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Intro to Poli Sci Part 2
Basic definitions for Mizzou Political Science
34
Political Studies
Undergraduate 1
12/15/2010

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Term
Constitutional Courts
Definition
3-tiered system of federal district courts, courts of appeal, and the Supreme Court. Article III provides for the creation of these courts
Term
Legislative Courts
Definition
Various administrative courts and tribunals that Congress establishes, as Article I provides
Term
Marbury v Madison
Definition
Supreme Court decision in 1803 that established the principle of judicial review
Term
Judicial Review
Definition
Doctrine allowing Supreme Court to review and overturn decisions made by Congress and the president
Term
Judicial Activism
Definition
Vigorous use of judicial review to overturn laws and make public policy from the federal bench
Term
Writ of Certiorari
Definition
Supreme Court order for a lower court to send it the records of a case - 1st step in reviewing a lower court case
Term
Rule of Four
Definition
Supreme Court rule that at least 4 justices must decide that a case merits review before it goes on the Court's schedule
Term
Stare Decisis
Definition
Doctrine that previous Supreme Court decisions should be allowed to stand
Term
Majority Opinion
Definition
Document announcing and usually explaining the Supreme Court's decision in a case
Term
Concurring Opinion
Definition
Statement from one or more justices agreeing with a decision in a case but giving an alternative explanation for it
Term
Dissenting Opinion
Definition
Statement from one or more justices explaining why they disagree with a decision in a case
Term
Senatorial Courtesy
Definition
Practice a president follows in choosing a nominee for a district or appeals court judgeship. President selects a nominee from a list supplied by the senior senator of the president's party from the state or region where the vacancy occurs
Term
Missouri Plan
Definition
System some states use to select judges, appointing them by requiring them to stand for periodic reelection. Also called merit system
Term
Merit System
Definition
The system some states use to select judges, appointing them but requiring them to stand for periodic reelection
Term
Budget Deficits
Definition
Amount by which government spending exceeds government revenues in a single year
Term
National Debt
Definition
Total amount of money the federal government owes to pay for accumulated deficits
Term
Balanced Budget
Definition
Federal budget in which spending and revenues are equal
Term
Budget Surplus
Definition
Amount by which government revenues exceed government spending in a single year
Term
Social Security Act of 1935
Definition
Act of Congress that created the Social Security tax (Federal Insurance Contribution Act - FICA) and Social Security programs
Term
Progressive Tax
Definition
Tax system in which those with high incomes pay a higher percentage of their income than those with low incomes
Term
Regressive Tax
Definition
Tax system in which those with high incomes pay a lower percentage of their income in taxes than those with low incomes
Term
Entitlement Programs
Definition
Programs, created by legislation, that require the government to pay a benefit directly to any individual who meets the eligibility requirements the law establishes
Term
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
Definition
Increase in Social Security or other benefits designed to keep pace with inflation
Term
Nondiscretionary Spending
Definition
Federal spending on programs such as Social Security that can't be controlled through the regular budget process
Term
Discretionary Spending
Definition
Federal spending on programs that can be controlled through the regular budget process
Term
Pork Barrel
Definition
Legislation that appropriates government money for local projects of questionable value that may ingratiate a legislator with his or her constituents
Term
Corporate Welfare
Definition
Government subsidies or tax breaks of questionable value to private corporations
Term
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Definition
Agency in charge of assisting the president in reviewing and coordinating budget requests to Congress from federal agencies and departments. Formally the Bureau of Budget.
Term
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
Definition
Act of Congress that created a new budget process and the Congressional Budget Office that curtailed the president's power to impound funds
Term
Congressional Budget Office
Definition
Non[partisan congressional agency in charge of assisting Congress in reviewing and coordinating budget requests to Congress
Term
Continuing Resolutions
Definition
Temporary laws Congress passes to keep the government running when Congress misses the deadline for passing the budget
Term
Line-Item Veto
Definition
Ability of an executive to delete or veto some provisions of a bill, while allowing the rest of the bill to become law
Term
Flat Tax
Definition
Any income tax system in which taxable income is taxed at the same percentage rate regardless of taxpayer's income
Term
Revenue Neutral
Definition
Quality of any tax reform plan that will neither increase nor decrease government revenue
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