|
|
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) establishes?
|
Establishes that clothing is symbolic speech, and is protected unless its censorship is in the public interest.
|
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) establishes?
|
The government cannot exert prior restraint.
|
Roe v. Wade (1973)
|
The Right to Privacy extends to letting women make decisions about their bodies without government surveillance.
|
Lemon v. Kurtzman
|
Creates the "Lemon Test", which has requires separate, secular, and neutral effect and intention in government action.
|
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
|
The Supreme Court concluded that "actual malice" must be proved to support a finding of libel against a public figure. Principle of "breathing space"
|
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
|
Selectively incorporates 4th amendment. Later modified with "inevitable discovery" (good if would be found in a later, lawful search) and "good faith" (good if warrant was issued at all).
|
New Jersey v. TLO (1985)
|
Students have less privacy at schools; their stuff is subject to a search because of suspicion. This is necessary for discipline.
|
Hamdi v. Rumsfield (2004)
|
US Gov needs to at least have a hearing to determine a war prisoner's charge
|
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
|
Before police interrogate, suspect must learn of rights like the Fifth Amendment
|
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
|
Found a "right to privacy" in the Constitution that would ban any state law against selling contraceptives
|
Hyde Amendment (1976)
|
Passed by Congress in 1976; excludes abortion from the comprehensive health care services provided to low-income people by the federal government through Medicaid.
|
Substantive due process
|
the policies of government or the particular subject matter of the laws determining what the law is about and whether the law is fair or if it violates constitutional protections
|
Procedural due process
|
Constitutional requirement that governments proceed by proper methods; limits how government may exercise power.
|
Barnettte v. McColumm
|
Upholds establishment clause and free exercise clause. Engel v. Vitale
|
Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925)
|
States cannot ban private schools to prevent religious courses. Wisconsin v. Yoder
|
Prince v. Massachusetts
|
Religion does not override child labor laws. Wisconsin v. Yoder
|
West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette
|
1943, forcing students to salute the flag is a violation of 1st amendment free speech, and is therefore unconstitutional. Such gestures = symbolic speech. Tinker v. Des Moines.
|
DC v. Heller (2008)
|
Court ruled that a DC law banning hand guns was unconstitutional. McDonald v. Chicago
|
Powell v. Alabama (1932)
|
The Supreme Court ruled here that the right to counsel was required by law in death penalty trials. Also, capital cases must have counsel when defendant cannot defend because of "ignorance, feeblemindedness, illiteracy, or the like". Selective Incorporation case based on the sixth amendment. Gideon v. Wainwright
|
Johnson v. Zerbst (1938)
|
Sixth amendment applies to federal criminal cases with possible imprisonment and too poor defendant. Gideon v. Wainwright
|
Betts v. Brady (1942)
|
Sixth amendment does not selectively incorporate to providing poor people in not-capital state cases a lawyer
|
Administrative Discretion
|
the flexibility a federal agency can exercise in implementing legislation through its rules and regulations. the authority delegated to bureaucrats to use their expertise and judgment when determining how to implement public policy.
|
Advice and consent
|
the Senate's authority to approve or neglect the president's top appointments and negotiated treaties
|
Affirmative action
|
a program intended to give a boost of preference to minority applicants over white applicants in contracting, employment, housing, and college or professional school admissions
|
Agenda setting
|
identification of the problems and/or issues that require the attention of the government to resolve
|
Amendment
|
a revision or change to a bill, law, or constitution
|
Amicus curiae brief
|
a brief submitted to the court by an interested third party that outlines issues it thinks are important in the case. amicus curiae literally means "friend of the court"
|
Anti-Federalists
|
those opposed to the ratification of the Constitution because it gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states and the lack of a bill of rights
|
Appellate courts
|
courts with authority to review cases heard by other courts to correct errors in the interpretation or application of law
|
Appellate jurisdiction
|
jurisdiction the power a court has to review the decision of a lower court; the Supreme Court exercises appellate jurisdiction in the overwhelming majority of the cases it hears
|
Apportionment
|
distribution of congressional representatives among the states, based on the population of each state
|
Articles of Confederation
|
the first written constitution of the United States, which went into effect in 1781; it created a unicameral legislature, in which each state had one vote but no executive or judicial authority; the power of the central government was extremely limited
|
At-large
|
all the voters of a state or county elect their representative
|
Bench trial
|
a trial in which the judge who presides over the trial decides on guilt or liability
|
Bicameral legislature
|
a two-house legislature
|
Bill
|
a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion.
|
Bill of attainder
|
a law that makes a person guilty of a crime without a trial; neither Congress nor the states can enact such a law Constitutionally
|
Bill of Rights
|
the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791, which protect basic civil liberties
|
Blanket primary
|
a primary election in which candidates from all parties are on the ballot, and a registered voter can vote for the Democratic candidate for one office and the Republican candidate for another
|
Block grants
|
grants federal funds given to the states for programs in broad policy areas with few, if any, restrictions
|
Brief
|
a written document submitted to a court that presents the facts and legal reasoning of a party to the lawsuit
|
Cabinet
|
government departments headed by presidential appointees to help establish public policy and operate a specific policy area of governmental activity
|
Candidate
|
centered politics politics that focuses on candidates, their particular issues, and character rather than party affiliation
|
Casework
|
services performed by an elected official for constituents
|
Categorical grants
|
federal funds given to state and local governments for specific programs that usually require the recipient to match the money provided and have other strings attached
|
Caucus
|
locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political office
|
Caucus (congressional)
|
a group of members of Congress who may or may not be from the same party but who share
|
common policy concerns
|
an association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest
|
Checks and balances
|
a system in which each branch of the government has the power to limit the other branches of government so that one is not dominant; each branch of government is subject to restraints by the other two branches
|
Civil liberties
|
constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens. What the government can't do.
|
Civil rights
|
positive acts of government designed to prevent discrimination and provide equality before the law. What the government should do.
|
Closed convention
|
a party national convention at which the party's presidential nominee has already been determined through the primaries
|
Closed primary
|
a primary election that is limited to registered voters of a particular political party
|
Closed rule
|
a rule issued by the House Committee on Rules, in which there is a strict time limit for debate and no amendments can be offered
|
Cloture
|
a method for cutting off a filibuster in the Senate; sixteen votes are needed to call for cloture and sixty are needed to end a filibuster
|
Coattail
|
effect the ability of a strong or popular candidate to get other candidates on the ticket elected; it is a term most
|
Commerce and slave trade compromise
|
resolved differences between northern and southern states at the constitutional convention; Congress could not tax exports nor ban the slave trade for twenty years
|
Concurrent jurisdiction
|
jurisdiction the authority to hear cases is shared by federal and state courts
|
Concurrent powers
|
governmental powers shared by the federal and state governments
|
Concurring opinion
|
justice or justices who agree with the majority's ruling but not the reason behind the decision
|
Conference committee
|
a committee made up of members of the House and Senate that is responsible for reconciling the differences when two versions of the same bill pass both houses of Congress
|
Congressional oversight
|
refers to the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation
|
Congressional review
|
Congress's authority to review a new federal regulation enacted by a regulatory agency and overrule it through a joint resolution
|
joint resolution
|
A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president
|
Connecticut (Great) Compromise
|
settled disputes between the states over the structure of the legislative branch; a solution to the problem of representation at the Constitutional Convention, in which the number of members that each state would have in the House of Representatives is determined by population, while each state would have equal representation in the Senate
|
Conservative
|
a person whose political views favor more local, limited government, fewer government regulations,
|
conformity
|
to social norms and values, tough on criminals
|
Constituency
|
service casework; assistance to constituents by congressional members
|
Constituent
|
all residents of the state for senators, all residents of a district for House members
|
Constitution
|
the document setting forth the laws and principles of the government; a plan for government
|
Cooperative federalism
|
"marble-cake federalism" a model of the relationship between the federal government and the states that developed during the 1930s; the power of the federal government expands into areas that the states are usually responsible for
|
Courts of Appeal
|
federal courts with appellate jurisdiction that review decisions of federal district courts, regulatory commissions, and other federal courts
|
Critical elections
|
sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions
|
Dealigning
|
election party loyalty becomes less important to voters, and they vote for the other party candidate or
|
independents
|
people who have no party affiliation
|
Dealignment
|
when a significant number of voters choose to no longer support a particular political party
|
Declaration of Independence
|
drafted in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson declaring America's separation from Great Britain
|
Deficit
|
government spending exceeds revenue
|
De facto segregation
|
segregation that results from living patterns rather than law
|
De jure segregation
|
segregation segregation that results from law
|
Delegate
|
an elected official who considers it an obligation to vote the way the majority of his or her constituents wants
|
Delegated powers
|
powers specifically granted to the national government in the Constitution
|
Democracy
|
a system whereby the people rule either directly or by elected representation
|
Deregulation
|
the process of reducing or completely eliminating federal government oversight of an industry so as to allow it to operate more freely; used to encourage competition and reduce costs to consumers
|
Deviating election
|
minority party is able to win the support of majority party members, independents, and new voters
|
Devolution
|
an effort to shift responsibility or domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size and activities of the federal government
|
Diplomacy
|
the conduct of international relations, particularly involving the negotiation of treaties and other agreements between nations
|
Direct democracy
|
democracy citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues; there are no elected officials; also called participatory democracy
|
Direct primary
|
party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election
|
Discharge petition
|
a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had a bill for thirty days, may petition to have it brought to the floor; requires 218 votes
|
Discretionary spending
|
federal spending set by the government through appropriations bills, including operating expenses and salaries of government employees
|
Discrimination
|
unfair treatment of a person based on race or group membership
|
Dissenting opinion
|
opinion justice or justices who voted in the minority, explaining the reasons for opposing the majority opinion
|
District courts
|
lowest level of federal courts, where most federal cases begin and trials are held
|
Divided government
|
one party controls the executive (president) and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress
|
double jeopardy
|
a rule that says a person can't be tried twice by the same court under the same charges twice; from the 5th amendment
|
Dual Federalism
|
a model of the relationship between the federal government and the states in which each is supreme in its own sphere; "layer cake federalism"
|
Marble vs. layer cake federalism
|
Marble cake means 1930s fed expansion, layer cake means they are supreme in separate areas
|
Due process
|
protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property provided for under the 5th and 14th Amendments
|
Earmark
|
a designation within a spending bill that provides for a specific expenditure
|
Elastic clause
|
the necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) that allows Congress to pass laws to carry out its expressed powers
|
Electoral College
|
representatives from each state who formally cast ballots for the president and vice president
|
Electorate
|
people qualified to vote
|
Elite Theory of Democracy
|
the idea that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization
|
Eminent domain
|
allows the government to take private property for public use, as long as just compensation is paid
|
Entitlement
|
government benefits provided to Americans who qualify because of their age, income, and/or status
|
Enumerated powers
|
powers that the Constitution specifically grants to the federal government
|
equality of opportunity
|
everyone should have the same chance; what individuals make of that chance depends their abilities and efforts
|
Equal Protection Clause
|
constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally
|
Establishment clause
|
prohibits the establishment of a national religion
|
Exclusionary rule
|
that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used against the person from whom it was seized
|
Executive agreement
|
agreement with another head of state not requiring approval from the Senate
|
Executive order
|
action by the president that does not require the approval of Congress; subject to judicial review
|
executive privilege
|
a claim by the president or a member of the executive branch that information or documents requested by Congress or the courts do not have to be turned over because of the separation of powers
|
Ex post facto law
|
a law that makes an action a crime even though it was legal when it was committed or increases the penalty for a crime after it has been committed
|
Exit poll
|
a poll conducted on election day to determine how people voted
|
Expressed powers
|
powers enumerated in the Constitution
|
Extradition
|
states may return fugitives to a state from which they have fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the state's governor
|
Federal budget
|
amount of money the federal government expects to receive and authorizes government to spend for a fiscal year
|
Federal budget decicit
|
the difference in any year between government spending and government revenue
|
Federal question
|
a question of law based on interpretation of the US Constitution, federal laws, or treaties
|
Federal system
|
a political system in which power is divided between the national government and state government
|
Federalism
|
a division of governmental powers between the national government and the states
|
Federalist
|
supported a strong central government and ratification of the Constitution
|
Federalist Papers
|
written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to support ratification of the Construction
|
Fighting words
|
speech that is likely to bring about public disorder or chaos; may be banned in public places to ensure the preservation of public order
|
Filibuster
|
a lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill in the Senate; can be ended by a cloture motion and vote
|
Fiscal federalism
|
a type of federalism that deals with the flow of funds through grants and other means from the federal government to the states
|
Fiscal policy
|
how the government uses taxes and spending to impact the economy
|
Floor leaders
|
direct majority or minority party strategy and decisions in the House and Senate
|
franking privilege
|
allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials to constituents free of charge
|
Free exercise clause
|
Congress may not make laws restricting or prohibiting a person's religious practices
|
Free rider
|
an individual who benefits from the activities of an interest group but does not support the group either financially or through active participation
|
Front loading
|
the practice of a state choosing an early date to hold a primary election
|
Full faith and credit
|
clause says that states are required to recognize the laws and legal documents of other states - Article 4
|
Gatekeepers
|
media executives, news editors, and prominent reporters who decide what news to present and how it will be presented
|
Gender gap
|
a situation in which men and women hold different positions on a wide range of political issues
|
General election
|
voters choose office holder from among all the candidates nominated by political parties or running as independents
|
Gerrymandering
|
drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another
|
Get-out-the-vote
|
a campaign near the end of an election to get voters out to the polls
|
Good-faith exception
|
a rule of evidence that says that if the authorities act "in good faith," evidence that otherwise might have been excluded may be admissible. Modifies Mapp v. Ohio
|
Government
|
the formal and informal institutions, people, and processes used to create and conduct public policy
|
government corporation
|
corporation a corporation that may receive part of its funding from Congress and is managed by a board appointed by the president; the function it performs could be carried out by private enterprise; an example is the US Postal service
|
Grants-in-aid
|
programs, money, and resources provided by the federal government to state and local governments to be used for specific projects and programs
|
Grassroots lobbying
|
organizing a letter-writing campaign or taking out ads to influence public opinion and persuade public officials to support a particular policy
|
Great compromise
|
a solution to the problem of representation at the constitutional convention, in which the number of members that each state would have in the House is determined by population, while each state would have equal representation in the Senate (two senators per state)
|
Gridlock
|
when opposing parties and interests often block each other's proposals, creating a political stalemate or inaction between the executive and legislative branches of government
|
Hard money
|
money used directly by a candidate running for office; it is subject to campaign finance laws and Federal
|
election commission
|
a commission delegated to supervise an election
|
Hate speech
|
offensive speech against racial or ethnic minorities, women, and homosexuals that creates a hostile environment
|
Honeymoon period
|
the time early in a new president's administration characterized by optimistic approval by the public
|
Hyperpluralist Theory of Democracy
|
seen as a system of many groups pulling government in many directions at the same time, causing gridlock and ineffectiveness
|
Ideology
|
a consistent set of beliefs by groups or individuals
|
Impeachment
|
bringing charges of wrongdoing against a government official by the House of Representatives
|
Implied powers
|
powers not expressed, but may be considered through the use of the necessary and proper (elastic) clause
|
Impoundment
|
refusal of the president to spend money Congress has appropriated; was eliminated by the congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
|
Incorporation
|
application of portions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment
|
Incrementalism
|
small changes in policy over long periods of time; usually in reference to budget making - that the best indicator of this year's budget is last year's budget plus a small increase
|
Incumbency
|
effect tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to advantages because they already hold the office
|
Incumbent
|
the person currently holding office
|
Independent executive agency
|
an agency that is part of the executive branch but not included in any executive department; the head of the agency (NASA, CIA for example) is appointed by the president and serves at the pleasure of the president
|
Independent regulatory agency
|
an agency that is part of the executive branch and responsible for regulating and oversight of a segment of the economy; it is managed by a board or commission appointed by the president for a fixed term
|
Individualism
|
the belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government
|
Inherent powers
|
powers powers, usually claimed by the president, that are implied but not specifically stated in the Constitution or are derived from the office
|
Initiative
|
allows voters to petition to propose legislation and then submit it for a vote by qualified voters; not available at the national level
|
Iron triangle
|
alliances that develop between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees
|
Interest group
|
a group of private citizens whose goal is to influence and shape public policy
|
Issue networks
|
the numerous people who are involved in the formulation of policy, including the president, members of Congress, the cabinet, lobbyists, interest groups, government agencies, and scholars; a looser relationship than the iron triangles
|
Judicial activism
|
a judicial philosophy that holds that courts have a more expansive role to play in shaping public policy
|
Judicial Review
|
Authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive/state/legislature; est. in Marbury v. Madison
|
Legislative Branch
|
under Article I of the Constitution, the legislative branch consists of the House and Senate, which together form the US Congress; the prime responsibility is to make laws
|
Joint committee
|
a committee of Congress made up of members of both houses that focuses on issues of general concern but does not propose legislation
|
Libel
|
false written statements about others that harm their reputation
|
Liberal
|
a person whose views favor more government involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, and increased government spending
|
Libertarianism
|
people who wish to maximize the personal liberty on both economic and social issues; prefer small,
|
Judicial branch
|
responsible for interpreting and applying the laws; in the federal government it consists of the US district
|
weak government
|
government that has limited control over economy or personal lives
|
Loose Constructionist
|
the belief that judges should have freedom in interpreting the Constitution
|
Judicial restraint
|
holds that the Court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political questions, operating strictly within the limits of the Constitution
|
Judicial review
|
authority given the courts to review the constitutionality of acts by the executive, states, or the
|
Majority opinion
|
the majority of justices agree on the decision and the reasons for the decision
|
Keynesian economics
|
the belief that inflation occurs when too much money is chasing too few goods; the government must manage the economy by spending more money when in a recession and cutting spending when there is inflation
|
Leak
|
an unauthorized release of information to the press from someone in the government
|
Markup
|
rewrite of a bill after hearings have been held on it
|
Legislative courts
|
courts courts created by Congress for a specialized purpose with a narrow range of authority; judges serve a fixed term
|
Legislative veto
|
when Congress rejects an action of the president by a majority vote of both houses; declared
|
Media event
|
a speech or photo opportunity staged to give a politician's view on an issue; staged to present the candidate in a good light
|
Lemon test
|
test standard set by the Supreme Court in Lemon v. Kurtzman to measure the constitutionality of state laws. Separate, Secular, and Neutral in effect and intent
|
Miranda warning
|
the warning that an individual must be read at the time of arrest and questioning, letting him know his 5th and 6th amendment rights
|
Moderate
|
person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies
|
Natural rights
|
basic rights that are guaranteed to all persons; basic rights a government cannot deny
|
Limited Government
|
a governing or controlling body whose power exists only within predefined limits that are established by a Constitution or other source of authority
|
Line item veto
|
the president can reject a portion of a bill while approving the rest; declared unconstitutional
|
Lobbying
|
attempting to influence policymakers through a variety of methods
|
Logrolling
|
the exchange of political favors for support of a bill; an agreement between two or more members of Congress to vote for each other's bills
|
On background
|
information provided in an interview that a reporter can quote but can't attribute specifically to the interviewee
|
On deep background
|
information provided in an interview that a reported can use but cannot make even an indirect reference to the source
|
Maintaining elections
|
traditional majority power maintains power based on voters' party loyalty
|
Majority leader
|
the elected leader of the party with the most seats in the House or Senate
|
Majority-minority districts
|
drawing district boundaries to give a minority group a majority
|
Mandates
|
requirements imposed by the national government on state and local governments to comply with federal
|
Mandatory spending
|
spending required government spending by permanent laws; entitlements, for example social security or bond payments
|
Margin of error
|
the percentage that a scientific poll is likely to be off; a margin of error of +/- 3 percent is common
|
Mass media
|
all forms of communication that reach a large portion of the population
|
Midterm elections
|
congressional elections held between presidential elections
|
Monetary policy
|
economic policy in which the money supply is controlled through the Federal Reserve
|
Motor Voter Law
|
allows citizens to register to vote at welfare and motor vehicle offices
|
National debt
|
amount of money owed by the government
|
original jurisdiction
|
the first court to hear and decide a case; US district courts and the US Supreme Court have original jurisdiction in cases involving foreign affairs, states or the national government
|
Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)
|
gives Congress the powers to pass all laws necessary and proper to carry out their constitutional duties, found in Article I, Section 8, Clause 18; also called the elastic clause
|
Nonpartisan election
|
an election in which candidates run as independents without party affiliation
|
North American Free Trade Agreement
|
created to allow the free movement of goods between Canada, Mexico, and the US by lowering and eliminating tariffs
|
Off the record information
|
information provided in an interview that a reporter cannot directly use
|
Off year election
|
an election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; midterm election
|
Oversight
|
Congress monitors policies of the executive branch; the process by which the legislative branch checks the executive branch to ensure that the laws Congress has passed are being administered in keeping with legislators' intent
|
Pardon
|
a convicted person is exempt from the penalties of a crime; only the president has this power at the national
|
On the record information
|
provided in an interview that a reported can quote and attribute to the source, referring to the source by name
|
Open convention
|
a party national convention at which no candidate has won a majority of the delegates in the primaries; the candidate is chosen by the convention
|
Participatory democracy
|
citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues; there are no elected officials;
|
Open primary
|
a primary election in which an individual does not have to be a registered voter in a particular party to vote for candidates of that party
|
Open rule
|
in the House, a rule that allows any amendments to a bill, regardless of whether they're relevant to the legislation
|
Opinion leaders
|
those individuals held in great respect because of their position, expertise, or personality, who may
|
Party machine
|
a political organization, typically at the local level, that wielded considerable power through its ability to get out the vote; relied heavily on patronage and providing services to constituents and was often corrupt
|
Party realignment
|
a shift in voter loyalty in response to critical events; 1932 election of FD Roosevelt
|
Patronage
|
the system in which a party leader rewarded political supporters with jobs or government contracts in exchange for their support of the party
|
Pluralist theory of democracy
|
interest groups compete in the political arena with each promoting its own policy preferences through organized efforts
|
Plurality vote
|
electoral process in which the candidate who receives more votes than any other candidate is elected
|
Party dealignment
|
weakening of ties between the voters and the two major parties
|
Policy adoption
|
the approval of a policy by legislation
|
Policy evaluation
|
determines is a policy is achieving its goals; usually carried out with congressional oversight
|
Political action committees (PAC$)
|
extension of an interest group that contributes money to political campaigns
|
Political agenda
|
issues that merit action, as determined by the public or those in power
|
Platform
|
a statement of a political party on the issues facing the country, adopted at the national convention; each issue position is known as a plank
|
Political culture
|
a set of basic values and beliefs about one's country or government that is shared by most citizens
|
Political ideology
|
a consistent set of beliefs about politics and public policy that sets the framework for evaluating government and public policy
|
Political party
|
Voluntary association of people who seek to control the government through common principles, based on peaceful and legal actions such as the winning of elections; an organization that recruits, nominated, and elects party members to control the government
|
Pocket veto
|
when the president takes no action on a bill within ten days of Congress adjourning, the bill does not become law
|
Political socialization
|
complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values
|
Policy formulation
|
the development of an approach to solving a problem that is on the political agenda
|
Policy implementation
|
carrying out a policy through government agencies and courts
|
Politics
|
method of maintaining, managing, and gaining control of government
|
Political efficacy
|
belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking
|
pork-barrel legislation
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legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a member's chance of reelection
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Precedent
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standards or guides based on prior decisions that serve as a rule for settling similar disputes
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prior restraint
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action by the government to prevent the publication of material; censorship
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Politico
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a member of Congress who acts as a delegate on issues that constituents care about (such as immigration reform) and as a trustee on more complex or less salient issues (some foreign policy or regulatory matters)
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Procedural Due Process
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method of government action, or how the law is carried out according to established rules and procedures
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Popular Socereignty
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basic principle of US government which holds that the people are the source of all governmental power
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Progressive
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generally refers to the belief that government or people acting on its behalf can be used to address social problems or inequities facing the nation
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Prospective voting
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a method of evaluating candidates in which voters focus on candidates' positions on issues important to them and vote for the candidates who best represent their views
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Public opinion
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a collection of shared attitudes of citizens about government, politics and the making of public policy
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President Pro Tempore
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serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority
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Primary election
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nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election
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Pure speech
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verbal communication of ideas and opinions
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Privileges and Immunities Clause
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states are prohibited from unreasonably discriminating against residents of other states
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Ratification
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method of enacting a constitution or amendment into law
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Realignment
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a shift of voting patterns to form new coalitions of party support
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Progressive tax
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a tax that is higher for those who make more money; the federal income tax is an example
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Reapportionment
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redistribution of the 435 congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution
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Public policy
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the exercise of government power in doing those things necessary to maintain legitimate authority and control over society
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Recess appointment
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a presidential appointment made when Congress is not in session; doesn't require immediate confirmation
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Redistricting
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the process of redrawing congressional and state legislative districts to reflect population changes in the census; responsibility for redistricting usually falls to the state legislatures; follows reapportionment
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Referendum
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a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct
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Random sampling
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a statistical technique that gives everyone in the target group the same opportunity to participate in a poll
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Regressive tax
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a tax that is assessed on everyone at the same rate and, therefore, impacts the poor more than it impacted wealthy; sales tax is regressive
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Realigning election
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when a minority party wins by building a new coalition of voters that continues over successive election
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Representative democracy
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citizens choose officials who make decisions about public policy; a republic
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Recall
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special election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before his or her term
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Retrospective
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voting a method of evaluating candidates in which voters evaluate incumbent candidates and decide whether to vote for them based on their past performances
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Revolving
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door the practice of government officials becoming lobbyists for the industries or companies they were responsible for regulating while they were public servants
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Rider
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an addition or amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own
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Rule of four
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a rule that says that four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree in conference to hear a case
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Rules committee
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determines the rules for debate for bills in the House
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Republic
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a government that derives its authority from the people and in which citizens elect government officials to represent them in the processes by which laws are made; a representative democracy
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Runoff primary
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when no candidate receives a majority of votes, and election held between the two candidates who recorded the most votes in the primary
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Reserved powers
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under the 10th Amendment, powers not granted to the federal government or denied to the states reserved for the states or the people
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Select committee
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a temporary committee of Congress set up for a specific purpose that is outside the scope of the standing committees
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Senatorial courtesy
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the practice of allowing senators from the president's party who represent the state where a judicial district is located, to approve or disapprove potential nominees for the lower federal courts
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Separation of powers
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practice by which power is divided among three branches of government; each branch has its own powers and duties and is independent of and equal to the other branches
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Single-member districts
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only one representative is chosen from each legislative district
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Slander
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false verbal statements about others that harm their reputation
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Socialism
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a political/economic system in which the government plays a major role (usually ownership) in determining the use of productive resources and the allocation of valuable goods and services; may be democratic or authoritarian
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Soft money
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money used by national, state, or local party organizations that is not regulated by the Federal Election Commission
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Sound bite
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a very brief excerpt from a political speech aired on television or radio
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speech plus
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verbal and symbolic speech used together
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Split-ticket voting
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voting for candidates from more than one party in the same election
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Standing committee
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a permanent committee of Congress that deals with legislation and oversight in a broad policy area
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stare decisis
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let the decision stand; court decisions are based on precedent from previous cases
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Straight-ticket voting
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voting for candidates all of the same party
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Strict constitutionalist
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the view that justices should base decisions on a narrow interpretation of the Constitution
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Subsidy
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a sum of money granted by the government or a public body to assist an industry or business so that the price of a commodity or service may remain low or competitive
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Superdelegates
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party officials in the Democratic Party who attend the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses
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SuperPAC
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political organizations that use contributions from individuals, corporations, and labor unions to spend unlimited sums independent from the campaigns, yet influencing the outcome of elections
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Supremacy clause
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national laws supersedes all other laws passed by states
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Symbolic speech
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using actions and symbols rather than words to convey an idea
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Three-fifths compromise
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agreement at the constitutional convention that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House of Representatives and for taxation
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Trial balloon
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tests the public reaction to policy or appointments by releasing information to the media and gauging public reaction
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Trustee
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after listening to constituents, elected representatives vote based on their own opinions
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Unanimous consent
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an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation
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Unfunded mandates
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mandates require states to enforce legislation without the funding necessary
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Unitary system
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a political system in which all power is derived from the central government
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Veto
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the president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress
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Voter turnout
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the total number of votes cast for the highest office on the ballot
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War Powers Act of 1973
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a law that limits presidential use of military forces to sixty days, with an automatic extension of thirty additional days if the president requests such an extension
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Whip
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a majority/minority party leader in Congress who makes sure the party members are present for important votes and vote by party
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writ of certiorari
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a formal document issued by the Supreme Court to a lower court indicating that it will hear a case
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writ of habeas corpus
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a court order directing authorities to show cause for why a person under detention should not be released
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Straw Poll
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a poll conducted in an unscientific manner, used to predict election outcomes
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Ryan T 
U.S Government
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