method of enacting a constitution or amendment into law
Initiative
Open convention
a party national convention at which no candidate has won a majority of the delegates in the primaries; the candidate is chosen by the convention
Party dealignment
weakening of ties between the voters and the two major parties
Reserved powers
under the 10th Amendment, powers not granted to the federal government or denied to the states reserved for the states or the people
Federal budget
amount of money the federal government expects to receive and authorizes government to spend for a fiscal year
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"
Democracy
the belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government
government corporation
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
Commerce and slave trade compromise
Reapportionment
redistribution of the 435 congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution
Progressive
generally refers to the belief that government or people acting on its behalf can be used to address social problems or inequities facing the nation
Concurrent powers
governmental powers shared by the federal and state governments
created to allow the free movement of goods between Canada, Mexico, and the US by lowering and eliminating tariffs
the belief that inflation occurs when too much money is chasing too few goods; the government must manage the economy by spending more money when in a recession and cutting spending when there is inflation
Diplomacy
the conduct of international relations, particularly involving the negotiation of treaties and other agreements between nations
Split-ticket voting
voting for candidates from more than one party in the same election
Affirmative action
drawing district boundaries to give a minority group a majority
Libel
after listening to constituents, elected representatives vote based on their own opinions
Due process
protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property provided for under the 5th and 14th Amendments
Hate speech
offensive speech against racial or ethnic minorities, women, and homosexuals that creates a hostile environment
Exclusionary rule
that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used against the person from whom it was seized
Bill of attainder
a law that makes a person guilty of a crime without a trial; neither Congress nor the states can enact such a law Constitutionally
national laws supersedes all other laws passed by states
Honeymoon period
the time early in a new president's administration characterized by optimistic approval by the public
Passed by Congress in 1976; excludes abortion from the comprehensive health care services provided to low-income people by the federal government through Medicaid.
Select committee
a temporary committee of Congress set up for a specific purpose that is outside the scope of the standing committees
