supported a strong central government and ratification of the Constitution
money used by national, state, or local party organizations that is not regulated by the Federal Election
Rule of four
a rule that says that four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree in conference to hear a case
agenda setting
Determining which public-policy questions will be debated or considered.
Pork barrel legislation
" Bringing home the bacon" legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects
Bureaucracy
Recess appointment
President pro tempore
serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority
Representative democracy
citizens choose officials who make decisions about public policy; a republic
adminstrative discretion
The flexibility a federal agency can exercise in implementing legislation through its rules and regulations. The Authority delegated to bureaucrats
a consistent set of beliefs by groups or individuals
Cooperative federalism
All levels of government working together
Superdelegates
party officials in the Democratic Party who attend the national convention without having to run in
Exclusionary rule
rule that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used against the person
Independent regulatory agency
an agency that is part of the executive branch and responsible for regulating and
an agency that is part of the executive branch but not included in any executive
Regressive tax
a tax that is assessed on everyone at the same rate and, therefore, impacts the poor more than it
Gatekeepers
the process of redrawing congressional and state legislative districts to reflect population changes in the
Straight-ticket voting
voting for candidates all of the same party
Stare decisis
let the decision stand; court decisions are based on precedent from previous cases
Incumbency effect
tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to advantages because they already
Congressional Oversight
Review and supervision of federal agencies and implementations of laws
Judicial activism
action by the president that does not require the approval of Congress; subject to judicial review
Hyperpluralism
democracy seen as a system of many groups pulling government in many directions at the same time,
SuperPAC
political organizations that use contributions from individuals, corporations, and labor unions to spend
Affirmative Action
Inherent powers
powers, usually claimed by the president, that are implied but not specifically stated in the
Incrementalism
small changes in policy over long periods of time; usually in reference to budget making - that the
