Supremacy clause
Due process
protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property provided for under the 5th and 14th Amendments
Free rider
an individual who benefits from the activities of an interest group but does not support the group either financially or through active participation
Federal budget decicit
the difference in any year between government spending and government revenue
Amicus curiae brief
Deregulation
Eminent domain
Fighting words
speech that is likely to bring about public disorder or chaos; may be banned in public places to ensure the preservation of public order
Veto
a program intended to give a boost of preference to minority applicants over white applicants in contracting, employment, housing, and college or professional school admissions
Delegated powers
powers specifically granted to the national government in the Constitution
the majority of justices agree on the decision and the reasons for the decision
Free exercise clause
Congress may not make laws restricting or prohibiting a person's religious practices
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
Superdelegates
party officials in the Democratic Party who attend the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses
stare decisis
Legislative courts
courts courts created by Congress for a specialized purpose with a narrow range of authority; judges serve a fixed term
Voluntary association of people who seek to control the government through common principles, based on peaceful and legal actions such as the winning of elections; an organization that recruits, nominated, and elects party members to control the government
Constituency
service casework; assistance to constituents by congressional members
Pure speech
Primary election
nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election
a rule that says a person can't be tried twice by the same court under the same charges twice; from the 5th amendment
Bill of attainder
a law that makes a person guilty of a crime without a trial; neither Congress nor the states can enact such a law Constitutionally
powers not expressed, but may be considered through the use of the necessary and proper (elastic) clause
Republic
Commerce and slave trade compromise
justice or justices who agree with the majority's ruling but not the reason behind the decision
Declaration of Independence
drafted in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson declaring America's separation from Great Britain
Judicial activism
Checks and balances
a system in which each branch of the government has the power to limit the other branches of government so that one is not dominant; each branch of government is subject to restraints by the other two branches
