AP Government duel

redistribution of the 435 congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution

a brief submitted to the court by an interested third party that outlines issues it thinks are important in the case. amicus curiae literally means "friend of the court"

Reserved powers

Federalist Papers written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to support ratification of the Construction

Legislative veto

Electorate people qualified to vote

Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925)

citizens choose officials who make decisions about public policy; a republic

determines the rules for debate for bills in the House

Rule of four a rule that says that four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree in conference to hear a case

Superdelegates party officials in the Democratic Party who attend the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses

Critical elections sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions

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

Diplomacy the conduct of international relations, particularly involving the negotiation of treaties and other agreements between nations

Soft money money used by national, state, or local party organizations that is not regulated by the Federal Election Commission

Limited Government a governing or controlling body whose power exists only within predefined limits that are established by a Constitution or other source of authority

when opposing parties and interests often block each other's proposals, creating a political stalemate or inaction between the executive and legislative branches of government

Republic a government that derives its authority from the people and in which citizens elect government officials to represent them in the processes by which laws are made; a representative democracy

Federal question a question of law based on interpretation of the US Constitution, federal laws, or treaties

Political action committees (PAC$) extension of an interest group that contributes money to political campaigns

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

federal funds given to state and local governments for specific programs that usually require the recipient to match the money provided and have other strings attached

Party machine a political organization, typically at the local level, that wielded considerable power through its ability to get out the vote; relied heavily on patronage and providing services to constituents and was often corrupt

Due process protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property provided for under the 5th and 14th Amendments

Politico a member of Congress who acts as a delegate on issues that constituents care about (such as immigration reform) and as a trustee on more complex or less salient issues (some foreign policy or regulatory matters)

a campaign near the end of an election to get voters out to the polls

President Pro Tempore serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority

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

Extradition states may return fugitives to a state from which they have fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the state's governor

direct majority or minority party strategy and decisions in the House and Senate

Fiscal federalism

responsible for interpreting and applying the laws; in the federal government it consists of the US district

Recess appointment

New Jersey v. TLO (1985) Students have less privacy at schools; their stuff is subject to a search because of suspicion. This is necessary for discipline.

a poll conducted in an unscientific manner, used to predict election outcomes

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

the policies of government or the particular subject matter of the laws determining what the law is about and whether the law is fair or if it violates constitutional protections

Government the formal and informal institutions, people, and processes used to create and conduct public policy

prohibits the establishment of a national religion

Political agenda issues that merit action, as determined by the public or those in power

Constituent all residents of the state for senators, all residents of a district for House members

equality of opportunity everyone should have the same chance; what individuals make of that chance depends their abilities and efforts

Direct primary party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election

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

Good-faith exception a rule of evidence that says that if the authorities act "in good faith," evidence that otherwise might have been excluded may be admissible. Modifies Mapp v. Ohio

Incumbent the person currently holding office

Candidate

door the practice of government officials becoming lobbyists for the industries or companies they were responsible for regulating while they were public servants

Mapp v. Ohio (1961) Selectively incorporates 4th amendment. Later modified with "inevitable discovery" (good if would be found in a later, lawful search) and "good faith" (good if warrant was issued at all).

Joint committee a committee of Congress made up of members of both houses that focuses on issues of general concern but does not propose legislation

Open primary a primary election in which an individual does not have to be a registered voter in a particular party to vote for candidates of that party

a judicial philosophy that holds that courts have a more expansive role to play in shaping public policy

Random sampling a statistical technique that gives everyone in the target group the same opportunity to participate in a poll

The government cannot exert prior restraint.

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan

federal spending set by the government through appropriations bills, including operating expenses and salaries of government employees

Delegate an elected official who considers it an obligation to vote the way the majority of his or her constituents wants

Maintaining elections traditional majority power maintains power based on voters' party loyalty

Anti-Federalists those opposed to the ratification of the Constitution because it gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states and the lack of a bill of rights

Sixth amendment applies to federal criminal cases with possible imprisonment and too poor defendant. Gideon v. Wainwright

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