Party machine
a political organization, typically at the local level, that wielded considerable power through its ability to get out the vote; relied heavily on patronage and providing services to constituents and was often corrupt
Judicial Review
Authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive/state/legislature; est. in Marbury v. Madison
the belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government
Concurrent jurisdiction
jurisdiction the authority to hear cases is shared by federal and state courts
Critical elections
sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions
Pocket veto
when the president takes no action on a bill within ten days of Congress adjourning, the bill does not become law
opinion justice or justices who voted in the minority, explaining the reasons for opposing the majority opinion
the system in which a party leader rewarded political supporters with jobs or government contracts in exchange for their support of the party
a system whereby the people rule either directly or by elected representation
Legislative courts
courts courts created by Congress for a specialized purpose with a narrow range of authority; judges serve a fixed term
Three-fifths compromise
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
clause says that states are required to recognize the laws and legal documents of other states - Article 4
Deregulation
the process of reducing or completely eliminating federal government oversight of an industry so as to allow it to operate more freely; used to encourage competition and reduce costs to consumers
the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791, which protect basic civil liberties
Iron triangle
alliances that develop between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees
an association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest
a person whose political views favor more local, limited government, fewer government regulations,
federal funds given to state and local governments for specific programs that usually require the recipient to match the money provided and have other strings attached
Federal budget decicit
Appellate jurisdiction
jurisdiction the power a court has to review the decision of a lower court; the Supreme Court exercises appellate jurisdiction in the overwhelming majority of the cases it hears
a campaign near the end of an election to get voters out to the polls
Progressive tax
a tax that is higher for those who make more money; the federal income tax is an example
Popular Socereignty
basic principle of US government which holds that the people are the source of all governmental power
an addition or amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own
Agenda setting
the process of redrawing congressional and state legislative districts to reflect population changes in the census; responsibility for redistricting usually falls to the state legislatures; follows reapportionment
Straight-ticket voting
voting for candidates all of the same party
prior restraint
"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
constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally
