AP Government duel

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

Libel

Discretionary spending federal spending set by the government through appropriations bills, including operating expenses and salaries of government employees

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

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

Amendment a revision or change to a bill, law, or constitution

On the record information provided in an interview that a reported can quote and attribute to the source, referring to the source by name

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

Patronage

Hard money

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

Interest group

Constitution

Federal question

Legislative courts

Civil liberties constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens. What the government can't do.

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

the view that justices should base decisions on a narrow interpretation of the Constitution

Public policy

Nonpartisan election

Plurality vote electoral process in which the candidate who receives more votes than any other candidate is elected

Open rule in the House, a rule that allows any amendments to a bill, regardless of whether they're relevant to the legislation

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

Administrative Discretion the flexibility a federal agency can exercise in implementing legislation through its rules and regulations. the authority delegated to bureaucrats to use their expertise and judgment when determining how to implement public policy.

The government cannot exert prior restraint.

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

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

common policy concerns an association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest

Amicus curiae brief

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

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

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

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

speech plus verbal and symbolic speech used together

Judicial review authority given the courts to review the constitutionality of acts by the executive, states, or the

Patronage

Gerrymandering

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

a lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill in the Senate; can be ended by a cloture motion and vote

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

West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette 1943, forcing students to salute the flag is a violation of 1st amendment free speech, and is therefore unconstitutional. Such gestures = symbolic speech. Tinker v. Des Moines.

On the record information provided in an interview that a reported can quote and attribute to the source, referring to the source by name

party officials in the Democratic Party who attend the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses

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

Straw Poll a poll conducted in an unscientific manner, used to predict election outcomes

an agency that is part of the executive branch but not included in any executive department; the head of the agency (NASA, CIA for example) is appointed by the president and serves at the pleasure of the president

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

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

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

Majority-minority districts drawing district boundaries to give a minority group a majority

Random sampling a statistical technique that gives everyone in the target group the same opportunity to participate in a poll

Impoundment refusal of the president to spend money Congress has appropriated; was eliminated by the congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

door the practice of government officials becoming lobbyists for the industries or companies they were responsible for regulating while they were public servants

party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election

Procedural due process

Creates the "Lemon Test", which has requires separate, secular, and neutral effect and intention in government action.

Delegated powers powers specifically granted to the national government in the Constitution

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

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

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

End this game?