AP Government duel

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

governmental powers shared by the federal and state governments

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

Congressional oversight refers to the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation

the difference in any year between government spending and government revenue

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

Cooperative federalism

Political culture

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

Public policy the exercise of government power in doing those things necessary to maintain legitimate authority and control over society

Line item veto the president can reject a portion of a bill while approving the rest; declared unconstitutional

Procedural due process Constitutional requirement that governments proceed by proper methods; limits how government may exercise power.

Ex post facto law a law that makes an action a crime even though it was legal when it was committed or increases the penalty for a crime after it has been committed

Caucus locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political office

a designation within a spending bill that provides for a specific expenditure

special election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before his or her term

Ratification method of enacting a constitution or amendment into law

Hyperpluralist Theory of Democracy seen as a system of many groups pulling government in many directions at the same time, causing gridlock and ineffectiveness

Soft money

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

speech that is likely to bring about public disorder or chaos; may be banned in public places to ensure the preservation of public order

legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a member's chance of reelection

Implied powers

Cabinet government departments headed by presidential appointees to help establish public policy and operate a specific policy area of governmental activity

Griswold v. Connecticut (1965) Found a "right to privacy" in the Constitution that would ban any state law against selling contraceptives

Keynesian economics 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

standards or guides based on prior decisions that serve as a rule for settling similar disputes

Gatekeepers media executives, news editors, and prominent reporters who decide what news to present and how it will be presented

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

Loose Constructionist

a written document submitted to a court that presents the facts and legal reasoning of a party to the lawsuit

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

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

Free rider

Procedural Due Process method of government action, or how the law is carried out according to established rules and procedures

refers to the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation

one party controls the executive (president) and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress

verbal and symbolic speech used together

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

Eminent domain

powers that the Constitution specifically grants to the federal government

Primary election

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

a question of law based on interpretation of the US Constitution, federal laws, or treaties

Incrementalism small changes in policy over long periods of time; usually in reference to budget making - that the best indicator of this year's budget is last year's budget plus a small increase

a rule that says that four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree in conference to hear a case

Due process

Progressive tax

federal courts with appellate jurisdiction that review decisions of federal district courts, regulatory commissions, and other federal courts

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

Discrimination unfair treatment of a person based on race or group membership

powers not expressed, but may be considered through the use of the necessary and proper (elastic) clause

organizing a letter-writing campaign or taking out ads to influence public opinion and persuade public officials to support a particular policy

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

Judicial review authority given the courts to review the constitutionality of acts by the executive, states, or the

Honeymoon period the time early in a new president's administration characterized by optimistic approval by the public

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

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

Gatekeepers

Progressive generally refers to the belief that government or people acting on its behalf can be used to address social problems or inequities facing the nation

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