Front loadingthe practice of a state choosing an early date to hold a primary election
Senatorial courtesythe 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
franking privilege
Frozen!
Frozen!
Vetothe president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress
Boost!
Boost!
War Powers Act of 1973a law that limits presidential use of military forces to sixty days, with an automatic extension of thirty additional days if the president requests such an extension
Strict constitutionalist
Open conventiona party national convention at which no candidate has won a majority of the delegates in the primaries; the candidate is chosen by the convention
Frozen!
Frozen!
Maintaining elections
Commerce and slave trade compromise
Popular Socereignty
Majority leaderthe elected leader of the party with the most seats in the House or Senate
agreement at the constitutional convention that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House of Representatives and for taxation
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
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Plurality voteelectoral process in which the candidate who receives more votes than any other candidate is elected
New Jersey v. TLO (1985)Students have less privacy at schools; their stuff is subject to a search because of suspicion. This is necessary for discipline.
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
a speech or photo opportunity staged to give a politician's view on an issue; staged to present the candidate in a good light
Filibustera lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill in the Senate; can be ended by a cloture motion and vote
Boost!
Boost!
Libertarianism
a judicial philosophy that holds that courts have a more expansive role to play in shaping public policy
Interest groupa group of private citizens whose goal is to influence and shape public policy
Impoundment
Constitutionthe document setting forth the laws and principles of the government; a plan for government
belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking
Majority-minority districtsdrawing district boundaries to give a minority group a majority
Agenda settingidentification of the problems and/or issues that require the attention of the government to resolve
On the record information
Independent executive agencyan 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
Concurrent powersgovernmental powers shared by the federal and state governments
Issue networksthe numerous people who are involved in the formulation of policy, including the president, members of Congress, the cabinet, lobbyists, interest groups, government agencies, and scholars; a looser relationship than the iron triangles
Politicoa 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)
a method of evaluating candidates in which voters focus on candidates' positions on issues important to them and vote for the candidates who best represent their views
Frozen!
Frozen!
Iron triangle
writ of habeas corpus
complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values
Recess appointmenta presidential appointment made when Congress is not in session; doesn't require immediate confirmation
Frozen!
Frozen!
Concurrent jurisdictionjurisdiction the authority to hear cases is shared by federal and state courts
courts courts created by Congress for a specialized purpose with a narrow range of authority; judges serve a fixed term
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Judicial review
Procedural due process
drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another
Earmarka designation within a spending bill that provides for a specific expenditure
Fiscal federalisma type of federalism that deals with the flow of funds through grants and other means from the federal government to the states
Eminent domainallows the government to take private property for public use, as long as just compensation is paid
Federal questiona question of law based on interpretation of the US Constitution, federal laws, or treaties
Trustee
OversightCongress monitors policies of the executive branch; the process by which the legislative branch checks the executive branch to ensure that the laws Congress has passed are being administered in keeping with legislators' intent
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Boost!
Direct primaryparty members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election
weakening of ties between the voters and the two major parties
a system whereby the people rule either directly or by elected representation
Constitutionthe document setting forth the laws and principles of the government; a plan for government
weak governmentgovernment that has limited control over economy or personal lives
Liberala person whose views favor more government involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, and increased government spending
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Boost!
action by the government to prevent the publication of material; censorship
Straw Poll
Filibustera lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill in the Senate; can be ended by a cloture motion and vote
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
Candidatecentered politics politics that focuses on candidates, their particular issues, and character rather than party affiliation