Patronage
the system in which a party leader rewarded political supporters with jobs or government contracts in exchange for their support of the party
allows the government to take private property for public use, as long as just compensation is paid
independents
people who have no party affiliation
Sound bite
Politics
DC v. Heller (2008)
Court ruled that a DC law banning hand guns was unconstitutional. McDonald v. Chicago
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
Constitution
the document setting forth the laws and principles of the government; a plan for government
a political/economic system in which the government plays a major role (usually ownership) in determining the use of productive resources and the allocation of valuable goods and services; may be democratic or authoritarian
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
President Pro Tempore
Concurrent powers
governmental powers shared by the federal and state governments
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
Extradition
states may return fugitives to a state from which they have fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the state's governor
Substantive due process
the policies of government or the particular subject matter of the laws determining what the law is about and whether the law is fair or if it violates constitutional protections
At-large
Majority-minority districts
Nonpartisan election
an election in which candidates run as independents without party affiliation
Judicial Review
Authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive/state/legislature; est. in Marbury v. Madison
Single-member districts
Congressional review
the view that justices should base decisions on a narrow interpretation of the Constitution
Random sampling
a statistical technique that gives everyone in the target group the same opportunity to participate in a poll
Procedural due process
Congressional oversight
Iron triangle
Midterm elections
congressional elections held between presidential elections
agreement at the constitutional convention that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the House of Representatives and for taxation
Platform
a statement of a political party on the issues facing the country, adopted at the national convention; each issue position is known as a plank
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
