Lemon test
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
Free exercise clause
Congress may not make laws restricting or prohibiting a person's religious practices
a type of federalism that deals with the flow of funds through grants and other means from the federal government to the states
Revolving
a designation within a spending bill that provides for a specific expenditure
Commerce and slave trade compromise
Passed by Congress in 1976; excludes abortion from the comprehensive health care services provided to low-income people by the federal government through Medicaid.
SuperPAC
political organizations that use contributions from individuals, corporations, and labor unions to spend unlimited sums independent from the campaigns, yet influencing the outcome of elections
Plurality vote
electoral process in which the candidate who receives more votes than any other candidate is elected
using actions and symbols rather than words to convey an idea
Powell v. Alabama (1932)
Apportionment
distribution of congressional representatives among the states, based on the population of each state
an individual who benefits from the activities of an interest group but does not support the group either financially or through active participation
a law that limits presidential use of military forces to sixty days, with an automatic extension of thirty additional days if the president requests such an extension
the view that justices should base decisions on a narrow interpretation of the Constitution
independents
people who have no party affiliation
On background
information provided in an interview that a reporter can quote but can't attribute specifically to the interviewee
Honeymoon period
the time early in a new president's administration characterized by optimistic approval by the public
Procedural due process
Constitutional requirement that governments proceed by proper methods; limits how government may exercise power.
Loose Constructionist
Liberal
a person whose views favor more government involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, and increased government spending
constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens. What the government can't do.
National debt
serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority
Dual Federalism
a model of the relationship between the federal government and the states in which each is supreme in its own sphere; "layer cake federalism"
speech plus
verbal and symbolic speech used together
Direct primary
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"
media executives, news editors, and prominent reporters who decide what news to present and how it will be presented
Ratification
method of enacting a constitution or amendment into law
