AP Government duel

Bench trial a trial in which the judge who presides over the trial decides on guilt or liability

Incrementalism small changes in policy over long periods of time; usually in reference to budget making - that the best indicator of this year's budget is last year's budget plus a small increase

Caucus

Procedural Due Process

The Supreme Court concluded that "actual malice" must be proved to support a finding of libel against a public figure. Principle of "breathing space"

Political socialization

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

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

Establishment clause

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

Liberal a person whose views favor more government involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, and increased government spending

party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election

Implied powers powers not expressed, but may be considered through the use of the necessary and proper (elastic) clause

Great compromise 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 is determined by population, while each state would have equal representation in the Senate (two senators per state)

Three-fifths compromise agreement at the constitutional convention that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House of Representatives and for taxation

Soft money money used by national, state, or local party organizations that is not regulated by the Federal Election Commission

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

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

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

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

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

Bill a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion.

Hyde Amendment (1976) Passed by Congress in 1976; excludes abortion from the comprehensive health care services provided to low-income people by the federal government through Medicaid.

determines is a policy is achieving its goals; usually carried out with congressional oversight

a very brief excerpt from a political speech aired on television or radio

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

Logrolling

government spending exceeds revenue

Due process protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property provided for under the 5th and 14th Amendments

Extradition

Affirmative action

States cannot ban private schools to prevent religious courses. Wisconsin v. Yoder

Subsidy

practice by which power is divided among three branches of government; each branch has its own powers and duties and is independent of and equal to the other branches

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

Deficit government spending exceeds revenue

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

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

Students have less privacy at schools; their stuff is subject to a search because of suspicion. This is necessary for discipline.

conformity

justice or justices who agree with the majority's ruling but not the reason behind the decision

Midterm elections congressional elections held between presidential elections

Realigning election when a minority party wins by building a new coalition of voters that continues over successive election

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

Rule of four a rule that says that four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree in conference to hear a case

pork-barrel legislation legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a member's chance of reelection

Loose Constructionist

Great compromise

Pure speech verbal communication of ideas and opinions

a model of the relationship between the federal government and the states in which each is supreme in its own sphere; "layer cake federalism"

Politics

The Supreme Court ruled here that the right to counsel was required by law in death penalty trials. Also, capital cases must have counsel when defendant cannot defend because of "ignorance, feeblemindedness, illiteracy, or the like". Selective Incorporation case based on the sixth amendment. Gideon v. Wainwright

Bill of attainder

Party machine a political organization, typically at the local level, that wielded considerable power through its ability to get out the vote; relied heavily on patronage and providing services to constituents and was often corrupt

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

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

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

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

when opposing parties and interests often block each other's proposals, creating a political stalemate or inaction between the executive and legislative branches of government

Supremacy clause national laws supersedes all other laws passed by states

End this game?