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166 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Block grants
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federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent. (page 79)
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Categorical grants
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congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law. (page 74)
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Commerce clause
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Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which delegates to Congress the power 'to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States and with the Indian Tribes'; the Supreme Court interpreted this clause in favor of national power over the economy. (page 70)
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Concurrent powers
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authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the power to levy taxes. (page 64)
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Cooperative federalism
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a type of federalism existing since the New Deal era in which grants-in-aid have been used strategically to encourage states and localities (without commanding them) to pursue nationally defined goals. Also known as 'intergovernmental cooperation.' (page 76)
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Devolution
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a policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government, such as from the national government to the state and local governments. (page 75)
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Dual federalism
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the system of government that prevailed in the United States from 1789 to 1937, in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state government. (page 68)
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Expressed powers
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specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8) and to the president (Article II). (page 63)
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Federalism
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a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between the central government and regional governments. (page 63)
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Federal system
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a system of government in which the national government shares power with lower levels of government, such as states. (page 63)
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Full faith and credit clause
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provision from Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring that the states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state. (page 65)
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General revenue sharing
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the process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of government, according to an established formula. Revenue sharing typically involves the national government providing money to state governments. (page 80)
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Grants-in-aid
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programs through which Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the federal government. (page 73)
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Home rule
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power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to allow that government to manage its own affairs. (page 66)
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Implied powers
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powers derived from the necessary and proper clause of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution; such powers are not specifically expressed, but are implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers. (page 63)
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Necessary and proper clause
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provision from Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution providing Congress with the authority to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out its expressed powers. (page 63)
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New Federalism
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policy of Presidents Nixon and Reagan to return power to the states through block grants. (page 80)
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Police power
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power reserved to the government to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens. (page 64)
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Preemption
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the principle that allows the national government to override state or local actions in certain policy areas; in foreign policy, the willingness to strike first in order to prevent an enemy attack. (page 77)
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Privileges and immunities clause
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provision, from Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution, that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special treatment. (page 64)
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Reserved powers
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powers, derived from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states. (page 64)
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States' rights
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the principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government; this principle was most popular in the period before the Civil War. (page 72)
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Unfunded mandates
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regulations or conditions for receiving grants that impose costs on state and local governments for which they are not reimbursed by the federal government. (page 78)
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Unitary system
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a centralized government system in which lower levels of government have little power independent of the national government. (page 63)
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The term laissez-faire means: |
Leave alone |
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Is this statement true or false? Americans values often conflict with each other in practice. |
True |
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What statement about the census is most accurate? a.The census has always categorized people in one of five racial groups: Native Americans, Hispanics, blacks, Asians, and whites. b.Who is counted by the census and how they are categorized by race and ethnicity has changed significantly throughout American history. c.The census has always counted every person living within the boundaries of the United States regardless of race or ethnicity. d. The census has never categorized people by race or ethnicity. e.The current census does not allow people to identify themselves as a member of more than one racial group. |
b.Who is counted by the census and how they are categorized by race and ethnicity has changed significantly throughout American history. |
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True or false: The average age of Americans has fallen. |
False |
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How is a decline in political efficacy likely to matter for the health of American democracy? |
Leads to decline in political participation and withdrawal from political life |
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How does the US constitution create a system that under represents urban areas? |
It provides each state with two senators regardless of population |
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To the Ancient Greeks, citizenship meant: |
participating in public affairs |
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Which of the following is an instrument of direct democracy? a. initiatives b. the electoral college c. the Senate d. litigation e. the House of Representatives |
a. initiatives |
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Today the federal government is: |
an enormous institution that enacts a large number of programs touching on nearly every aspect of American life |
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The first prerequisite to increasing political efficacy is: |
increasing political knowledge |
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Political apathy among Americans hurts which core political value? |
democracy |
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Direct democracy is best defined as |
a system that allows citizens to vote directly for laws and policies |
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What are the three core values in American Politics? |
liberty, equality, and democracy |
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What major changes in Western government led to the establishment of constitutional government? a. the colonialism of the New World and the right of revolution b. legal limits on government and the right of more people to vote c. debt relief for the poor and the right of citizens to hold office d. the growth in ethnic and religious diversity e. the right of revolution and the spread of socialism |
b. legal limits on government and the right of more people to vote |
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The key group in Europe that pushed for limited government was: |
the bourgeoisie |
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The Bill of Rights were designed to protect |
liberty |
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The National Origins quota system |
allowed a large quota of new immigrants from northern European countries but only a small quota of new immigrants from eastern and southern European countries |
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After 9/11, George Bush oversaw the creation of |
Homeland Security |
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Is this an accurate statement about the consequences of declining trust in government? Distrust motivates people to participate in politics through voting, volunteering for political campaigns, and running for office. |
No |
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What is popular sovereignty |
The belief that political authority should rest with the people themselves |
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Amendment
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a change added to a bill, law, or constitution. (page 52)
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Antifederalists
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those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and were opponents of the constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787. (page 48)
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Articles of Confederation
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America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national government until 1789. (page 33)
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Bicameral
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having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses; distinguished from unicameral. (page 40)
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Bill of Rights
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the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people. (page 40)
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Checks and balances
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mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches. Major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments. (page 40)
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Confederation
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a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government. (page 34)
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Elastic clause
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Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution (also known as the necessary and proper clause), which enumerates the powers of Congress and provides Congress with the authority to make all laws 'necessary and proper' to carry them out. (page 43)
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Electoral college
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the presidential electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for president and vice president. (page 40)
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Expressed powers
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specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8) and to the president (Article II). (page 43)
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Federalism
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a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between the central (national) government and regional (state) governments. (page 41)
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Federalist Papers
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a series of essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay supporting the ratification of the Constitution. (page 48)
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Federalists
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those who favored a strong national government and supported the constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787. (page 47)
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Great Compromise
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the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population, but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population. (page 38)
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Judicial review
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the power of the courts to review and, if necessary, declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional. The Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison (1803). (page 44)
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Limited government
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a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution. (page 51)
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New Jersey Plan
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a framework for the Constitution, introduced by William Paterson, that called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population. (page 37)
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Separation of powers
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the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making. (page 41)
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Supremacy clause
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Article VI of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties 'shall be the supreme law of the land' and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision. (page 44)
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Three-Fifths Compromise
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the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, five slaves would count as three free persons. (page 39)
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Tyranny
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oppressive and unjust government that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority. (page 49)
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Virginia Plan
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a framework for the Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that provided for a system of representation in the national legislature based upon the population of each state. (page 37)
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Affirmative action
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government policies or programs that seek to address past injustices against specified groups by making special efforts to provide members of these groups with access to educational and employment opportunities. (page 130)
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Bill of Rights
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the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people. (page 91)
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Bills of attainder
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laws that declare a person guilty of a crime without a trial. (page 93)
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Brown v. Board of Education
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the 1954 Supreme Court decision that struck down the 'separate but equal' doctrine as fundamentally unequal. This case eliminated state power to use race as a criterion for discrimination in law and provided the national government with the power to intervene by exercising strict regulatory policies against discriminatory actions. (page 116)
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Civil liberties
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areas of personal freedom with which governments are constrained from interfering. (page 91)
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Civil rights
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obligation imposed on government to take positive action to protect citizens from any illegal action of government agencies and of other private citizens. (page 92)
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clear and present danger test
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test to determine whether speech is protected or unprotected, based on its capacity to present a 'clear and present danger' to society. (page 100)
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De facto
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literally, 'by fact'; practices that occur even when there is no legal enforcement, such as school segregation in much of the United States today. (page 117)
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De jure
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literally, 'by law'; legally enforced practices, such as school segregation in the South before the 1960s. (page 117)
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Double jeopardy
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the Fifth Amendment right providing that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime. (page 109)
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Due process of law
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the right of every citizen against arbitrary action by national or state governments. (page 94)
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Eminent domain
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the right of government to take private property for public use. (page 111)
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Equal protection clause
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provision of the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing citizens 'the equal protection of the laws.' This clause has served as the basis for the civil rights of African Americans, women, and other groups. (page 114)
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Establishment clause
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the First Amendment clause that says that 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.' This law means that a 'wall of separation' exists between church and state. (page 97)
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Exclusionary rule
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the ability of courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment. (page 108)
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Ex post facto laws
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laws that declare an action to be illegal after it has been committed. (page 93)
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Fifteenth Amendment
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one of three Civil War amendments; guaranteed voting rights for African American men. (page 114)
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Fighting words
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speech that directly incites damaging conduct. (page 105)
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Fourteenth Amendment
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one of three Civil War amendments; guaranteed equal protection and due process. (page 114)
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Free exercise clause
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the First Amendment clause that protects a citizen's right to believe and practice whatever religion he or she chooses. (page 98)
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Grand jury
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the jury that determines whether sufficient evidence is available to justify a trial; grand juries do not rule on the accused's guilt or innocence. (page 109)
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Habeas corpus
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a court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention. (page 93)
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Libel
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a written statement, made in 'reckless disregard of the truth,' that is considered damaging to a victim because it is 'malicious, scandalous, and defamatory.' (page 103)
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Miranda rule
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the requirement, articulated by the Supreme Court in Miranda v. Arizona (1966), that persons under arrest must be informed prior to police interrogation of their rights to remain silent and to have the benefit of legal counsel. (page 110)
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Prior restraint
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an effort by a governmental agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some other way; censorship. In the United States, the courts forbid prior restraint except under the most extraordinary circumstances. (page 103)
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Right to privacy
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the right to be left alone, which has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to entail free access to birth control and abortions. (page 112)
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Selective incorporation
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the process by which different protections in the Bill of Rights were incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment, thus guaranteeing citizens protection from state as well as national governments. (page 95)
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separate but equal rule
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doctrine that public accommodations could be segregated by race but still be considered equal. (page 115)
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Slander
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an oral statement, made in 'reckless disregard of the truth,' which is considered damaging to the victim because it is 'malicious, scandalous, and defamatory.' (page 103)
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speech plus
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speech accompanied by conduct such as sit-ins, picketing, and demonstrations. Protection of this form of speech under the First Amendment is conditional, and restrictions imposed by state or local authorities are acceptable if properly balanced by considerations of public order. (page 102)
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Strict scrutiny
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test, used by the Supreme Court in racial discrimination cases and other cases involving civil liberties and civil rights, that places the burden of proof on the government rather than on the challengers to show that the law in question is constitutional. (page 100)
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Thirteenth Amendment
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one of three Civil War amendments; abolished slavery. (page 114)
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Agents of socialization
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social institutions, including families and schools, that help to shape individuals' basic political beliefs and values. (page 144)
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Attitude (or opinion)
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a specific preference on a particular issue. (page 141)
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Bandwagon effect
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a shift in electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner. (page 160)
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Conservative
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today this term refers to those who generally support the social and economic status quo and are suspicious of efforts to introduce new political formulae and economic arrangements. Conservatives believe that a large and powerful government poses a threat to citizens' freedom. (page 149)
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Democracy
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a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials. (page 143)
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Equality of opportunity
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a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential. (page 142)
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Gender gap
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a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men. (page 145)
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Liberal
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today this term refers to those who generally support social and political reform; extensive governmental intervention in the economy; the expansion of federal social services; more vigorous efforts on behalf of the poor, minorities, and women; and greater concern for consumers and the environment. (page 148)
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Libertarianism
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a political ideology that emphasizes freedom and voluntary association with small government. (page 00)
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Liberty
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freedom from government control. (page 142)
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Marketplace of ideas
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the public forum in which beliefs and ideas are exchanged and compete. (page 150)
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Median voter theorem
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a proposition predicting that when policy options can be arrayed along a single dimension, majority rule will pick the policy most preferred by the voter whose ideal policy is to the left of half of the voters and to the right of exactly half of the voters. (page 00)
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Political ideology
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a cohesive set of beliefs that forms a general philosophy about the role of government. (page 147)
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Political socialization
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the induction of individuals into the political culture; learning the underlying beliefs and values on which the political system is based. (page 144)
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Probability sampling
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a method used by pollsters to select a representative sample in which every individual in the population has an equal probability of being selected as a respondent. (page 00)
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Public opinion
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citizens' attitudes about political issues, leaders, institutions, and events. (page 141)
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Public-opinion polls
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scientific instruments for measuring public opinion. (page 154)
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Push polling
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a polling technique in which the questions are designed to shape the respondent's opinion. (page 160)
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Random digit dialing
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a polling method in which respondents are selected at random from a list of ten-digit telephone numbers, with every effort made to avoid bias in the construction of the sample. (page 154)
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Sample
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a small group selected by researchers to represent the most important characteristics of an entire population. (page 154)
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Sampling error
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polling error that arises based on the small size of the sample. (page 155)
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Selection bias
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polling error that arises when the sample is not representative of the population being studied, which creates errors in overrepresenting or underrepresenting some opinions. (page 159)
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Social desirability effect
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the effect that results when respondents in a survey report what they expect the interviewer wishes to hear rather than what they believe. (page 157)
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Socialism
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a political ideology that emphasizes social ownership or collective government ownership and strong government. (page 00)
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Values (or beliefs)
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basic principles that shape a person's opinions about political issues and events. (page 141)
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Collective goods
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benefits, sought by groups, that are broadly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers. (page 247)
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Free riders
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those who enjoy the benefits of collective goods but did not participate in acquiring them. (page 247)
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Grassroots mobilization
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a lobbying campaign in which a group mobilizes its membership to contact government officials in support of the group's position. (page 258)
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Informational benefits
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special newsletters, periodicals, training programs, conferences, and other information provided to members of groups to entice others to join. (page 247)
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Institutional advertising
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advertising designed to create a positive image of an organization. (page 257)
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Interest group
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individuals who organize to influence the government's programs and policies. (page 243)
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Iron triangle
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the stable, cooperative relationships that often develop among a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and one or more supportive interest groups. Not all of these relationships are triangular, but the iron triangle is the most typical. (page 254)
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Lobbying
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a strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation or other public policy by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature. (page 253)
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Material benefits
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special goods, services, or money provided to members of groups to entice others to join. (page 247)
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Membership association
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an organized group in which members actually play a substantial role, sitting on committees and engaging in group projects. (page 246)
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New Politics movement
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a political movement that began in the 1960s and '70s, made up of professionals and intellectuals for whom the civil rights and antiwar movements were formative experiences. The New Politics movement strengthened public interest groups. (page 251)
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Pluralism
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the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation. (page 243)
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Political action committee (PAC)
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a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns. (page 244)
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Purposive benefits
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selective benefits of group membership that emphasize the purpose and accomplishments of the group. (page 248)
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Solidary benefits
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selective benefits of group membership that emphasize friendship, networking, and consciousness raising. (page 247)
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Staff organization
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type of membership group in which a professional staff conducts most of the group's activities. (page 246)
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Ballot initiative
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a proposed law or policy change that is placed on the ballot by citizens or interest groups for a popular vote. (page 225)
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Caucus
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face-to-face meetings at which voters enrolled in a party choose a nominee. (page 000)
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Closed primary
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a primary election in which voters can participate in the nomination of candidates, but only of the party in which they are enrolled for a period of time prior to primary day. (page 224)
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Divided government
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the condition in American government wherein the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress. (page 210)
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Electoral college
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the presidential electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for president and vice president. (page 226)
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Electoral realignment
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the point in history when a new party supplants the ruling party, becoming in turn the dominant political force; in the United States, this has tended to occur roughly every 30 years. (page 208)
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527 committees
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nonprofit independent groups that receive and disburse funds to influence the nomination, election, or defeat of candidates. Named after Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which defines and provides tax-exempt status for nonprofit advocacy groups. (page 238)
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General election
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a regularly scheduled election involving most districts in the nation or state, in which voters select officeholders; in the United States, general elections for national office and most state and local offices are held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in even-numbered years (every four years for presidential elections). (page 225)
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Incumbent
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a candidate running for re-election to a position they he or she already holds. (page 200)
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Majority party
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the party that holds the majority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate. (page 201)
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Minority party
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the party that holds a minority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate. (page 201)
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Mobilization
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the process by which large numbers of people are organized for political activity. (page 219)
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Multiple-member district
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an electorate that selects all candidates at large from the whole district; each voter is given the number of votes equivalent to the number of seats to be filled. (page 000)
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Nomination
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the process by which political parties select their candidates for election to public office. (page 201)
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Open primary
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a primary election in which the voter can wait until the day of the primary to choose which party to enroll in to select candidates for the general election. (page 225)
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Party identification
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an individual voter's psychological ties to one party or another. (page 212)
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Political action committee (PAC)
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a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns. (page 000)
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Political parties
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organized groups that attempt to influence the government by electing their members to important government offices. (page 199)
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Primary elections
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elections to select a party's candidate for the general election. (page 229)
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Proportional representation
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a multiple-member district system that allows each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote. (page 211)
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Recall
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a procedure to allow voters to remove state officials from office before their terms expire by circulating petitions to call a vote. (page 000)
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Referendum
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the practice of referring a measure proposed or passed by a legislature to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection. (page 225)
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Socioeconomic status
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status in society based on level of education, income, and occupational prestige. (page 216)
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Suffrage
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the right to vote; also called franchise. (page 216)
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Third parties
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parties that organize to compete against the two major American political parties. (page 210)
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Turnout
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the percentage of eligible individuals who actually vote. (page 216)
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Two-party system
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a political system in which only two parties have a realistic opportunity to compete effectively for control of the government. (page 208)
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