AP Government duel

Popular Socereignty basic principle of US government which holds that the people are the source of all governmental power

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

Policy evaluation

Declaration of Independence drafted in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson declaring America's separation from Great Britain

Public policy

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

Rider an addition or amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own

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

Anti-Federalists

Concurrent powers

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

Interest group a group of private citizens whose goal is to influence and shape public policy

Connecticut (Great) Compromise 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

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

Single-member districts only one representative is chosen from each legislative district

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.

party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election

Reapportionment redistribution of the 435 congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution

Participatory democracy citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues; there are no elected officials;

Independent executive agency 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

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

Elastic clause the necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) that allows Congress to pass laws to carry out its expressed powers

Appellate jurisdiction

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

Executive agreement

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

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

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

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

government spending exceeds revenue

the document setting forth the laws and principles of the government; a plan for government

Exit poll a poll conducted on election day to determine how people voted

Government the formal and informal institutions, people, and processes used to create and conduct public policy

Direct democracy democracy citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues; there are no elected officials; also called participatory democracy

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

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

Executive agreement agreement with another head of state not requiring approval from the Senate

President Pro Tempore serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority

Monetary policy

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

De jure segregation

Bicameral legislature a two-house legislature

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

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

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

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

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

a method for cutting off a filibuster in the Senate; sixteen votes are needed to call for cloture and sixty are needed to end a filibuster

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)

Pure speech verbal communication of ideas and opinions

Ideology

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

Administrative Discretion

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

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

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

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

Majority opinion

Civil rights positive acts of government designed to prevent discrimination and provide equality before the law. What the government should do.

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

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