Hard money
money used directly by a candidate running for office; it is subject to campaign finance laws and Federal
the view that justices should base decisions on a narrow interpretation of the Constitution
Cabinet
government departments headed by presidential appointees to help establish public policy and operate a specific policy area of governmental activity
Progressive tax
a tax that is higher for those who make more money; the federal income tax is an example
a situation in which men and women hold different positions on a wide range of political issues
interest groups compete in the political arena with each promoting its own policy preferences through organized efforts
Pocket veto
when the president takes no action on a bill within ten days of Congress adjourning, the bill does not become law
Congress monitors policies of the executive branch; the process by which the legislative branch checks the executive branch to ensure that the laws Congress has passed are being administered in keeping with legislators' intent
a designation within a spending bill that provides for a specific expenditure
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.
Open rule
in the House, a rule that allows any amendments to a bill, regardless of whether they're relevant to the legislation
speech plus
verbal and symbolic speech used together
election commission
citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues; there are no elected officials;
Bench trial
a trial in which the judge who presides over the trial decides on guilt or liability
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
Senatorial courtesy
the practice of allowing senators from the president's party who represent the state where a judicial district is located, to approve or disapprove potential nominees for the lower federal courts
Filibuster
a lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill in the Senate; can be ended by a cloture motion and vote
information provided in an interview that a reported can use but cannot make even an indirect reference to the source
Electorate
people qualified to vote
Precedent
Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)
gives Congress the powers to pass all laws necessary and proper to carry out their constitutional duties, found in Article I, Section 8, Clause 18; also called the elastic clause
Straw Poll
a poll conducted in an unscientific manner, used to predict election outcomes
Legislative Branch
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
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"
Get-out-the-vote
a campaign near the end of an election to get voters out to the polls
President Pro Tempore
serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority
Federal budget decicit
the difference in any year between government spending and government revenue
Majority opinion
the majority of justices agree on the decision and the reasons for the decision
