Voter turnout
the total number of votes cast for the highest office on the ballot
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
Select committee
a temporary committee of Congress set up for a specific purpose that is outside the scope of the standing committees
Policy evaluation
Due process
protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property provided for under the 5th and 14th Amendments
Policy implementation
carrying out a policy through government agencies and courts
Off year election
Impoundment
refusal of the president to spend money Congress has appropriated; was eliminated by the congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
Discrimination
unfair treatment of a person based on race or group membership
National debt
Judicial branch
Articles of Confederation
Primary election
nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election
Lemon v. Kurtzman
Creates the "Lemon Test", which has requires separate, secular, and neutral effect and intention in government action.
Split-ticket voting
voting for candidates from more than one party in the same election
a rule that says a person can't be tried twice by the same court under the same charges twice; from the 5th amendment
Symbolic speech
using actions and symbols rather than words to convey an idea
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
voting a method of evaluating candidates in which voters evaluate incumbent candidates and decide whether to vote for them based on their past performances
Limited Government
Runoff primary
when no candidate receives a majority of votes, and election held between the two candidates who recorded the most votes in the primary
election commission
the practice of allowing senators from the president's party who represent the state where a judicial district is located, to approve or disapprove potential nominees for the lower federal courts
Caucus (congressional)
a group of members of Congress who may or may not be from the same party but who share
information provided in an interview that a reporter can quote but can't attribute specifically to the interviewee
conformity
to social norms and values, tough on criminals
Great compromise
Concurrent jurisdiction
jurisdiction the authority to hear cases is shared by federal and state courts
Leak
an unauthorized release of information to the press from someone in the government
Brief
a written document submitted to a court that presents the facts and legal reasoning of a party to the lawsuit
