AP Government duel

Categorical grants 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

Due process protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property provided for under the 5th and 14th Amendments

Majority opinion

created to allow the free movement of goods between Canada, Mexico, and the US by lowering and eliminating tariffs

executive privilege a claim by the president or a member of the executive branch that information or documents requested by Congress or the courts do not have to be turned over because of the separation of powers

Judicial activism

Slander false verbal statements about others that harm their reputation

national laws supersedes all other laws passed by states

Block grants grants federal funds given to the states for programs in broad policy areas with few, if any, restrictions

a government that derives its authority from the people and in which citizens elect government officials to represent them in the processes by which laws are made; a representative democracy

Mandates

Congressional review

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

Discharge petition a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had a bill for thirty days, may petition to have it brought to the floor; requires 218 votes

Amicus curiae brief

Rider an addition or amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own

Split-ticket voting voting for candidates from more than one party in the same election

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

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

money used by national, state, or local party organizations that is not regulated by the Federal Election Commission

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

Unanimous consent an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation

Appellate jurisdiction

Legislative veto when Congress rejects an action of the president by a majority vote of both houses; declared

corporation a corporation that may receive part of its funding from Congress and is managed by a board appointed by the president; the function it performs could be carried out by private enterprise; an example is the US Postal service

Caucus (congressional) a group of members of Congress who may or may not be from the same party but who share

Advice and consent

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

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

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

alliances that develop between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees

Expressed powers powers enumerated in the Constitution

Gridlock 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

Unanimous consent an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation

Supremacy clause national laws supersedes all other laws passed by states

Public opinion

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

states are prohibited from unreasonably discriminating against residents of other states

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

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

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

double jeopardy

Recess appointment

Due process protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property provided for under the 5th and 14th Amendments

Appellate jurisdiction

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

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

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

Pluralist theory of democracy interest groups compete in the political arena with each promoting its own policy preferences through organized efforts

Straight-ticket voting voting for candidates all of the same party

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

Lemon test

Independent executive agency

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

Participatory democracy citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues; there are no elected officials;

writ of habeas corpus

conformity to social norms and values, tough on criminals

Superdelegates

Deviating election minority party is able to win the support of majority party members, independents, and new voters

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

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