Vocabulary Flashcards
Bully Pulpit
Platform from which to advocate an agenda.
EX. Theodore Roosevelt used writing and speech skills to communicate his beliefs
Original Jurisdiction
A court’s authority to hear and decide a case for the first time before any appellate review occurs
Horse Race Journalism
Focus on polling data and public perception instead of candidate policy, and almost exclusive reporting on candidate differences rather than similarities.
Amicus Curiae
Part- judicial branch
Idea- qualified individuals or organizations file opinin to be considered as a third party.
Ex. Case about public health. Independent company warns it’s large effect.
Straight ticket voting (also called straight party voting)
Allows voters to choose a party’s entire slate of candidates with just a single ballot mark.
Trend V.S Pattern
A trend is a general change in one variable compared to another over a period of time.
A pattern is a sequence of data points that show a shape or structure we can easily recognize
Midterm V.S. Presidential Elections
Presidential General Elections are every four years.
Midterm elections fall in between at the 2-year mark. “General” election basically means it is an election that happens in all states and territories at the same time. While the Midterm Primaries ran earlier in the year and determined the nominees who would run, the Midterm General Election is on the second Tuesday in November, just as the Presidential Election.
Linkage Institutions
Structures that connect individuals to the government and facilitate communication between citizens and policymakers.
EX. Media, interest groups, political parties
Political Efficacy
The belief that one’s actions can influence political processes and that individuals have the capability to make a difference in governance
EX. When people feel a high level of political efficacy, they are more likely to participate in elections, believing their vote matters.
Stare Decisis
“let the decision stand” holds that courts and judges should honor “precedent”—or the decisions, rulings, and opinions from prior cases.
Natural Rights (John Locke)
Everyone is entitled to Life, Health, and Possessions. We give up the most extreme to enter common wealth and protection
Popular Sovereignty
All members of the commonwealth are equal in natural rights. Decisions in the government are made by the consent of the governed
Republicanism
Baron de Montesquieu
Consent of governed is used through elections and representatives. Separated powers and voted by the people
Representative Government Theories Participatory
-Emphasis on participation in politics and civil society.
-Policymaking institutions are influenced by citizens directly
-Impossible fully because there are too many people
Pluralist Democracy
System wherein various interest groups compete for influence in policymaking.
elite democracy
Part- Federal power
Idea- power is concentrated in
the hands of a small, privileged
group.
Ex. Electoral college
Amicus briefs
are filed by people who typically take the position of one side in a case, in the process supporting a cause that has some bearing on the issues in the case
Shay’s Rebellion
Articles of Confederation
Part- weakness in articles of confederation
Idea- taxes were not regulated by a federal government
Territorial Disputes
Articles of Confederation
territories were lost and illegal speculating of land
Economic Recession
Taxes and economics were failing with no one to regulate them
Categorical Grants
Strict provisions money to the states with strings attached with specific areas of need
EX. Healthcare, road, construction
Block Grants
Part- Power of purse
Idea- Larger sums of money given to states for essential purpose
EX. Education, community development
Mandates
-Federal rules sent and rewarded with funding.
-Unfunded mandates are for complying without funding
Dual Federalism
Layered
States and federal governments layering responsibilities. Used in the earlier years but stopped in the 1930s with FDR
Cooperative Federalism
States and federal governments sharing responsibilities in a marble cake. This shares costs, mandates, guidelines, and grants. Made during FDR
Unitary Government
a system of political organization in which most or all of the governing power resides in a centralized government.
Germane
Having to do with the topic or bill presented
Filibuster/Cloture
Used kill bills and stop them from being passed. Can be stopped with a cloture with voting
Mandatory Spending
(Congress)
spent for programs such as social security, insurance, and government assistance
Discretionary spending
non-mandatory expenditures
Ex. Education
Pork-Barrel spending
discretionary spending that is funded for individual members
Earmarks
spending bills on a specific line item to funnel money to vendors or buisness
Grants-in-aid
financial programs constructed to facilitate relationship between the state and federal government
Trustee
Official expected to vote independently
Delegate
Official expected to represent the views of their constituents even with different beliefs
Prior Restraint
part- federal government
idea- Censorship of news
material before it is made public.
Ex. New York Times V. United States
Representative Government
American Republicanism which is a combination of participatory, pluralist, and elitist.
The Virginia Plan
Each state was represented proportionally to it’s population
New Jersey Plan
Each states were represented equally regardless of size
Bicameral
Consisting of two houses
Unicameral
Consisting of one single house
Pocket Veto
If congressional session ends in 10 days the president can choose not to sign it. It will then have to go through the entire legislative process again. Congress can overturn this with a 2/3 vote.
Standing Committees
Part- legislative house
Idea- Permanent specialized committees
Ex. House Ways and Means Committee
Joint Committees
Part- legislative
Idea- Made of both the Senate and House members. Communicate to the public and investigations but do net send bills to the floor
Select Committees
(House and Senate)
Temporary organized for special purpose. Carry out investigations for special legislation. (The House Watergate Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Unfair Campaign Practices)
Conference Committees
(House and Senate)
temporary made for writing a bill. Negotiate between houses and compromise bills and voted on for amendments. Disbanded once it is negotiated
Pigeonholed
(Committees and Houses)
Committees refuse to vote a bill out and keep it from being considered in the houses. Can be forced with a discharge petition
Chief of Staff
Part- executive
Idea- top aide to the president
manages the executive office by controlling access to the president
Secretary of Cabinets
-Appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate
-run their departments and carry out the president’s policies
Federal Judges
-Appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate
-serve for life
Opinion poll
Part- voter behavior
Idea- opinions on policy and interests
Benchmark poll
Part- voter behavior
Idea- taken at start of campaign to measure progress
Tracking poll
Part- voter behavior
Idea- measures thoughts on behavior over time
Entrance/exit polls
Part- voter behavior
Idea- measure on site what people are voting
caucus
meeting of local party members for choosing delegates of national convention.
