Term
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Definition
| a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions |
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Definition
| a form of government in which a single individual - a king, queen, or dictator - rules |
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Definition
| informed and active membership in a political community |
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Term
| constitutional government |
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Definition
| a system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government |
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Definition
| a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials |
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Definition
| a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies |
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Definition
| a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential |
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Definition
| institutions and procedures through which a territory and its people are ruled |
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Definition
| an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference |
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| freedom from governmental control |
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| a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution |
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Term
| majority rule, minority rights |
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Definition
| the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority |
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Definition
| a form of government in which a small group - landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants - controls most of the governing decisions |
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| the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation |
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Definition
| broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function. American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality, and democracy |
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Definition
| the ability to influence government and politics |
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| the right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one vote" |
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Definition
| conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments |
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Definition
| a principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people |
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| influence over a government's leadership, organization, or policies representative democracy/republic a system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision making |
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Definition
| a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it |
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Definition
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Definition
| a change added to a bill, law, or constitution |
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Definition
| those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government, and were opponents of the constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787 |
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Term
| Articles of Confederation |
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Definition
| America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national government until 1789 |
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Definition
| a two-chambered legislature; opposite of unicameral |
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Definition
| the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guarantee certain rights and liberties to the people |
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Term
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Definition
| mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches. Major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments |
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Definition
| a system of government with a weak national government but strong states or provinces |
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Definition
| a phrase in Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution (also known as the necessary and proper clause), which provides Congress with the authority to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out the other powers given to Congress |
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Definition
| the presidential electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for president and vice president |
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Term
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Definition
| specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution |
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Term
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Definition
| a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between the central (national) government and regional (state) governments |
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Term
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Definition
| a series of essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay supporting the ratification of the Constitution |
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Term
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Definition
| those who favored a strong national government and supported the constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787 |
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Term
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Definition
| the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 where representation in the House of Representatives would be apportioned according to the number of inhabitants in each state, but in the Senate each state would have an equal vote regardless of its population |
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Definition
| the power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of actions of the legislative and executive branches, or the states. The Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison (1803) (p. 42) |
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Term
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Definition
| a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution |
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Definition
| a framework for the Constitution, introduced by William Paterson, which called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population |
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Term
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Definition
| the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making |
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Definition
| Article VI of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties "shall be the supreme law of the land" and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision |
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Definition
| the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats, five slaves would count as three free persons |
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Definition
| oppressive and unjust government that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority |
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Term
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Definition
| a framework for the Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, which provided for a system of representation in the national legislature based upon the population of each state |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent |
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Term
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Definition
| congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law |
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Term
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Definition
| Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which delegates to Congress the power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States and with the Indian tribes." This clause was interpreted by the Supreme Court in favor of national power over the economy |
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Term
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Definition
| authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the power to levy taxes |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of federalism existing since the New Deal era in which grants-in-aid have been used strategically to encourage states and localities (without commanding them) to pursue nationally defined goals. Also known as "intergovernmental cooperation" |
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Term
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Definition
| a policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government, such as from the national government to the state and local governments |
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Term
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Definition
| the system of government that prevailed in the United States from 1789 to 1937, in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state governments |
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Term
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Definition
| specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8), and to the president (Article II) |
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Term
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Definition
| a system of government in which the national government shares power with lower levels of government, such as states |
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Term
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Definition
| a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional governments |
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Term
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Definition
| grants-in-aid in which a formula is used to determine the amount of federal funds a state or local government will receive |
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Term
| full faith and credit clause |
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Definition
| provision from Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution, requiring that the states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state |
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Term
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Definition
| the process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of government, according to an established formula. Revenue sharing typically involves the national government providing money to state governments |
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Term
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Definition
| programs through which Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the federal government |
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Term
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Definition
| power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs |
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Term
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Definition
| powers derived from the necessary and proper clause of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution. Such powers are not specifically expressed, but are implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers |
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Term
| necessary and proper clause |
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Definition
| Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, it provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its expressed powers |
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Term
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Definition
| attempts by Presidents Nixon and Reagan to return power to the states through block grants |
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Term
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Definition
| power reserved to the state government to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens |
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Term
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Definition
| the principle that allows the national government to override state or local actions in certain policy areas |
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Term
| privileges and immunities clause |
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Definition
| provision from Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution, that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privileges |
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Term
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Definition
| grant programs in which state and local governments submit proposals to federal agencies and for which funding is provided on a competitive basis |
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Term
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Definition
| economic policies designed to control the economy through taxing and spending, with the goal of benefiting the poor |
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Term
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Definition
| a form of federalism in which Congress imposes legislation on states and localities, requiring them to meet national standards |
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Term
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Definition
| powers, derived from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states |
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Term
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Definition
| the principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government. This principle was most popular in the period before the Civil War |
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Term
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Definition
| regulations or conditions for receiving grants that impose costs on state and local governments for which they are not reimbursed by the federal government |
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Term
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Definition
| a centralized government system in which lower levels of government have little power independent of the national government |
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Term
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Definition
| powers, derived from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states |
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Term
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Definition
| the principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government. This principle was most popular in the period before the Civil War |
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Term
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Definition
| regulations or conditions for receiving grants that impose costs on state and local governments for which they are not reimbursed by the federal government |
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Term
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Definition
| a centralized government system in which lower levels of government have little power independent of the national government |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| laws that decree a person guilty of a crime without a trial |
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Term
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Definition
| the first ten amendments to the Constitution, which guarantee certain rights and liberties to the people |
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Term
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Definition
| areas of personal freedom with which governments are prevented from interfering |
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Term
| "clear and present danger" test |
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Definition
| test to determine whether speech is protected or unprotected, based on its capacity to present a "clear and present danger" to society |
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Term
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Definition
| the Fifth Amendment right providing that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime |
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Term
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Definition
| the right of every citizen to be protected against arbitrary action by national or state governments |
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Term
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Definition
| the right of government to take private property for public use |
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Term
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Definition
| the First Amendment clause that says that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." This means that a "wall of separation" exists between church and state |
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Term
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Definition
| laws that declare an action to be illegal after it has been committed |
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Definition
| the ability of courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment |
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Definition
| speech that directly incites damaging conduct |
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Term
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Definition
| the First Amendment clause that protects a citizen's right to believe and practice whatever religion one chooses |
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Term
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Definition
| jury that determines whether sufficient evidence is available to justify a trial; grand juries do not rule on the accused's guilt or innocence |
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Term
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Definition
| a court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention |
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Term
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Definition
| a rule articulated in Lemon v. Kurtzman that government action toward religion is permissible if it is secular in purpose, neither promotes nor inhibits the practice of religion, and does not lead to "excessive entanglement" with religion |
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Term
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Definition
| a written statement, made in "reckless disregard of the truth," which is considered damaging to a victim because it is "malicious, scandalous, and defamatory" |
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Term
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Definition
| the requirement, articulated by the Supreme Court in Miranda v. Arizona (1966), that persons under arrest must be informed prior to police interrogation of their rights to remain silent and to have the benefit of legal counsel |
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Term
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Definition
| an effort by a governmental agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some other way; censorship. In the United States, the courts forbid prior restraint except under the most extraordinary circumstances |
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Term
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Definition
| the right to be left alone, which has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to entail free access to birth control and abortions |
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Term
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Definition
| the process by which different protections in the Bill of Rights were incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment, thus guaranteeing citizens protection from state as well as national governments |
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Term
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Definition
| an oral statement, made in "reckless disregard of the truth," which is considered damaging to the victim because it is "malicious, scandalous, and defamatory" |
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Term
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Definition
| speech accompanied by conduct or physical activity such as sit-ins, picketing, and demonstrations; protection of this form of speech under the First Amendment is conditional, and restrictions imposed by state or local authorities are acceptable if properly balanced by considerations of public order |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| government policies or programs that seek to redress past injustices against specified groups by making special efforts to provide members of these groups with access to educational and employment opportunities |
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Term
| Brown v. Board of Education |
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Definition
| the 1954 Supreme Court decision that struck down the "separate but equal" doctrine as fundamentally unequal. This case eliminated state power to use race as a criterion of discrimination in law and provided the national government with the power to intervene by exercising strict regulatory policies against discriminatory actions |
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Term
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Definition
| obligation imposed on government to take positive action to protect citizens from any illegal action of government agencies as well as of other private citizens |
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Term
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Definition
| literally, "by fact"; practices that occur even when there is no legal enforcement, such as school segregation in much of the United States today |
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Term
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Definition
| literally, "by law"; legally enforced practices, such as school segregation in the South before the 1960s |
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Term
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Definition
| use of any unreasonable and unjust criterion of exclusion |
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Definition
| provision of the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing citizens "the equal protection of the laws." This clause has been the basis for the civil rights of African Americans, women, and other groups |
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Term
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Definition
| one of three Civil War amendments; guaranteed voting rights for African American men |
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Term
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Definition
| one of three Civil War amendments; guaranteed equal protection and due process |
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Term
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Definition
| apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one racial or ethnic group or political party |
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Term
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Definition
| test used by the Supreme Court in gender discrimination cases, which places the burden of proof partially on the government and partially on the challengers to show that the law in question is unconstitutional |
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Term
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Definition
| laws enacted by southern states following Reconstruction that discriminated against African Americans |
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Term
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Definition
| a practice in which banks refuse to make loans to people living in certain geographic locations |
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Term
| "separate but equal" rule |
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Definition
| rule doctrine that public accommodations could be segregated by race but still be equal |
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Term
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Definition
| test used by the Supreme Court in racial discrimination cases and other cases involving civil liberties and civil rights, which places the burden of proof on the government rather than on the challengers to show that the law in question is constitutional |
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Definition
| one of three Civil War amendments; abolished slavery |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| agencies of socialization |
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Definition
| social institutions, including families and schools, that help to shape individuals' basic political beliefs and values |
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Term
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Definition
| a specific preference on a particular issue |
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Term
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Definition
| a shift in electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner |
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Term
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Definition
| today this term refers to those who generally support the social and economic status quo and are suspicious of efforts to introduce new political formulae and economic arrangements. Conservatives believe that a large and powerful government poses a threat to citizens' freedom |
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Term
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Definition
| a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials |
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Term
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Definition
| a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential |
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Term
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Definition
| a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men illusion of saliency the impression conveyed by polls that something is important to the public when actually it is not |
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Term
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Definition
| today this term refers to those who generally support social and political reform; extensive governmental intervention in the economy; the expansion of federal social services; more vigorous efforts on behalf of the poor, minorities, and women; and greater concern for consumers and the environment |
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Term
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Definition
| freedom from governmental control |
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Term
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Definition
| the public forum in which beliefs and ideas are exchanged and compete |
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Term
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Definition
| failure to identify the true distribution of opinion within a population because of errors such as ambiguous or poorly worded questions |
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Term
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Definition
| the ability to influence government and politics |
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Term
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Definition
| a cohesive set of beliefs that forms a general philosophy about the role of government |
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Term
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Definition
| the induction of individuals into the political culture; learning the underlying beliefs and values on which the political system is based |
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Term
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Definition
| a method used by pollsters to select a representative sample in which every individual in the population has an equal probability of being selected as a respondent |
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Term
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Definition
| citizens' attitudes about political issues, leaders, institutions, and events |
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Term
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Definition
| scientific instruments for measuring public opinion |
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Term
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Definition
| a polling technique in which the questions are designed to shape the respondent's opinion |
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Term
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Definition
| a polling method in which respondents are selected at random from a list of ten-digit telephone numbers, with every effort made to avoid bias in the construction of the sample |
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Term
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Definition
| attitudes and views that are especially important to the individual holding them |
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Term
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Definition
| a small group selected by researchers to represent the most important characteristics of an entire population |
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Term
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Definition
| polling error that arises based on the small size of the sample |
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Term
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Definition
| polling error that arises when the sample is not representative of the population being studied, which creates errors in overrepresenting or underrepresenting some opinions |
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Term
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Definition
| basic principles that shape a person's opinions about political issues and events |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| the power of the media to bring public attention to particular issues and problems |
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Term
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Definition
| the requirement that broadcasters provide candidates for the same political office equal opportunities to communicate their messages to the public |
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Term
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Definition
| a Federal Communications Commission requirement for broadcasters who air programs on controversial issues to provide time for opposing views. The FCC ceased enforcing this doctrine in 1985 |
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Term
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Definition
| the power of the media to influence how events and issues are interpreted |
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Term
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Definition
| process of preparing the public to take a particular view of an event or political actor |
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Term
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Definition
| a Federal Communications Commission regulation giving individuals the right to have the opportunity to respond to personal attacks made on a radio or television broadcast |
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Term
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Definition
| short snippets of information aimed at dramatizing a story rather than explaining its substantive meaning |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| American political community |
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Definition
| citizens who are eligible to vote and who participate in American political life |
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Term
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Definition
| a sense of concern among members of the political community about public, social, and political life, expressed through participation in social and political organizations |
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Term
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Definition
| a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men |
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Term
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Definition
| a lawsuit or legal proceeding; as a form of political participation, an attempt to seek relief in a court of law |
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Term
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Definition
| a strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature |
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Term
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Definition
| the process by which large numbers of people are organized for a political activity |
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Term
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Definition
| political activities, such as voting, contacting political officials, volunteering for a campaign, or participating in a protest, whose purpose is to influence government |
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Term
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Definition
| a state-imposed tax on voters as a prerequisite for registration. Poll taxes were rendered unconstitutional in national elections by the Twenty-fourth Amendment, and in state elections by the Supreme Court in 1966 |
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Term
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Definition
| participation that involves assembling crowds to confront a government or other official organization |
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Term
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Definition
| an attempt, usually through the use of paid consultants, to establish a favorable relationship with the public and influence its political opinions |
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Term
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Definition
| status in society based on level of education, income, and occupational prestige |
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Term
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Definition
| the right to vote; also called franchise |
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Term
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Definition
| the percentage of eligible individuals who actually vote |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters |
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Term
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Definition
| the condition in American government wherein the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress |
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Term
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Definition
| the point in history when a new party supplants the ruling party, becoming in turn the dominant political force. In the United States, this has tended to occur roughly every thirty years |
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Term
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Definition
| nonprofit independent groups that receive and disburse funds to influence the nomination, election, or defeat of candidates. Named after Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which defines and grants tax-exempt status to nonprofit advocacy groups |
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Term
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Definition
| a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men |
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Term
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Definition
| strong party organizations in late nineteenth-and early twentieth-century American cities. These machines were led by "bosses" who controlled party nominations and patronage |
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Term
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Definition
| the party that holds the majority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate |
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Term
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Definition
| the party that holds a minority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate |
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Term
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Definition
| an electorate that selects all candidates at large from the whole district; each voter is given the number of votes equivalent to the number of seats to be filled |
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Term
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Definition
| a national party political institution that nominates the party's presidential and vice presidential candidates, establishes party rules, and writes and ratifies the party's platform |
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Term
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Definition
| the process through which political parties select their candidates for election to public office |
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Term
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Definition
| partisans who contribute time, energy, and effort to support their party and its candidates |
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Term
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Definition
| an individual voter's psychological ties to one party or another |
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Term
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Definition
| the formal structure of a political party, including its leadership, election committees, active members, and paid staff |
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Term
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Definition
| the resources available to higher officials, usually opportunities to make partisan appointments to offices and to confer grants, licenses, or special favors to supporters |
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Term
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Definition
| a party document, written at a national convention, that contains party philosophy, principles, and positions on issues |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of electoral system in which, to win a seat in the parliament or other representative body, a candidate need only receive the most votes in the election, not necessarily a majority of votes cast |
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Term
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Definition
| an individual who identifies a problem as a political issue and brings a policy proposal into the political agenda |
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Term
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Definition
| organized groups that attempt to influence the government by electing their members to important government offices |
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Term
| proportional representation |
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Definition
| a multiple-member district system that allows each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote |
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Term
| responsible party government |
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Definition
| a set of principles that idealizes a strong role for parties in defining their stance on issues, mobilizing voters, and fulfilling their campaign promises once in office |
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Term
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Definition
| an electorate that is allowed to select only one representative from each district; the normal method of representation in the United States |
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Term
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Definition
| money contributed directly to political parties for political activities that is not regulated by federal campaign spending laws |
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Term
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Definition
| parties that organize to compete against the two major American political parties |
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Term
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Definition
| a political system in which only two parties have a realistic opportunity to compete effectively for control |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| attempts to draw district boundaries so as to create districts made up primarily of disadvantaged or underrepresented minorities |
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Term
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Definition
| an effort by political candidates and their staffs to win the backing of donors, political activists, and voters in the quest for political office |
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Term
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Definition
| a normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters |
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Term
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Definition
| a presidential nominating caucus open only to registered party members |
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Term
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Definition
| a primary election in which voters can participate in the nomination of candidates, but only of the party in which they are enrolled for a period of time prior to primary day |
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Term
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Definition
| the result of voters casting their ballot for president or governor and "automatically" voting for the remainder of the party's ticket |
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Term
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Definition
| political activists selected to vote at a party's national convention |
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Term
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Definition
| the presidential electors from each state who meet after the popular election to cast ballots for president and vice president 501c(4) committee nonprofit groups that also engage in issue advocacy. Under Section 501c(4) such a group may spend up to half its revenue for political purposes |
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Term
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Definition
| nonprofit independent groups that receive and disburse funds to influence the nomination, election, or defeat of candidates. Named after Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, which defines and provides tax-exempt status for nonprofit advocacy groups |
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Definition
| apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one racial or ethnic group or political party |
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Term
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Definition
| a candidate running for re-election to a position that he or she already holds |
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Term
| majority-minority district |
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Definition
| a gerrymandered voting district that improves the chances of minority candidates by making selected minority groups the majority within the district |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of electoral system in which, to win a seat in the parliament or other representative body, a candidate must receive a majority of all the votes cast in the relevant district |
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Term
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Definition
| congressional elections that do not coincide with a presidential election; also called off-year elections |
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Term
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Definition
| a presidential nominating caucus open to anyone who wishes to attend |
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Term
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Definition
| a primary election in which the voter can wait until the day of the primary to choose which party to enroll in to select candidates for the general election |
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Term
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Definition
| a party document, written at a national convention, that contains party philosophy, principles, and positions on issues |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of electoral system in which, to win a seat in the parliament or other representative body, a candidate need only receive the most votes in the election, not necessarily a majority of votes cast |
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Term
| political action committee (PAC) |
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Definition
| a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns |
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Term
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Definition
| elections held to select a party's candidate for the general election |
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Term
| proportional representation |
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Definition
| a multiple-member district system that allows each political party representation in proportion to its percentage of the total vote |
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Definition
| voting based on the imagined future performance of a candidate |
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Term
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Definition
| procedure to allow voters an opportunity to remove state officials from office before their terms expire |
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Term
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Definition
| the process of redrawing election districts and redistributing legislative representatives. This happens every ten years to reflect shifts in population or in response to legal challenges in existing districts |
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Term
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Definition
| the practice of referring a measure proposed or passed by a legislature to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection |
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Definition
| voting based on the past performance of a candidate |
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Term
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Definition
| money contributed directly to political parties for political activities that is not regulated by federal campaign spending laws |
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Term
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Definition
| a fifteen-, thirty-, or sixty second television campaign commercial that permits a candidate's message to be delivered to a target audience |
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Term
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Definition
| a convention delegate position, in Democratic conventions, reserved for party officials |
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Term
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Definition
| a media format in which candidates meet with ordinary citizens. Allows candidates to deliver messages without the presence of journalists or commentators |
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Term
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Definition
| system in which all of a state's presidential nominating delegates are awarded to the candidate who wins the most votes, while runners-up receive no delegates |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| benefits, sought by groups, that are broadly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers |
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Term
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Definition
| those who enjoy the benefits of collective goods but did not participate in acquiring them |
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Term
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Definition
| a lobbying campaign in which a group mobilizes its membership to contact government officials in support of the group's position |
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Term
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Definition
| special newsletters, periodicals, training programs, conferences, and other information provided to members of groups to entice others to join |
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Term
| institutional advertising |
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Definition
| advertising designed to create a positive image of an organization |
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Term
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Definition
| individuals who organize to influence the government's programs and policies |
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Term
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Definition
| the stable, cooperative relationship that often develops among a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and one or more supportive interest groups |
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Term
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Definition
| a loose network of elected leaders, public officials, activists, and interest groups drawn together by a specific policy issue |
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Term
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Definition
| a strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature |
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Term
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Definition
| special goods, services, or money provided to members of groups to entice others to join |
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Term
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Definition
| an organized group in which members actually play a substantial role, sitting on committees and engaging in group projects |
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Term
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Definition
| a political movement that began in the 1960s and 1970s, made up of professionals and intellectuals for whom the civil rights and antiwar movements were formative experiences. The New Politics movement strengthened public interest groups |
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Term
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Definition
| the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government. The outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation |
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Term
| political action committee (PAC) |
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Definition
| a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns |
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Term
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Definition
| groups that claim they serve the general good rather than only their own particular interest |
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Term
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Definition
| selective benefits of group membership that emphasize the purpose and accomplishments of the group |
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Term
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Definition
| selective benefits of group membership that emphasize friendship, networking, and consciousness raising |
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Term
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Definition
| a type of membership group in which a professional staff conducts most of the group's activities |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| the type of representation in which a representative is held accountable to a constituency if he or she fails to represent that constituency properly |
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Term
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Definition
| the process, occurring after every decennial census, that allocates congressional seats among the fifty states |
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Term
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Definition
| the amounts of money approved by Congress in statutes (bills) that each unit or agency of government can spend |
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Term
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Definition
| having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses |
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Term
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Definition
| a proposed law that has been sponsored by a member of Congress and submitted to the clerk of the House or Senate |
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Term
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Definition
| an association of members of Congress based on party, interest, or social group, such as gender or race |
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Term
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Definition
| a normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters |
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Term
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Definition
| provision by the House Rules Committee limiting or prohibiting the introduction of amendments during debate |
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Term
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Definition
| a rule allowing a majority of two-thirds or three-fifths of the members of a legislative body to set a time limit on debate over a given bill |
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Term
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Definition
| session in which a congressional committee rewrites legislation to incorporate changes discussed during hearings on the bill |
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Term
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Definition
| a gathering of House Republicans every two years to elect their House leaders. Democrats call their gathering the caucus |
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Term
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Definition
| a joint committee created to work out a compromise on House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation |
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Term
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Definition
| the residents in the area from which an official is elected |
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Term
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Definition
| a representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency |
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Term
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Definition
| an agreement, made between the president and another country, that has the force of a treaty but does not require the Senate's "advice and consent" |
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Term
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Definition
| a tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down. Once given the floor, senators have unlimited time to speak, and it requires a vote of three fifths of the Senate to end a filibuster |
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Term
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Definition
| apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one racial or ethnic group or political party |
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Term
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Definition
| the formal charge by the House of Representatives that a government official has committed "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors" |
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Term
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Definition
| holding a political office for which one is running |
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Term
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Definition
| a legislative committee formed of members of both the House and the Senate |
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Term
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Definition
| a legislative practice whereby agreements are made between legislators in voting for or against a bill; vote trading |
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Term
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Definition
| the elected leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate. In the House, the majority leader is subordinate in the party hierarchy to the Speaker of the House |
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Term
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Definition
| the elected leader of the minority party in the House or Senate |
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Term
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Definition
| a provision by the House Rules Committee that permits floor debate and the addition of new amendments to a bill |
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Term
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Definition
| the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies |
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Term
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Definition
| a roll-call vote in the House or Senate in which at least 50 percent of the members of one party take a particular position and are opposed by at least 50 percent of the members of the other party |
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Term
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Definition
| the resources available to higher officials, usually opportunities to make partisan appointments to offices and to confer grants, licenses, or special favors to supporters |
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Term
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Definition
| a presidential veto that is automatically triggered if the president does not act on a given piece of legislation passed during the final ten days of a legislative session |
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Term
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Definition
| appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that are often not needed but that are created so that local representatives can win re-election in their home districts |
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Term
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Definition
| a proposal in Congress to provide a specific person with some kind of relief, such as a special exemption from immigration quotas |
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Term
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Definition
| the process of redrawing election districts and redistributing legislative representatives |
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Term
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Definition
| a vote in which each legislator's yes or no vote is recorded as the clerk calls the names of the members alphabetically |
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Term
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Definition
| a (usually) temporary legislative committee set up to highlight or investigate a particular issue or address an issue not within the jurisdiction of existing committees |
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Term
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Definition
| ranking given to an individual on the basis of length of continuous service on a committee in Congress |
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Term
| sociological representation |
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Definition
| a type of representation in which representatives have the same racial, gender, ethnic, religious, or educational backgrounds as their constituents. It is based on the principle that if two individuals are similar in background, character, interests, and perspectives, then one could correctly represent the other's views |
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Term
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Definition
| the chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives. The Speaker is the most important party and House leader, and can influence the legislative agenda, the fate of individual pieces of legislation, and members' positions within the House |
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Term
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Definition
| a legislative support agency responsible for policy analysis |
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Term
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Definition
| a permanent committee with the power to propose and write legislation that covers a particular subject, such as finance or agriculture |
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Term
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Definition
| legally prescribed limits on the number of terms an elected official can serve |
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Term
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Definition
| a representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her constituency |
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Term
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Definition
| the president's constitutional power to turn down acts of Congress. A presidential veto may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress |
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Term
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Definition
| a party member in the House or Senate responsible for coordinating the party's legislative strategy, building support for key issues, and counting votes |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| the secretaries, or chief administrators, of the major departments of the federal government. Cabinet secretaries are appointed by the president with the consent of the Senate |
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Term
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Definition
| a normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters |
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Term
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Definition
| the role of the president as commander of the national military and the state national guard units (when called into service) |
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Term
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Definition
| constitutional powers that are assigned to one governmental agency but that are exercised by another agency with the express permission of the first |
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Term
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Definition
| an agreement, made between the president and another country, that has the force of a treaty but does not require the Senate's "advice and consent" |
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Term
| Executive Office of the President (EOP) |
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Definition
| the permanent agencies that perform defined management tasks for the president. Created in 1939, the EOP includes the Office of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, the National Security Council, and other agencies |
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Term
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Definition
| a rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect and formal status of legislation |
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Term
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Definition
| the claim that confidential communications between a president and close advisers should not be revealed without the consent of the president |
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Term
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Definition
| specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8), and to the president (Article II) |
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Term
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Definition
| powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution, but are inferred from it |
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Term
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Definition
| an informal group of advisers to whom the president turns for counsel and guidance. Members of the official Cabinet may or may not also be members of the Kitchen Cabinet |
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Term
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Definition
| the president's inherent power to bring a legislative agenda before Congress |
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Term
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Definition
| a claim by a victorious candidate that the electorate has given him or her special authority to carry out promises made during the campaign |
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Term
| National Security Council (NSC) |
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Definition
| a presidential foreign policy advisory council composed of the president; the vice president; the secretaries of state, defense, and the treasury; the attorney general; and other officials invited by the president |
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Term
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Definition
| a presidential veto that is automatically triggered if the president does not act on a given piece of legislation passed during the final ten days of a legislative session |
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Term
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Definition
| the president's constitutional power to turn down acts of Congress. A presidential veto may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress |
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Term
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Definition
| a resolution of Congress that the president can send troops into action abroad only by authorization of Congress, or if American troops are already under attack or serious threat |
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Term
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Definition
| analysts and advisers to the president, often given the title "special assistant" |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| administrative adjudication |
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Definition
| applying rules and precedents to specific cases to settle disputes between regulated parties |
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Term
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Definition
| the complex structure of offices, tasks, rules, and principles of organization that are employed by all large scale institutions to coordinate the work of their personnel |
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Term
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Definition
| the largest subunit of the executive branch. The secretaries of the fifteen departments form the Cabinet |
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Term
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Definition
| a policy of reducing or eliminating regulatory restraints on the conduct of individuals or private institutions |
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Term
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Definition
| a policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government, such as from the national government to the state and local governments |
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Term
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Definition
| the claim that confidential communications between a president and close advisers should not be revealed without the consent of the president |
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Term
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Definition
| a system of twelve Federal Reserve Banks that facilitates exchanges of cash, checks, and credit; regulates member banks; and uses monetary policies to fight inflation and deflation |
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Term
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Definition
| the government's use of taxing, monetary, and spending powers to manipulate the economy |
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Term
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Definition
| a government agency that performs a service normally provided by the private sector |
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Term
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Definition
| the efforts of departments and agencies to translate laws into specific bureaucratic routines |
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Term
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Definition
| an agency that is not part of a Cabinet department |
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Term
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Definition
| the stable, cooperative relationship that often develops among a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and one or more supportive interest groups. Not all of these relationships are triangular, but the iron triangle is the most typical |
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Term
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Definition
| a product of civil service reform, in which appointees to positions in public bureaucracies must objectively be deemed qualified for those positions |
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Term
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Definition
| the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies |
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Term
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Definition
| removing all or part of a program from the public sector to the private sector |
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Term
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Definition
| departments, bureaus, or independent agencies whose primary mission is to impose limits, restrictions, or other obligations on the conduct of individuals or companies in the private sector |
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Term
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Definition
| agencies responsible for collecting taxes. Examples include the Internal Revenue Service for income taxes, the U.S. Customs Service for tariffs and other taxes on imported goods, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms for collection of taxes on the sales of those particular products |
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Term
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Definition
| a quasi-legislative administrative process by which government agencies produce regulations |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| literally, "friend of the court"; individuals or groups who are not parties to a lawsuit but who seek to assist the Supreme Court in reaching a decision by presenting additional briefs |
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Term
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Definition
| a written document in which attorneys explain, using case precedents, why the court should find in favor of their client |
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Term
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Definition
| justice on the Supreme Court who presides over the Court's public sessions |
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Term
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Definition
| the branch of law that deals with disputes that do not involve criminal penalties |
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Term
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Definition
| a legal action by which a group or class of individuals with common interests can file a suit on behalf of everyone who shares that interest |
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Term
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Definition
| a court that hears appeals of trial court decisions |
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Term
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Definition
| the branch of law that regulates the conduct of individuals, defines crimes, and specifies punishment for criminal acts |
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Term
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Definition
| the one against whom a complaint is brought in a criminal or civil case |
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Term
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Definition
| a decision written by a justice in the minority in a particular case in which the justice wishes to express his or her reasoning in the case |
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Term
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Definition
| the right of every citizen against arbitrary action by national or state governments |
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Term
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Definition
| judicial philosophy that posits that the Court should go beyond the words of the Constitution or a statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions |
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Term
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Definition
| judicial philosophy whose adherents refuse to go beyond the clear words of the Constitution in interpreting its meaning |
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Term
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Definition
| the power of the courts to review and, if necessary, declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional. The Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison |
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Term
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Definition
| the sphere of a court's power and authority |
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Term
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Definition
| the requirement, articulated by the Supreme Court in Miranda v. Arizona, that persons under arrest must be informed prior to police interrogation of their rights to remain silent and to have the benefit of legal counsel |
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Term
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Definition
| a criterion used by courts to screen cases that no longer require resolution |
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Term
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Definition
| the written explanation of the Supreme Court's decision in a particular case |
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Term
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Definition
| stage in Supreme Court procedure in which attorneys for both sides appear before the Court to present their positions and answer questions posed by justices |
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Term
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Definition
| the authority to initially consider a case. Distinguished from appellate jurisdiction, which is the authority to hear appeals from a lower court's decision |
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Term
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Definition
| a brief, unsigned decision by an appellate court, usually rejecting a petition to review the decision of a lower court |
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Term
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Definition
| the individual or organization who brings a complaint in court |
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Term
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Definition
| a negotiated agreement in a criminal case in which a defendant agrees to plead guilty in return for the state's agreement to reduce the severity of the criminal charge or prison sentence the defendant is facing |
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Term
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Definition
| prior case whose principles are used by judges as the basis for their decision in a present case |
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Term
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Definition
| the practice whereby the president, before formally nominating a person for a federal judgeship, seeks the indication that senators from the candidate's own state support the nomination |
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Term
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Definition
| the top government lawyer in all cases before the Supreme Court where the government is a party |
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Term
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Definition
| the right of an individual or organization to initiate a court case, on the basis of their having a substantial stake in the outcome |
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Term
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Definition
| literally, "let the decision stand." The doctrine that a previous decision by a court applies as a precedent in similar cases until that decision is overruled |
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Term
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Definition
| Article VI of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision |
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Term
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Definition
| the highest court in a particular state or in the United States. This court primarily serves an appellate function |
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Term
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Definition
| the first court to hear a criminal or civil case |
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Term
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Definition
| code used in many states in the area of contract law to reduce interstate differences in judicial decisions |
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Term
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Definition
| a decision of at least four of the nine Supreme Court justices to review a decision of a lower court; from the Latin "to make more certain" |
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Term
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Definition
| a court order that the individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention. Habeas corpus is guaranteed by the Constitution and can be suspended only in cases of rebellion or invasion |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| an effort to regulate the economy through the manipulation of the supply of money and credit. America's most powerful institution in this area of monetary policy is the Federal Reserve Board |
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Term
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Definition
| amount by which government spending exceeds government revenue in a fiscal year |
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Term
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Definition
| congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by the law |
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Term
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Definition
| the power of government to set conditions on companies seeking to sell goods or services to government agencies |
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Term
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Definition
| a policy of reducing or eliminating regulatory restraints on the conduct of individuals or private institutions |
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Term
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Definition
| federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process |
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Term
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Definition
| the interest rate on loans between banks that the Federal Reserve Board influences by affecting the supply of money available |
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Term
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Definition
| a system of twelve Federal Reserve Banks that facilitates exchanges of cash, checks, and credit; regulates member banks; and uses monetary policies to fight inflation and deflation |
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Term
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Definition
| the government's use of taxing, monetary, and spending powers to manipulate the economy |
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Term
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) |
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Definition
| the total value of goods and services produced within a country |
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Term
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Definition
| a consistent increase in the general level of prices |
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Term
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Definition
| followers of the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes, who argued that the government can stimulate the economy by increasing public spending or by cutting taxes |
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Term
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Definition
| an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference |
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Term
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Definition
| incentive to individuals and businesses to reduce their tax liabilities by investing their money in areas that the government designates |
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Term
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Definition
| federal spending that is made up of "uncontrollables" budget items that cannot be controlled through the regular budget process |
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Term
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Definition
| followers of economic theories that contend that the role of the government in the economy should be limited to regulating the supply of money |
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Term
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Definition
| an effort to regulate the economy through the manipulation of the supply of money and credit. America's most powerful institution in this area of monetary policy is the Federal Reserve Board |
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Term
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Definition
| the existence of a single firm in a market that controls all the goods and services of that market; absence of competition |
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Term
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Definition
| method by which the Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve System buys and sells government securities, etc., to help finance government operations and to reduce or increase the total amount of money circulating in the economy |
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Term
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Definition
| taxation that hits upper income brackets more heavily |
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Term
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Definition
| a good or service that is provided by the government because it either is not supplied by the market or is not supplied in sufficient quantities |
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Term
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Definition
| a law, rule, statute, or edict that expresses the government's goals and provides for rewards and punishments to promote their attainment |
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Term
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Definition
| a policy whose objective is to tax or spend in such a way as to reduce the disparities of wealth between the lowest and the highest income brackets |
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Term
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Definition
| that hits lower income brackets more heavily |
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Term
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Definition
| the amount of liquid assets and ready cash that banks are required to hold to meet depositors' demands for their money |
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Term
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Definition
| a government grant of cash or other valuable commodities, such as land, to an individual or an organization; used to promote activities desired by the government, to reward political support, or to buy off political opposition |
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Term
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Definition
| posits that reducing the marginal rate of taxation will create a productive economy by promoting levels of work and investment that would otherwise be discouraged by higher taxes |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a budgetary item that is beyond the control of budgetary committees and can be controlled only by substantive legislative action in Congress. Some uncontrollable, such as interest on the debt, are beyond the power of Congress, because the terms of payments are set in contracts |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| social programs financed in whole or in part by taxation or other mandatory contributions by their present or future recipients |
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Term
| cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) |
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Definition
| a change made to the level of benefits of a government program based on the rate of inflation |
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Term
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Definition
| a legal obligation of the federal government to provide payments to individuals, or groups of individuals according to eligibility criteria or benefit rules |
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Term
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Definition
| widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential |
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Term
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Definition
| a debit card that can be used for food at most grocery stores; the largest in kind benefits program |
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Term
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Definition
| periodic process of adjusting social benefits or wages to account for increases in the cost of living |
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Term
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Definition
| non cash goods and services provided to needy individuals and families by the federal government |
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Term
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Definition
| the political philosophy that is skeptical of any government intervention as a potential threat to individual liberty |
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Term
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Definition
| a procedure by which potential beneficiaries of a public-assistance program establish their eligibility by demonstrating a genuine need for the assistance |
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Term
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Definition
| a federally and state-financed, state-operated program providing medical services to low-income people |
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Term
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Definition
| a form of national health insurance for the elderly and the disabled |
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Term
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Definition
| social programs that provide assistance to people on the basis of demonstrated need rather than any contribution they have made |
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Term
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Definition
| a contributory welfare program into which working Americans contribute a percentage of their wages, and from which they receive cash benefits after retirement |
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Term
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Definition
| government subsidies provided to employers and employees through tax deductions for amounts spent on health insurance and other benefits |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| effort to forestall war by giving in to the demands of a hostile power |
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Term
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Definition
| the strategy whereby many countries form alliances with one or more countries in order to counterbalance the behavior of other, usually more powerful, nation-states |
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Term
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Definition
| treaty made between two nations |
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Term
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Definition
| foreign policy based on the idea that the United States should take preemptive action against threats to its national security |
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Term
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Definition
| the period of struggle between the United States and the former Soviet Union between the late 1940s and about 1990 |
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Term
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Definition
| the development and maintenance of military strength as a means of discouraging attack |
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Term
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Definition
| the representation of a government to other foreign governments |
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Term
| economic expansionist role |
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Definition
| the strategy often pursued by capitalist countries to adopt foreign policies that will maximize the success of domestic corporations in their dealings with other countries |
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Term
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Definition
| an agreement, made between the president and another country, that has the force of a treaty but does not require the Senate's "advice and consent" |
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Term
| General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) |
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Definition
| international trade organization, in existence from 1947 to 1995, that set many of the rules governing international trade |
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Term
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Definition
| a strategy pursued by a superpower to prevent any change in the existing distribution of power among nation-states, even if this requires intervention into the internal affairs of another country in order to keep a ruler from being overthrown |
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Term
| International Monetary Fund (IMF) |
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Definition
| an institution established in 1944 that provides loans and facilitates international monetary exchange |
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Term
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Definition
| desire to avoid involvement in the affairs of other nations |
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Term
| most favored nation status |
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Definition
| agreement to offer a trading partner the lowest tariff rate offered to other trading partners |
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Term
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Definition
| a strategy pursued by a powerful nation to prevent aggressive actions against it by improving the internal state of affairs of a particular country, even if this means encouraging revolution in that country |
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Term
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Definition
| a political entity consisting of a people with some common cultural experience (nation) who also share a common political authority (state), recognized by other sovereignties (nation-states) |
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Term
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Definition
| groups other than nation-states that attempt to play a role in the international system. Terrorist groups are one type of non-state actor |
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Term
| North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) |
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Definition
| trade treaty among the United States, Canada, and Mexico to lower and eliminate tariffs among the three countries |
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Term
| North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) |
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Definition
| a treaty organization, comprising the United States, Canada, and most of Western Europe, formed in 1948 to counter the perceived threat from the Soviet Union |
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Term
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Definition
| willingness to strike first in order to prevent an enemy attack |
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Term
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Definition
| policy of striking first when a nation fears that a foreign foe is contemplating hostile action |
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Term
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Definition
| an organization of nations founded in 1945 to serve as a channel for negotiation and a means of settling international disputes peaceably. The UN has had frequent successes in providing a forum for negotiation and on some occasions a means of preventing international conflicts from spreading. On a number of occasions, the UN has been a convenient cover for U.S. foreign-policy goals |
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Term
| World Trade Organization (WTO) |
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Definition
| international trade agency promoting free trade that grew out of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
|
Definition
| a small group of people that dominates the political process |
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Term
| individualistic political culture |
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Definition
| the belief that government should limit its role to providing order in society, so that citizens can pursue their economic self-interests |
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Term
| moralistic political culture |
|
Definition
| the belief that government should be active in promoting the public good and that citizens should participate in politics and civic activities to ensure that good |
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Term
| North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) |
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Definition
| trade treaty among the United States, Canada, and Mexico to lower and eliminate tariffs among the three countries |
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Term
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Definition
| broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function. American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality, and democracy |
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Term
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Definition
| the complex interrelations between politics and the economy, as well as their effect on one another |
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Term
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Definition
| a narrow, limited, and self-interested view of the world |
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Term
| traditionalistic political culture |
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Definition
| the belief that government should be dominated by political elites and guided by tradition |
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Term
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Definition
| the process by which people move from rural areas to cities |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses |
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Term
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Definition
| the Confederate States of America, those southern states that seceded from the United States in 1861 and argued that the power of a government is based in its states |
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Term
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Definition
| the legal structure of a government, which establishes its power and authority as well as the limits on that power |
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Term
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Definition
| a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional governments |
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Term
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Definition
| a militant farmers' movement of the late nineteenth century that fought for improved conditions for farmers |
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Term
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Definition
| the formal charge by the House of Representatives that leads to trial in the Senate and possible removal of a state official |
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Term
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Definition
| a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution |
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Term
| necessary and proper clause |
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Definition
| Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution, it provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its expressed powers |
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Term
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Definition
| an executive branch in which power is fragmented because the election of statewide office holders is independent of the election of the governor |
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Term
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Definition
| a bloc of Republicans in the U.S. Congress who pushed through the adoption of black suffrage as well as an extended period of military occupation of the South following the Civil War |
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Term
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Definition
| a representative democracy, a system of government in which power is derived from the people |
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Term
|
Definition
| the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making |
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Term
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Definition
| Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, which states that the Constitution and laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision |
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Term
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Definition
| comprising one body or house, as in one house legislature |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a primary election in which voters can participate in the nomination of candidates, but only of the party in which they are enrolled for a period of time prior to the primary day |
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Term
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Definition
| the county party official, who heads the county executive committee |
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Term
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Definition
| a meeting held by a political party following its precinct conventions, for the purpose of electing delegates to its state convention |
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Term
| county executive committee |
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Definition
| the party group, made up of a party's county chair and precinct chairs, that is responsible for running a county's primary elections and planning county conventions |
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Term
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Definition
| the requirement that a voter register long before the general election; in effect in Texas until 1971 |
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Term
|
Definition
| a procedure that allows voters to cast ballots during the two-week period before the regularly scheduled election date |
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Term
|
Definition
| a decisive election that determines who is elected to office |
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Term
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Definition
| a national act, passed in 1993, which requires states to allow people to register to vote when applying for a driver's license |
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Term
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Definition
| a primary election in which the voter can wait until the day of the primary to choose which party to enroll in to select candidates for the general election |
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Term
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Definition
| a state-imposed tax on voters as a prerequisite for registration. Poll taxes were made unconstitutional in national elections by the Twenty-fourth Amendment, and in state elections by the Supreme Court in 1966 |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
|
Definition
| the local party official, elected in the party's primary election, who heads the precinct convention and serves on the party's county executive committee |
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Term
|
Definition
| a meeting held by a political party to select delegates for the county convention and to submit resolutions to the party's state platform; precinct conventions are held on the day of the party's primary election and are open to anyone who voted in that election |
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Term
| presidential Republicanism |
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Definition
| a voting pattern in which conservatives vote Democratic for state offices, but Republican for presidential candidates |
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Term
|
Definition
| elections held to select a party's candidate for the general election |
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Term
|
Definition
| where no candidate received a majority, a second primary election is held between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first primary election |
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Term
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Definition
| a movement, led by the Texas governor Allan Shivers during the 1950s, in which conservative Democrats in Texas supported Republican candidates for office because many of them believed that the national Democratic Party had become too liberal |
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Term
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Definition
| an election that is not held on a regularly scheduled basis; in Texas, a special election is called to fill a vacancy in office, to give approval for the state government to borrow money, or to ratify amendments to the Texas Constitution |
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Term
| state chair and vice chair |
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Definition
| the top two state-level leaders in the party |
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Term
|
Definition
| a party meeting held every two years for the purpose of nominating candidates for statewide office, adopting a platform, electing the party's leadership, and in presidential election years selecting delegates for the national convention and choosing presidential electors |
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Term
| state executive committee |
|
Definition
| the committee responsible for governing a party's activities throughout the state |
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Term
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Definition
| primary election in which only white voters are eligible to participate |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
|
Definition
| the interest-group practice of combining campaign contributions from several individuals into one larger contribution from the group, so as to increase the group's impact on the candidate |
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Term
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Definition
| individuals who organize to influence the government's programs and policies |
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Term
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Definition
| independent spending by individuals or interest groups on a campaign issue but not directly tied to a particular candidate |
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Term
|
Definition
| an individual employed by an interest group who tries to influence governmental decisions on behalf of that group |
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Term
| political action committee (PAC) |
|
Definition
| a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns |
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Term
|
Definition
|
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Term
|
Definition
| the final step in the legislative process, during which the governor either signs or vetoes a bill |
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Term
|
Definition
| having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses; opposite of unicameral |
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Term
|
Definition
| occurring every two years |
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Term
|
Definition
| a proposed law that has been sponsored by a member of the legislature and submitted to the clerk of the House or Senate |
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Term
|
Definition
| a resolution of interest to both chambers of the legislature, and that must pass both the House and Senate and generally be signed by the governor |
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Term
|
Definition
| a joint committee created to work out a compromise on House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation |
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Term
| consideration by standing committee |
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Definition
| the third step in the legislative process, during which a bill is killed, amended, or heard by a standing committee |
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Term
|
Definition
| the third step in the legislative process, during which a bill is killed, amended, or heard by a standing committee |
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Term
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Definition
| efforts made by a member of a legislature on behalf of his or her constituency |
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Term
| directive and supervisory powers |
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Definition
| the legislature's power over the executive branch; for example, the legislature determines the size of appropriations for state agencies |
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Term
|
Definition
| the legislature's mandated role in counting returns in the elections for governor and lieutenant governor |
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Term
|
Definition
| a tactic that members of the Senate use to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down. In Texas, Senate rules require that senators stand upright at his/her desk and remain on topic while speaking. This is unlike the U.S. Senate, where it is not necessary to remain on topic |
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Term
|
Definition
| the fourth step in the legislative process, during which a bill referred by a standing committee is scheduled for floor debate by the Calendars Committee |
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Term
|
Definition
| a bill that applies to all people and/or property in the state |
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Term
|
Definition
| the formal charge by the House of Representatives that leads to trial in the Senate and possible removal of a state official |
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Term
|
Definition
| the first step in the legislative process, during which a member of the legislature gets an idea for a bill and files a copy of it with the clerk of the House or secretary of the Senate |
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Term
|
Definition
| the power, exercised by the House, the Senate, or both chambers jointly, to investigate problems facing the state |
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Term
|
Definition
| a resolution, commonly a proposed amendment to the Texas Constitution or ratification of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, that must pass both the House and Senate but does not require the governor's signature |
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Term
|
Definition
| the power of the House to impeach and of the Senate to convict members of the executive and judicial branches of state government |
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Term
|
Definition
| the power of the executive to veto specific provisions (lines) of a bill passed by the legislature |
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Term
|
Definition
| a bill affecting only units of local government, such as a city, county, or special district |
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Term
| one-person, one-vote principle |
|
Definition
| the principle that all districts should have roughly equal populations |
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Term
|
Definition
| a step in the legislative process during which a bill is killed by the chair of the standing committee to which it was referred, as a result of his or her setting the bill aside and not bringing it before the committee |
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Term
|
Definition
| a veto of a bill that occurs after the legislature adjourns, thus preventing the legislature from overriding it |
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Term
|
Definition
| the Speaker of the House's power to control floor debate by recognizing who can speak before the House |
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Term
|
Definition
| the process of redrawing election districts and redistributing legislative representatives. This happens every ten years to reflect shifts in population or in response to legal challenges in existing districts |
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Term
|
Definition
| the second step in the legislative process, during which a bill is assigned to the appropriate standing committee by the Speaker (for House bills) or the lieutenant governor (for Senate bills) |
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Term
|
Definition
| the 140-day period during which the Texas legislature meets to consider and pass bills; occurs only in odd-numbered years |
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Term
|
Definition
| a proposal, made by a member of the legislature, that generally deals with the internal workings of the government; a resolution is similar to a bill, but it has a more limited scope and lacks the force of public law |
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Term
|
Definition
| a resolution that concerns only the Texas House or Senate, such as the adoption of a rule or the appointment of an employee, and does not require the governor's signature |
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Term
|
Definition
| an electorate that is allowed to select only one representative from each district |
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Term
|
Definition
| the chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives. The Speaker is the most important party and House leader, and can influence the legislative agenda, the fate of individual pieces of legislation, and members' positions within the House |
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Term
|
Definition
| a bill that gives an individual or corporation a special exemption from state law |
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Term
|
Definition
| a legislative session called by the governor that addresses an agenda set by him or her and that lasts no longer than thirty days |
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Term
|
Definition
| a permanent committee with the power to propose and write legislation that covers a particular subject, such as finance or agriculture |
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Term
|
Definition
| the governor's power to turn down legislation; can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate |
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Term
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Definition
|
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Term
| agricultural commissioner |
|
Definition
| elected state official who is primarily responsible for enforcing agricultural laws |
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Term
|
Definition
| the power of the chief executive, whether the president of the United States or the governor of a state, to appoint persons to office |
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Term
|
Definition
| elected state official who serves as the state's chief civil lawyer |
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Term
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Definition
| the complex structure of offices, tasks, rules, and principles of organization that are employed by all large-scale institutions to coordinate the work of their personnel |
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Term
|
Definition
| elected state official who directs the collection of taxes and other revenues |
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Term
|
Definition
| the state budget prepared and submitted by the governor to the legislature, which indicates the governor's spending priorities. The executive budget is overshadowed in terms of importance by the legislative budget |
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Term
|
Definition
| the formal charge by the House of Representatives that leads to trial in the Senate and possible removal of a state official |
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Term
|
Definition
| elected state official who is the manager of most publicly owned lands |
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Term
|
Definition
| the state budget that is prepared and submitted by the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) and that is fully considered by the House and Senate |
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Term
|
Definition
| the second-highest elected official in the state and president of the state Senate |
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Term
|
Definition
| the power of the executive to veto specific provisions (lines) of a bill passed by the legislature |
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Term
|
Definition
| the resources available to higher officials, usually opportunities to make partisan appointments to offices and to confer grants, licenses, or special favors to supporters |
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Term
|
Definition
| an executive branch in which power is fragmented because the election of statewide officeholders is independent of the election of the governor |
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Term
|
Definition
| a veto of a bill that occurs after the legislature adjourns, thus preventing the legislature from overriding it |
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Term
|
Definition
| state official, appointed by the governor, whose primary responsibility is administering elections |
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Term
|
Definition
| the practice whereby the governor seeks the support of the senator from the nominee's district. Failure to obtain that support will usually mean the Senate will not confirm the nominee |
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Term
|
Definition
| a legislative session called by the governor that addresses an agenda set by him or her and that lasts no longer than thirty days |
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Term
| Sunset Advisory Commission (SAC) |
|
Definition
| a commission created in 1975 for the purpose of reviewing the effectiveness of state agencies |
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Term
|
Definition
| the governor's power to turn down legislation; can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate |
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Term
|
Definition
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Term
|
Definition
| the presentation of a defendant's defense against an allegation in a civil case |
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Term
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Definition
| a trial held without a jury and before only a judge |
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Term
| beyond a reasonable doubt |
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Definition
| the legal standard in criminal cases, which requires the prosecution to prove that a reasonable doubt of innocence does not exist |
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Term
|
Definition
| a criminal case that calls for the death penalty |
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Term
|
Definition
| a branch of law that deals with disputes that do not involve criminal penalties |
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Term
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Definition
| the presentation of a grievance by the plaintiff in a civil case |
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Term
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Definition
| a fee paid to the lawyer in a civil case, and that is contingent on winning the case |
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Term
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Definition
| the courts that exist in some counties that are presided over by county judges |
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Term
|
Definition
| the person in each of Texas's 254 counties who presides over the county commissioners' court, with responsibility for the administration of county government; some county judges carry out judicial responsibilities |
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Term
|
Definition
| the fourteen intermediate-level appellate courts that hear appeals from district and county courts to determine whether the decisions of these lower courts followed legal principles and court procedures |
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Term
|
Definition
| the branch of law that regulates the conduct of individuals, defines crimes, and specifies punishment for criminal acts |
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Term
|
Definition
| the major trial courts in Texas, which usually have general jurisdiction over a broad range of civil and criminal cases |
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Term
|
Definition
| referring to an appellate hearing with all judges participating |
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Term
|
Definition
| a serious criminal offense, punishable by a prison sentence or a fine |
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Term
|
Definition
| jury that determines whether sufficient evidence is available to justify a trial; grand juries do not rule on the accused's guilt or innocence |
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Term
|
Definition
| a written statement issued by a grand jury that charges a suspect with a crime and states that a trial is warranted |
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Term
| Judicial Campaign Fairness Act |
|
Definition
| a judicial reform under which campaign contributions are limited by the amount that a judicial candidate can receive from donors |
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Term
| justice of the peace courts |
|
Definition
| local trial courts with limited jurisdiction over small claims and very minor criminal misdemeanors |
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Term
|
Definition
| a judicial reform under which judges would be nominated by a blue-ribbon committee, appointed by the governor, and, after a brief period in office, would run in a retention election |
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Term
|
Definition
| a minor criminal offense, usually punishable by a small fine or a short jail sentence |
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Term
|
Definition
| local trial courts with limited jurisdiction over violations of city ordinances and very minor criminal misdemeanors; municipal courts are located in each of Texas's incorporated cities and towns |
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Term
|
Definition
| a regulation enacted by a city government |
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Term
|
Definition
| negotiated agreement in a criminal case in which a defendant agrees to plead guilty in return for the state's agreement to reduce the severity of the criminal charge or prison sentence the defendant is facing |
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Term
| preponderance of the evidence |
|
Definition
| the standard of proof in a civil jury case, by which the plaintiff must show that the defendant is more likely than not the cause of the harm suffered by the plaintiff |
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Term
|
Definition
| an election in which voters decide "yes" or "no" regarding whether to keep an incumbent in office |
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Term
| statutory county courts at law |
|
Definition
| courts that tend to hear less serious cases than those heard by district courts |
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Term
|
Definition
| specialized courts whose jurisdiction is limited to probate and guardianship matters |
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Term
| Texas Court of Criminal Appeals |
|
Definition
| the highest criminal court in Texas; consists of nine justices and has final state appellate authority over criminal cases |
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Term
|
Definition
| the highest civil court in Texas; consists of nine justices and has final state appellate authority over civil cases |
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Term
|
Definition
|
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Term
|
Definition
| an election in which officials are selected by voters of the entire geographical area, rather than from smaller districts within that area |
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Term
|
Definition
| the chief financial officer of a city |
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Term
| commissioner form of government |
|
Definition
| a form of city government in which the city is run by a small group of elected commissioners who act in both legislative and executive capacities |
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Term
|
Definition
| precinct-level county official involved with serving legal papers and, in some counties, enforcing the law |
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Term
| council-manager form of government |
|
Definition
| a form of city government in which public policies are developed by the city council and executive and administrative functions are assigned to a professional city manager |
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Term
| council of government (COG) |
|
Definition
| a regional planning board composed of local elected officials and some private citizens from the same area |
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Term
|
Definition
| county official who prosecutes lesser criminal cases in the county court |
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Term
|
Definition
| public official, appointed by the district judges, who receives and disburses county funds; in large counties, this official also prepares the county budget |
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Term
|
Definition
| public official who is the main record-keeper of the county |
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Term
|
Definition
| government official (four per county) on the county commissioners court whose main duty is the construction and maintenance of roads and bridges |
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Term
| county commissioners court |
|
Definition
| the main governing body of each county; has the authority to set the county tax rate and budget |
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Term
|
Definition
| the person in each of Texas's 254 counties who presides over the county court and county commissioners court, with responsibility for the administration of county government; some county judges carry out judicial responsibilities |
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|
Term
| county tax assessor-collector |
|
Definition
| public official who maintains the county tax records and collects the taxes owed to the county |
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Term
|
Definition
| public official who prosecutes the more serious criminal cases in the district court |
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Term
|
Definition
| public official who is the main record-keeper of the district court |
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Term
|
Definition
| a term that refers to special districts of which many citizens are unaware |
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Term
|
Definition
| the rules under which a city operates |
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|
Term
| mayor-council form of government |
|
Definition
| a form of city government in which the mayor is the chief executive and the city council is the legislative body; in the strong mayor-council variation, the mayor's powers enable him or her to control executive departments and the agenda of the city council; in the weak mayor-council variation, the mayor's power is more limited |
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|
Term
| municipal utility district (MUD) |
|
Definition
| a special district that offers services such as electricity, water, sewage, and sanitation outside the city limits |
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|
Term
| nonschool special district |
|
Definition
| any special district other than a school district; examples include municipal utility districts (MUDs) and hospital districts |
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Term
|
Definition
| a tax based on an assessment of the value of one's property, which is used to fund the services provided by local governments, such as education |
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Term
|
Definition
| a specific type of special district that provides public education in a designated area |
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Term
|
Definition
| an electorate that is allowed to select only one representative from each district |
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Term
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| a unit of local government that performs a single service, such as education or sanitation, within a limited geographical area |
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| a fee paid for public goods and services, such as water or sewage service |
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| Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) |
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| a federally and state-financed program for children living with parents or relatives who fell below state standards of need. Replaced in 1996 by TANF |
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| the amounts of money approved by the state legislature in statutes that each unit or agency of government can spend |
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| occurring every two years |
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| comptroller of public accounts |
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| elected state official who directs the collection of taxes and other revenues |
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| the amount of a budget spent by a government on paying interest on its debt |
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| a portion of the state budget that is dedicated to mandatory spending on programs such as health care for the poor |
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| literally, "by fact"; practices that occur even when there is no legal enforcement, such as school segregation in much of the United States today |
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| provision of the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing citizens "the equal protection of the laws." This clause has been the basis for the civil rights of African Americans, women, and other groups |
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| education reform legislation passed in 1949 that supplemented local funding of education with state monies, raised teachers' salaries, mandated a minimum length for the school year, and provided more state supervision of public education |
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| federal monies given to a state to match the state's funding on a joint program |
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| a federally and state-financed, state-operated program providing medical services to low-income people |
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| President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1930s program to stimulate the national economy and provide relief to victims of the Great Depression |
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| a rule in the Texas Constitution that requires the state to balance its budget |
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| progressive/regressive taxation |
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| taxation that hits upper income brackets more heavily (progressive) or lower income brackets more heavily (regressive) |
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| Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) |
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| a federal block grant that replaced the AFDC program in 1996 |
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| an exemption from a federal requirement |
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