AP Government duel

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

an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation

Referendum a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct

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

Whip a majority/minority party leader in Congress who makes sure the party members are present for important votes and vote by party

Retrospective voting a method of evaluating candidates in which voters evaluate incumbent candidates and decide whether to vote for them based on their past performances

Bench trial

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

Deviating election minority party is able to win the support of majority party members, independents, and new voters

Rule of four

carrying out a policy through government agencies and courts

Lemon test 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

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

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

Religion does not override child labor laws. Wisconsin v. Yoder

Federal system

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

Courts of Appeal federal courts with appellate jurisdiction that review decisions of federal district courts, regulatory commissions, and other federal courts

Procedural Due Process method of government action, or how the law is carried out according to established rules and procedures

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

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

joint resolution A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president

Leak

War Powers Act of 1973

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

the difference in any year between government spending and government revenue

De facto segregation

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

Majority opinion

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

Slander false verbal statements about others that harm their reputation

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

an agency that is part of the executive branch and responsible for regulating and oversight of a segment of the economy; it is managed by a board or commission appointed by the president for a fixed term

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

Rules committee determines the rules for debate for bills in the House

rewrite of a bill after hearings have been held on it

Legislative Branch under Article I of the Constitution, the legislative branch consists of the House and Senate, which together form the US Congress; the prime responsibility is to make laws

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

Moderate person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies

settled disputes between the states over the structure of the legislative branch; a solution to the problem of representation at the Constitutional Convention, in which the number of members that each state would have in the House of Representatives is determined by population, while each state would have equal representation in the Senate

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

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

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

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)

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

Participatory democracy

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

independents

Realignment

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

weak government government that has limited control over economy or personal lives

equality of opportunity

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

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

national laws supersedes all other laws passed by states

Floor leaders

Trial balloon tests the public reaction to policy or appointments by releasing information to the media and gauging public reaction

Closed rule a rule issued by the House Committee on Rules, in which there is a strict time limit for debate and no amendments can be offered

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

the belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government

End this game?