26 Flashcards
standard operating procedure
A set of rules established in a bureaucracy that dictate how workers respond to different situations so that all workers respond in the same way.
stare decisis
The legal doctrine of following precedent.
state
A political unit that has sovereign power over a particular piece of land.
statecraft
The exercise of power, guided by wisdom, in pursuit of the public good.
State of the Union address
A constitutionally mandated message, given by the president to Congress, in which the president lays out plans for the coming year.
statute
A law passed by Congress, a state legislature, or some other government body.
stewardship theory
A view of presidential power, put forward by Theodore Roosevelt, arguing that the president is uniquely suited to act for the well-being of the whole nation because he or she is elected by the whole nation.
straight-ticket voting
Voting for only candidates from one party.
strict constructionism
A judicial philosophy that argues that constitutional interpretation should be limited to the specific wording of the document.
subnationalism
Identification with small ethnic and regional groups within a nation.
suffrage
The right to vote; also called the franchise.
sunset provisions
Expiration dates written into some federal programs; Congress can renew the program if it is satisfied that the program is achieving its objectives.
sunshine laws
Laws that require government agencies to hold public proceedings on a regular basis.
superdelegate
A party leader or elected official who is automatically granted delegate status for the national convention; superdelegates do not have to be chosen in primaries.
Super Tuesday
A term used to describe primary elections held in a large number of states on the same day.
Supplemental Security Income
A federal program that provides a minimum income to seniors and the disabled who do not qualify for social security.
supply-side economics
An attempt to improve the economy by providing big tax cuts to businesses and wealthy individuals (the supply side). These cuts encourage investment, which then creates jobs, so the effect will be felt throughout the economy; also known as trickle-down economics.
supremacy clause
The part of Article VI of the Constitution that specifies that the federal Constitution, and laws passed by the federal government, are the supreme law of the land.
supremacy doctrine
The doctrine that national law takes priority over state law; included in the Constitution as the supremacy clause.
surplus
When a government spends less money than it takes in.
