Iron trianglealliances that develop between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees
Frozen!
Frozen!
Boost!
Boost!
Moderateperson whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies
Gridlockwhen opposing parties and interests often block each other's proposals, creating a political stalemate or inaction between the executive and legislative branches of government
Extraditionstates may return fugitives to a state from which they have fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the state's governor
Off year electionan election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; midterm election
Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)gives Congress the powers to pass all laws necessary and proper to carry out their constitutional duties, found in Article I, Section 8, Clause 18; also called the elastic clause
Civil rightspositive acts of government designed to prevent discrimination and provide equality before the law. What the government should do.
Patronagethe system in which a party leader rewarded political supporters with jobs or government contracts in exchange for their support of the party
Nonpartisan electionan election in which candidates run as independents without party affiliation
On backgroundinformation provided in an interview that a reporter can quote but can't attribute specifically to the interviewee
the president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress
Impoundmentrefusal of the president to spend money Congress has appropriated; was eliminated by the congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
Realignment
Legislative vetowhen Congress rejects an action of the president by a majority vote of both houses; declared
that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used against the person from whom it was seized
Passed by Congress in 1976; excludes abortion from the comprehensive health care services provided to low-income people by the federal government through Medicaid.
Initiativeallows voters to petition to propose legislation and then submit it for a vote by qualified voters; not available at the national level
basic principle of US government which holds that the people are the source of all governmental power
Referenduma general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct
Governmentthe formal and informal institutions, people, and processes used to create and conduct public policy
Recallspecial election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before his or her term
citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues; there are no elected officials;
voting for candidates from more than one party in the same election
election commissiona commission delegated to supervise an election
powers specifically granted to the national government in the Constitution
Block grantsgrants federal funds given to the states for programs in broad policy areas with few, if any, restrictions
political organizations that use contributions from individuals, corporations, and labor unions to spend unlimited sums independent from the campaigns, yet influencing the outcome of elections
Inherent powers
North American Free Trade Agreementcreated to allow the free movement of goods between Canada, Mexico, and the US by lowering and eliminating tariffs
unfair treatment of a person based on race or group membership
a type of federalism that deals with the flow of funds through grants and other means from the federal government to the states
Frozen!
Frozen!
Slanderfalse verbal statements about others that harm their reputation
Revolvingdoor the practice of government officials becoming lobbyists for the industries or companies they were responsible for regulating while they were public servants
Grassroots lobbyingorganizing a letter-writing campaign or taking out ads to influence public opinion and persuade public officials to support a particular policy
Unitary system
Boost!
Boost!
Joint committeea committee of Congress made up of members of both houses that focuses on issues of general concern but does not propose legislation
SuperPACpolitical organizations that use contributions from individuals, corporations, and labor unions to spend unlimited sums independent from the campaigns, yet influencing the outcome of elections
basic rights that are guaranteed to all persons; basic rights a government cannot deny
Libertarianismpeople who wish to maximize the personal liberty on both economic and social issues; prefer small,
Pluralist theory of democracyinterest groups compete in the political arena with each promoting its own policy preferences through organized efforts
Public opinion
Lemon v. KurtzmanCreates the "Lemon Test", which has requires separate, secular, and neutral effect and intention in government action.
bringing charges of wrongdoing against a government official by the House of Representatives
Connecticut (Great) Compromise
War Powers Act of 1973
Free rideran individual who benefits from the activities of an interest group but does not support the group either financially or through active participation
Referenduma general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct
Senatorial courtesy
Interest groupa group of private citizens whose goal is to influence and shape public policy
Unanimous consentan agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation
Split-ticket votingvoting for candidates from more than one party in the same election
Libelfalse written statements about others that harm their reputation
a set of basic values and beliefs about one's country or government that is shared by most citizens
Boost!
Boost!
stare decisis
election commissiona commission delegated to supervise an election
Bill
Off the record informationinformation provided in an interview that a reporter cannot directly use
a majority/minority party leader in Congress who makes sure the party members are present for important votes and vote by party
Political socializationcomplex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values
Select committeea temporary committee of Congress set up for a specific purpose that is outside the scope of the standing committees