Precedent
Bill
a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion.
Caucus (congressional)
Apportionment
distribution of congressional representatives among the states, based on the population of each state
Floor leaders
direct majority or minority party strategy and decisions in the House and Senate
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
Trial balloon
a two-house legislature
Mass media
all forms of communication that reach a large portion of the population
Front loading
the practice of a state choosing an early date to hold a primary election
Rules committee
determines the rules for debate for bills in the House
locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political office
Soft money
money used by national, state, or local party organizations that is not regulated by the Federal Election Commission
a trial in which the judge who presides over the trial decides on guilt or liability
Discrimination
unfair treatment of a person based on race or group membership
service casework; assistance to constituents by congressional members
Socialism
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
Sound bite
a very brief excerpt from a political speech aired on television or radio
Passed by Congress in 1976; excludes abortion from the comprehensive health care services provided to low-income people by the federal government through Medicaid.
At-large
all the voters of a state or county elect their representative
Hamdi v. Rumsfield (2004)
US Gov needs to at least have a hearing to determine a war prisoner's charge
President Pro Tempore
serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority
Political party
authority given the courts to review the constitutionality of acts by the executive, states, or the
Commerce and slave trade compromise
Closed primary
a primary election that is limited to registered voters of a particular political party
Connecticut (Great) Compromise
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
Unanimous consent
Pocket veto
Barnettte v. McColumm
Upholds establishment clause and free exercise clause. Engel v. Vitale
