AP Government duel

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

Senatorial courtesy the practice of allowing senators from the president's party who represent the state where a judicial district is located, to approve or disapprove potential nominees for the lower federal courts

Libel false written statements about others that harm their reputation

Off year election

Dual Federalism

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

determines the rules for debate for bills in the House

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

Runoff primary when no candidate receives a majority of votes, and election held between the two candidates who recorded the most votes in the primary

The government cannot exert prior restraint.

Retrospective voting a method of evaluating candidates in which voters evaluate incumbent candidates and decide whether to vote for them based on their past performances

Progressive tax a tax that is higher for those who make more money; the federal income tax is an example

a situation in which men and women hold different positions on a wide range of political issues

On the record information

On deep background

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

Full faith and credit clause says that states are required to recognize the laws and legal documents of other states - Article 4

Libertarianism people who wish to maximize the personal liberty on both economic and social issues; prefer small,

De facto segregation segregation that results from living patterns rather than law

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

Oversight Congress monitors policies of the executive branch; the process by which the legislative branch checks the executive branch to ensure that the laws Congress has passed are being administered in keeping with legislators' intent

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

constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally

Critical elections sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions

Pure speech

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

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

Agenda setting

Delegate an elected official who considers it an obligation to vote the way the majority of his or her constituents wants

Blanket primary

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

Gerrymandering drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another

independents

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

Hard money money used directly by a candidate running for office; it is subject to campaign finance laws and Federal

Subsidy

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

Constituency

Government the formal and informal institutions, people, and processes used to create and conduct public policy

election commission

Deviating election

Earmark

a poll conducted in an unscientific manner, used to predict election outcomes

Equal Protection Clause

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

stare decisis let the decision stand; court decisions are based on precedent from previous cases

Full faith and credit

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

resolved differences between northern and southern states at the constitutional convention; Congress could not tax exports nor ban the slave trade for twenty years

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause) gives Congress the powers to pass all laws necessary and proper to carry out their constitutional duties, found in Article I, Section 8, Clause 18; also called the elastic clause

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

Separation of powers 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

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

Party dealignment weakening of ties between the voters and the two major parties

Reserved powers under the 10th Amendment, powers not granted to the federal government or denied to the states reserved for the states or the people

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

the view that justices should base decisions on a narrow interpretation of the Constitution

Mandates requirements imposed by the national government on state and local governments to comply with federal

nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election

Cloture a method for cutting off a filibuster in the Senate; sixteen votes are needed to call for cloture and sixty are needed to end a filibuster

End this game?