WGU C963 ,2023 with 100% complete questions and answers

The right to life, liberty, and property; believed to be given by God; no government may take them away. Natural Rights A theory on how people might have lived before societies came into existence. State of Nature The requirement that government, when dealing with people, have in place a fair procedure which it equally applies to all. Due Process An agreement between people and government in which citizens consent to be governed so long as the government protects their natural rights. Social Contract Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of government. Political Ideologies A lawmaking body that consists of two separate chambers. Bicameral Legislature An election in which the winner is determined by the number of individual votes obtained. Popular Vote A plan for a two-house legislature; representatives would be elected to the lower house based on each state's population; representatives for the upper house would be chosen by the lower house. Virginia Plan A plan that called for a one-house national legislature; each state would receive one vote. New Jersey Plan Also known as the Connecticut Compromise. A compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan that created a bicameral legislature; representation based on population in the House of Representatives and equal representation of states in the Senate. Great Compromise A compromise between northern and southern states that called for counting of all a state's free population and 60 percent of its slave population for both federal taxation and representation in Congress. Three-Fifths Compromise The power of the president to reject a law proposed by Congress. Veto A system that allows one branch of government to limit the exercise of power by another branch; requires the different parts of government to work together.. Checks and Balances The sharing of powers among three separate branches of government. Separation of Powers A form of government which power is divided between state governments and a national government. Federal System The powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution; power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs. Enumerated Powers Any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal government. Reserved Powers Coherent philosophies about the structure, power, and purpose of government. Political Ideologies The action of signing or giving formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid. Ratification A system of government in which power is given to the people through their ability to elect representatives who make laws on their behalf. Republic The right to know, before a judge, why you have been detained. Habeas Corpus A series of 85 essays, written and published in favor of ratifying the Constitution. The Federalist Papers A group who gathers together to advocate for their special interest. Faction A process of removing government officials suspected of criminal activity, including judges and even the president. It requires a majority vote in the House of Representatives to accept articles of impeachment. Two-thirds of the Senate must then vote to remove the person. Impeachment Rules or orders that are issued by the President and have the force of law. Executive Orders The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed to exist as a direct result of the country's existence. Inherent Power The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the executive branch. Oversight A small set of representatives tasked with considering, researching, introducing, and investigating particular policy areas. Committees Spending that can be altered from year to year through the appropriations process. Discretionary Spending A model of what the government plans to spend and take in as revenue over the next fiscal year. Includes a set of budget priorities and discretionary spending limits. Budget Resolution Spending on often unnecessary local projects that benefit a specific member of Congress' district or state. Pork-barrel Spending The ability of the President to reject specific portions of a piece of legislation rather than reject an entire piece of legislation. Ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court. Line-item Veto Enumerated power of Congress to regulate commerce and trade that occurs between two or more states. Interstate Commerce Clause Act passed in 1862 that allowed Congress the ability to produce paper notes of money not guaranteed by gold or silver. Legal Tender Act The central banking system of the United States that sets monetary policies and bank regulations. Federal Reserve System Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote. Advice and Consent Also referred to as an absolute majority, any number greater than half or 50%. Supermajority A rule only permitted in the US Senate that allows a member of the Senate to prevent action on a bill or vote by continuously speaking. Filibuster Bodies created by Congress to enforce laws and develop regulations for the enforcement of laws. Administrative Agencies The political party in Congress that has the most seats in each chamber. Majority Party The political party in Congress that has the fewest seats in each chamber. Minority Party The elected leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives who serves as the chief presiding officer. Speaker of the House The second in command in the House of Representatives; works closely with the Speaker of the House. Majority Leader The elected leader of the minority party. Minority Leader A leadership position from the majority party whose job it is to help coordinate strategy among the members of their political party. Majority Whip A leadership position from the minority party whose job it is to help coordinate strategy among the members of their political party. Minority Whip The person in the Senate who serves as the Chief Presiding Officer in the absence of the Vice President, ceremoniously given to the longest-serving senator of the majority party. President pro tempore Permanent committees that exist from session to session for the purpose of researching, writing, and introducing proposed pieces of legislation. Standing Committee Temporary Committees established to investigate a particular issue or policy area not covered by a standing committee. Select Committee Committees that have both members of the House of Representatives and the Senate serving and working together. Joint Committee A type of joint committee whose job it is to form one unified bill from different versions of the same piece of legislation passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate to be sent to the President. Conference Committee The Committee that determines the parameters for debate and amendments to a piece of legislation, the Rules Committee has more power in the House of Representatives than it does in the Senate. Rules Committee A procedural mechanism whereby 60 members (three fifths) of the entire Senate vote to end a filibuster. Cloture The illegal re-drawing of electoral districts to provide an unfair electoral advantage based on political party or race. Gerrymandering The re-drawing of electoral districts to accommodate for changes in a state's population based on the last census. The goal is to create districts that are equal in population. Redistricting A population count. The US completes a census every 10 years. Census The reallocation of seats in the House or Representatives based on changes in a state's population. Reapportionment A frequently used executive instrument similar to an executive order. Executive Memorandium A case is heard for the first time. Original Jurisdiction A court hears a case on appeal from a lower court and may change the lower court's decision. Appellate Jurisdiction Stare decisis is a reliance on previous decisions and established precedent. Stare Decisis A system of government that divides power and authority between the national government and the state government. Federalism Also known as enumerated powers; Powers specifically defined and granted to the national government withing the Constitution. Expressed Powers Powers not expressly defined in the Constitution, but assumed through interpretation. Implied Powers Also known as the necessary and proper clause, this clause provides implied powers to Congress. Elastic Clause Any powers not prohibited by the Constitution or delegated to the national government; powers reserved to the states and denied to the federal government. Reserved Powers Powers shared by both the national and state governments. Concurrent Powers Advertisements that bring awareness to a particular issue but do not expressly advocate for or against a candidate. Issue Advocacy Ads An election where candidates for elected office are formally chosen, or where the allocation of presidential electoral votes is decided. General Election A candidate for office who presently holds that office and is running for re-election. Incumbents An election where political parties nominate their candidate for an elective office, or determine the allocation of delegates to presidential candidates for a party's national convention. Primary Election The votes which, according to the Constitution, actually elect a president. Electoral Votes Meetings among party members, starting at a local level, where delegates are selected to support a candidate for a party's presidential nomination. Caucus Meetings among party members, starting at a local level, where delegates are selected to support a candidate for a party's presidential nomination. Caucuses A national party convention where no candidate for the party's presidential nomination has a majority of the convention's delegates. Brokered Convention Electoral votes of a state are allocated among presidential candidates according to the popular vote outcome in each congressional district (1 electoral vote), and the overall state popular vote outcome (2 electoral votes). District Method Electors who violate their pledge to support the presidential candidate of a political party, and vote for someone else. Faithless Electors Any formal association of individuals or organizations that attempt to influence government decision-making and/or the making of public policy. Interest Groups Someone who represents an interest or organization before the government, often for pay. Lobbyist An interest group comprised of many groups or institutions with similar interests. Association Interest groups that seek specific benefits from the government that favor narrow interests. Private Interests Benefits that are specific to an individual or group and from which others can be excluded. Particularized Benefits Interest groups that pursue outcomes or goods that they perceive to be useful for most or all citizens. Public Interest Groups An individual who represents a government institution to other government decision-makers. Legislative Liason Lobbying efforts target directly at governmental officials. Inside Lobbying Lobbying intended to influence public opinion which will in turn influence elected officials. Outside Lobbying An entity formed by an interest group to raise money and make contributions to political candidates and parties. Political Action Committee (PAC) A landmark court case that held spending money in an election was essentially equivalent to free speech and struck down several provisions of campaign finance law that had previously been in place. Buckley v. Valeo A legal brief filed with a court by an individual or group who is not party to a case but has an interest in the case's outcome. Amicus Briefs A landmark Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage; this case had many amicus briefs filed. Obergefell v. Hodges A law that allows voters to register when they sign up for a drivers license or selected other government services. "Motor Voter" Law (National Voter Registration Act 1993) Citizens eighteen and older who, whether they have registered or not, are eligible to vote because they are citizens, mentally competent, and not imprisoned. Voting-Eligible Population (VEP) Laws that require citizens to vote in elections. Compulsory Voting Laws An approach to voting where a voter selects every candidate from a single party on the ballot. Straight-ticket Voting The tendency of a voter to select a candidate in the higher or more important offices and then stop voting before selecting candidates for lower offices. Ballot Fatigue Something government is obligated to provide, like equal treatment, a fair trial, or the ability to vote. Civil Rights This law, passed in 1967, prohibits discrimination against persons 40 years of age or older in hiring, promotion, discharge, compensation or terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) This law prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs and activities that receive federal assistance, such as in education, healthcare, housing, and rehabilitation programs. Age Discrimination Act of 1975 This law prohibits the intimidation, coercion, or interference with the rights of persons voting for president or members of Congress on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin. Civil Rights Act of 1967 This law outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also prohibits unequal application of voter registration requirements, segregation in schools, employment, and public accommodations. Civil Rights Act of 1964 This law prohibits racial discrimination in voting. Voting Rights Act of 195 This law requires equal housing opportunities regardless of race, religion, or national origin. Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968) This law extended civil rights to people with disabilities, in particular regarding education and employment. It allows for the reasonable accommodation of persons. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 This law, passed in 1990, prohibited discrimination based on disability, required employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, and created accessibility requirements for public accommodations. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) This law made it illegal to pay different wages to men and women to perform equal work in the same workplace. (Reinforced by the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009) The Equal Pay Act of 1963 This law made it illegal to discriminate against people on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. It also made illegal retaliation against a person who complains about such discrimination. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 This law made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Title IX (Education Amendments of 1972) This law made it illegal to discriminate against women because of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 A law that retroactively makes an action or behavior illegal. Ex Post Facto Laws An act of a legislature, such as Congress, declaring a person guilty of a crime and levying a punishment. Bill of Attainder The power of government to take or use property for a public purpose after compensating its owner; also known as the takings clause of the 5th Amendment. Eminent Domain Individuals who claim the right to refuse to perform military service on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion. Conscientious Objectors A set of laws, used mainly in the South, to deny rights newly freed slaves after the Civil War. Jim Crow Laws The act of being denied the right to vote. Disenfranchisement The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. Civil War Amendments A model of communications suggesting that an intended message is directly received and wholly accepted by the receiver. Hypodermic Theory The idea that the media have little effect on citizens Minimal Effects Theory The idea that the media affect a citizen's worldview through the information presented. Cultivation Theory The process of predisposing readers or viewers to think a particular war. Priming The media's ability to choose which issues or topics get attention. Agenda Setting A type of journalism where journalists just cover the same thing as everyone else rather than seeking out their own stories. Pack Journalism The legal suppression of speech or media coverage prior to publication or speaking it; significantly restricted the ability to do this in the 1st Amendment, though it doesn't grant immunity to consequences from such actions. Prior Restraint A federal rule that requires broadcasters to provide equal opportunities for airtime and advertising to all candidates for the same office. Equal-Time Rule An act that requires the executive branch of the US government to provide information requested by citizens. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Sunshine laws help to make information about government activities publicly available. Sunshine Laws The process by which we are trained to understand and join a country's political world. Public Socialization