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
common policy concerns
Earmark
a designation within a spending bill that provides for a specific expenditure
Incorporation
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Selectively incorporates 4th amendment. Later modified with "inevitable discovery" (good if would be found in a later, lawful search) and "good faith" (good if warrant was issued at all).
Representative democracy
citizens choose officials who make decisions about public policy; a republic
Iron triangle
alliances that develop between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees
jurisdiction the authority to hear cases is shared by federal and state courts
the belief that inflation occurs when too much money is chasing too few goods; the government must manage the economy by spending more money when in a recession and cutting spending when there is inflation
Federalist Papers
written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to support ratification of the Construction
Margin of error
the percentage that a scientific poll is likely to be off; a margin of error of +/- 3 percent is common
SuperPAC
political organizations that use contributions from individuals, corporations, and labor unions to spend unlimited sums independent from the campaigns, yet influencing the outcome of elections
Front loading
the practice of a state choosing an early date to hold a primary election
method of government action, or how the law is carried out according to established rules and procedures
Congressional oversight
refers to the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation
Policy adoption
the approval of a policy by legislation
Establishes that clothing is symbolic speech, and is protected unless its censorship is in the public interest.
Found a "right to privacy" in the Constitution that would ban any state law against selling contraceptives
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
Soft money
money used by national, state, or local party organizations that is not regulated by the Federal Election Commission
a rule that says that four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree in conference to hear a case
Line item veto
the president can reject a portion of a bill while approving the rest; declared unconstitutional
a division of governmental powers between the national government and the states
Plurality vote
electoral process in which the candidate who receives more votes than any other candidate is elected
the warning that an individual must be read at the time of arrest and questioning, letting him know his 5th and 6th amendment rights
Liberal
determines the rules for debate for bills in the House
Referendum
a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct
Independent regulatory agency
agreement with another head of state not requiring approval from the Senate
