AP Government duel

Eminent domain

Mass media

Loose Constructionist the belief that judges should have freedom in interpreting the Constitution

Connecticut (Great) Compromise

Federal budget

Bill of Rights the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791, which protect basic civil liberties

weakening of ties between the voters and the two major parties

Open convention a party national convention at which no candidate has won a majority of the delegates in the primaries; the candidate is chosen by the convention

Closed rule

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

Policy adoption the approval of a policy by legislation

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

Impoundment refusal of the president to spend money Congress has appropriated; was eliminated by the congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

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

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

Honeymoon period

Roe v. Wade (1973)

DC v. Heller (2008)

election commission a commission delegated to supervise an election

a lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill in the Senate; can be ended by a cloture motion and vote

Appellate courts courts with authority to review cases heard by other courts to correct errors in the interpretation or application of law

Individualism

Barnettte v. McColumm Upholds establishment clause and free exercise clause. Engel v. Vitale

Majority leader the elected leader of the party with the most seats in the House or Senate

Progressive tax

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

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

Republic 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

franking privilege allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials to constituents free of charge

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

Conference committee

Inherent powers powers powers, usually claimed by the president, that are implied but not specifically stated in the Constitution or are derived from the office

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

War Powers Act of 1973 a law that limits presidential use of military forces to sixty days, with an automatic extension of thirty additional days if the president requests such an extension

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

Lobbying attempting to influence policymakers through a variety of methods

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

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

Mapp v. Ohio (1961)

Incorporation

North American Free Trade Agreement

door the practice of government officials becoming lobbyists for the industries or companies they were responsible for regulating while they were public servants

Coattail

Lemon v. Kurtzman Creates the "Lemon Test", which has requires separate, secular, and neutral effect and intention in government action.

Judicial branch responsible for interpreting and applying the laws; in the federal government it consists of the US district

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

Trustee

Random sampling a statistical technique that gives everyone in the target group the same opportunity to participate in a poll

the process of redrawing congressional and state legislative districts to reflect population changes in the census; responsibility for redistricting usually falls to the state legislatures; follows reapportionment

action by the president that does not require the approval of Congress; subject to judicial review

a system in which each branch of the government has the power to limit the other branches of government so that one is not dominant; each branch of government is subject to restraints by the other two branches

Slander false verbal statements about others that harm their reputation

Off the record information information provided in an interview that a reporter cannot directly use

Majority opinion the majority of justices agree on the decision and the reasons for the decision

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

Independent executive agency an agency that is part of the executive branch but not included in any executive department; the head of the agency (NASA, CIA for example) is appointed by the president and serves at the pleasure of the president

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

Rules committee determines the rules for debate for bills in the House

Substantive due process the policies of government or the particular subject matter of the laws determining what the law is about and whether the law is fair or if it violates constitutional protections

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

End this game?