AP Government duel

Monetary policy

Gatekeepers

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

those opposed to the ratification of the Constitution because it gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states and the lack of a bill of rights

Political action committees (PAC$) extension of an interest group that contributes money to political campaigns

party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election

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.

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

Political party

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

Civil liberties

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

the process of redrawing congressional and state legislative districts to reflect population changes in the census; responsibility for redistricting usually falls to the state legislatures; follows reapportionment

Realignment a shift of voting patterns to form new coalitions of party support

speech that is likely to bring about public disorder or chaos; may be banned in public places to ensure the preservation of public order

Discrimination unfair treatment of a person based on race or group membership

the approval of a policy by legislation

Federalist supported a strong central government and ratification of the Constitution

Policy implementation

Amicus curiae brief a brief submitted to the court by an interested third party that outlines issues it thinks are important in the case. amicus curiae literally means "friend of the court"

Recall special election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before his or her term

Congress may not make laws restricting or prohibiting a person's religious practices

Supremacy clause

Congressional oversight

Dealigning

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

Honeymoon period

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

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

a political system in which power is divided between the national government and state government

Candidate centered politics politics that focuses on candidates, their particular issues, and character rather than party affiliation

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

Senatorial courtesy the practice of allowing senators from the president's party who represent the state where a judicial district is located, to approve or disapprove potential nominees for the lower federal courts

Joint committee

the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791, which protect basic civil liberties

Party dealignment

Federal question

Judicial branch responsible for interpreting and applying the laws; in the federal government it consists of the US district

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

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

Democracy a system whereby the people rule either directly or by elected representation

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

a shift in voter loyalty in response to critical events; 1932 election of FD Roosevelt

Political ideology

Mandatory spending spending required government spending by permanent laws; entitlements, for example social security or bond payments

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

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

Progressive tax

Gridlock 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

Soft money

Commerce and slave trade compromise resolved differences between northern and southern states at the constitutional convention; Congress could not tax exports nor ban the slave trade for twenty years

Issue networks

Libertarianism

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

writ of certiorari

Initiative allows voters to petition to propose legislation and then submit it for a vote by qualified voters; not available at the national level

Limited Government a governing or controlling body whose power exists only within predefined limits that are established by a Constitution or other source of authority

Ex post facto law 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

original jurisdiction the first court to hear and decide a case; US district courts and the US Supreme Court have original jurisdiction in cases involving foreign affairs, states or the national government

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?