Conference committee
a committee made up of members of the House and Senate that is responsible for reconciling the differences when two versions of the same bill pass both houses of Congress
basic principle of US government which holds that the people are the source of all governmental power
District courts
Three-fifths compromise
agreement at the constitutional convention that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House of Representatives and for taxation
Soft money
money used by national, state, or local party organizations that is not regulated by the Federal Election Commission
Deficit
Substantive due process
the policies of government or the particular subject matter of the laws determining what the law is about and whether the law is fair or if it violates constitutional protections
Articles of Confederation
the first written constitution of the United States, which went into effect in 1781; it created a unicameral legislature, in which each state had one vote but no executive or judicial authority; the power of the central government was extremely limited
Rider
an addition or amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own
a statistical technique that gives everyone in the target group the same opportunity to participate in a poll
General election
voters choose office holder from among all the candidates nominated by political parties or running as independents
Fiscal policy
Markup
rewrite of a bill after hearings have been held on it
Electorate
people qualified to vote
At-large
all the voters of a state or county elect their representative
Procedural Due Process
method of government action, or how the law is carried out according to established rules and procedures
Platform
Coattail
Discrimination
unfair treatment of a person based on race or group membership
Unitary system
a political system in which all power is derived from the central government
Veto
Judicial restraint
holds that the Court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political questions, operating strictly within the limits of the Constitution
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Selectively incorporates 4th amendment. Later modified with "inevitable discovery" (good if would be found in a later, lawful search) and "good faith" (good if warrant was issued at all).
Marble vs. layer cake federalism
Marble cake means 1930s fed expansion, layer cake means they are supreme in separate areas
Legislative Branch
under Article I of the Constitution, the legislative branch consists of the House and Senate, which together form the US Congress; the prime responsibility is to make laws
Great compromise
a solution to the problem of representation at the constitutional convention, in which the number of members that each state would have in the House is determined by population, while each state would have equal representation in the Senate (two senators per state)
Unfunded mandates
mandates require states to enforce legislation without the funding necessary
Libel
false written statements about others that harm their reputation
a program intended to give a boost of preference to minority applicants over white applicants in contracting, employment, housing, and college or professional school admissions
Straw Poll
