an addition or amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own
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
A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president
Oversight
organizing a letter-writing campaign or taking out ads to influence public opinion and persuade public officials to support a particular policy
voters choose office holder from among all the candidates nominated by political parties or running as independents
Powell v. Alabama (1932)
The Supreme Court ruled here that the right to counsel was required by law in death penalty trials. Also, capital cases must have counsel when defendant cannot defend because of "ignorance, feeblemindedness, illiteracy, or the like". Selective Incorporation case based on the sixth amendment. Gideon v. Wainwright
Pure speech
locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political office
Subsidy
Bicameral legislature
Soft money
money used by national, state, or local party organizations that is not regulated by the Federal Election Commission
a person whose political views favor more local, limited government, fewer government regulations,
the president can reject a portion of a bill while approving the rest; declared unconstitutional
Logrolling
Veto
the president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress
under the 10th Amendment, powers not granted to the federal government or denied to the states reserved for the states or the people
Prospective voting
stare decisis
let the decision stand; court decisions are based on precedent from previous cases
corporation a corporation that may receive part of its funding from Congress and is managed by a board appointed by the president; the function it performs could be carried out by private enterprise; an example is the US Postal service
Moderate
person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies
Pocket veto
one party controls the executive (president) and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress
Primary election
sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions
Court ruled that a DC law banning hand guns was unconstitutional. McDonald v. Chicago
Independent executive agency
an agency that is part of the executive branch but not included in any executive department; the head of the agency (NASA, CIA for example) is appointed by the president and serves at the pleasure of the president
the practice of a state choosing an early date to hold a primary election
Open primary
a primary election in which an individual does not have to be a registered voter in a particular party to vote for candidates of that party
Establishment clause
