De jure segregation
Federal budget
amount of money the federal government expects to receive and authorizes government to spend for a fiscal year
writ of certiorari
a formal document issued by the Supreme Court to a lower court indicating that it will hear a case
agreement with another head of state not requiring approval from the Senate
Public policy
the exercise of government power in doing those things necessary to maintain legitimate authority and control over society
Republic
election commission
a commission delegated to supervise an election
application of portions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment
the system in which a party leader rewarded political supporters with jobs or government contracts in exchange for their support of the party
Judicial activism
Checks and balances
a system in which each branch of the government has the power to limit the other branches of government so that one is not dominant; each branch of government is subject to restraints by the other two branches
Rules committee
a group of members of Congress who may or may not be from the same party but who share
Pocket veto
when the president takes no action on a bill within ten days of Congress adjourning, the bill does not become law
opinion justice or justices who voted in the minority, explaining the reasons for opposing the majority opinion
Majority opinion
the majority of justices agree on the decision and the reasons for the decision
everyone should have the same chance; what individuals make of that chance depends their abilities and efforts
powers not expressed, but may be considered through the use of the necessary and proper (elastic) clause
Connecticut (Great) Compromise
settled disputes between the states over the structure of the legislative branch; a solution to the problem of representation at the Constitutional Convention, in which the number of members that each state would have in the House of Representatives is determined by population, while each state would have equal representation in the Senate
Unfunded mandates
mandates require states to enforce legislation without the funding necessary
Pluralist theory of democracy
interest groups compete in the political arena with each promoting its own policy preferences through organized efforts
a tax that is assessed on everyone at the same rate and, therefore, impacts the poor more than it impacted wealthy; sales tax is regressive
Direct primary
party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election
Majority leader
Dual Federalism
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
in the House, a rule that allows any amendments to a bill, regardless of whether they're relevant to the legislation
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
Get-out-the-vote
Congressional review
Congress's authority to review a new federal regulation enacted by a regulatory agency and overrule it through a joint resolution
