Government & politics

Government & politics

The study of general concepts used in governments and politics, as well as the institutions, groups, beliefs, and ideas that make up the government and political reality.

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Government & politics

balance of trade

Government; Government & politics

The net difference between the value of American exports and imports. If the country has exported more than it has imported, then the United States has a positive or favorable balance of trade. If ...

bill

Government; Government & politics

A form or draft of a proposed law presented to a legislature. In the federal government, if a bill is passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it is presented to the President. If ...

bill of attainder

Government; Government & politics

Legislative act declaring that a person is guilty of a crime and setting punishment without the benefit of a formal trial. The Constitution forbids the federal government (Article I, Section 9, ...

Bill of Rights

Government; Government & politics

Another name for the first ten amendments to the US Constitution. These ten amendments protect the fundamental freedoms of Americans from any infringement by the government.

Boston Tea Party

Government; Government & politics

Pre-Revolutionary War protest against the British Tea Act (1773), which placed a tax on tea. On December 16, 1773, a number of Bostonian patriots, dressed as Mohawks, boarded three British ships and ...

appointed

Government; Government & politics

Chosen by one person or a small group of people. Some positions in government are filled by people who are appointed by other public officials. Supreme Court justices, members of the President's ...

proportional representation

Government; Government & politics

System of electing members of the legislature, in which the number of seats given to a particular party is determined by the percentage of the popular vote which goes to that party. This system is ...