AP Government duel

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

minority party is able to win the support of majority party members, independents, and new voters

The government cannot exert prior restraint.

Candidate

Cloture a method for cutting off a filibuster in the Senate; sixteen votes are needed to call for cloture and sixty are needed to end a filibuster

the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791, which protect basic civil liberties

Due process

Political efficacy belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking

Sound bite

Legislative courts

Recess appointment a presidential appointment made when Congress is not in session; doesn't require immediate confirmation

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

citizens choose officials who make decisions about public policy; a republic

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

Margin of error the percentage that a scientific poll is likely to be off; a margin of error of +/- 3 percent is common

Reapportionment

government corporation corporation a corporation that may receive part of its funding from Congress and is managed by a board appointed by the president; the function it performs could be carried out by private enterprise; an example is the US Postal service

Joint committee a committee of Congress made up of members of both houses that focuses on issues of general concern but does not propose legislation

powers not expressed, but may be considered through the use of the necessary and proper (elastic) clause

a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had a bill for thirty days, may petition to have it brought to the floor; requires 218 votes

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

"marble-cake federalism" a model of the relationship between the federal government and the states that developed during the 1930s; the power of the federal government expands into areas that the states are usually responsible for

Progressive

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

Brief

Realignment a shift of voting patterns to form new coalitions of party support

Motor Voter Law

Party dealignment

Loose Constructionist

the total number of votes cast for the highest office on the ballot

all forms of communication that reach a large portion of the population

General election

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

Political action committees (PAC$) extension of an interest group that contributes money to political campaigns

allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials to constituents free of charge

Primary election nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election

Platform

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

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

Bill a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion.

the belief that inflation occurs when too much money is chasing too few goods; the government must manage the economy by spending more money when in a recession and cutting spending when there is inflation

Pocket veto when the president takes no action on a bill within ten days of Congress adjourning, the bill does not become law

Judicial restraint holds that the Court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political questions, operating strictly within the limits of the Constitution

Exit poll a poll conducted on election day to determine how people voted

Rider an addition or amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own

Conference committee a committee made up of members of the House and Senate that is responsible for reconciling the differences when two versions of the same bill pass both houses of Congress

Pardon a convicted person is exempt from the penalties of a crime; only the president has this power at the national

double jeopardy

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

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) establishes?

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

De jure segregation segregation segregation that results from law

Concurrent powers governmental powers shared by the federal and state governments

On the record information provided in an interview that a reported can quote and attribute to the source, referring to the source by name

Single-member districts only one representative is chosen from each legislative district

Closed rule a rule issued by the House Committee on Rules, in which there is a strict time limit for debate and no amendments can be offered

Constituent all residents of the state for senators, all residents of a district for House members

Lemon v. Kurtzman Creates the "Lemon Test", which has requires separate, secular, and neutral effect and intention in government action.

Dissenting opinion

alliances that develop between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees

End this game?