an individual who benefits from the activities of an interest group but does not support the group either financially or through active participation
Marble cake means 1930s fed expansion, layer cake means they are supreme in separate areas
Rules committee
determines the rules for debate for bills in the House
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
Voter turnout
Dealigning
President Pro Tempore
serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority
an elected official who considers it an obligation to vote the way the majority of his or her constituents wants
Regressive tax
a tax that is assessed on everyone at the same rate and, therefore, impacts the poor more than it impacted wealthy; sales tax is regressive
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
Redistricting
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
special election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before his or her term
Party machine
Independent regulatory agency
an agency that is part of the executive branch and responsible for regulating and oversight of a segment of the economy; it is managed by a board or commission appointed by the president for a fixed term
Divided government
one party controls the executive (president) and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress
an effort to shift responsibility or domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size and activities of the federal government
Markup
rewrite of a bill after hearings have been held on it
common policy concerns
an association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest
Exit poll
a poll conducted on election day to determine how people voted
the Senate's authority to approve or neglect the president's top appointments and negotiated treaties
after listening to constituents, elected representatives vote based on their own opinions
government corporation
false written statements about others that harm their reputation
Discrimination
Monetary policy
Lobbying
Bicameral legislature
a two-house legislature
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
Off year election
Delegated powers
powers specifically granted to the national government in the Constitution
