AP Government duel

Political ideology

Patronage

Incumbent

Natural rights basic rights that are guaranteed to all persons; basic rights a government cannot deny

Ex post facto law a law that makes an action a crime even though it was legal when it was committed or increases the penalty for a crime after it has been committed

Congressional oversight

Delegated powers

action by the government to prevent the publication of material; censorship

Regressive tax 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

test standard set by the Supreme Court in Lemon v. Kurtzman to measure the constitutionality of state laws. Separate, Secular, and Neutral in effect and intent

Establishment clause

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

Electorate people qualified to vote

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

Coattail

Agenda setting

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another

the approval of a policy by legislation

Democracy a system whereby the people rule either directly or by elected representation

the numerous people who are involved in the formulation of policy, including the president, members of Congress, the cabinet, lobbyists, interest groups, government agencies, and scholars; a looser relationship than the iron triangles

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

Dealigning election party loyalty becomes less important to voters, and they vote for the other party candidate or

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

Pardon

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

representatives from each state who formally cast ballots for the president and vice president

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

belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking

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

Majority leader

Reserved powers under the 10th Amendment, powers not granted to the federal government or denied to the states reserved for the states or the people

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

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

Found a "right to privacy" in the Constitution that would ban any state law against selling contraceptives

writ of certiorari a formal document issued by the Supreme Court to a lower court indicating that it will hear a case

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

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

Liberal

action by the president that does not require the approval of Congress; subject to judicial review

bringing charges of wrongdoing against a government official by the House of Representatives

Gridlock

one party controls the executive (president) and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress

De jure segregation segregation segregation that results from law

Checks and balances

Split-ticket voting voting for candidates from more than one party in the same election

Miranda v. Arizona (1966) Before police interrogate, suspect must learn of rights like the Fifth Amendment

national laws supersedes all other laws passed by states

writ of habeas corpus

Block grants

government corporation 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

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

Public policy the exercise of government power in doing those things necessary to maintain legitimate authority and control over society

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

End this game?