AP Government and Politics - Complete Flashcard Set
politics
the process of influencing the actions and policies of government
government
the rules and institutions that make up that system of policymaking
social contract
people allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society
natural rights
the right to life, liberty, and property, which government cannot take away
democracy
a system of government where power is held by the people
American political culture
the set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that Americans share
popular sovereignty
the idea that the government’s right to rule comes from the people
republicanism
a system in which the government’s authority to rule comes from the people
inalienable rights
rights the government cannot take away
liberty
social, political, and economic freedoms
participatory democracy
a theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government
civil society groups
independent associations outside the government’s control
pluralist theory
a theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process
elitist theory
a theory of democracy that the elites have a disproportionate amount of influence in the policymaking process
political institutions
the structure of government, including the executive, legislature, and judiciary
constitutional republic
a democratic system with elected representatives in which the Constitution is the supreme law
constitution
a document that sets out the fundamental principles of governance and establishes the institutions of government
republic
a government ruled by the representatives of the people
Shays’s Rebellion
a popular uprising against the government of Massachuettes
unicameral
a one house legislature
Constitutional Convention
a meeting attended by state delegates in 1787 to fix the Articles of Confederation
writ of habeas corpus
the right of the people detained by the government to know the charges against them
bills of attainder
when the legislature declares someone guilty without a trial
ex post facto laws
laws punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed
Virginia Plan
a plan of government calling for a three-branch government with a bicameral legislature, where more populous states would have more representation in Congress
New Jersey Plan
a plan for government that provided for a unicameral legislature with equal votes for each states
Grand Committee
a committee at the Constitutional Convention that worked out the compromise on representation
Great (Connecticut) Compromise
an agreement for a plan of government that drew upon both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans; it settled issues of state representation by calling for a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives apportioned proportionately and a Senate apportioned equally
bicameral
a two house legislature
Three-Fifths Compromise
an agreement reached by delegates at the Constitutional Convention that a slave would count as three-fifths of a person in calculating state representation
Compromise on Importation
Congress could not restrict the slave trade until 1808
seperation of powers
a design of government that distributes powers across institutions in order to avoid making one branch too power on its own
checks and balances
a design of government in which each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy
federalism
the sharing of power between the national government and the states
legislative branch
the institution responsible for making laws
expressed/enumerated powers
authority specifically granted to a branch of the government in the Constitution
necessary and proper clause (elastic clause)
language in Article I, Section 8, granting Congress the powers necessary to carry out its enumerated powers
implied powers
authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers
executive branch
the institution responsible for carrying out laws passed by the legislative branch
judicial branch
the institution responsible for hearing and deciding cases through the federal courts
supremacy clause
constitutional provision declaring that the Constitution and all national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the land
amendment
the process by which changes may be made to the Constitution
Federalists
supporters of the proposed Constitution, who called for a strong national government
Antifederalist
those opposed to the proposed Constitution, who favored stronger state governments
Federalist Papers
a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay and published between 1787-77 that lay out the theory behind the Constitution
Federalist 51
An essay in which Madison argues that the separation of powers and federalism will prevent tyranny
faction
a group of self interested people who use the government to get what they want, trampling the rights of others in the process
Federalist 10
an essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of factions can be mitigated by a large republic and republican government
Brutus 1
An Antifederalist paper arguing that the country was too large to be governed as a republic, and that the Constitution gave too much power to the national government
federalism
A system that divides power between the national and state governments
unitary system
a system where the central government has all of the power over subnational governments
confederal system
a system where the subnational governments have most of the power
federal system
a system where power is divided between national and state governments
exclusive powers
powers only the national government can exercise
implied powers
powers not granted specifically to the national government but considered necessary to carry out the enumerated powers
Tenth Amendment
reserves powers not delegated to the national government to the states and the people; the basis of federalism
reserved powers
powers not given to the national government, which are retained by the states and the people
concurrent powers
powers granted to both states and the federal government in the Constitution
full faith and credit clause
constitutional clause requiring states to recognize the public acts, records, and civil courts proceedings from another state
Extradition
the requirement that officials in one state return a defendant to another state where a crime was committed
privileges and immunities clause
constitutional clause that prevents states from discriminating against people from out of state
Thirteenth Amendment
constitutional amendment that outlaws slavery
Fourteenth Amendment
constitutional amendment that provides that persons born in the United States are citizens and prohibits states from denying persons due process or equal protection under the law
Fifteenth Amendment
constitutional amendment that gave African American males the right to vote
dual federalism
a form of American federalism in which the states and the nation operate independently in their own areas of public policy
selective incorporation
the process through which the Supreme Court applies fundamental rights in the Bill of Rights to the states on a case-by-case basis
cooperative federalism
a form of American federalism in which the states and the national government work together to shape public policy
absentee ballots
voting completed and submitted by a voter before the day of an election
affirmative action
a policy designed to address the consequences of previous discrimination by providing special consideration to individuals based upon their characteristics, such as race or gender
agency capture
when agencies tasked with regulating businesses, industries, or other interest groups are populated by individuals with close ties to the very firms they are supposed to regulate
agenda setting
the media’s ability to highlight certain issues and bring them to the attention of the public
aggregating
a process through which internet and other news providers relay the news as reported by journalists and other sources
amendment
a constitutional provision for a process by which changes may be made to the Constitution
the American dream
the idea that individuals should be able to achieve prosperity through hard work, sacrifice, and their own talents
amicus curiae brief
a brief filed by someone who is not a party to a case in an attempt to persuade the court to agree with the arguments set forth in the brief
appellate jurisdiction
the authority of the court to hear and review decisions made by lower courts in that system
appropriation
the process through which congressional committees allocate funds to executive branch agencies, bureaus, and departments
Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union
a governing document that created a union of thirteen sovereign states in which the states, not the union, were supreme
bail
an amount of money posed as a security to allow the charged individual to be freed while awaiting trial
bargaining and persuasion
an informal tool used by the president to persuade members of Congress to support his/her policy initatives
battleground states
a state where the polls show a close contest between the Republican and Democratic candidate in a presidential election
benchmark poll
a survey taken at the beginning of a political campaign in order to gauge support for a candidate and determine which issues are imortant to voeters
Bill of Rights
a list of fundamental rights and freedoms that individuals possess. The first ten amendments to the Constitution are referred to as the Bill of Rights.
bipartisanship
an agreement between the parties to work together in Congress to pass legislation
block grant
a type of grant in aid that gives state officials more authority in the disbursement of federal funds
broadcast media
outlets for news and other content that rely on mass communications technology to bring stories directly to people’s houses
budget deficit
the different when a government takes in less money than it spends
budget surplus
the amount of money remaining when the government takes in more money than it spends
bully pulpit
presidential appeals to the public to presissue other branches of government to support his/her policies
bureaucrat
an official employed within a government bureaucracy
bureaucratic adjudication
when the federal bureaucracy settles disputes between parties that arise over the implementation of federal laws or determines which individuals or groups are covered under a regulation or program
bureaucratic discretion
the power to decide how.a law is implemented and, at times, what Congress actually meant when is passed a given law
business cycle
the fluctuation of economic activity around. along-term trend, with periods of expansion and contraction
candidate-centered campaign
a trend in which candidates develop their own strategies and raise money with less influence from the party elite
capitalist system
a way of structuring economic activity in which private firms are allowed to make most or all of the decisions involving the production and distribution of goods and services
categorical grants
grants in aid provided to states with specific provisions on their use
caucus
a process through which a state’s eligible voters meet to select delegates to represent their preferences in the nomination process
certioari
the process through which most cases reach the Supreme Court; after four justices concur that the Court should hear the case, a writ of certiorari is issued to lower court to request the relevant case records
civil disobedience
the intentional refusal to obey a law to call attention to its injustice
civil law
a category of law covering cases involving private rights and relationships between individuals and groups
civil liberties
fundamental rights and freedoms protected from infringement and government
civil rights
protections from discrimination as a member of a particular group
Civil Rights Act of 1964
legislation outlawing racial segregation in schools and public places and authorizing the attorney general to sue individual school districts that failed to desegregate
civil society group
an independent association outside the government’s control
clear and present danger test
legal standard that speech posing an immediate and serious threat to national security is not protected by the First Amendment
closed primary
a primary election in which only those who have registered as a member of a political party may vote
cloture
procedure through which senators can end debate on a bill and proceed to action, provided three-fifths of senators agree to it
collective action
political action that occurs when individuals contribute their energy, time, or money to a larger group goal
collective good
also called a public good; a public benefit that individuals can enjoy or profit from even if they do not help to achieve it
command and control economy
economic policy in which government dictates much of a nation’s economic activity, including the amount of production and prices for goods
commitee chair
leader of a congressional committee who has the authority over the committee’s agenda
Committee of the Whole
consists of all members of the House and meets in the House chamber but is governed by different rules, making it easier to consider complex and controversial legislation
concurring opinion
an opinion that agrees with the majority decision, offering different or additional reasoning that does not serve as precedent
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
the federal agency tasked with producing independent analyses of budgetary and economic issues to support the congressional budget process
conservatism
an ideology favoring more regulation of social behavior and less government interference in the economy
constituency
a body of voters in a given area who elect a representative or senator
consumer price index
a basket of fixed goods and services over time, used to measure the cost of living
criminal law
a category of law covering the actions determined to harmed the community
critical election
a major national election that signals a change in the balance of power between the two parties
de facto segregation
a separation of individuals based on characteristics that arise not by law but because of other factors, such as residential housing
defendant
a person or group against whom a case is brought
de jure segregation
the separation of individuals based on their characteristics, such as race, intentionally and by the law
delegate
a person who acts as the voters’ representative at a convention to select the party’s nominee
delegate role
the idea that the main duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituent wishes
demographic characteristics
measurable characteristics of a population, such as economic status, race, gender, and ethnicity
demographics
the grouping of individuals based on shared characteristics
deregulation
the reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually to create more competition within the industry
descriptive representation
the degree to which a body of representatives in a legislature does or does not reflect the diversity of that nation’s identities and lived experiences
devolution
returning more authority to state or local governments
digital divide
divisions in society that are driven by access to and knowledge about technologies; these gaps often fall along the lines of partisanship, class, race, and ethnicity
direct democracy
a political system in which citizens vote directly on public policies
discharge petition
a motion filed by a member of the Congress to move a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote
discretionary spending
spending for programs and policies at the discretion of Congress and the president
dissenting opinion
an opinion that disagrees with the majority opinion and does not serve as precedent
divided government
a situation that occurs when control of the presidency and one or both of the chambers of Congress is split between the two major parties
double jeopardy
protects an individual acquitted of a crime from being charged with the same crime in the same jurisdiction
due process clause
the clause in the Fourteenth Amendment that restricts state governments from denying their citizens life, liberty, or property without legal safeguards
earmark
an addition to a piece of legislation that directs specific funds to projects with districts or state
economic interest groups
a group advocating on behalf of the financial interests of members
economic policy
the efforts of governments to regulate and support the economy to protect and expand citizens’ financial well. being and economic prospects and to support businesses in the global financial system
economic recession
a period of decline in economic activity, typically defined by two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth
economy
the systems and organizations through which a society produces and distributes goods and services
Electoral College
a constitutionally required process for selecting the president through slates of electors chosen in each state, who are pledges to vote for a nominee in the presidental election
elite
a small number of individuals who tend to have well informed and well reasoned opinion
entitlement program
a program that provides benefits for those who qualify under the law, regardless of income
entrance survey
a poll conducted of people coming to an event
equal protection clause
clause of the Fourteenth Amendment that requires the states to treat all citizens alive with regard to application of the laws
Equal Rights Amendment
a proposed but not ratified amendment to the Constitution that sought to guarantee equality on the basis of sex
era of divided government
a trend since 1969, in which one party controls one or both houses of Congress and the president is from the opposite party
establishment clause
First Amendment protection against the government requiring citizens to support a religion
exclusionary rule
a rule that evidence obtained without a warrant is inadmissable in court
executive agreement
an agreement between a president and another nation that does not have the same durability in the American system as a treaty but does not require Senate ratification
executive branch
the institution responsible for carrying out laws passed by the legislative branch
Executive Office of the President
a collection of offices within the White House organization designed mainly to provide information to the president
executive order
policy directives issued by presidents that do not require congressional approval
executive privilege
a right claimed by presidents to keep certain conversations, records, and transcripts confidential from outside scrutiny, especially that of Congress
exit poll
a survey conducted outside a polling place in which individuals are asked who or what they just voted for anw hy
federal bureaucracy
the departments and agencies within the executive branch that carry out the laws of the nation
federal civil service
the merit based bureaucracy, excluding the armed forces and political appointments
federal courts of appeals
the middle level of the federal judiciary; these courts review and hear appeals from the federal district courts
federal district courts
the lowest level of the federal judiciary, these courts usually have original jurisdiction in cases that start at the federal level
Federalist 10
An essay in which Madison argues that the dangers of faction can be mitigated by a large republic and republican government
Federalist 78
An argument by Hamilton that the federal judiciary would be unlikely to infringe upon rights and liberties but would serve as a check on the other two branches
federal judiciary
the branch of the federal government that interprets the laws of the nation
Federal Reserve System
a board of governors, Federal Reserve Banks, and member banks responsible for monetary policy
federal system
a system where the power is divided between the national and state governments
filibuster
a tactic through which an individual senator. may use the right of unlimited debate to delay a motion or postpone action on a piece of legislation
fiscal federalism
the federal government’s use of grants in aid to influence policies in the states
fiscal policy
government use of taxes and spending to attempt to lower unemployment, support economic activity, and stabilize the economy
focus group
a small group of individuals assembled for a conversation about specific issues
franchise/suffrage
the right to vote in political elections
freedom of expression
a fundamental right affirmed in the First Amendment to speak, publish, and protest
free exercise clause
First Amendment protection of the rights of individuals to exercise and express their religious beliefs
free rider
Individual who enjoys collective goods and benefits from the actions of an interest group without joining
front loading
a decision by a state to push its primary or caucus to a date as early in the election season as possible to gain more influence in the presidential nomination process
gender gap
a term that refers to the fact that American women are more likely to identify with and vote for Democratic Party candidates than men, who are more likely to vote for Republican Party Candidates
generational effect
the impact of historical events experienced by a generation on their political views
gerrymandering
the intention use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest group or group of voters
GOTV
efforts to mobilize voters
globalization
the increasing interconnectedness of people, businesses, and countries throughout the world
going public
a tactic through which presidents reach out directly to the American people with the hope that the people will, in turn, put pressure upon their representatives and senators to press for a president’s policy goals
government interest group
organization acting on behalf of local, state, or foreign governments
Grand Committee
committee at the Constitutional Convention that worked out the compromise on representation
grand jury
a group of citizens who, based on the evidence presented to them, decide whether or not a person should be indicated and subsequently tried in a court of law
grants in aid
federal money provided to states to implement public policy initatives
grassroots lobbying
mobilizing interest groups members to pressure their representatives by contacting them directly through phone calls, email, and social media
gridlock
a slowdown or halt in Congress’s ability to legislate and overcome divisions, especially those based on partisanship
hold
a delay placed on legislation by a senator who objects to a bill
horse race journalism
coverage of political campaigns that focuses more on the drama of the campaign than n policy issues
House majority leader
the person who is the second in command of the House of Representatives
House Rules Committee
a powerful committee that determines when a bill will be subject to debate and vote on the House floor, how long the debate will last, and whether amendments will be allowed on the floor
implementation
the bureaucracy’s role in putting into action the laws that Congress has passed
implied powers
authority of federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers; powers not granted specifically to the national government byt considered necessary to carry out the enumerated powers
inalienable rights
rights the government cannot take away
incumbency advantage
institutional advantages held by those already in office who are trying to fend off challengers in an election
incumbent
a political official who is currently in office
independent executive agency
agency otherwise similar to cabinet departments but existing outside of the cabinet structure and usually having a narrower focus of mission
independent regulatory agency
organization that exists outside of the major cabinet departments and whose job it is to monitor and regulate specific sectors of the economy
individualism
the belief that individuals should be responsible for themselves and for the decisions they make
informal powers
powers not laid out in the Constitution but used to carry out presidential duties
interest group
voluntary association of people who come together with the goal of getting the policy that they favor enacted
investigative journalism
an approach to newsgathering in which reporters dig into stories, often looking for instances of wrongdoing
iron triangle
coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals
issue network
webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates
judicial activism
a philosophy of constitutional interpretation that justices should wield the power of judicial review, sometimes creating bold new policies
judicial branch
the institution responsible for hearing and deciding cases through federal cases
judicial restraint
a philosophy of constitutional interpretation that asserts justices should be cautious in overturning laws
judicial review
authority of the Supreme Court to strike down a law or executive action if it conflicts with the Constitution
free enterprise
an economic system in which government intrudes as little as possible in the transactions among citizens and. businesses
lame duck period
period at the end of a presidential term when Congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees
legal segregation
the separation by law of individuals based on their race
legislative branch
the institution responsible for making laws
libel
an untrue written statement that injures a person’s reputation
liberalism
an ideology favoring less government control over social behavior and greater regulation of the economy
libertarianism
an ideology favoring very little government intervention beyond protecting private property and individual liberty
liberty
social, political, and economic freedoms
life-cycle effect
the impact of a person’s age and state in life on his or her political views
linkage institutions
channels that connect individuals with government, including elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media
lobbying
interacting with the government officials in order to advance a group’s public policy goals
logrolling
trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation
majority-minority district
a district in which voters of a minority ethnicity constitute an electoral majority within that electoral district
majority opinion
binding SCOTUS opinions, which serve as precedent for future cases
majority party leader
the head of the party with the most seats in Congress, chosen by the party’s members
malappoprtionment
the uneven distribution of the population between legislative districts
mandatory spending
spending required by existing laws that is locked in the budget
Marbury v. Madison
A SCOTUS decision that established judicial review over federal laws
markup
a process during which a bill is revised prior to a final vote in Congress
mass media
sources of information that appeal to a wide audience, including newspapers, radio, television, and Internet outlets
mass survey
a survey designed to measure the opinions of the population, usually consisting of 1,500 responses
media consolidation
the concentration of ownership of the media into fewer corporations
media effects
the power of the news media in shaping individuals’ political knowledge, preferences, and political behavior
Medicaid
a federal program that provides health care for the poor
Medicare
a federal program that provides health insurance to seniors and the disabled
merit system
a system of hiring and promotion based on competitive testing results, education, and other qualifications rather than politics and personal connections
minority leader
the head of the party with the second highest number of seats in Congress, chosen by the party’s members
Miranda rights
the right to remain silent and to have an attorney present during questioning, these rights must be given by police to individuals suspected of criminal activity
mixed economy
economic policy in which many economic decisions are left to individuals and businesses with the federal government regulating economic activity
monetary policy
a set of economic policy tools designed to regulate the amount of money in the economy
motor voter law
a law allowing Americans to register to vote when applying for or renewing their driver’s license and making it easier for Americans with disabilities to register to vote
national convention
a meeting where delegates officially select their party’s nominee for the presidency
national debt
the total amount of money owed by the federal government
natural rights
the right to life, liberty, and property, which government cannot take away
need based assistance
social welfare programs whose benefits are allocated to individuals demonstrating specific needs
net neutrality
a Federal Communications Commission rule that required internet service providers to treat all data and content providers equally and not discriminate based upon content or bandwidth demands
New Jersey Plan
a plan of government that provided for a unicameral legislature with equal votes for each state
news media
a broad term that includes newspapers, magazines, radio, television, internet sources, blogs, and social media posts
nomination
the formal process through which parties choose their candidates for office
obscenity and pornography
words, images, videos that depict sexual activity in an offensive manner that lack artistic merit
Office of Management and Budget
the executive branch office that assists the president in setting national spending priorities
open primary
a primary election in which all eligible voters may vote
oral argument
presentation made by plaintiffs before the Supreme Court
original jurisdiction
the authority of a court to act as the first court to hear a case, which includes the finding of facts in the case
outsourcing
when a company moves its business to a place where labor costs are cheaper or production is more efficient because workers work longer hours
oversight
efforts by Congress to ensure that all executive branch agencies, bureaus, and cabinet departments, as well as their officials, are acting legally and in accordance with congressional goals
participatory democracy
the theory that widespread political participation is essential for democratic government
partisan bias
the slanding of political news coverage in support of a particular political party or ideology
partisan gerrymandering
drawing of district boundaries into strange shapes to benefit a political party
party coalition
interest groups and like minded voters who support a political party over time
party era
time period when one party wins most national elections
party identification
an individual’s attachment to a political party
party ideology
a party’s philosophy about the proper role of government and its consistent set of positions on major issues
party line voting
voting for candidates who belong only to one political party for all of the offices on the ballot
party platform
a set of positions and policy objectives that members of a political party agree to
party system
the number of stable parties that exist at a particular time
Pendleton Act
an act of Congress that created the first United States Civil Service Commission to draw up and enforce rules on hiring, promotion, and tenure of office within the civil service. Also known as Civil Service Reform Act of 1883.
plaintiff
a person or group who brings a case to court
plea bargaining
a legal process in which the defendant agrees to an outcome before the handing out of a verdict
Plessy v Ferguson
a SCOTUS case in 1896 that upheld legal racial segregation
pluralism
a theory of governmental influence that views the distribution of political power among many competing groups as serving to keep any one of them in check
pluralist theory
a theory of democracy that emphasizes the role of groups in the policymaking process
plurality
when a candidate receives more votes than any other candidate
pocket veto
an informal veto caused when the president chooses not to sign a bill within ten days, during a time when Congress has adjourned at the end of session
polarization
a sharp ideology distance betwen political parties
police powers
a category of reserved powers that includes protection of people’s heath, safety, and welfare
policy agenda
the set of issues to which government officials, voters, and the public are paying attention
PAC
an organization that raises money for candidates and campaigns
political culture
the shared set of beliefs, customs, traditions, and values that define the relationship between citizens and gov’t
political efficacy
a person’s belief that he/she can make effective political change
political ideology
an individual’s coherent set of beliefs about government and politics
political institutions
the structure of government, including the executive, legislature, and judiciary
political mobilization
efforts by political parties to encourage their members to vote
political participation
the different ways in which individuals take action to shape the laws and politics of government
political party
an organized group of party leaders, officeholders, and voters who work together to elect candidates to political office
political patronage
filling administrative positions as a reward for support, rather than solely on merit
political science
the systematic study of the ways in which ideas, individuals, and institutions shape political outcomes
political socialization
the experiences and factors that shape our political values, attitudes, and behaviors
politico role
representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties in making decisions
politics
the process of influencing the actions and policies of government
popular sovereignty
the idea that the government’s right to rule comes from people
pork barrel spending
legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states
precedent
a judicial decision that guides future courts in handling similar cases
presidential pardon
presidential authority to forgive an individual and set aside punishment for a crime
primary election
an election in which a state’s voters choose delegates who support a particular presidential candidate for nomination or an election by a plurality vote to select a party’s nominee for a seat in Congress
prior restraint
the suppression of material prior to publication on the grounds that it might endanger national security
privacy
a right not enumerated in the Constitution but affirmed by Supreme Court decisions that covers individuals’ decisions in their private lives, including decisions regarding reproductive rights and sexuality
privilege
something subject to political process
privileges and immunities clause
prevents states from discriminating against people from out of state
probable cause
reasonable belief that a crime ha been committed or that there is evidence indicating so
procedural due process
a judicial standard requiring that fairness be applied to all individuals equally
proportional representation system
an election system for a legislature in which citizens vote for parties, rather than individuals, and parties are represented in the legislature according to the percentage of the vote they receive
prospective voting
casting a ballot for a candidate who promises to enact policies favored by the voter in the future
protest
a public demonstration designed to call attention to the need for change
public interest group
group that acts on behalf of the collective interests of a broad group of individuals
public opinion
the sum of individual attitudes about government, policies, and issues
public policy
the intentional use of governmental power to secure the health, welfare, opportunities, and national security of citizens
question order
the sequencing of questions in public opinion polls
question wording
the phrasing of a question in a public opinion poll
random digit dialing
the use of telephone numbers randomly generated by a computer to select potential survey respondents
random selection
a method of choosing all poll respondents in a way that does not over or under represent any group of the population
rational choice voting
voting based on what a citizen believes is in his or her best interest
realignment
when the groups of people who support a political party shift allegiance to a different political party
recruitment
the process through which political parties identify potential candidates
redistricting
states’ redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census
registration requirements
the set of rules that govern who can vote and how, when, and where they vote
regulation
the process through which the federal bureaucracy makes rules that have the force of law, to carry out the laws passed by congress
representative demoracy
a political system in which oters select representatives who then vote on matters of public policy
representative sample
a sample that reflects the demographics of the population
republic
a government ruled by the representatives of the people
republicanism
a system in which the government’s authority comes from the people
reserved powers
powers not given to the national government, which are retained by the states and the people
retrospective voting
voting based on an assessment of an incumbent’s past performance
revenue sharing
when the federal government apportions tax money to the state with no strings attached
revolving door
the movement of individuals between government and lobbying positions
right
something fundamental to which all have access
roll call vote
a recorded vote on a bill
rulemaking
the process through which the federal bureaucracy fills in critical details of a law
rule of law
the principle that no one, including public officials, is above the law
sample
a group of individuals from a larger population used to measure public opinion
sampling error
the margin of error in a poll, which usually is calculated to plus or minus three percentage points
scientific poll
a representative poll of randomly selected respondents with a statistically significant sample size using neutral language
selective benefit
benefit avaliable only to those who join the group
selective incorporation
the process through which the SCOTUS applies fundamental rights in the Bill of Rights to the states on a case by case basis
Senate majority leader
the person who has the most power in the Senate and is the head of the party with the most seats
separate but equal
the doctrine that racial segregation was constitutional so long as the facilities for blacks and whites are equal
Shays’s Rebellion
a popular uprising against the government of Massachusetts
signing statement
text issued by presidents while signing a bill into law that usually consists of political statements or reasons for signing the bill but that may also include a president’s interpretation of the law itself
single issue group
association focusing on one specific area of public policy, often a moral issue about which they are unwilling to compromise
single member plurality system
an election system for choosing members of the legislature where the winner is the candidate who receives the most votes, even if the candidate does not receive a majority of the votes
slander
an untrue spoken expression that injures a person’s reputation
social contract
people allow their governments to rule over them to ensure an orderly and functioning society
social insurance programs
programs such as SS that are financed by payroll taxes paid by individuals and that do not have income based requirements to receive benefits
social media
forms of electronic communication that enable users to createa dn share content or to participate in social networking
social movement
large groups of citizens organizing for political change
social welfare policies
governmental efforts designed to improve or protect the health, safety, education, and opportunities for citizens and residents
socioeconomic status
a measure of an individual’s wealth, income, occupation, and educational attainment
Speaker of the House
the leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by an election of its members
split ticket voting
voting for candidates from different parties in the same election
standing
the legal ability to bring a case to court
stare decisis
the practice of letting a previous legal decision stand
State of the Union Address
the annual speech from the president to Congress updating that branch on the state of national affairs
statute
a written law established by a legislative body
straight ticket voting
voting for all of the candidates on the ballot from one political party
superdelegate
usually, a party leader or activist who is not pledged to a candidate based on the outcomes of the state’s primary or caucus
super PAC
an organization that may spend an unlimited amount of money on a political campaign, as long as the spending is not coordinated with the campaign
supremacy clause
constitutional provision declaring that the Constitution and all national laws and treaties are the supreme law of the and
Supreme Court
the highest level of the federal judiciary, which was established in Article III of the Constitution and serves as the highest court in the nation
swing state
a state where levels of support for the parties are similar and elections swing back and forth between Democrats and Republicans
symbolic speech
protected expression in the form of images, signs, and other symbols
Tenth Amendment
reserves powers not delegated to the national government to the states and the people; the basis of federalism
terrorism
the use of violence as a means to achieve political ends
theory of participatory democracy
the belief that citizens impact policymaking through their involvement in civil society
third party
a minor political party in competition with the two major parites
Title IX of the Higher Education Amendment of 1972
legislation prohibiting sex discrimination in schools receiving federal aid, which had the impact of increasing female participation in sports program
tracking poll
a survey determining the level of support for a candidate or an issue through a campaign
treaty
an agreement with a foreign government negotiated by the president and requiring two thirds vote in the Senate to ratify
trustee role
the idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgment
two party system
a system in which two political parties dominate politics, winning almost all elections
tyranny of the majority
when a large number of citizens use the power of their majority to trample on the rights of a smaller group
tyranny of the minority
when a small number of citizens trample on the rights of the larger population
unanimous consent agreement
an agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for consideration of a bill
unemployment rate
the percentage of people actively looking for work who cannot find jobs
unfunded mandate
federal requirement the states must follow without being provided with funding
unicameral
a one house legislature
unitary system
a system where the central government has all of the power over subnational governments
veto
formal rejection by the president of a bill that has passed both houses of Congress
Virginia Plan
a plan of government calling for a three branch government with a bicameral legislature, where more populous states would have more representation in Congress
voter turnout
the number of eligible voters who participate in an election as a percentage of the total number of eligible voters
Voting Rights Act of 1965
legislation outlawing literacy tests and authorizing the Justice Department to send federal officers to register voters in the uncooperative cities, counties, and states
War Powers Resolution
a law passed over President Nixon’s veto that restricts the power of the president to maintain troops in combat for more than 60 days without congressional authorization
warrant
a document issued by a judge authorizing a search
weighting
a procedure in which the survey is adjusted according to the demographics of the larger population
whip
a member of Congress, chosen by his or her party members, whose job it is to ensure party unity and discipline
winner take all system
a system of elections in which the candidate who wins the plurality of votes within a state receives all of that state’s votes in the Electoral College
wire serivce
an organization that gathers and reports on news and then sells the stories to other outlets
writ of hapeas corpus
the right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them
