
Engel v. Vitale
Wisconsin v.. Yoder
Tinker v.. Des Moines
NYT v. US
Texas v. Johnson
Brandenburg v. Ohio
NYT v. Sullivan
Mapp v. Ohio
Miranda v. Arizona
Gideon v. Wainwright
Plessy v. Ferguson
Gitlow v. New York
Brown v. Board of Education
Bakke v. UC Regents
3: Institutions of the US Government
Vocabulary:
Legislative Branch
Congress
House of Representatives
Senate
Franking privilege
Constituency
Impeach
Acquit
Censure
Subpoena
Delegate
Trustee
Politico
Head of State
Chief of Party
Chief Economist
Executive agreement
Executive order
Executive privilege
Pardon
Treaty
Cabinet
Divided Government
War Powers Act
Impeachment
Administrative State
Federal Agencies
Federal budget
Divided Government
Descriptive representation
Substanttive representation
Majority leader
Minority leader
Whip
President pro tempore
Speaker of the House
Party caucus
Standing committee
Select committee
Joint committee
Executive departments
Independent executive agencies
Civil service
Patronage
Spoils system
Merit system
Independent regulatory commissions
Government corporations
Supreme Court
District court
Court of Appeals
Federal question
Judicial review
Conference comittee
Bill
Rider
Filibuster
Cloture
Veto
Pocket veto
Appointment power
Bully pulpit
Commander-in-chief
Chief Diplomat
Chief Executive
Chief Legislator
Precedent
Stare decisis
Appellate jurisdition
“Good behavior”
Standing
Writ of certiorari
Oral Arguments
Brief
Amicus curiae
Conference
Opinion of the Court
Concurring opinion
Dissenting opinion
Solicitor general
4: Political Participation
Vocabulary:
Political Ideology
Political Socialization
Political Culture
Pluralism
Generational Effect
Gender gap
Life Cycle Effects
Party identification
Political efficacy
Social Media
Opinion leaders
Conservatism
Progressivism
Liberalism
Socialism
Libertarianism
Conventional forms of political participation
Unconventional forms of political participation
Protest
Boycott
Activism
Referendum
Recall
Initiative
Voter registration
Voter ID
Split-ticket voting
Streight-ticket voting
Independents
Ballot fatigue
Absentee voting
Mail-in voting
Non-voting
Primary election
General election
Midterm election
Special election
15th Amendment
19th Amendment
24th Amendment
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Indian Citizenship Act
Preclearance
Public opinion
Straw vote
Universe
Random sample
Scientific Polling
Exit Polls
Horse Race Journalism
Documents/Outside Resources:
Excerpts from Democracy in America - Alexis de Tocqueville
5: The Political Process
Vocabulary:
Federalism
Dual Federalism
Cooperative Federalism
Grants-in-aid
Block grant
Categorical grant
Commerce Clause
Necessary and Proper Clause
Supremacy Clause
Concurrent power
Reserved power
Delegated power
Expressed power
Interstate Compact
Linkage Institutions
Political Party
Single-member districts
Winner-take all
Proportional election
Plurality
Bipartisan
Coalition
Realignment
Third party
Party in Government
Party in Electorate
Party Organization
Open Primary
Closed Primary
Caucus
Front-loading
National Convention
Platform
Swing voters
Battleground states
Incumbent
Gerrymandering
Electoral College
Popular vote
Lobbying
Political Action Committee
Super PAC
Traditional Media
Social Media
Priming
Framing
Watchdog
Gatekeeper
Agenda Setting
Formation
Implementation
Evaluation
Documents/Outside Resources:
Citizens United v FEC