AP Government duel

Independent executive agency

Whip a majority/minority party leader in Congress who makes sure the party members are present for important votes and vote by party

attempting to influence policymakers through a variety of methods

Civil liberties

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

the approval of a policy by legislation

the view that justices should base decisions on a narrow interpretation of the Constitution

Incumbency

Administrative Discretion the flexibility a federal agency can exercise in implementing legislation through its rules and regulations. the authority delegated to bureaucrats to use their expertise and judgment when determining how to implement public policy.

Amicus curiae brief a brief submitted to the court by an interested third party that outlines issues it thinks are important in the case. amicus curiae literally means "friend of the court"

National debt

Appellate jurisdiction jurisdiction the power a court has to review the decision of a lower court; the Supreme Court exercises appellate jurisdiction in the overwhelming majority of the cases it hears

double jeopardy a rule that says a person can't be tried twice by the same court under the same charges twice; from the 5th amendment

Earmark

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

Free rider

Unfunded mandates

Dealignment

Motor Voter Law

Initiative allows voters to petition to propose legislation and then submit it for a vote by qualified voters; not available at the national level

prior restraint

Ratification

Symbolic speech

Open primary a primary election in which an individual does not have to be a registered voter in a particular party to vote for candidates of that party

Diplomacy the conduct of international relations, particularly involving the negotiation of treaties and other agreements between nations

Roe v. Wade (1973) The Right to Privacy extends to letting women make decisions about their bodies without government surveillance.

Discretionary spending

Amendment a revision or change to a bill, law, or constitution

Hamdi v. Rumsfield (2004) US Gov needs to at least have a hearing to determine a war prisoner's charge

Pure speech verbal communication of ideas and opinions

Progressive tax

Party dealignment

jurisdiction the power a court has to review the decision of a lower court; the Supreme Court exercises appellate jurisdiction in the overwhelming majority of the cases it hears

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

a statistical technique that gives everyone in the target group the same opportunity to participate in a poll

Nonpartisan election

Logrolling 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

North American Free Trade Agreement created to allow the free movement of goods between Canada, Mexico, and the US by lowering and eliminating tariffs

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

settled disputes between the states over the structure of the legislative branch; a solution to the problem of representation at the Constitutional Convention, in which the number of members that each state would have in the House of Representatives is determined by population, while each state would have equal representation in the Senate

President Pro Tempore

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

Republic

Monetary policy economic policy in which the money supply is controlled through the Federal Reserve

a majority/minority party leader in Congress who makes sure the party members are present for important votes and vote by party

Maintaining elections traditional majority power maintains power based on voters' party loyalty

equality of opportunity everyone should have the same chance; what individuals make of that chance depends their abilities and efforts

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

Open rule in the House, a rule that allows any amendments to a bill, regardless of whether they're relevant to the legislation

Motor Voter Law allows citizens to register to vote at welfare and motor vehicle offices

government departments headed by presidential appointees to help establish public policy and operate a specific policy area of governmental activity

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

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

Congressional oversight refers to the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation

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

The Supreme Court ruled here that the right to counsel was required by law in death penalty trials. Also, capital cases must have counsel when defendant cannot defend because of "ignorance, feeblemindedness, illiteracy, or the like". Selective Incorporation case based on the sixth amendment. Gideon v. Wainwright

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

Liberal a person whose views favor more government involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, and increased government spending

Discretionary spending federal spending set by the government through appropriations bills, including operating expenses and salaries of government employees

Johnson v. Zerbst (1938)

End this game?