AP Government duel

Senatorial courtesy

Politico

Eminent domain allows the government to take private property for public use, as long as just compensation is paid

Marble vs. layer cake federalism Marble cake means 1930s fed expansion, layer cake means they are supreme in separate areas

Lemon test

Judicial review

Recall special election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before his or her term

Margin of error the percentage that a scientific poll is likely to be off; a margin of error of +/- 3 percent is common

Ratification method of enacting a constitution or amendment into law

Straight-ticket voting voting for candidates all of the same party

national laws supersedes all other laws passed by states

Caucus

Opinion leaders

determines the rules for debate for bills in the House

writ of habeas corpus

allows voters to petition to propose legislation and then submit it for a vote by qualified voters; not available at the national level

Fiscal policy how the government uses taxes and spending to impact the economy

Straw Poll

writ of certiorari

On deep background information provided in an interview that a reported can use but cannot make even an indirect reference to the source

speech plus verbal and symbolic speech used together

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

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

the practice of a state choosing an early date to hold a primary election

governmental powers shared by the federal and state governments

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

Hamdi v. Rumsfield (2004) US Gov needs to at least have a hearing to determine a war prisoner's charge

mandates require states to enforce legislation without the funding necessary

executive privilege a claim by the president or a member of the executive branch that information or documents requested by Congress or the courts do not have to be turned over because of the separation of powers

Appellate courts courts with authority to review cases heard by other courts to correct errors in the interpretation or application of law

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

Grassroots lobbying organizing a letter-writing campaign or taking out ads to influence public opinion and persuade public officials to support a particular policy

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

Incorporation application of portions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment

Implied powers

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

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

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

Federal budget

Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925) States cannot ban private schools to prevent religious courses. Wisconsin v. Yoder

Pardon a convicted person is exempt from the penalties of a crime; only the president has this power at the national

a poll conducted on election day to determine how people voted

Cloture a method for cutting off a filibuster in the Senate; sixteen votes are needed to call for cloture and sixty are needed to end a filibuster

a political/economic system in which the government plays a major role (usually ownership) in determining the use of productive resources and the allocation of valuable goods and services; may be democratic or authoritarian

At-large

let the decision stand; court decisions are based on precedent from previous cases

double jeopardy a rule that says a person can't be tried twice by the same court under the same charges twice; from the 5th amendment

Policy formulation

Cooperative federalism "marble-cake federalism" a model of the relationship between the federal government and the states that developed during the 1930s; the power of the federal government expands into areas that the states are usually responsible for

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

prior restraint

Cabinet government departments headed by presidential appointees to help establish public policy and operate a specific policy area of governmental activity

District courts lowest level of federal courts, where most federal cases begin and trials are held

jurisdiction the authority to hear cases is shared by federal and state courts

governmental powers shared by the federal and state governments

Incumbency effect tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to advantages because they already hold the office

Logrolling the exchange of political favors for support of a bill; an agreement between two or more members of Congress to vote for each other's bills

constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally

General election voters choose office holder from among all the candidates nominated by political parties or running as independents

Critical elections

End this game?