AP Gov vocab v.17 Flashcards
Formal approval on presidential appointments
Advice and consent
Argued for a truly federal government, feared strong executive and Congress’ power to tax
Anti-federalist
Series of statements that defined the initial national government and redefined the former colonies as states
Articles of Confederation
Two house legislature
Bicameral
Includes many essential rights, most of which were violated under the oppressive British regime
Bill of Rights
Limiting powers each branch can use on the others
Checks and Balances
Empowers Congress to regulate commerce with other nations and among the several states
Commerce Clause
Official statement to summarize the colonists’ view that justified the break from Britain and proclaimed reasons for independence
Declaration of Independence
Each state would have same number of electors as representatives and people who vote for electors to choose the president
Electoral College
Elected representatives to make decisions and acts as trustees for the people who elect them. Elites, people with power and money, dominate
Elite Democracy
Power to tax, borrow money, raise an army, create a postal system, address piracy on the seas, and define the immigration and naturalization process and a few others
Enumerated Powers
Return fugitives to states where they had committed crimes and runaway slaves to states they had fled
Extradition
Authors writing to assure citizens that they had created a federal system and that states had not lost their importance. Allay fears that the Constitution would subject people in the states to abuses by new government
Federalist Papers
Balance of power among a central/national authority/government and state/regional authority. Assures a limited government.
Federalism
Endorsed the Constitution
Federalist
Requires states to be open about their laws and encourages states to respect one another’s laws. States cannot favor their citizens over others
Full faith and credit clause
The matter of representation was referred to a committee made up of one delegate from each state at the convention.
Grand Committee
Created a two-house Congress composed of a House of Representatives and a Senate
Great Compromise
From Congress, seats awarded based on population and those wanting equal representation
House of Representatives
Accusation, an indictment of wrongdoing
Impeachment
Influenced the creation of the Constitution, strong supporter of Constitution, wrote Federalist Papers, nickname is Father of the Constitution
James Madison
Courts can deem an act of legislature unconstitutional when deciding a case
Judicial Review
Makes certain all states must adhere to the Constitution
National supremacy/supremacy clause
Law of God and acknowledge through human sense and reason. People were born free and equal. Right to rebel when rulers did not respect consent of governed
Natural Law
Congress shall have power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers
Necessary and proper (elastic) clause
States would retain sovereignty, national legislature would have only limited and defined powers, no national courts
New Jersey Plan
Direct participation of many. People vote directly for laws and other matters that affect them
Participatory democracy
Non-governmental groups organize to try to exert influence on political decision making in interest groups
Pluralist democracy
When a president refuses to sign a bill at the end of a legislative session
Pocket Veto
The people as ultimate ruling authority
Popular Sovereignty
Constitution’s mission statement that starts with “We the people” and outlines the purpose of the new government including “establishing justice” and providing for the “common defense”
Preamble
A collection of sovereign states gathered for the national interest, national needs, and national defense
Representative republic
People elect representatives who are responsible to make and carry out laws
Republicanism
Not specifically listed and thus any powers not mentioned remain with the states
Reserved powers
Two senators from each state regardless of the state’s size
Senate
Defining the distinct responsibilities and limits of each branch to keep any one branch from becoming too powerful
Separation of Powers
Contract between a democratic government and people. If a government violated in the contract, people take power back
Social contract
Makes certain all states must adhere to the Constitution
Supremacy clause/National Su
Northern and southern delegates agreed to count only three of every five slaves to determine representation in the House
Three-fifths compromise
If a president vetos a bill, Congress, each house acting separately, can reverse the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in each house
two-thirds override
Law covered intelligence gathering and sharing by executive branch agencies, points of criminal procedure and border protection after 9/11 attacks
USA PATRIOT Act
presidential power to reject a bill
veto
Created a three-branch system of government by 15 resolves, becomes blueprint of the Constitution
Virginia Plan
Congress offers larger sums of money to states to take care of large purpose without any strings
Block grants
Federal government offers money as long as states follow federal guidelines
Categorical grants
The states created the national government and could judge whether federal authorities broke the compact (contract) by overstepping their limited authority
Compact Theory
Powers held by both state and federal
Concurrent Powers
Specific requirements attached to categorical grants
Conditions of aid/strings
Congress distributes federal tax revenues to states to take care of particular national concerns
Cooperative/fiscal federalism
Or revenue sharing
Expressed powers in the Constitution
Delegated powers
Devolving some responsibilities assumed by the federal government back to the states
Devolution
National government is supreme in its sphere and the states are equally supreme in their own sphere
Dual federalism
Expanded Congress’ reach of regulation in order tax
Federal income tax
Federal funds given to states to address basic needs but come in different forms with different requirements
Grants-in-aid
Powers not specifically listed in the Constitution but deriving from the elastic clause
Implied powers
federal, state, local governments, and even private groups share federal money with interrelated goals
Marble cake federalism
Banking is part of the federal government’s business and appropriate under the necessary and proper clause
McCulloch v. Maryland
Transferring certain powers from the federal government back to the states
New Federalism
Gave states the right to declare null and void and federal law states thought violated the Constitution
Nullification
States have powers to create and enforce laws on health, safety, and morals
Police Powers
Protects rights of individual citizens and restricts states from discriminating against out of state citizens
Privileges and immunities clause
Doctrine asserting that Congress may regulate when a commodity requires national uniformity
Selective exclusiveness
Someone who believes the Constitutions should be interpreted literally
Strict constructionist
Specific requirements attached
Strings
Single governing authority in a central capital with uniform law throughout the land
Unitary government
A gun near school property does not have an impact on interstate commerce and is not covered by the commerce clause
United States v. Lopez
Controversy over federal tax on whiskey distillers that required military force to end. Questioned growing federal power
Whiskey Rebellion
Requires states to comply with a federal directive, sometimes with reward of funds and sometimes without
Mandates
Legislative branch, Congress, makes laws
Article I
Executive branch, President, enforce laws
Article II
Judicial branch, Supreme Court, interpret laws
Article III
States and their relationship with national government
Article IV
How to add amendments
Article V
Constitution is the supreme law of the land
Article VI
How to ratify the Constitution
Article VII
5 freedoms: Speech, Petition, Religion, Assembly, Press
1st
Right to bear arms
2nd
Against quartering troops
3rd
Against unlawful search and seizure
4th
Rights of accused: formal charges, against double Jeopardy and self-incrimination
5th
Right to speedy, fair trial and lawyer
6th
Right to civil suits (suing but not criminal)
7th
Against unreasonable bail or punishment
8th
Any other rights reserved to the people
9th
Powers reserved to the states
10th
States sued in own courts
11th
President and Vice President on separate ballots
12th
Abolished slavery
13th
Defines citizens, right to due process for all, equal protection for all
14th
No racial discrimination for voting
15th
Income tax allowed
16th
Direct vote of senators
17th
Alcohol prohibited
18th
Women can vote
19th
“Lame Duck Amendment” and changes date for presidential term
20th
Alcohol allowed
21st
President is limited to two terms
22nd
Citizens of Washington, D.C. can vote for President
23rd
No poll tax
24th
Presidential succession and disability
25th
18-year-olds may vote
26th
Congressional pay increase takes place in the next term
27th
Believe in following tradition and having reverence for authorities, less taxation and less government spending
Conservative
Government should take a laissez-faire (let it be) approach and an “invisible hand”- guided by the interaction of producers and consumers- would regulate over time
Free enterprise
Process of expanding and increasing world economy and political culture
Globalization
Comprehensive and mutually consistent set of ideas
Ideology
A belief in the fundamental worth and importance of the individual
Individualism
Being open to allowing government to flexibly expand beyond established constraints
Liberal
Oppose government intervention or regulation, conservation on economy and liberal on social issues
Libertarian
Variety of physical, social, and psychological changes that people go through as they age
Lifecycle effects
Government kept under control by law, checks and balances, and separation of powers,
Limited government
Middle of the spectrum, some conservative beliefs and some liberal beliefs
Moderate
Self-identifying with a party, acknowledging their membership or openly referring to themselves as members of their chosen party
Party Identification
The process by which one develops political beliefs
Political socialization
Generally attended a Protestant church and follow fundamental Christian ideas with a strict moral code
Populist
Criticize traditional political establishments that have too much power in government and business, wealthy should pay more taxes
Progressive
The principle of a government that establishes laws that apply equally to all members of society and prevents the rule and whims of leaders who see themselves as above the law
Rule of law
Importance
Saliency
Issues that are shared by people with a variety of ideologies
Valence issues
Issues that sharply divide the public
Wedge issues
Gauged by pollsters to determine president’s job performance
Approval rating
A shift of support to a candidate/position hold the lead in public opinion polls
Bandwagon effect
Conducted outside the polling place on Election Day to predict the outcome of the election by asking who they intend to support
Entrance polls
First type of poll used in an election to gather general information about people’s views and concerns before any candidates declare intentions to run
Benchmark polls
Conducted outside the polling place on Election Day to predict the outcome of the election by asking how the voters voted
Exit polls
Small groups of citizens (10-40) to hold conversations about issues or candidates
Focus group
Amount allowed for cases of miscalculation
Margin of error
Telephone poll with ulterior motive, offer positive on candidate and negative on opponent
Push polling
Computer randomly calls possible numbers in a given area until enough people respond to establish a representative sample
Random-digit dialing
Every member of the universe must have an equal chance of selection into the sample
Random sample
Group of people meant to represent the larger group in question a.k.a. universe
Representative sample
Measure results in two or more polls to determine difference between poll results
Sampling error
Making sure demographic groups are properly represented in a sample
Stratification/Weighting
Ask people the same or similar questions over time to track public opinion
Tracking polls
Group of people meant to represent the larger group in question
Universe
A list of potential policy ideas, bills, or plans to improve society
Agenda
Securities or government IOUS
Bonds
Interest rate at which the government loans actual dollars to commercial banks
Discount rate
Include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, block grants, financial aid, food stamps, money owed on bonds, and the government’s other contractual obligations
Entitlements
Called the “The Fed”, sets monetary policy by buying and selling securities or bonds, regulating money reserves required at commercial banks, and setting interest rates
Federal Reserve Board
Part of economic policy that is concerned with government spending and taxation
Fiscal Policy
Taxes citizens at the same rate
Flat tax
Rising prices and devaluation of the dollar
Inflation
Oversees the tax collection process
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Congress awards cash to individuals, groups, local, or state governments by paying those who are legally entitled to these funds
Mandatory Spending
Test to determine which citizens qualify for aid
Means test
Provides health insurance coverage for the poorest Americans
Medicaid
Helps ease the medical cost of seniors over the age of 65
Medicare
How the government manages the supply and demand of its currency and the value of the dollar
Monetary policy
Lifted trade barriers and removed import taxes between Canada, Mexico, and the USA
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Called “Obamacare”, an expansion of government regulation of health insurance and making services more affordable
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
One’s tax rate increases, or progresses, as one’s income increases
Progressive tax
How much cash commercial banks must keep in their vaults
Reserve requirement
Government insurance program that required the employed to pay a small contribution via a payroll tax into an insurance fund designed to assist the unemployed and to help financially strapped retirees. Everyone who pays collects retirement benefits
Social Security Act
Support for disadvantaged people to meet their basic needs
Social Welfare
Belief that the govt should leave as much of the money supply as possible with the people, letting the laws of the marketplace to govern the market aka laissez-faire
Supply-side economics
A nation that exports more than it imports has a favorable trade balance. One that imports more than it exports has a deficit. The balance between surplus and deficit measures economic success
Trade balance
Mail in ballot if voter can’t make it to the polls
Absentee ballot
Advocate for expanding suffrage to all white men by end property requirement to vote
Andrew Jackson
Makes elections fair by printing and distributing ballots at public expense, show all candidates’ names, be available at polling places, and be completed in private
Australian ballot
Addressed discrimination in voter registrations and outlawed poll taxes in elections
Civil Rights Act
Right to vote
Franchise/Suffrage
Difference in political views between men and women expressed when voting
Gender gap
Recognized a registering voter as it would have their grandfather to prevent blacks from voting while allowing white to vote
Grandfather clause
Required states to make voting electronic and accessible for the handicapped
Help America Vote Act
Organized groups that interact with the government to shape policy
Linkage institutions
Test given to attempt to deny suffrage to African Americans
Literacy test
Addressed national standards of voter, mail-in, and government agency-based registration to make it easier to vote and increase voter participation
National Voter Registration Act (motor-voter law)
Acknowledging their membership and self-identifying with a political party
Party identification
Sense that their vote does or doesn’t make a difference
Political efficacy
Allowed federal government to stop states’ attempts to diminish black suffrage
Preclearance
Voting based on anticipating the future
Prospective voting
Ballots set aside to make sure a voter voted in the correct polling places based on registration address
Provisional ballots
Voting in a way that benefits to voter
Rational-choice voting
Voting by looking back to consider candidates’ track records
Retrospective voting
Lack of concern for the election outcome
Voter apathy
Allows government to prepare for an election, verify voter qualifications
Voter registration
Number of voters who actually cast votes
Voter turnout
Everyone in the US over the age of 18, whether they can vote or not
Voting-age population
Groups that vote in noticeable patterns
Voting blocs
Citizens over the age of 18 and in most states, must be non-felons
Voting-eligible population
Outlawed literacy tests and states with low voter turnout were watched by the Justice Department
Voting Rights Act
Popular method of southern states to keep African Americans from voting by defining membership as white men’s clubs
White primary
Fee required to vote to attempt to deny suffrage to African Americans
Poll tax
Assembly of a party to talk address concerns of different factions and select candidates for office
Conventions
Elections that reveal sharp, lasting changes in loyalties to political parties
Critical elections
Anonymously place status updates, photos, videos, or links in target audience to manipulate emotions in order to sway votes
Dark ads
Complex network dedicated to furthering party goals and meet every 4 years at national conventions to sharpen policy and increase influence
Democratic National Committee/ Republican National Committee
Support aggressive efforts for minority rights, stronger protections for the environment, more government services to solve public problems
Democratic party
When the presidency is held by one party and one or both houses of Congress by the other party
Divided government
Parties that appear in times of economic distress and blame problems on real or imagined enemies
Economic protest parties
Contributions regulated by the Federal Election Commission with strict limits on donations where only individuals, PACs, and parties can donate
Hard money
Non-lawmaking committees that strategize how to win seats in Congress
Hill Committees
Have specific, comprehensive beliefs on social, economic, and/or political matters
Ideological Parties
Advertisements that highlight an issue of concern
Issue ads
Favored states’ rights, limited national government, generally fewer laws and eventually renamed to Democratic-Republicans
Jeffersonians
Created by the Democrats to examine, consider, and rewrite convention rules
McGovern-Fraser Commission
Formed to spread ideas/awareness when major parties are not talking about it
Minor parties/Third parties
Made up of Democrats, unions, blue-collar workers, minorities, farmers, white Southerners, people in poverty, immigrants, and intellectuals to use government to create social safety nets and solve social problems
New Deal Coalition
Chief strategist and spokesperson of a party
Party chairperson
When people become independents or turn away from politics usually from mistrust of government and/or parties
Party dealignment
When the balance of power between parties shift greatly usually because a party is dying or being created
Party realignment
written list of beliefs and political goals
Platform
Organization that collects political donations to influence an election
Political Action Committee (PAC)
Uses data about personality, lifestyle, and social class to categorize votes
Psychographic segmentation
Supports a conservative doctrine, advocate for strong national defense reduce wasteful government spending, limit regulations on businesses, referred to as the “Grand Old Party” or GOP
Republican Party
Parties that focus on one controversial, public policy matter
Single-issue parties
Candidate that receives most votes win that office
Single-member districts
Parties that break away from a major party usually based on a strong individual
Splinter parties
High ranking Democratic delegates who can support any Democratic candidate
Superdelegates
Donations not regulated by the Federal Election Commission that are used for the party and not specific candidates
Soft money
States that can go either way in an election
Swing states
Collects funds from a variety of sources and funds can’t go to the candidate or political party but can create ads called independent expenditures for/against a candidate as long as they don’t coordinate with the candidate
Super PAC
Discourages third-party/independent candidates, especially at the national level
Two-party system
Advocates for strong central government, westward expansion, investment in infrastructure with support from a strong national bank
Whig Party
Candidate that wins majority of the popular vote receive all of the electoral votes in a state except for Maine and Nebraska
Winner-take-all voting
Set more limits on campaign donations and made candidates endorse ads
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act
Allows voters to cast votes for candidates in multiple parties
Blanket Primary
Upheld the law limiting donations limits on individuals and PACs claiming it was not a violation of first amendment rights. A candidate’s donations to their own campaign could not be limited
Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
Meetings of supporters or members of a specific political party
Caucuses
Voters declare party affiliation when registering to vote to vote in a primary
Closed Primary
A president that wins by a large margin often helps congressional candidates to use the popularity of the president to win their elections
Coattail effect
System to temperature public opinion and allow informed statemens to select a consensus president, electors cast electoral votes based on popular vote
Electoral College
Number of these people equal a state’s members in Congress but can’t be actual members of Congress and cast electoral votes
Electors
Tightened reporting requirements and limited candidates’ expenditures
Federal Election Campaign Act
Created to monitor and enforce the regulations of the Federal Election Campaign Act
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
States schedule their primaries/caucuses earlier to boost their political clout and enhance tourism
Front-loading
Candidates fly around the country to key locations and deliver speeches while different groups and people endorse candidates
General election
Someone who already hold the office and is seeking reelection
Incumbent
Ability to use all the tools of the presidency to support candidacy for a second term
Incumbent advantage phenomenon
Citizens/groups formulate a law in writing, gather voters’ signatures on a petition and place the proposal on a ballot for approval in election
Initiative
Time period where presidential hopefuls start testing the water before announcing candidacy where polls are conducted and fundraising started
Invisible primary
Two hour meeting to listen to speeches, publicly discuss candidates and vote to endorse candidates
Iowa caucuses
Federal program to receive federal funds to support presidential candidates in their elections
Matching money
Federal elections that take place halfway through a president’s term where all House seats and 1/3 of Senate seats are up for election
Midterm elections
Candidates travel to the state and hold town hall forums and give speeches where voters actively engage and question candidates
New Hampshire primary
Voters declare party affiliation on Election Day and poll workers give the indicated party’s ballot to vote on
Open primary
Most of the vote, even if not a majority
Plurality
Assigned voting center, often a school or community center
Polling place
Small geographic area of about 500-1,000 voters
Precincts
Voters cast votes for delegates to attend a party’s national convention with the goal of narrowing the field of candidates
Primary election
Allows citizens to fire elected officials in the middle of their elected term by ballot
Recall
Procedure to repeal unpopular laws
Referendum
Voting for Republicans in some races and Democrats in some races
Split ticket
When several states coincidentally hold primaries
Super Tuesday
Bank account for campaigning
War chest
For the purposes of voting, the division of counties, cities and towns
Wards
“Friend of the court”, where the interest groups offer an outside, third party view on a case and why a court should side with them
Amicus Curiae
Created to examine a president’s budget to ensure the president would not impound funds deemed necessary by Congress
Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
Raising large sums from donors for a candidate that must be reported
Bundling
Declared corporations and organizations have a similar right to free speech as individuals and can use funds from their treasuries to endorse/denounce candidates as long as they don’t coordinate with candidates
Citizens United v. FEC
Money donated to PACs that don’t have to reveal their donors and that can be spent on elections as long as they don’t coordinate with any candidate
Dark money
Exclusive access to legislators to influence government policy
Direct lobbying
Public expression of support
Endorsement
Organizations, like churches, receive tax deductions for donations and can influence government but not lobby officials or donate to campaigns
501(c)(3)
Groups, like social welfare organizations, can lobby and campaign but can’t spend more than half their expenditures on political issues
501(c)(4)
People that benefit from an interest group championing a cause by not being a member and pay member fees
Free rider
An independent, nonpartisan arm of Congress that acts as a watchdog of congressional funds by tracking where and how money is spent
Government Accountability Office
When an interest group tries to inform, persuade and mobilize large numbers of people
Grassroots lobbying
Targeting opinion leader to shape opinion on the local level
Grasstops
Interest groups that form around a political ideology
Ideological group
Quietly persuade government decision makers through exclusive access
Insider strategies
Government associated interest groups, like firefighters, that have an interest in rules that affect their jobs and funding
Intergovernmental lobby
Temporary collective to support a specific issue and break up afterward
Issue networks
Bonds between an agency, a Congressional committee, and an interest group
Iron triangles
A political committee that is directly/indirectly established and financed by a candidate or individual in federal office
Leadership PACs
Applying pressure to influence government
Lobbying
People who attempt to directly influence lawmakers
Lobbyists
To encourage membership, give complimentary items like discounts
Material incentives
Use lawsuits, press, vote drives and other methods to influence the government
Outsider strategies
Multitude of views that result in consensus on some issues
Pluralism
Organizations that represent the interests of white-collar professions like doctors
Professional Associations
Geared to improve life or government for the masses
Public interest group
To encourage membership, gives the joiner satisfaction in realizing their money is going to a worthy cause
Purposive incentives
Movement of government legislators/regulators to the private sector where they now have access to key member s of government officals
Revolving door
Interest groups that focuses narrowly on one topic
Single-issue groups
To encourage membership, allow people of like mind to gather on occasion
Solidary incentives
Research institutions often with specific ideological goals
Think tanks
Organized businesses to gain influence for their positions
Trade Associations
Average interest group member’s income was higher than normal and most have advanced degrees suggesting only upper-class join interest groups
Upper-class bias
Smaller stations apart of a broadcast network
Affiliates
ABC, CBS, and NBC set the tone for tv journalism with in-depth programming examining national affairs and international relations
Big Three network
Broadcasting from one central location to small stations
Broadcast network
When newscasters would read their opinion on interpretation rather than just the facts reporting
Commentary
Tendency to seek out ideologically oriented programming and interpret information in a way that confirms what they already believe
Confirmation bias
Media whose content is influenced by the actions and needs of the consumers
Consumer-driven media
Group of veteran journalists who guide the editorial philosophy of the organization
Editorial boards
An organization’s opinion pieces
Editorials
Former federal policy that required radio and tv broadcasters to present alternative viewpoints
Fairness Doctrine
Regulates electronic media and has authority over radio, tv, wire, and satellite broadcast
Federal Communications Channel
Allows the public access to nonclassified federal documents
Freedom of information Act
Decides what information the is newsworthy and so the information the public will receive
Gatekeeper
Permanent federal agency to print government publications
Government Printing Office
Reporters discuss who is leading and falling based on public opinion polls
Horse-race journalism
Aggressive reporters offering in-depth stories on national issues
Investigative reporting
Collection of traditional news organizations that still operates an objective news model
Mainstream media
Media outlets with a specific political agenda and a target audience
Narrowcasting
Offices beyond a newspaper’s headquarters
News bureaus
Form of journalistic expression that explores and provides opinion in depth on a topic
Political analysis
Standard “just-the-facts” stories
Political reporting
Media tracks political successes and failures
Scorekeeper
Short excerpts edited from a longer remark that can have drastically different effects on the public depending on how they are worded
Sound bites
Journalists’ obligations to keep an eye on government or industry to look for corruption, scandal, or inefficiency
Watchdog
Helped establish the “one person-one vote” principle that greatly expanded democratic participation and the voting rights of minorities
Baker v. Carr
Requires 2/3s supermajority to close up or stop debate on a bill and call for a vote
Cloture rule
Allows for longer debate among fewer people, vote as a group instead of individuals, and when they are done reshaping/examining a bill, returns it to Congress
Committee of the Whole
Both determine which of their members are assigned to the standing committees
Committee on Committees (R) and Steering and Policy Committee (D)
Takes care of party matters like heading the organization of party centered groups
Conference chair
Created temporarily to compromise on similar bills that passed each house
Conference committees
Ensures that executive branch agencies carry out the policy/program as defined by Congress
Congressional oversight
The difference between spending and revenue
Deficit
Members of Congress trying to reflect the will of their constituency
Delegate model
Brings a bill out of a reluctant committee to keep bills moving
Discharge petition
Optional spending that Congressional committees debate and decide how to divvy
Discretionary spending
Funds directed for a specific purpose
Earmark/Pork barrel spending
Powers specifically stated in Article I Section 8 of the Constitution
Expressed powers
Stall or even kill a bill by speaking for a long time to let time run out on a bill
Filibuster
Lead debate among their party and guide discussion from their side of the aisle
Floor leaders
Staying on topic of a bill
Germane
Illogical district lines drawn to give the advantage to one party
Gerrymandering
Congestion from opposing sides that nothing can move forward
Gridlock
Measure to stall a bill
Hold
Draft crime bills that define illegal behavior and outline appropriate punishments
House Judiciary Committee
Powers not stated but required to fulfill duties via necessary and proper clause
Implied powers
Unite members from the House and the Senate and do routine research activities
Joint committees
Trading votes to gain support for a bill
Logrolling
Districts with closer elections where the vote may go either way
Marginal seats/Swing districts
Process by which the bill is altered by conference committees
Markup session
Allowing several committees to review a bill simultaneously
Multiple referral
Additional bills that attach onto often an unrelated bill for someone else’s benefit
Non-germane amendments/Riders
A very large bill that takes care of several facets of laws or multiple programs
Omnibus bill
Attempts to blend delegate and trustee model
Politico model
Vice president is the leader of the Senate and can cast a vote to break a tie only
President of the Senate
Temporary president from the majority when the vice president is not in Senate
President pro tempore
Changing the distribution of US Congressional seats according to census changes
Reapportionment
Reshaping of Congressional districts every ten years
Redistricting
Reflects the will of House leadership and majority caucus and nothing gets to the House floor for debate unless it’s allowed by this
Rules Committee
Districts where a party wins more than 55% of the vote consistently
Safe seats
Created for a particular and temporary purpose to perform a study/investigation
Select committees
Sets legislative calendar and determines which bills reach the floor for debate
Senate majority leader
Allowing one committee priority to review a bill before other
Sequential referral
Decided racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional
Shaw v. Reno
Top of power pyramid in the House, recognize member member for speaking, organizes committees, and has great influence in law making
Speaker of the House
Member who introduces a bill and typically assumes authorship
Sponsor
Permanent committees focused on particular subjects under rules of each house
Standing committee
Representatives believe they are entrusted by their constituents to use best judgement regardless of how constituents may view an issue
Trustee model
Approval of all Senators
Unanimous consent
Gives president 48 hours to start combat and 60 days to fight, with an optional 30 day extension. If Congress does not approve funding, US forces must withdraw
War Powers Act
Committee exclusive to the House that determines tax policy
Ways and Means Committee
Deputy floor leader in charge of party discipline and tallies votes for optimum voting
Whip
Official diplomatic representatives of countries
Ambassadors
Brightly lit stage to pitch ideas to the American people
Bully pulpit
Principal officers in each of the executive departments
Cabinet
President’s gatekeeper and is responsible for the smooth operation of the White House
Chief of staff
Executive is given control over the military
Commander in chief
An agreement between two heads of state and resembles a treaty but does not need the Senate’s 2/3 majority
Executive agreement
Office that coordinates several independent agencies and carries out constitutional duties that handle the budget, economy, and staffing
Executive Office of the President
Empowers the President to carry out the law or to administer the government
Executive order
The president’s right to withhold information or their decision-making process from another branch
Executive privilege
First 100 days of a president’s first term where a president lays out plans, appoints his Cabinet, and first family decorates the White House
Honeymoon period
Accusation from the House and trial in front of the Senate
Impeachment
Powerful executive position guided by a weaker Congress
Imperial presidency
May not be explicitly listed in the Constitution but are within the jurisdiction of the executive
Inherent powers
Time after the nation has elected a new president and before the exit of the old president
Lame duck period
A measure that empowers an executive to eliminate a line of spending from an appropriations bill allowing a partial rejections of a bill
Line-item veto
Group that regularly informs the President to the dangers that America may face
National Security Council
When a president receives a bill in the final 10 days of a Congressional session and does nothing to a bill, it dies
Pocket veto
Establishes 18 positions beyond the President in case of illness, impeachment, or death of the president
Presidential Succession Act
President can temporarily crate replacements for Senate until the Senate reconvenes and is able to vote
Recess appointments
A president’s interpretation of a bill and how to carry it out
Signing statements
Yearly address/speech to Congress to give the administration’s views of the nation and plans for legislation
State of the Union
President should exercise as much authority as possible to take care of the American people
Stewardship theory
Rejection of Congressional bills accompanied with the president’s objections
Veto
President’s immediate staff of specialists that run the White House Office
White House Staff
Sum of money devoted for a purpose
Appropriations
Agency can’t spend public funds until a committee approves this
Authorization of spending
Prevented officers from requiring federal employees t contribute to campaigns
Civil Service Comission
Altered how bureaucrats were dismissed, limited preferences for veterans to balance genders, and gave upper level appointments to the president
Civil Service Reform Act
Merit-based jobs that require some type of exam or ambitious hiring process
Competitive service
Making sure the firms and companies subject to industry regulations are following standards and provisions
Compliance monitoring
Congress granted certain groups the ability to develop rules and interpret legislation within their sphere of influence
Discretionary authority
Non-tested jobs
Excepted service
Works with state and local law enforcement to find criminals and terrorist organizations threatening the USA
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Gives the public the right to request access to records or information
Freedom of Information Act
Distanced state and federal employees paid with federal funds from politics
Hatch Act
Congress’ attempt to nullify an action, unconstitutional according to the Supreme Court
Legislative veto
Competitive, written exams for job applications
Merit system
Organized to identify problems and offer solutions and ideas for government spending
National Performance Review (NPR)
Regulations that have a significant impact on the economy, public health or other major aspects of policy undergo close review
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)
Human resources department for the federal government and runs the merit system
Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Practice of rewarding loyal party leaders with federal jobs
Patronage
Prevented constant reward to loyal party members
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Vast amount of paperwork, procedures, forms and formal steps citizens must take to accomplish a government mandated task
Red tape
System that placed more emphasis on a bureaucrat’s skills and experiences than on the job
Senior Executive Service
Appointing regional and local postmasters based on their efforts to help elect presidents
Spoils system
Requires most federal agencies to hold their meetings in publicly accessible place
Sunshine Act
Protects federal workers who report or disclose evidence of illegal or improper government action
Whistleblower Protection Act
Power of federal courts to hear appeals from lower courts and amend or overrule lower courts
Appellate jurisdiction
Leaders the Department of Justice and is the top legal officer
Attorney general
When a case parallels an already decided case from a higher court, lower courts are obliged to rule in the same way
Binding precedent
An appeal to make more certain an incorrect verdict in the trial court
Certiorari
Large groups of plaintiffs claiming common damage by one party
Class action suit
Refers to the body of court decisions that make up part of the law
Common law
Those that agree with the majority opinion but have reservations about the legal reasoning and explain it separately
Concurring opinion
Party answering the action
Defendant
Has no force of law but allows a justice to explain their disagreement with the majority opinion
Dissenting opinion
Ruled Americans of African descents weren’t citizens and could not sue in federal courts. Also, ruled Congress lacked the power to ban slavery
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Court order to the losing party making them act or refrain from acting to address a wrong
Injunction
When a judge strikes down laws or reverse public policy
Judicial activism
Courts should not decide a dispute unless there is injury to be relieved by the decision
Judicial self-restraint
Someone who believes the Constitution should be interpreted taking the time and social conditions into account
Liberal constructionist
Quick determination of an appointee’s political philosophy
Litmus test
the court’s opinion, decision, and rational
Majority opinion
Established judicial review
Marbury v. Madison
Father of the Supreme Court, established customs, and had other justices unite rulings to shape national law
John Marshall
Supreme Court has authority to hear a case for the first time when affecting ambassadors, public ministers, and states
Original jurisdiction
When the Court issues a decision without the full explanation
Per curium opinion
Using past decisions or rulings as a guiding basis for he their decision
Persuasive precedent
A brief arguing why the lower court erred
Petition for certiorari
Party initiating the action
Plaintiff
Allows the government and defendant to agree to a lesser sentence in exchange for the defendant’s admission of guilt
Plea bargain
A ruling the firmly establishes a legal principle
Precedent
Prefers to apply laws instead of make law and writes more narrow opinions to address questions before the court
John Roberts
When four of nine justices accept a case, one less than majority to reflect commitment to claims by minorities
Rule of four
A senator’s ability to recommend district judge appointments to the White House
Senatorial courtesy
Determines which cases to appeal to the Supreme Court and represents the US in Supreme Court room
Solicitor general
Let the decision stand and governs common law
Stare decisis
Top federal court
Supreme Court
Middle federal court
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Lowest federal court
U.S. District Courts
Activist that upheld the individual rights of minorities and the accused
Earl Warren
An appeal to the Supreme Court to review a lower court’s decision
Writ of certiorari
Personal freedoms protected from arbitrary government interference or deprivations
Civil liberties
Balancing act between competing demands of free expression and a government needing to protect a free society
Clear and present danger test
A purpose important enough to justify the infringement of personal liberties
Compelling governmental interest
Ensures fair procedures when the government burdens or deprives an individual of life, liberty, or property without legal cause
Due process
School sponsored prayers in public schools is unconstitutional
Engel v. Vitale
Prevented the federal government from establishing a national religion
Establishment clause
Prevents the governments from stopping religious practices
Free exercise clause
False statements in print that defame someone or hurt their reputation
Libel
Protected the right to bear arms under the 14th Amendment’s due process clause and applies to federal, state, and local governments
McDonald v. Chicago
Defended free speech of press against prior restraint of the government
New York Times v. United States
Language and images offensive to the average person
Obscene speech
Right to stop spoken or printed expression in advance because it is either repugnant or offensive
Prior restraint
Freedom of speech could be restricted if the words represented a clear and present danger to society
Public interest
Established the limitations of free speech may be warranted during wartime
Schenck v. United States
States can’t enact laws that take away constitutional rights
Selective incorporation
A defense used to defend an action that might otherwise be illegal
Symbolic speech
Protected students’ rights to free speech as long as it wasn’t disruptive to the educational process
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Schools
The distancing between church and state
Wall of separation
Protected freedom of speech and a parent’s right to educate their children
Wisconsin v. Yoder
Evidence the government gains illegally and violating the Fourth Amendment can be excluded from trial
Exclusionary rule
States must supply defense attorneys to indigent defendants
Gideon v. Wainwright
Privacy rights prevent state anti-birth control law
Griswold v. Connecticut
States must follow the exclusionary rule
Mapp v. Ohio
Cellphone communication data minus the actual conversation
Metadata
States must inform the accused of their rights
Miranda v. Arizona
Students are entitled to a legitimate expectation of privacy but school officials do not have to have the same level of probable cause as police
New Jersey v. TLO
Address the manner in which laws are carried out and whether the law violates a basic right to life, liberty, or property
Procedural due process
Questioning to neutralize a dangerous situation and suspect voluntarily responds, responses become evidence even if Miranda hasn’t been read
Public safety exception
Protection of an individual’s right to privacy and lifestyle
Right to privacy
States can’t outlaw abortion in first trimester and must adhere to the trimester standard established by the Court due to a right of privacy
Roe v. Wade
Procedure used by police to inspect or take property based on suspicion of a crime
Search and seizure
Addresses the essence of the law and whether the law violates a basic right to life, liberty, or property
Substantive due process
Efforts to diversify race or gender for federal jobs and schools
Affirmative action
Racial segregation of children in public schools was unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
Privately owned places of public accommodations can’t make distinctions between whites and blacks
Civil Rights Act of 1875
Established a civil rights commission and division in the Justice Department
Civil Rights Act of 1957
Ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Court ruled that the equal protection clause was meant to protect African Americans against unfair state action
Civil Rights Cases
Defined marriage at the national level and declared states did not have to recognize same-sex marriages of other states
Defense of Marriage Act
Prevented the military about asking about private sexual status but also prevented gays and lesbians from acknowledging or revealing sexual status
Don’t ask, don’t tell
Requires employers to pay men and women the same wage for the same job
Equal Pay Act
Prohibited state governments from denying person within their jurisdiction comparable preservation of the laws
Equal protection clause
Equality of rights can’t be denied on account of sex
Equal Rights Amendment
Placed transfer burden on black students seeking a move to a more modern white school
Freedom-of-choice plans
2nd level of judicial review, challenged law must further an important government interest
Heightened scrutiny test
Separated blacks and white on trains, teachers, public restrooms, and public schools
Jim Crow laws
Laws targeting gays and lesbians are unconstitutional under the equal protection clause
Lawrence v. Texas
A voting district where minorities make up the predominantly make up the area
Majority-minority district
Required states under the 14th amendment to license and recognize same sex marriage
Obergefell v. Hodges
Established separate but equal satisfied the 14th amendment
Plessy v. Ferguson/Separate but equal
Allowing gender bias
Reasonableness standard
Upheld affirmative action allowing race to be a factor in college admissions
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Highest standard of judicial review, laws infringing fundamental rights must have a compelling state interest for the law and law is necessary to protect an interest while being designed to be as narrow as possible
Strict scrutiny
Usage of mathematical ratios to achieve school integration between whites and blacks
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Colleges must make opportunities available for males and female students in substantially proportionate numbers based on full time undergraduates
Title IX
Movement of white people from racially mixed neighborhoods to neighborhoods with little to no diversity
White flight
