AP Government duel

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

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

Grants-in-aid programs, money, and resources provided by the federal government to state and local governments to be used for specific projects and programs

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

Anti-Federalists 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

Expressed powers powers enumerated in the Constitution

Natural rights basic rights that are guaranteed to all persons; basic rights a government cannot deny

Dissenting opinion opinion justice or justices who voted in the minority, explaining the reasons for opposing the majority opinion

Democracy

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

Referendum a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct

Legislative veto when Congress rejects an action of the president by a majority vote of both houses; declared

Front loading

Deficit

Split-ticket voting

prior restraint

Retrospective voting a method of evaluating candidates in which voters evaluate incumbent candidates and decide whether to vote for them based on their past performances

Bicameral legislature

Off year election an election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; midterm election

Establishment clause prohibits the establishment of a national religion

Blanket primary a primary election in which candidates from all parties are on the ballot, and a registered voter can vote for the Democratic candidate for one office and the Republican candidate for another

Dealigning election party loyalty becomes less important to voters, and they vote for the other party candidate or

Progressive tax a tax that is higher for those who make more money; the federal income tax is an example

Independent executive agency an 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

weak government government that has limited control over economy or personal lives

the belief that judges should have freedom in interpreting the Constitution

Appellate courts courts with authority to review cases heard by other courts to correct errors in the interpretation or application of law

Media event a speech or photo opportunity staged to give a politician's view on an issue; staged to present the candidate in a good light

Devolution an effort to shift responsibility or domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size and activities of the federal government

Delegated powers powers specifically granted to the national government in the Constitution

Concurring opinion

writ of habeas corpus a court order directing authorities to show cause for why a person under detention should not be released

Courts of Appeal

Incumbent

locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political office

Off year election an election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; midterm election

Brief a written document submitted to a court that presents the facts and legal reasoning of a party to the lawsuit

Federal budget decicit

Johnson v. Zerbst (1938) Sixth amendment applies to federal criminal cases with possible imprisonment and too poor defendant. Gideon v. Wainwright

Pure speech verbal communication of ideas and opinions

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

Checks and balances

Eminent domain allows the government to take private property for public use, as long as just compensation is paid

Executive agreement agreement with another head of state not requiring approval from the Senate

person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies

Judicial activism a judicial philosophy that holds that courts have a more expansive role to play in shaping public policy

Rule of four a rule that says that four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree in conference to hear a case

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

Policy adoption the approval of a policy by legislation

Fiscal policy how the government uses taxes and spending to impact the economy

Open convention a party national convention at which no candidate has won a majority of the delegates in the primaries; the candidate is chosen by the convention

Off the record information information provided in an interview that a reporter cannot directly use

National debt amount of money owed by the government

Elastic clause the necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) that allows Congress to pass laws to carry out its expressed powers

Appellate courts

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

Prospective voting 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

Majority leader the elected leader of the party with the most seats in the House or Senate

under the 10th Amendment, powers not granted to the federal government or denied to the states reserved for the states or the people

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