AP Government duel

double jeopardy

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

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

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

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

all forms of communication that reach a large portion of the population

conformity to social norms and values, tough on criminals

Marble vs. layer cake federalism

At-large all the voters of a state or county elect their representative

Prospective voting a method of evaluating candidates in which voters focus on candidates' positions on issues important to them and vote for the candidates who best represent their views

Miranda warning the warning that an individual must be read at the time of arrest and questioning, letting him know his 5th and 6th amendment rights

Federal budget decicit the difference in any year between government spending and government revenue

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

Dissenting opinion opinion justice or justices who voted in the minority, explaining the reasons for opposing the majority opinion

Mandates requirements imposed by the national government on state and local governments to comply with federal

Hyperpluralist Theory of Democracy

the president can reject a portion of a bill while approving the rest; declared unconstitutional

Runoff primary when no candidate receives a majority of votes, and election held between the two candidates who recorded the most votes in the primary

when a significant number of voters choose to no longer support a particular political party

Amendment

only one representative is chosen from each legislative district

Loose Constructionist the belief that judges should have freedom in interpreting the Constitution

Recess appointment a presidential appointment made when Congress is not in session; doesn't require immediate confirmation

Exclusionary rule that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used against the person from whom it was seized

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

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

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

the Senate's authority to approve or neglect the president's top appointments and negotiated treaties

De jure segregation segregation segregation that results from law

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

Gender gap a situation in which men and women hold different positions on a wide range of political issues

Party dealignment weakening of ties between the voters and the two major parties

Select committee a temporary committee of Congress set up for a specific purpose that is outside the scope of the standing committees

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

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

Bill of Rights

Hard money money used directly by a candidate running for office; it is subject to campaign finance laws and Federal

On deep background

Open convention

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

seen as a system of many groups pulling government in many directions at the same time, causing gridlock and ineffectiveness

powers specifically granted to the national government in the Constitution

Standing committee a permanent committee of Congress that deals with legislation and oversight in a broad policy area

Realigning election

Majority leader the elected leader of the party with the most seats in the House or Senate

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

Upholds establishment clause and free exercise clause. Engel v. Vitale

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

Conference committee a committee made up of members of the House and Senate that is responsible for reconciling the differences when two versions of the same bill pass both houses of Congress

offensive speech against racial or ethnic minorities, women, and homosexuals that creates a hostile environment

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

Federalism a division of governmental powers between the national government and the states

Concurrent powers governmental powers shared by the federal and state governments

Platform a statement of a political party on the issues facing the country, adopted at the national convention; each issue position is known as a plank

DC v. Heller (2008)

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

Electoral College

On background information provided in an interview that a reporter can quote but can't attribute specifically to the interviewee

powers powers, usually claimed by the president, that are implied but not specifically stated in the Constitution or are derived from the office

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

End this game?