a committee of Congress made up of members of both houses that focuses on issues of general concern but does not propose legislation
Prospective voting
Oversight
Congress monitors policies of the executive branch; the process by which the legislative branch checks the executive branch to ensure that the laws Congress has passed are being administered in keeping with legislators' intent
a rule issued by the House Committee on Rules, in which there is a strict time limit for debate and no amendments can be offered
original jurisdiction
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
Categorical grants
Discretionary spending
federal spending set by the government through appropriations bills, including operating expenses and salaries of government employees
Articles of Confederation
the first written constitution of the United States, which went into effect in 1781; it created a unicameral legislature, in which each state had one vote but no executive or judicial authority; the power of the central government was extremely limited
At-large
all the voters of a state or county elect their representative
Midterm elections
congressional elections held between presidential elections
a court order directing authorities to show cause for why a person under detention should not be released
distribution of congressional representatives among the states, based on the population of each state
method of maintaining, managing, and gaining control of government
Lobbying
attempting to influence policymakers through a variety of methods
Declaration of Independence
drafted in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson declaring America's separation from Great Britain
Concurrent powers
voting a method of evaluating candidates in which voters evaluate incumbent candidates and decide whether to vote for them based on their past performances
Appellate jurisdiction
jurisdiction the power a court has to review the decision of a lower court; the Supreme Court exercises appellate jurisdiction in the overwhelming majority of the cases it hears
Conservative
a person whose political views favor more local, limited government, fewer government regulations,
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) establishes?
Federal budget
amount of money the federal government expects to receive and authorizes government to spend for a fiscal year
states may return fugitives to a state from which they have fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the state's governor
a consistent set of beliefs about politics and public policy that sets the framework for evaluating government and public policy
Political party
Voluntary association of people who seek to control the government through common principles, based on peaceful and legal actions such as the winning of elections; an organization that recruits, nominated, and elects party members to control the government
a political system in which all power is derived from the central government
a trial in which the judge who presides over the trial decides on guilt or liability
Issue networks
a set of basic values and beliefs about one's country or government that is shared by most citizens
Recess appointment
Independent regulatory agency
