Margin of error
the percentage that a scientific poll is likely to be off; a margin of error of +/- 3 percent is common
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
Elite Theory of Democracy
General election
voters choose office holder from among all the candidates nominated by political parties or running as independents
Strict constitutionalist
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
Exit poll
Gerrymandering
drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another
Advice and consent
the Senate's authority to approve or neglect the president's top appointments and negotiated treaties
traditional majority power maintains power based on voters' party loyalty
Privileges and Immunities Clause
states are prohibited from unreasonably discriminating against residents of other states
Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) establishes?
Establishes that clothing is symbolic speech, and is protected unless its censorship is in the public interest.
executive privilege
a claim by the president or a member of the executive branch that information or documents requested by Congress or the courts do not have to be turned over because of the separation of powers
Front loading
Closed convention
a party national convention at which the party's presidential nominee has already been determined through the primaries
The Right to Privacy extends to letting women make decisions about their bodies without government surveillance.
Federalism
a division of governmental powers between the national government and the states
Trial balloon
tests the public reaction to policy or appointments by releasing information to the media and gauging public reaction
a rule that says a person can't be tried twice by the same court under the same charges twice; from the 5th amendment
Federal system
a political system in which power is divided between the national government and state government
Anti-Federalists
those opposed to the ratification of the Constitution because it gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states and the lack of a bill of rights
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
Grants-in-aid
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
Apportionment
distribution of congressional representatives among the states, based on the population of each state
joint resolution
A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Before police interrogate, suspect must learn of rights like the Fifth Amendment
Fiscal federalism
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
Affirmative action
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
