AP Government duel

Realigning election

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

allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials to constituents free of charge

the majority of justices agree on the decision and the reasons for the decision

an effort to shift responsibility or domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size and activities of the federal government

the development of an approach to solving a problem that is on the political agenda

false written statements about others that harm their reputation

Opinion leaders

Entitlement government benefits provided to Americans who qualify because of their age, income, and/or status

Interest group

Block grants grants federal funds given to the states for programs in broad policy areas with few, if any, restrictions

Filibuster a lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill in the Senate; can be ended by a cloture motion and vote

Political efficacy belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking

Unitary system a political system in which all power is derived from the central government

Congress's authority to review a new federal regulation enacted by a regulatory agency and overrule it through a joint resolution

programs, money, and resources provided by the federal government to state and local governments to be used for specific projects and programs

Dealigning

Political ideology

Superdelegates

Deregulation the process of reducing or completely eliminating federal government oversight of an industry so as to allow it to operate more freely; used to encourage competition and reduce costs to consumers

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

DC v. Heller (2008) Court ruled that a DC law banning hand guns was unconstitutional. McDonald v. Chicago

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

distribution of congressional representatives among the states, based on the population of each state

Authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive/state/legislature; est. in Marbury v. Madison

Political agenda

people who have no party affiliation

Federal budget amount of money the federal government expects to receive and authorizes government to spend for a fiscal year

Federalist

Judicial restraint

Supremacy clause national laws supersedes all other laws passed by states

Keynesian economics

Political culture a set of basic values and beliefs about one's country or government that is shared by most citizens

Majority opinion the majority of justices agree on the decision and the reasons for the decision

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

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

Gerrymandering

Public opinion a collection of shared attitudes of citizens about government, politics and the making of public policy

Policy implementation carrying out a policy through government agencies and courts

Off year election an election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; midterm election

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

the approval of a policy by legislation

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

Mass media

Congressional oversight

Rules committee

Rider an addition or amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own

the person currently holding office

the idea that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization

Exit poll a poll conducted on election day to determine how people voted

Interest group

a shift of voting patterns to form new coalitions of party support

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

Senatorial courtesy the practice of allowing senators from the president's party who represent the state where a judicial district is located, to approve or disapprove potential nominees for the lower federal courts

Privileges and Immunities Clause states are prohibited from unreasonably discriminating against residents of other states

Amendment

Loose Constructionist

Slander false verbal statements about others that harm their reputation

Court ruled that a DC law banning hand guns was unconstitutional. McDonald v. Chicago

Policy formulation

End this game?