Amicus Curiae Brief

"friend of the court;" brief filed by an interest group to influence the Supreme Court

Appellate Jurisdiction

authority of the court to hear an appeal from a lower court

Balancing the Ticket

Occurs when a presidential nominee chooses a vice presidental running mate who has different qualities in order to attract more votes for the ticket

Blanket Primary

Election to choose candidates that is open to independents and that allows voters to choose candidates from all the parties

Block Grant

Money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose rather than a narrow purpose (e.g. transportation rather than a school lunch program)

Categorical Grant

Money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose rather than a broad purpose (e.g. school lunch program rather than transportation)

Checks and Balances

System in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two (e.g. Congressional override of a presidential veto)

Clear and Present Danger Doctrine

Closed Primary

Primary election to choose candidates that is closed to independents; voters may not cross party lines

Cloture

Senate motion to end a filibuster that requires a 3/5 majority vote

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foriegn nations, and among Indian tribes (United States Consitution, Article 1, Section 8)

Conference Committee

Works out a compromise between differing House-Senate versions of a bill

Cooperative Federalism

Marble Cake

System in which both federal governments and state governments cooperate in solving problems (share in costs, administration, and even blame)

Direct Election

Election of an official directly by the people rather by an intermediary group (like the Electoral College)

Direct Primary

Election in which the people choose the candidates for office

Divided Government

Government in which one party controls the presidency while the other controls Congress

Dual Federalism

Layered Cake

A system of government in which both the states and and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies

Elastic Clause