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S-Z
S
sampling error- the measurement of how much the sample results
may differ from the universe being sampled
sanction- a measure such as withholding loans, arms, or
economic aid to force a foreign government to cease certain activities
school board- an elected or appointed local body that governs
a school district
search warrant- an order signed by a judge describing a
specific place to be searched for specific items
second-strike capability- the ability of a country with nuclear
weapons to launch a devastating nuclear attack after getting hit by one
itself
secular- nonreligious
securities- bonds or notes sold as a means of borrowing money
with a promise of repaying the buyer with interest at the end of a
specified period of time
security classification system- the provision that information
on government activities related to a national security and foreign
policy may be kept secret
seditious speech- speech urging resistance to lawful authority
or advocating the overthrow of the government
select committee- a temporary committee that studies one
specific issue and reports its findings to the Senate or the House
selective perception- mentally screening out ideas and images
that do not agree with one's beliefs
selective sales tax- one imposed on certain items; also called
excise tax
selectmen- the town officials elected to administer local
government
self-incrimination- testifying against oneself
senatorial courtesy- the practice under which a President
submits the name of a candidate for appointment to the senators from the
candidate's state before formally submitting it for full Senate approval
seniority system- one that gives leadership of a committee to
the member with the longest service
separate but equal doctrine- the policy allowing separate
facilities for different races as long as those facilities were equal
separation of powers- the division of power among the
legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
sequester- hold apart or segregate
session- a regular period of time during which a legislative
body conducts business
severance tax- one imposed by a state on the removal of
natural resources intended for use in other states
shield law- one that gives reporters some protection against
disclosing confidential information or sources in state courts
shock incarceration- a prison sentence emphasizing a highly
structured, military environment where offenders participate in work,
community service, education, and counseling
shock probation- a program designed to show young offenders how
terrible prison life could be through a brief prison incarceration
followed by supervised release
single-issue party- a political party that focuses on one
major social, economic, or moral issue
single-member district- an electoral district in which only one
candidate can be elected to each office
slander- false speech intended to damage a person's reputation
social insurance programs- those designed to help elderly, ill,
and unemployed citizens
social insurance taxes- the money the federal government
collects to pay for major social
programs, such as social security, Medicare, and unemployment
compensation
socialism- an economic system in which the government owns the
basic means of production, determines the use of resources, distributes
products and wages, and provides social services such as education,
health care, and welfare
sole proprietorship- a business owned by an individual
sovereign- having supreme power within territorial boundaries
sovereignty- the supreme and absolute authority within
territorial boundaries
special district- a unit of local government that deals with a
specific function
speech plus- actions such as marching or demonstrating
splinter party- a political party that has split away from one
of the major parties because of some serious disagreement
spoils system- the practice of victorious politicians
rewarding their followers with government jobs
spot advertising- the brief, very frequent, positive
descriptions of a candidate or a candidate's major themes broadcast on
television or radio
stability- an indication of the likelihood that public opinion
will change in direction or intensity
standing committee- a permanent group in Congress that
oversees bills
stare decisis- a Latin term meaning "let the decision
stand" once the Court rules on a case, its decision stands as a precedent
for other cases
state- a political community that occupies a definite
territory and has an organized government with power to make and enforce
laws without approval from any higher authority
state central committee- a group composed of representatives
from a political party's county organizations which chooses the
party's state chairperson
state farm- one owned by the government
states' rights position- one that favors state and local
action in dealing with social and economic problems
straight-party ticket- the candidates of one party only
strategic minerals- those used for military purposes
strong-mayor system- the type of mayor-council government in
which the mayor has strong executive powers
subcommittee- one of six or eight groups within a standing
committee that specializes in a
subcategory of that committee's responsibility
subpoena- a legal order that a person appear or produce
requested documents
subsidy- the aid the government provides to business
substantive due process- the constitutional requirement that a
law be reasonable
suburb- a densely settle territory adjacent to a city
suffrage- the right to vote
sunset law- one that requires periodic checks of government
agencies to see if they are still needed
sunshine law- one that prohibits public officials from holding
meetings not open to the public
supremacy clause- a statement in Article VI of the
Constitution, establishing that the Constitution, laws passed by
Congress, and treaties of the United States are superior to state laws
and local ordinances
suspect classification- one that is subject to strict judicial
scrutiny
swing vote- the deciding vote
symbolic speech- the use of actions and symbols, instead of
words, to express opinions
T
target price- government-established price for a particular
crop
tariff- a tax on imported goods
tax- the money that people and businesses pay to support the
government
taxable income- the total income of an individual minus certain
deductions and personal exemptions
tax assessor- the official responsible for determining the
value of real property each resident owns
tax credit- a reduction in taxes
theocracy- a government controlled by religious leaders
third party- any political party other than one of the two
major parties
ticket- the candidates for President and Vice President
ticket-splitting- voting for candidates from different parties
for different offices
tort- wrongful act that could result in a lawsuit
totalitarian dictatorship- one in which the ideas of a single
leader or group of leaders are glorified
town meeting- a gathering of all the voters of a town to
express their opinions and decide on matters of local jurisdiction
township- a subdivision of a county
trading bloc- a group of nations that trade without economic
barriers such as tariffs
transcript- a summary record
treaty- a formal agreement between the governments of two or
more nations
trial court- one in which a case is originally tried
trust- a form of business consolidation in which several
corporations combine their stock and allow a board of trustees to run
the corporations as one enterprise
U
unanimous opinion- a Court decision in which all justices vote
the same way
uncontrollable- government expenditure required by law or
previous commitments
unemployment compensation- the payment to workers who lose
their jobs
unemployment insurance- programs in which federal and state
governments cooperate to provide help for people who are out of work
unicameral- a single-chamber legislature
union shop- a place of employment where workers are required to
join a union soon after they have been hired
unitary government- one in which governmental power is
centralized in a national government
unitary system- one that gives all key powers to the national
or central government
universe- a group of people from which samples are taken for
polls or statistical measurement
urban renewal- programs under which cities can apply for
federal aid to clear deteriorating or slum areas and to rebuild
V
veto- rejection of a bill
visa- a document foreign visitors are required to obtain to
enter certain countries
W
ward- a large district comprised of several adjoining precincts
weak-mayor system- a type of mayor-council government in which
the mayor has only limited powers
whip- an assistant to the party floor leader in the
legislature
wire service- an organization that employs reporters
throughout the world to collect news for subscribers who pay for this
service
withholding- an amount of money an employer deducts from wages
as payment of an employee's anticipated income tax
worker' compensation- a payment to employees unable to work as
a result of job-related injury or ill health
writ of certiorari- an order from the Court to a lower court
to send up the records on a case for review
writ of habeas corpus- a court order to release a person
accused of a crime to court to determine whether he or she has been
legally detained
writ of mandamus- a court order requiring a specific action
Y
yellow dog contract- a system that forced workers to promise
not to join a union after employment
Z
zoning- means a local government uses to regulate the way
property may be used
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