AP Government duel

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

Floor leaders direct majority or minority party strategy and decisions in the House and Senate

Bill a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion.

West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette 1943, forcing students to salute the flag is a violation of 1st amendment free speech, and is therefore unconstitutional. Such gestures = symbolic speech. Tinker v. Des Moines.

Logrolling the exchange of political favors for support of a bill; an agreement between two or more members of Congress to vote for each other's bills

Devolution an effort to shift responsibility or domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size and activities of the federal government

Sound bite a very brief excerpt from a political speech aired on television or radio

Commerce and slave trade compromise resolved differences between northern and southern states at the constitutional convention; Congress could not tax exports nor ban the slave trade for twenty years

issues that merit action, as determined by the public or those in power

a poll conducted on election day to determine how people voted

Bicameral legislature a two-house legislature

Civil liberties constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens. What the government can't do.

Standing committee a permanent committee of Congress that deals with legislation and oversight in a broad policy area

Plurality vote electoral process in which the candidate who receives more votes than any other candidate is elected

Individualism the belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government

a speech or photo opportunity staged to give a politician's view on an issue; staged to present the candidate in a good light

Apportionment

Bench trial a trial in which the judge who presides over the trial decides on guilt or liability

Judicial Review Authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive/state/legislature; est. in Marbury v. Madison

Enumerated powers powers that the Constitution specifically grants to the federal government

Prince v. Massachusetts Religion does not override child labor laws. Wisconsin v. Yoder

Constituency service casework; assistance to constituents by congressional members

complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values

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 revision or change to a bill, law, or constitution

Voter turnout the total number of votes cast for the highest office on the ballot

Realigning election when a minority party wins by building a new coalition of voters that continues over successive election

the idea that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization

speech plus

Primary election nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election

Good-faith exception a rule of evidence that says that if the authorities act "in good faith," evidence that otherwise might have been excluded may be admissible. Modifies Mapp v. Ohio

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

Equal Protection Clause constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally

Oversight 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

party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election

person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies

the document setting forth the laws and principles of the government; a plan for government

Government the formal and informal institutions, people, and processes used to create and conduct public policy

Trial balloon tests the public reaction to policy or appointments by releasing information to the media and gauging public reaction

Passed by Congress in 1976; excludes abortion from the comprehensive health care services provided to low-income people by the federal government through Medicaid.

Appellate courts

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

a shift of voting patterns to form new coalitions of party support

Miranda v. Arizona (1966) Before police interrogate, suspect must learn of rights like the Fifth Amendment

Amendment a revision or change to a bill, law, or constitution

Bicameral legislature

Exclusionary rule

Authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive/state/legislature; est. in Marbury v. Madison

Agenda setting identification of the problems and/or issues that require the attention of the government to resolve

holds that the Court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political questions, operating strictly within the limits of the Constitution

segregation that results from living patterns rather than law

those individuals held in great respect because of their position, expertise, or personality, who may

Political party Voluntary association of people who seek to control the government through common principles, based on peaceful and legal actions such as the winning of elections; an organization that recruits, nominated, and elects party members to control the government

On background information provided in an interview that a reporter can quote but can't attribute specifically to the interviewee

Amicus curiae brief 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"

Affirmative action

Powell v. Alabama (1932) 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

Veto the president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress

Mandates requirements imposed by the national government on state and local governments to comply with federal

Policy evaluation determines is a policy is achieving its goals; usually carried out with congressional oversight

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