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| two-house legislature (House and Senate) |
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| money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose ( e.g., transportation) rather than for a narrow purpose (e.g., school lunch program). Gives states more flexibility. |
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| money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose ( e.g., school lunch program) rather than for a broad purpose (e.g., transportation). In this case, the federal gov has more power over states. |
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| those who favor greater national authority rather than state authority. |
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| system in which each branch of government can limit the power of the other two branches, e.g., presidential veto of a congressional law. |
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| gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes. Granted through Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution. |
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| those held by both Congress and the states, e.g., establishing law enforcement agencies |
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| system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government, e.g., the US under the Articles of Confederation. |
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| those who favor greater state authority rather than national authority. |
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| system in which the people rule themselves. |
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| states that Congress can exercise those powers that are “necessary and proper” for carrying out the enumerated powers, e.g., establishment of the first Bank of the United States. |
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| those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, section 8 of the Constitution, e.g., the power to tax. Also known as expressed powers. |
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| constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments |
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| system in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective sphere. (layer cake) |
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| system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems |
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| system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states (used more recently) |
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| group of 85 essays written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution. |
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| those that are “necessary and proper” to carry out Congress’ enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the elastic clause. |
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| system in which the people are rule by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy, or republic |
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| foreign policy powers (e.g., acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government |
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| a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution, e.g., through a court decisions such as Brown v. Board |
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| power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803. |
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| requirements imposed by the national government upon the states. |
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| imposed by the national government, but lack funding. |
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| 1803: established the power of judicial review. |
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| 1819: established principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers. |
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| powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public. (also known as reserved powers!) |
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| principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people. |
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| powers held by the states through the 10th Amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is “reserved” for the states |
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| principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial. |
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| 1786 revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure that was a factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention. Established need for a strong central government. |
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| a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half, e.g., 3/5, 2/3. |
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| those who follow politics and public affairs carefully |
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| occurs when a presidential nominee chooses a vice presidential running mate who has different qualities in order to attract more votes for the ticket. |
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| election to choose candidates that is open to independents, and that allows voters to choose candidates from all the parties |
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| party election to choose candidates that is closed to independents. Voters may not cross party lines. |
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| the influence of a popular presidential candidate on the election of congressional candidates of the same party. |
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| election of an official directly by the people rather than by an intermediary group such as the Electoral College. |
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| election in which the people choose candidates for office. |
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| scheduling presidential primary elections early (e.g., February or March) in an election year. |
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| difference in voting patterns for men and women, particularly in the greater tendency of women to vote for Democratic presidential candidates. |
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| election in which the officeholders are chosen. Contrast with a primary election, in which only the candidates are chosen. |
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| campaign contributions donated directly to candidates. |
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| an officeholder who is seeking reelection. |
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| independent with no consistent pattern of party voting. |
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| election to choose candidates that is open to independents, and in which voters may choose candidates from any one party. |
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| a list of positions and programs that the party adopts at the national convention. Each position is called a plank. |
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| more votes than anyone else, but less than half, e.g., Clinton won a plurality (43%) of popular votes in 1992, but not a majority. Plurality elections such as those for Congress are won by the person with the most votes, regardless if he/she has a majority. |
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| capacity to understand and influence political events |
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| process in which one acquires his/her political beliefs. (main source is family) |
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| Realigning (“critical”) election |
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an election in which there is a long term
change in party alignment, e.g., 1932. |
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| Single member district system |
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| system in which the people elect one representative per district. With a winner-take-all rule, this system strengthens the two major parties and weakens minor parties. |
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| campaign contributions that are not donated directly to candidates, but are instead donated to parties. |
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| historically, the South voted solidly Democratic. However, the South is now strongly Republican: Bush carried every Southern state in 2000. |
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| casting votes for candidates of one’s own party and for candidates of opposing parties, e.g., voting for a Republican presidential candidate and a Democratic congressional candidate |
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| a delegate to the Democratic national convention who is there by virtue of holding an office |
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| “friend of the court” brief filed by an interest group to influence a Supreme Court decision. |
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| contention that parties are less meaningful to voters, who have abandoned the parties in greater numbers to become independents. |
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| government in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls the Congress. |
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| theory that upper class elites exercise great influence over public policy. |
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| term used by Madison to denote what we now call interest groups. He considered factions inevitable but undesirable. |
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| the problem faced by interest groups when citizens can reap the benefits of interest group action without actually joining, participating in, or contributing money to such groups. |
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| the tendency of the media to report on an election campaign as if it were a horse race, i.e., who is ahead, who is behind, who is gaining ground. |
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| an informal association of federal agency, congressional committee, and interest group that is said to have heavy influence over policy making. |
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| the act or process of carrying out a lawsuit. |
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| attempting to influence policy makers |
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| theory that policy making is the result of interest group competition. |
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| Political Action Committee (PAC |
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| an interest group that raises funds and donates to election campaigns. |
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| the cycle in which a person alternately works for the public sector and private sector, thus blurring the individual’s sense of loyalty. (ie: former Congressmen becoming lobbyists) |
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| congressional committee that deals with federal spending. |
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| authority of a court to hear an appeal from a lower court. |
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| personal work done by a member of Congress for his constituents. |
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| lawsuit brought on behalf of a class of people against a defendant, e.g., lawsuits brought by those who have suffered from smoking against tobacco companies. |
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| Rules Committee rule that bans amendments to a bill. |
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| Senate motion to end a filibuster that requires a 3/5 vote (60 votes) |
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| written by a Supreme Court Justice who voted with the majority, but for different reasons. |
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| works out a compromise between differing House-Senate versions of a bill. |
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| written by a Supreme Court Justice (or Justices) who express a minority viewpoint in a case. |
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| an agreement between the President and another head of state that, unlike a treaty, does not require Senate consent |
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| presidential rule or regulation that has the force of law. Only lasts the length of the presidential term. |
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| the privilege of a President and his staff to withhold their “privileged” conversations from Congress or the courts. |
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| nonstop Senate debate that prevents a bill from coming to a vote. |
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| allows members of Congress to send mail postage free |
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| redrawing district lines to favor one party at the expense of the other. |
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| House action that formally charges an official with wrongdoing. Conviction requires 2/3 vote from the Senate. |
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| refusal of a President to spend money that has been appropriated by Congress. |
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| philosophy that the courts should take an active role in solving problems. |
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| philosophy that the courts should defer to elected lawmakers in setting policy, and should instead focus on interpreting law rather than making law. |
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| ongoing process of congressional monitoring of the executive branch to ensure that the latter complies with the law. |
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| process in which Congress overturned rules and regulations proposed by executive branch agencies. Struck down in 1983. |
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| power of most governors (and President Clinton for only a few years) to delete or reduce funding in a bill on a line by line basis. |
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| when two members of Congress agree to vote for each other’s bill. |
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| authority of a court to first hear a case |
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| presidential killing of a bill by inaction after Congress adjourns. |
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| reallocation of House seats to the states on the basis of changes in state populations, as determined by the census. |
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| redrawing of congressional district boundaries by the party in power of the state legislature. |
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| amendment to a bill that has little to do with that bill. Also known as a nongermane amendment. |
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| the Supreme Court will hear a case if four Justices agree to do so. |
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| the “traffic cop” of the House that sets the legislative calendar and issues rules for debate on a bill. |
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| tradition in which the President consults with the senators within a state in which an appointment is to be made. |
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| the permanent congressional committees that handle legislation. |
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| Latin for “let the decision stand.” Supreme Court policy of following precedent in deciding cases. |
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| House committee that handles tax bills. |
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| issued by the Supreme Court to a lower court to send up the records of a case so that it can be reviewed by the high court. |
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| court order that the authorities show cause for why they are holding a prisoner in custody. Deters unlawful imprisonment. |
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| results when federal expenditures exceed federal revenues for a one year period. |
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| federal benefit payments to which recipients have a legal right, e.g., Social Security. Also known as uncontrollables. |
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| taxing and spending policies. |
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| Federal Reserve Board’s regulation of the supply of money in circulation. |
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| total debt owed by the federal government due to past borrowing. Also known as the public debt. |
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| federal financial aid to individuals, e.g., welfare, food stamps, agricultural subsidies. |
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| Clear and present danger doctrine |
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| judicial interpretation of Amendment 1 that government may not ban speech unless such speech poses an imminent threat to society. Schenck v. US |
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| prohibits the national government (5th Amendment) and states (14th Amendment) from denying life, liberty, or property without due process of law. |
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| 14th Amendment clause that prohibits states from denying equal protection under the law, and has been used to combat discrimination. |
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| the right of government to take private property for the public good. Fair compensation must be paid to the owner of such property. |
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| provision of Amendment 1 that prohibits Congress from establishing an official state religion. This is the basis for separation of church and state. |
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| Supreme Court guideline that excludes the use of illegally obtained evidence in a criminal trial. |
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| provision of Amendment 1 stating that Congress may not prohibit the free exercise of religion. However this may still be restricted, such as in the case with the Pentecostals using poisonous snakes. |
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| applying the Bill of Rights to the states |
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| the states must obey all provisions of the Bill of Rights because of the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. |
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| the Bill of Rights is to be applied to the states in a more gradual manner on a case by case basis, also via the due process clause of the 14th Amendment. |
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| grand jury order that a suspect must stand trial for a criminal offense. |
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| warnings that must be read to suspects prior to questioning. Suspects must be advised that they have the rights of silence and counsel. Established by Miranda v. Arizona. |
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| arrangement in which a suspect pleads guilty to a lesser offense in order to avoid a trial. The manner in which most cases are disposed of. |
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| When a court stops expression before it is made, e.g., prohibiting a demonstration by a radical group because the assembly is likely to become violent. Presumed to be unconstitutional. |
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| drawing of legislative boundaries to give electoral advantages to a particular racial group. “Majority-minority” districts include large numbers of racial minorities in order to ensure minority representation in legislatures. |
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| Supreme Court guideline for determining if government can make racial distinctions. According to this guideline, such distinctions are highly suspect and are allowed only if they are narrowly tailored to serve a compelling government interest. |
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