Rule of four
a rule that says that four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree in conference to hear a case
a very brief excerpt from a political speech aired on television or radio
Congressional review
Congress's authority to review a new federal regulation enacted by a regulatory agency and overrule it through a joint resolution
Congressional oversight
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
Separation of powers
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
Concurring opinion
justice or justices who agree with the majority's ruling but not the reason behind the decision
Progressive tax
a tax that is higher for those who make more money; the federal income tax is an example
joint resolution
A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president
Before police interrogate, suspect must learn of rights like the Fifth Amendment
a collection of shared attitudes of citizens about government, politics and the making of public policy
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.
Majority leader
the elected leader of the party with the most seats in the House or Senate
governmental powers shared by the federal and state governments
prior restraint
a member of Congress who acts as a delegate on issues that constituents care about (such as immigration reform) and as a trustee on more complex or less salient issues (some foreign policy or regulatory matters)
Midterm elections
Federal budget
President Pro Tempore
serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority
identification of the problems and/or issues that require the attention of the government to resolve
Marble vs. layer cake federalism
Marble cake means 1930s fed expansion, layer cake means they are supreme in separate areas
issues that merit action, as determined by the public or those in power
Maintaining elections
traditional majority power maintains power based on voters' party loyalty
agreement with another head of state not requiring approval from the Senate
information provided in an interview that a reporter cannot directly use
Due process
protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property provided for under the 5th and 14th Amendments
Blanket primary
a model of the relationship between the federal government and the states in which each is supreme in its own sphere; "layer cake federalism"
speech plus
verbal and symbolic speech used together
segregation that results from living patterns rather than law
