AP Government duel

Majority-minority districts drawing district boundaries to give a minority group a majority

Soft money

Progressive

people who have no party affiliation

Socialism

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan The Supreme Court concluded that "actual malice" must be proved to support a finding of libel against a public figure. Principle of "breathing space"

Impoundment

Fiscal policy

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

Margin of error the percentage that a scientific poll is likely to be off; a margin of error of +/- 3 percent is common

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

Entitlement government benefits provided to Americans who qualify because of their age, income, and/or status

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

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

when the president takes no action on a bill within ten days of Congress adjourning, the bill does not become law

weak government government that has limited control over economy or personal lives

equality of opportunity everyone should have the same chance; what individuals make of that chance depends their abilities and efforts

Blanket primary a primary election in which candidates from all parties are on the ballot, and a registered voter can vote for the Democratic candidate for one office and the Republican candidate for another

Eminent domain allows the government to take private property for public use, as long as just compensation is paid

Markup rewrite of a bill after hearings have been held on it

method of maintaining, managing, and gaining control of government

Initiative

Open primary a primary election in which an individual does not have to be a registered voter in a particular party to vote for candidates of that party

Dissenting opinion opinion justice or justices who voted in the minority, explaining the reasons for opposing the majority opinion

Congress may not make laws restricting or prohibiting a person's religious practices

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

Grants-in-aid programs, money, and resources provided by the federal government to state and local governments to be used for specific projects and programs

distribution of congressional representatives among the states, based on the population of each state

Trustee after listening to constituents, elected representatives vote based on their own opinions

Whip a majority/minority party leader in Congress who makes sure the party members are present for important votes and vote by party

application of portions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment

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

Barnettte v. McColumm

Lemon test

Civil liberties

practice by which power is divided among three branches of government; each branch has its own powers and duties and is independent of and equal to the other branches

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

Elite Theory of Democracy 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

a primary election in which an individual does not have to be a registered voter in a particular party to vote for candidates of that party

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

Casework services performed by an elected official for constituents

Initiative

Concurring opinion justice or justices who agree with the majority's ruling but not the reason behind the decision

rewrite of a bill after hearings have been held on it

the warning that an individual must be read at the time of arrest and questioning, letting him know his 5th and 6th amendment rights

Political socialization

original jurisdiction 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

Incumbency effect tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to advantages because they already hold the office

Declaration of Independence drafted in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson declaring America's separation from Great Britain

Ideology

Prospective voting a method of evaluating candidates in which voters focus on candidates' positions on issues important to them and vote for the candidates who best represent their views

Exclusionary rule that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used against the person from whom it was seized

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

Grants-in-aid programs, money, and resources provided by the federal government to state and local governments to be used for specific projects and programs

Select committee a temporary committee of Congress set up for a specific purpose that is outside the scope of the standing committees

Policy adoption

Incumbent

Unitary system a political system in which all power is derived from the central government

Bill of Rights

Natural rights basic rights that are guaranteed to all persons; basic rights a government cannot deny

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