Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969) establishes?
Establishes that clothing is symbolic speech, and is protected unless its censorship is in the public interest.
New York Times Co. v. United States (1971) establishes?
The government cannot exert prior restraint.
Roe v. Wade (1973)
The Right to Privacy extends to letting women make decisions about their bodies without government surveillance.
Lemon v. Kurtzman
Creates the "Lemon Test", which has requires separate, secular, and neutral effect and intention in government action.
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
The Supreme Court concluded that "actual malice" must be proved to support a finding of libel against a public figure. Principle of "breathing space"
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).
New Jersey v. TLO (1985)
Students have less privacy at schools; their stuff is subject to a search because of suspicion. This is necessary for discipline.
Hamdi v. Rumsfield (2004)
US Gov needs to at least have a hearing to determine a war prisoner's charge
Miranda v. Arizona (1966)
Before police interrogate, suspect must learn of rights like the Fifth Amendment
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
Found a "right to privacy" in the Constitution that would ban any state law against selling contraceptives
Hyde Amendment (1976)
Passed by Congress in 1976; excludes abortion from the comprehensive health care services provided to low-income people by the federal government through Medicaid.
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
Procedural due process
Constitutional requirement that governments proceed by proper methods; limits how government may exercise power.
Barnettte v. McColumm
Upholds establishment clause and free exercise clause. Engel v. Vitale
Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925)
States cannot ban private schools to prevent religious courses. Wisconsin v. Yoder
Prince v. Massachusetts
Religion does not override child labor laws. Wisconsin v. Yoder
West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette
1943, forcing students to salute the flag is a violation of 1st amendment free speech, and is therefore unconstitutional. Such gestures = symbolic speech. Tinker v. Des Moines.
DC v. Heller (2008)
Court ruled that a DC law banning hand guns was unconstitutional. McDonald v. Chicago
Powell v. Alabama (1932)
The Supreme Court ruled here that the right to counsel was required by law in death penalty trials. Also, capital cases must have counsel when defendant cannot defend because of "ignorance, feeblemindedness, illiteracy, or the like". Selective Incorporation case based on the sixth amendment. Gideon v. Wainwright
Johnson v. Zerbst (1938)
Sixth amendment applies to federal criminal cases with possible imprisonment and too poor defendant. Gideon v. Wainwright
Betts v. Brady (1942)
Sixth amendment does not selectively incorporate to providing poor people in not-capital state cases a lawyer
Administrative Discretion
the flexibility a federal agency can exercise in implementing legislation through its rules and regulations. the authority delegated to bureaucrats to use their expertise and judgment when determining how to implement public policy.
Advice and consent
the Senate's authority to approve or neglect the president's top appointments and negotiated treaties
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
Agenda setting
identification of the problems and/or issues that require the attention of the government to resolve
Amendment
a revision or change to a bill, law, or constitution
Amicus curiae brief
a brief submitted to the court by an interested third party that outlines issues it thinks are important in the case. amicus curiae literally means "friend of the court"
Anti-Federalists
those opposed to the ratification of the Constitution because it gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states and the lack of a bill of rights
Appellate courts
courts with authority to review cases heard by other courts to correct errors in the interpretation or application of law
Appellate jurisdiction
jurisdiction the power a court has to review the decision of a lower court; the Supreme Court exercises appellate jurisdiction in the overwhelming majority of the cases it hears
Apportionment
distribution of congressional representatives among the states, based on the population of each state
Articles of Confederation
the first written constitution of the United States, which went into effect in 1781; it created a unicameral legislature, in which each state had one vote but no executive or judicial authority; the power of the central government was extremely limited
At-large
all the voters of a state or county elect their representative
Bench trial
a trial in which the judge who presides over the trial decides on guilt or liability
Bicameral legislature
a two-house legislature
Bill
a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion.
Bill of attainder
a law that makes a person guilty of a crime without a trial; neither Congress nor the states can enact such a law Constitutionally
Bill of Rights
the first ten amendments to the Constitution, ratified in 1791, which protect basic civil liberties
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
Block grants
grants federal funds given to the states for programs in broad policy areas with few, if any, restrictions
Brief
a written document submitted to a court that presents the facts and legal reasoning of a party to the lawsuit
Cabinet
government departments headed by presidential appointees to help establish public policy and operate a specific policy area of governmental activity
Candidate
centered politics politics that focuses on candidates, their particular issues, and character rather than party affiliation
Casework
services performed by an elected official for constituents
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
Caucus
locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political office
Caucus (congressional)
a group of members of Congress who may or may not be from the same party but who share
common policy concerns
an association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest
Checks and balances
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
Civil liberties
constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens. What the government can't do.
Civil rights
positive acts of government designed to prevent discrimination and provide equality before the law. What the government should do.
Closed convention
a party national convention at which the party's presidential nominee has already been determined through the primaries
Closed primary
a primary election that is limited to registered voters of a particular political party
Closed rule
a rule issued by the House Committee on Rules, in which there is a strict time limit for debate and no amendments can be offered
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
Coattail
effect the ability of a strong or popular candidate to get other candidates on the ticket elected; it is a term most
Commerce and slave trade compromise
resolved differences between northern and southern states at the constitutional convention; Congress could not tax exports nor ban the slave trade for twenty years
Concurrent jurisdiction
jurisdiction the authority to hear cases is shared by federal and state courts
Concurrent powers
governmental powers shared by the federal and state governments
Concurring opinion
justice or justices who agree with the majority's ruling but not the reason behind the decision
Conference committee
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
Congressional oversight
refers to the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation
Congressional review
Congress's authority to review a new federal regulation enacted by a regulatory agency and overrule it through a joint resolution
joint resolution
A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president
Connecticut (Great) Compromise
settled disputes between the states over the structure of the legislative branch; a solution to the problem of representation at the Constitutional Convention, in which the number of members that each state would have in the House of Representatives is determined by population, while each state would have equal representation in the Senate
Conservative
a person whose political views favor more local, limited government, fewer government regulations,
conformity
to social norms and values, tough on criminals
Constituency
service casework; assistance to constituents by congressional members
Constituent
all residents of the state for senators, all residents of a district for House members
Constitution
the document setting forth the laws and principles of the government; a plan for government
Cooperative federalism
"marble-cake federalism" a model of the relationship between the federal government and the states that developed during the 1930s; the power of the federal government expands into areas that the states are usually responsible for
Courts of Appeal
federal courts with appellate jurisdiction that review decisions of federal district courts, regulatory commissions, and other federal courts
Critical elections
sharp changes in the existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions
Dealigning
election party loyalty becomes less important to voters, and they vote for the other party candidate or
independents
people who have no party affiliation
Dealignment
when a significant number of voters choose to no longer support a particular political party
Declaration of Independence
drafted in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson declaring America's separation from Great Britain
Deficit
government spending exceeds revenue
De facto segregation
segregation that results from living patterns rather than law
De jure segregation
segregation segregation that results from law
Delegate
an elected official who considers it an obligation to vote the way the majority of his or her constituents wants
Delegated powers
powers specifically granted to the national government in the Constitution
Democracy
a system whereby the people rule either directly or by elected representation
Deregulation
the process of reducing or completely eliminating federal government oversight of an industry so as to allow it to operate more freely; used to encourage competition and reduce costs to consumers
Deviating election
minority party is able to win the support of majority party members, independents, and new voters
Devolution
an effort to shift responsibility or domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size and activities of the federal government
Diplomacy
the conduct of international relations, particularly involving the negotiation of treaties and other agreements between nations
Direct democracy
democracy citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues; there are no elected officials; also called participatory democracy
Direct primary
party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election
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
Discretionary spending
federal spending set by the government through appropriations bills, including operating expenses and salaries of government employees
Discrimination
unfair treatment of a person based on race or group membership
Dissenting opinion
opinion justice or justices who voted in the minority, explaining the reasons for opposing the majority opinion
District courts
lowest level of federal courts, where most federal cases begin and trials are held
Divided government
one party controls the executive (president) and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress
double jeopardy
a rule that says a person can't be tried twice by the same court under the same charges twice; from the 5th amendment
Dual Federalism
a model of the relationship between the federal government and the states in which each is supreme in its own sphere; "layer cake federalism"
Marble vs. layer cake federalism
Marble cake means 1930s fed expansion, layer cake means they are supreme in separate areas
Due process
protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property provided for under the 5th and 14th Amendments
Earmark
a designation within a spending bill that provides for a specific expenditure
Elastic clause
the necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18) that allows Congress to pass laws to carry out its expressed powers
Electoral College
representatives from each state who formally cast ballots for the president and vice president
Electorate
people qualified to vote
Elite Theory of Democracy
the idea that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization
Eminent domain
allows the government to take private property for public use, as long as just compensation is paid
Entitlement
government benefits provided to Americans who qualify because of their age, income, and/or status
Enumerated powers
powers that the Constitution specifically grants to the federal government
equality of opportunity
everyone should have the same chance; what individuals make of that chance depends their abilities and efforts
Equal Protection Clause
constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally
Establishment clause
prohibits the establishment of a national religion
Exclusionary rule
that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used against the person from whom it was seized
Executive agreement
agreement with another head of state not requiring approval from the Senate
Executive order
action by the president that does not require the approval of Congress; subject to judicial review
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
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
Exit poll
a poll conducted on election day to determine how people voted
Expressed powers
powers enumerated in the Constitution
Extradition
states may return fugitives to a state from which they have fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the state's governor
Federal budget
amount of money the federal government expects to receive and authorizes government to spend for a fiscal year
Federal budget decicit
the difference in any year between government spending and government revenue
Federal question
a question of law based on interpretation of the US Constitution, federal laws, or treaties
Federal system
a political system in which power is divided between the national government and state government
Federalism
a division of governmental powers between the national government and the states
Federalist
supported a strong central government and ratification of the Constitution
Federalist Papers
written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to support ratification of the Construction
Fighting words
speech that is likely to bring about public disorder or chaos; may be banned in public places to ensure the preservation of public order
Filibuster
a lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill in the Senate; can be ended by a cloture motion and vote
Fiscal federalism
a type of federalism that deals with the flow of funds through grants and other means from the federal government to the states
Fiscal policy
how the government uses taxes and spending to impact the economy
Floor leaders
direct majority or minority party strategy and decisions in the House and Senate
franking privilege
allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials to constituents free of charge
Free exercise clause
Congress may not make laws restricting or prohibiting a person's religious practices
Free rider
an individual who benefits from the activities of an interest group but does not support the group either financially or through active participation
Front loading
the practice of a state choosing an early date to hold a primary election
Full faith and credit
clause says that states are required to recognize the laws and legal documents of other states - Article 4
Gatekeepers
media executives, news editors, and prominent reporters who decide what news to present and how it will be presented
Gender gap
a situation in which men and women hold different positions on a wide range of political issues
General election
voters choose office holder from among all the candidates nominated by political parties or running as independents
Gerrymandering
drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another
Get-out-the-vote
a campaign near the end of an election to get voters out to the polls
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
Government
the formal and informal institutions, people, and processes used to create and conduct public policy
government corporation
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
Grants-in-aid
programs, money, and resources provided by the federal government to state and local governments to be used for specific projects and programs
Grassroots lobbying
organizing a letter-writing campaign or taking out ads to influence public opinion and persuade public officials to support a particular policy
Great compromise
a solution to the problem of representation at the constitutional convention, in which the number of members that each state would have in the House is determined by population, while each state would have equal representation in the Senate (two senators per state)
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
Hard money
money used directly by a candidate running for office; it is subject to campaign finance laws and Federal
election commission
a commission delegated to supervise an election
Hate speech
offensive speech against racial or ethnic minorities, women, and homosexuals that creates a hostile environment
Honeymoon period
the time early in a new president's administration characterized by optimistic approval by the public
Hyperpluralist Theory of Democracy
seen as a system of many groups pulling government in many directions at the same time, causing gridlock and ineffectiveness
Ideology
a consistent set of beliefs by groups or individuals
Impeachment
bringing charges of wrongdoing against a government official by the House of Representatives
Implied powers
powers not expressed, but may be considered through the use of the necessary and proper (elastic) clause
Impoundment
refusal of the president to spend money Congress has appropriated; was eliminated by the congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
Incorporation
application of portions of the Bill of Rights to the states under the 14th Amendment
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
Incumbency
effect tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to advantages because they already hold the office
Incumbent
the person currently holding office
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
Independent regulatory agency
an agency that is part of the executive branch and responsible for regulating and oversight of a segment of the economy; it is managed by a board or commission appointed by the president for a fixed term
Individualism
the belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government
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
Initiative
allows voters to petition to propose legislation and then submit it for a vote by qualified voters; not available at the national level
Iron triangle
alliances that develop between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees
Interest group
a group of private citizens whose goal is to influence and shape public policy
Issue networks
the numerous people who are involved in the formulation of policy, including the president, members of Congress, the cabinet, lobbyists, interest groups, government agencies, and scholars; a looser relationship than the iron triangles
Judicial activism
a judicial philosophy that holds that courts have a more expansive role to play in shaping public policy
Judicial Review
Authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive/state/legislature; est. in Marbury v. Madison
Legislative Branch
under Article I of the Constitution, the legislative branch consists of the House and Senate, which together form the US Congress; the prime responsibility is to make laws
Joint committee
a committee of Congress made up of members of both houses that focuses on issues of general concern but does not propose legislation
Libel
false written statements about others that harm their reputation
Liberal
a person whose views favor more government involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, and increased government spending
Libertarianism
people who wish to maximize the personal liberty on both economic and social issues; prefer small,
Judicial branch
responsible for interpreting and applying the laws; in the federal government it consists of the US district
weak government
government that has limited control over economy or personal lives
Loose Constructionist
the belief that judges should have freedom in interpreting the Constitution
Judicial restraint
holds that the Court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political questions, operating strictly within the limits of the Constitution
Judicial review
authority given the courts to review the constitutionality of acts by the executive, states, or the
Majority opinion
the majority of justices agree on the decision and the reasons for the decision
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
Leak
an unauthorized release of information to the press from someone in the government
Markup
rewrite of a bill after hearings have been held on it
Legislative courts
courts courts created by Congress for a specialized purpose with a narrow range of authority; judges serve a fixed term
Legislative veto
when Congress rejects an action of the president by a majority vote of both houses; declared
Media event
a speech or photo opportunity staged to give a politician's view on an issue; staged to present the candidate in a good light
Lemon test
test standard set by the Supreme Court in Lemon v. Kurtzman to measure the constitutionality of state laws. Separate, Secular, and Neutral in effect and intent
Miranda warning
the warning that an individual must be read at the time of arrest and questioning, letting him know his 5th and 6th amendment rights
Moderate
person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies
Natural rights
basic rights that are guaranteed to all persons; basic rights a government cannot deny
Limited Government
a governing or controlling body whose power exists only within predefined limits that are established by a Constitution or other source of authority
Line item veto
the president can reject a portion of a bill while approving the rest; declared unconstitutional
Lobbying
attempting to influence policymakers through a variety of methods
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
On background
information provided in an interview that a reporter can quote but can't attribute specifically to the interviewee
On deep background
information provided in an interview that a reported can use but cannot make even an indirect reference to the source
Maintaining elections
traditional majority power maintains power based on voters' party loyalty
Majority leader
the elected leader of the party with the most seats in the House or Senate
Majority-minority districts
drawing district boundaries to give a minority group a majority
Mandates
requirements imposed by the national government on state and local governments to comply with federal
Mandatory spending
spending required government spending by permanent laws; entitlements, for example social security or bond payments
Margin of error
the percentage that a scientific poll is likely to be off; a margin of error of +/- 3 percent is common
Mass media
all forms of communication that reach a large portion of the population
Midterm elections
congressional elections held between presidential elections
Monetary policy
economic policy in which the money supply is controlled through the Federal Reserve
Motor Voter Law
allows citizens to register to vote at welfare and motor vehicle offices
National debt
amount of money owed by the government
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
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
Nonpartisan election
an election in which candidates run as independents without party affiliation
North American Free Trade Agreement
created to allow the free movement of goods between Canada, Mexico, and the US by lowering and eliminating tariffs
Off the record information
information provided in an interview that a reporter cannot directly use
Off year election
an election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; midterm election
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
Pardon
a convicted person is exempt from the penalties of a crime; only the president has this power at the national
On the record information
provided in an interview that a reported can quote and attribute to the source, referring to the source by name
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
Participatory democracy
citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues; there are no elected officials;
Open primary
a primary election in which an individual does not have to be a registered voter in a particular party to vote for candidates of that party
Open rule
in the House, a rule that allows any amendments to a bill, regardless of whether they're relevant to the legislation
Opinion leaders
those individuals held in great respect because of their position, expertise, or personality, who may
Party machine
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
Party realignment
a shift in voter loyalty in response to critical events; 1932 election of FD Roosevelt
Patronage
the system in which a party leader rewarded political supporters with jobs or government contracts in exchange for their support of the party
Pluralist theory of democracy
interest groups compete in the political arena with each promoting its own policy preferences through organized efforts
Plurality vote
electoral process in which the candidate who receives more votes than any other candidate is elected
Party dealignment
weakening of ties between the voters and the two major parties
Policy adoption
the approval of a policy by legislation
Policy evaluation
determines is a policy is achieving its goals; usually carried out with congressional oversight
Political action committees (PAC$)
extension of an interest group that contributes money to political campaigns
Political agenda
issues that merit action, as determined by the public or those in power
Platform
a statement of a political party on the issues facing the country, adopted at the national convention; each issue position is known as a plank
Political culture
a set of basic values and beliefs about one's country or government that is shared by most citizens
Political ideology
a consistent set of beliefs about politics and public policy that sets the framework for evaluating government and public policy
Political party
Voluntary association of people who seek to control the government through common principles, based on peaceful and legal actions such as the winning of elections; an organization that recruits, nominated, and elects party members to control the government
Pocket veto
when the president takes no action on a bill within ten days of Congress adjourning, the bill does not become law
Political socialization
complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values
Policy formulation
the development of an approach to solving a problem that is on the political agenda
Policy implementation
carrying out a policy through government agencies and courts
Politics
method of maintaining, managing, and gaining control of government
Political efficacy
belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking
pork-barrel legislation
legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a member's chance of reelection
Precedent
standards or guides based on prior decisions that serve as a rule for settling similar disputes
prior restraint
action by the government to prevent the publication of material; censorship
Politico
a member of Congress who acts as a delegate on issues that constituents care about (such as immigration reform) and as a trustee on more complex or less salient issues (some foreign policy or regulatory matters)
Procedural Due Process
method of government action, or how the law is carried out according to established rules and procedures
Popular Socereignty
basic principle of US government which holds that the people are the source of all governmental power
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
Prospective voting
a method of evaluating candidates in which voters focus on candidates' positions on issues important to them and vote for the candidates who best represent their views
Public opinion
a collection of shared attitudes of citizens about government, politics and the making of public policy
President Pro Tempore
serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority
Primary election
nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election
Pure speech
verbal communication of ideas and opinions
Privileges and Immunities Clause
states are prohibited from unreasonably discriminating against residents of other states
Ratification
method of enacting a constitution or amendment into law
Realignment
a shift of voting patterns to form new coalitions of party support
Progressive tax
a tax that is higher for those who make more money; the federal income tax is an example
Reapportionment
redistribution of the 435 congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution
Public policy
the exercise of government power in doing those things necessary to maintain legitimate authority and control over society
Recess appointment
a presidential appointment made when Congress is not in session; doesn't require immediate confirmation
Redistricting
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
Referendum
a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct
Random sampling
a statistical technique that gives everyone in the target group the same opportunity to participate in a poll
Regressive tax
a tax that is assessed on everyone at the same rate and, therefore, impacts the poor more than it impacted wealthy; sales tax is regressive
Realigning election
when a minority party wins by building a new coalition of voters that continues over successive election
Representative democracy
citizens choose officials who make decisions about public policy; a republic
Recall
special election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before his or her term
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
Revolving
door the practice of government officials becoming lobbyists for the industries or companies they were responsible for regulating while they were public servants
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
Rule of four
a rule that says that four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree in conference to hear a case
Rules committee
determines the rules for debate for bills in the House
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
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
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
Select committee
a temporary committee of Congress set up for a specific purpose that is outside the scope of the standing committees
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
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
Single-member districts
only one representative is chosen from each legislative district
Slander
false verbal statements about others that harm their reputation
Socialism
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
Soft money
money used by national, state, or local party organizations that is not regulated by the Federal Election Commission
Sound bite
a very brief excerpt from a political speech aired on television or radio
speech plus
verbal and symbolic speech used together
Split-ticket voting
voting for candidates from more than one party in the same election
Standing committee
a permanent committee of Congress that deals with legislation and oversight in a broad policy area
stare decisis
let the decision stand; court decisions are based on precedent from previous cases
Straight-ticket voting
voting for candidates all of the same party
Strict constitutionalist
the view that justices should base decisions on a narrow interpretation of the Constitution
Subsidy
a sum of money granted by the government or a public body to assist an industry or business so that the price of a commodity or service may remain low or competitive
Superdelegates
party officials in the Democratic Party who attend the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses
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
Supremacy clause
national laws supersedes all other laws passed by states
Symbolic speech
using actions and symbols rather than words to convey an idea
Three-fifths compromise
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
Trial balloon
tests the public reaction to policy or appointments by releasing information to the media and gauging public reaction
Trustee
after listening to constituents, elected representatives vote based on their own opinions
Unanimous consent
an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation
Unfunded mandates
mandates require states to enforce legislation without the funding necessary
Unitary system
a political system in which all power is derived from the central government
Veto
the president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress
Voter turnout
the total number of votes cast for the highest office on the ballot
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
Whip
a majority/minority party leader in Congress who makes sure the party members are present for important votes and vote by party
writ of certiorari
a formal document issued by the Supreme Court to a lower court indicating that it will hear a case
writ of habeas corpus
a court order directing authorities to show cause for why a person under detention should not be released
Straw Poll
a poll conducted in an unscientific manner, used to predict election outcomes