AP Government duel

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

Issue networks the 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

common policy concerns an association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest

Rule of four

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

a situation in which men and women hold different positions on a wide range of political issues

Federal question a question of law based on interpretation of the US Constitution, federal laws, or treaties

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

sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions

a party national convention at which the party's presidential nominee has already been determined through the primaries

a designation within a spending bill that provides for a specific expenditure

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

Midterm elections congressional elections held between presidential elections

Rules committee determines the rules for debate for bills in the House

Agenda setting identification of the problems and/or issues that require the attention of the government to resolve

government spending exceeds revenue

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

a consistent set of beliefs about politics and public policy that sets the framework for evaluating government and public policy

Popular Socereignty basic principle of US government which holds that the people are the source of all governmental power

Checks and balances a system in which each branch of the government has the power to limit the other branches of government so that one is not dominant; each branch of government is subject to restraints by the other two branches

Administrative Discretion

Unanimous consent an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation

Political socialization complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values

Pardon

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

Veto

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

Upholds establishment clause and free exercise clause. Engel v. Vitale

States cannot ban private schools to prevent religious courses. Wisconsin v. Yoder

Miranda warning

Reapportionment redistribution of the 435 congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution

Due process

Referendum

Court ruled that a DC law banning hand guns was unconstitutional. McDonald v. Chicago

Gridlock when opposing parties and interests often block each other's proposals, creating a political stalemate or inaction between the executive and legislative branches of government

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan The Supreme Court concluded that "actual malice" must be proved to support a finding of libel against a public figure. Principle of "breathing space"

Gender gap a situation in which men and women hold different positions on a wide range of political issues

Mandates requirements imposed by the national government on state and local governments to comply with federal

Critical elections

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

the first court to hear and decide a case; US district courts and the US Supreme Court have original jurisdiction in cases involving foreign affairs, states or the national government

Procedural Due Process method of government action, or how the law is carried out according to established rules and procedures

Electoral College representatives from each state who formally cast ballots for the president and vice president

Get-out-the-vote

a system whereby the people rule either directly or by elected representation

Hyperpluralist Theory of Democracy seen as a system of many groups pulling government in many directions at the same time, causing gridlock and ineffectiveness

Standing committee a permanent committee of Congress that deals with legislation and oversight in a broad policy area

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

Precedent

Plurality vote electoral process in which the candidate who receives more votes than any other candidate is elected

Slander false verbal statements about others that harm their reputation

Closed rule

Sound bite

Supremacy clause

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) Found a "right to privacy" in the Constitution that would ban any state law against selling contraceptives

Deficit government spending exceeds revenue

the development of an approach to solving a problem that is on the political agenda

an individual who benefits from the activities of an interest group but does not support the group either financially or through active participation

Subsidy a sum of money granted by the government or a public body to assist an industry or business so that the price of a commodity or service may remain low or competitive

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

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