AP Government duel

De facto segregation segregation that results from living patterns rather than law

Pocket veto

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

Patronage the system in which a party leader rewarded political supporters with jobs or government contracts in exchange for their support of the party

Front loading

Pure speech

Split-ticket voting

Superdelegates party officials in the Democratic Party who attend the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses

service casework; assistance to constituents by congressional members

programs, money, and resources provided by the federal government to state and local governments to be used for specific projects and programs

Gridlock when opposing parties and interests often block each other's proposals, creating a political stalemate or inaction between the executive and legislative branches of government

Separation of powers

Divided government one party controls the executive (president) and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress

when no candidate receives a majority of votes, and election held between the two candidates who recorded the most votes in the primary

Federal question a question of law based on interpretation of the US Constitution, federal laws, or treaties

New Jersey v. TLO (1985)

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)

Eminent domain allows the government to take private property for public use, as long as just compensation is paid

citizens choose officials who make decisions about public policy; a republic

Joint committee

Incumbency effect tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to advantages because they already hold the office

Strict constitutionalist

speech plus verbal and symbolic speech used together

Political socialization complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values

Political agenda issues that merit action, as determined by the public or those in power

Casework services performed by an elected official for constituents

false written statements about others that harm their reputation

Maintaining elections

Blanket primary

Republic a government that derives its authority from the people and in which citizens elect government officials to represent them in the processes by which laws are made; a representative democracy

Courts of Appeal federal courts with appellate jurisdiction that review decisions of federal district courts, regulatory commissions, and other federal courts

Redistricting the process of redrawing congressional and state legislative districts to reflect population changes in the census; responsibility for redistricting usually falls to the state legislatures; follows reapportionment

Soft money

Majority leader the elected leader of the party with the most seats in the House or Senate

a brief submitted to the court by an interested third party that outlines issues it thinks are important in the case. amicus curiae literally means "friend of the court"

Socialism a political/economic system in which the government plays a major role (usually ownership) in determining the use of productive resources and the allocation of valuable goods and services; may be democratic or authoritarian

justice or justices who agree with the majority's ruling but not the reason behind the decision

false verbal statements about others that harm their reputation

Reapportionment redistribution of the 435 congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution

the conduct of international relations, particularly involving the negotiation of treaties and other agreements between nations

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) Found a "right to privacy" in the Constitution that would ban any state law against selling contraceptives

an individual who benefits from the activities of an interest group but does not support the group either financially or through active participation

test standard set by the Supreme Court in Lemon v. Kurtzman to measure the constitutionality of state laws. Separate, Secular, and Neutral in effect and intent

a campaign near the end of an election to get voters out to the polls

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan The Supreme Court concluded that "actual malice" must be proved to support a finding of libel against a public figure. Principle of "breathing space"

Fighting words speech that is likely to bring about public disorder or chaos; may be banned in public places to ensure the preservation of public order

Unfunded mandates mandates require states to enforce legislation without the funding necessary

District courts lowest level of federal courts, where most federal cases begin and trials are held

people who have no party affiliation

the first court to hear and decide a case; US district courts and the US Supreme Court have original jurisdiction in cases involving foreign affairs, states or the national government

Dissenting opinion opinion justice or justices who voted in the minority, explaining the reasons for opposing the majority opinion

Public opinion

Democracy a system whereby the people rule either directly or by elected representation

Ideology a consistent set of beliefs by groups or individuals

Public policy

Free exercise clause Congress may not make laws restricting or prohibiting a person's religious practices

Caucus locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political office

segregation that results from living patterns rather than law

Appellate courts courts with authority to review cases heard by other courts to correct errors in the interpretation or application of law

Judicial Review Authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive/state/legislature; est. in Marbury v. Madison

End this game?