All the gov
Policy
A course of action decided upon by government, or by any organization, group, or individual, that involves a choice among competing interests.
Majority Opinion
A court opinion reflecting the views of the majority of the judges; sets forth the decision of the court and an explanation of the rationale behind the court's decision.
Lame Duck
A defeated office holder after that person has lost their reelection, but is still in office until the newly elected official is sworn in.
amnesty
A political pardon granted to a large group of individuals
Probable Cause
A set of facts and circumstances that would induce a reasonably intelligent and prudent person to believe that a particular person had committed a specific crime; reasonable grounds to make or believe an accusation.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
A set of rules established in a bureaucracy that dictate how workers respond to different situations so that all workers respond in the same way.
Regressive Tax
A tax that is imposed on individuals regardless of how much they earn, such as a sales tax.
Literacy Test
A test administered as a precondition for voting, often used to prevent African Americans from exercising their right to vote; suspended in most states under the *Voting Rights Act of 1965*. *Constitutional Connection:* Fourteenth Amendment Fifteenth Amendment
Hyperpluralism
A theory of gov and politics contending that "groups are so strong that gov is weakened. It's extreme form of pluralism."
Elite and class theory
A theory of gov and politics contending that "societies are divided along class lines and that an upperclass elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization."
Pluralist theory
A theory of gov and politics emphasizing that "politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies."
Elitism
A theory of government and politics contending that an upper-class elite will hold most of the power and thus in effect run the government.
Hyperpluralism
A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened
Hyperpluralism
A theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened; see also *Pluralism.*
Pluralist Theory
A theory of government and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies.
Party Eras
A time period characterized by national dominance by one political party. There have been four major party eras in American history: the era of good feeling, the Republican era following the Civil War, the Democratic era following the election of Franklin Roosevelt, and the Republican era following the election of Richard Nixon.
judicial restraint
An approach to decision making in which judges play minimal policymaking roles and defer to legislatures whenever possible
judicial activism
An approach to decision making in which judges sometimes make bold policy decisions, even charting new constitutional ground
Caucus (Congressional)
An association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest.
Class Action Lawsuits
lawsuits permitting a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people similarly situated
sampling error
level of confidence in the findings of a public opinion poll, need more to be interviewed
Palko v. Connecticut (1937)
ruled that not all elements of the Bill of Rights are fundamental rights, and denied an appeal of a double jeopardy conviction
U.S. v. Morrison (2000)
ruled that parts of the Violence Against Women Act were unconstitutional because they were found to be unrelated to interstate commerce, and thus they exceeded Congress' authority under the commerce clause
Boys Scouts v. Dale (2000)
ruled that private organizations have the right to discriminate
South Dakota v. Dole (1987)
ruled that states had control over the drinking age in their state
Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819)
ruled that the charter for a private school was protected under the contract clause of the Constitution, thus it upheld the sanctity of contracts
Joint Committee
Legislative committee composed of members of both houses of Congress. *Examples:* Joint Committee on the Library Joint Committee on Printing
Joint Resolution
Legislative measure that must be passed by both houses and approved by the chief executive to become effective; similar to a bill, with the force of law, and often used for unusual or temporary purposes.
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Passed in 1883, an Act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.
New York Times v US (1971)
Pentagon papers leaked by Times, could be freely published
Initiative
Petition process by which a certain percentage of voters can put a proposed constitutional amendment or statute on the ballot for popular approval or rejection.
Judicial Restraint
Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say.
Inherent Powers
The powers of the national government in foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government.
Pork Barrel Legislation
The practice of legislators obtaining funds through legislation that favors their home districts.
McGovern-Fraser Commission
formed at 1968 Dem Convention in response to demands for reforms
First Amendment
freedom of speech,press,assembly,petition,and religion
Amicus Curiae
"friend of the court" refers to interested groups or individuals, not directly involved in a suit, who may file legal briefs or oral arguments in support of one side.
Fourteenth Amendment
"no state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
Roe v Wade
(1973) legalized abortion on the basis of a woman's right to privacy
Precedent
(civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions
b. Explain ONE reason political parties have been weakening since the 1960s.
1) Interest groups have strengthened and given people a political outlet without having to be partisan. 2) Dissatisfaction with the two party system.
c. Identify a feature of the U.S. Constitution designed to address the problem of government having too much power. Explain how it addresses the problem.
10th Amendment, gives rights to the state if not enumerated, 14th Amendment, "nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
a. Describe three amendments that had an impact on voting rights.
15th Amendment- Every race allowed to vote 19th Amendment- allowed women to vote 26th Amendment- 18 year olds allowed
b. Describe how each amendment has changed the nature of the electorate.
15th- couldn't legally vote for a while because of literacy tests etc. vote more liberal 19th- doubled the voting population, but often voted the same as their husbands. lean liberal 26th- big population but lowest voter turnout.
Scott v Sandford
1857 Supreme Court decision ruling that a slave who had escaped to a free state enjoyed no rights as a citizen and that Congress had no authority to ban slavery in the territories.
Brown v Board of Education
1954 - The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated.
Engel v Vitale
1962: Prohibited state-sponsored recitation of prayer in public schools by virtue of the 1st Amendment's Establishment Clause and the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.
War Powers Act
1973 act that states that a president can commit the military only after a declaration of war by the Congress, by specific authorization by Congress, if there is a national emergency, or if the use of force is in the national interest of the United States.
Miller v California
1973 ruling that determined the obscenity clause to related to works that lack literary, artistic, political or scientific value.
Federal Election Campaign Act
1974--created Federal Election Commission= limits and disclousure of contributions
Federal Election Commission
1974--enforces campaign finance laws
Motor Voter Act
1993---permit people to register to vote when they apply for a dirver's license
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA)
1996; implemented Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission
2010--- individuals, corporations, and unions could donate unlimited amounts of $$
Sound Bites
30 or 60-second statements by politicians aired on the evening news shows or Sunday morning talk shows.
1st Amendment
5 freedoms; religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
Miranda v. Arizona (1969)
5th amendment rights of the accused incorporated (must read rights to the arrested)
Schenck v. United States
A 1919 decision upholding the conviction of a socialist who had urged young men to resist the draft during WWI. Justice Holmes declared that government can limit speech if the speech provokes a "clear and present danger" of substantive evils.
Texas v Johnson
A 1989 case in which the Supreme Court struck down a law banning the burning of the American flag on the grounds that such action was symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.
Free Exercise Clause
A 1st Amendment provision that prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion.
stare decisis
A Latin phrase meaning "let the decision stand." Most cases reaching appellate courts are settled on this principle
Schenck v US
A United States Supreme Court decision concerning the question of whether the defendant possessed a First Amendment right to free speech against the draft during World War I. Ultimately, the case served as the founding of the "clear and present danger" rule.
plea bargaining
A bargain struck between the defendant's lawyer and the prosecutor to the effect that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser crime in exchange for the state's promise not to prosecute the defendant for a more serious crime.
Public policy
A decision that gov makes in response to a political issue. Policy = action taken with regard to some problem.
treaty
A formal agreement between two or more states in reference to peace, alliance, commerce, or other international relations
Voting Rights Act of 1965
A law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African American suffrage. Under the law, hundreds of thousands of African Americans were registered and the number of African American elected officials increased dramatically.
National Environmental Policy Act
A law passed in 1969 requiring agencies to issue an environmental impact statement before undertaking any major action affecting the environment.
War Powers Resolution
A law passed in 1973 in reaction to American fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia that requires presidents to consult with Congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days (90) unless Congress declares war or grants an extension. Presidents view the resolution as unconstitutional.
War Powers Resolution
A law passed in 1973, in reaction to American fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia, that requires presidents to consult with Congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless Congress declares war or grants an extension. However, presidents have viewed the resolution as unconstitutional
associate justice
A member on the Supreme Court who is not the Chief Justice
Blanket Primary
A nominating election in which voters may switch from one political party's primary to another on an office-to-office basis; see *Direct Primary*.
National Health Insurance
A plan to provide universal health insurance under which the government provides basic health insurance to all citizens. In most such plans, the program is funded by taxes on wages or salaries.
Affirmative Action
A policy designed to correct the effects of past discrimination; requirement by law that positive steps be taken to increase the number of minorities in businesses, schools, colleges, and labor. *Supreme Court Cases:* Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978) Gratz v. Bollinger (2003)
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
A primary measure of inflation determined by the increase in the cost of products compared to a base year.
Filibuster
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue; see also *Cloture*.
Pork Barrel
A project or grant that chiefly benefits a legislators home district
Bill
A proposed law drafted in precise legal language
president pro tempore
A senior senator of the majority party chosen to preside over the Senate in absence of the Vice President
civil service
A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create nonpartisan government service
Democracy
A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences.
pocket veto
A type of veto occurring when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president and the President simply lets the bill die by neither signing nor vetoing it
Pocket Veto
A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.
original intent
A view that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the original intent of the framers
Original Intent
A view that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the original intent of the framers. Many conservatives support this view.
Thirteenth Amendment
Abolished slavery
bureaucracy
According to Max Weber, a hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality
Indictment
Accusation by a grand jury; i.e., a formal finding by that body, that there is probable cause (reasonable grounds to make or believe an accusation against a named person to warrant his/her criminal trial.
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Act that finally made the Fifteenth Amendment a reality. As a result of this act, any state not eliminating the poll tax and literacy requirements would be directed to do so by the federal government. It also resulted in the establishment of racially gerrymandered congressional districts in the 1980s and 1990s.
Simpson-Marzzoli Act (1987)
Act that resulted in more than 2 million illegal aliens who were living in this country since 1982 being allowed to apply for legal status.
Congressional Budget Office
Advises Congress on the probable consequences of its decisions, forecasts revenues, and is a counterweight to the president's *Office of Management and Budget*.
Congressional Budget Office
Advises Congress on the probable consequences of its decisions, forecasts revenues, and is a counterweight to the president's office of management
Cabinet
Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.
Gratz v. Bollinger (2003)
Affirmative action case; ruled that undergraduate school admissions systems that award points to applicants who hold minority status are unconstitutional (though in related case race could be used in graduate school admissions)
Floor Action
After going through a committee a bill moves on to floor action where the entire house debates and then votes on a bill
independent regulatory agencies
Agencies with responsibility for making and enforcing rules to protect the public interest in some sector of the economy and for judging disputes over these rules
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Agreement that called for dramatic reductions of tariffs among the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Electorate
All of the persons entitled to vote in a given election.
Constituents
All persons represented by a legislator or other elected officeholder.
Judicial Review
Allows the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of laws
riders
An additional provision added to a bill or other measure under the consideration by a legislature, having little connection to the subject matter of the bill. They are usually created as a tactic to pass a controversial provision that would not pass as its own bill
cabinet
An advisory body to the president, consisting of the heads of the 15 executive departments responsible for the government of the United States
Religious Right
An evangelical conglomeration of ultraconservative political activists, many of whom support the Republican Party.
Global Warming
An increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere (especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes)
Political issue
An issue resulting of people disagreeing about a problem or public policy and how to fix it.
Misdemeanor
An offense that is less than a felony with punishment ranging from a fine to a short jail term.
Interest Group
An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy.
congressional resolution
Another way for Congress to introduce legislation. Can be broken down into joint, concurrent, and simple resolutions. They are not laws but statements of intent
Trial Court
Any court of original jurisdiction that empowers a jury to decide the guilt or liability of an individual.
Casework
Assistance given to constituents by congressional members, answering questions or doing favors.
Division of Powers
Basic principle of federalism; the constitutional provisions by which governmental powers are divided on a geographic basis.
Limited Government
Basic principle of the American system of government; that government is limited in what it may do, and each individual has certain rights that government cannot take away.
Grand Jury
Body of 12 to 23 persons convened by a court to decide whether or not there is enough probable cause (sufficient evidence) to justify bringing a person to trial.
Constitution
Body of fundamental law, setting out the basic principles, structures, processes, and functions of a government and placing limits upon its actions; may be written or unwritten.
Policymaking institutions
Branches of gov that take action of political issues. U.S. Constitution established 3 PI's: Congress, the presidency, and the courts. Bureaucracy has so much influence, hence political scientists consider it a fourth branch of PI.
Original Jurisdiction
Cases heard by the Supreme Court that do not come on appeal and that "affect ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a State shall be a party."
Formula Grants
Categorical grants distributed according to a particular set of rules, called a formula, that specify who is eligible for the grants and how much each eligible applicant will receive.
Prior Restraint
Censorship enacted before the speech, publication, etc., is released to the general public.
Supremacy Clause
Clause that states that "the Constitution and the laws of the United States... shall be the supreme law of the land."
Standing Committees
Committees that deal with proposed bills and also act in an oversight function. They are permanent, existing from one Congress to the next, such as the House Ways and Means and Senate Appropriations.
commercial speech
Communication in the form of advertising.
Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Compelling Amish students to attend school past the eighth grade violates the free exercise clause
Sedition
Conduct/language inciting rebellion against authority of the state.
First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Legislative Oversight
Congress's monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy
legislative oversight
Congress's monitoring of the executive branch bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through committee hearings
Select Committees
Congressional committees appointed for a special purpose
Conference Committee
Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms.
Joint Committees
Congressional committees on a few subject matter areas with membership drawn from both sides
22nd Amendment
Constitutional law limiting the president to 2 terms of office
Procedural Due Process
Constitutional requirement that a government proceed by proper means.
Government Corporations
Corporation set up and run by the government; provides a service to the public (ex. US Postal Service)
Korematsu v. United States
Court allowed removal of Japanese Americans from West Coast on basis of "military necessity" but avoided internment camps' constitutionality
Plessy v Ferguson
Court case that established "separate but equal" laws
Injunction
Court order that requires or forbids some specific action.
Gregg v Georgia (1976)
Death penalty is not "cruel and unusual punishment" in cases of murder
Near v Minnesota (1931)
Declares prior restraint (censorship) unconstitutional; gov cannot regulate/ suppress speech before It is given
Super Delegates
Democratic Party leaders and elected party officials who automatically are selected as delegates to the National Convention.
Steny Hoyer
Democratic Representative for Maryland, House of Representatives
Donna Howard
Democratic member for the House of Representatives for Texas
Cooperative Federalism
Described as various levels of government which are seen as related parts of a single governmental system, characterized more by cooperation and shared functions than by conflict and competition; also called *Marble Cake Federalism*.
Electioneering
Direct group involvement in the electoral process, for example, by helping to fund campaigns, getting members to work for candidates, and forming political action committees.
Patronage
Dispensing government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party.
Apportionment
Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state.
Regulation
Efforts by government to alter the free operation of the market to achieve social goals such as protecting workers and the environment.
Presidential Primary
Elections held in individual states to determine the preference of the voters and to allocate the number of delegates to the party's national convention.
Social Welfare
Entitlement programs such as Social Security and programs such as Aid to Dependent Children paid for by the federal government.
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Established judicial review; "midnight judges;" John Marshall; power of the Supreme Court.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Established national supremacy; established implied powers; use of elastic clause; state unable to tax fed. Institution
McCullough v Maryland
Established national supremacy; established implied powers; use of elastic clause; state unable to tax federal institution
Lemon v Kurtzman (1971)
Established that aid to church related schools must (1) have a secular legislative purpose (2) have a primary effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion (3) not foster excessive government entanglement with religion
Equal Time Rule
FCC rule that requires broadcast stations to sell campaign air time equally to all candidates if they choose to sell it to any.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Federal agency created to enforce the *Civil Rights Act of 1964*, which forbids discrimination on the basis of race, creed, national origin, religion, or sex in hiring, promotion, or firing.
Dual Federalism
Federal and state governments each have defined respinsibilities within their own sphere of influence; also called *Layer Cake Federalism*.
Constitutional Courts
Federal courts created by Congress under Article II of the Constitution. *Examples:* Court of Appeals U.S. Court of International Trade
Categorical Grants
Federal grants to states and local communities that are earmarked for specific purposes only, such as pollution control, schools, or hospitals. Also known *Grants-in-Aid*.
Supreme Court
Final federal appellate court ("court of last resort"). Hears appeals from Circuit Courts (certiorari petition / rule of 4). Only hears "important" constitutional cases.
Grants-In-Aid Program
Financial aid granted by federal government to the states with the funds available subject to certain conditions and to be used for certain purposes.
a. What is the Bill of Rights? Describe it.
First 10 amendments to the Constitution, Limits the power of the federal government over the states and its citizens. response to calls from several states for greater constitutional protection for individual liberties, the Bill of Rights lists specific prohibitions on governmental power.
Reed v Reed (1971)
First time the SC upheld a claim of gender discrimination
Closed Primary
Form of the direct primary in which only declared party members may vote; see *Open Primary*.
Interstate Compact
Formal agreements, largely in the form of financial arrangements, which are entered into between states, only with the approval of Congress.
Executive Orders
Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the federal bureaucracy.
Writ of Appeal
Formal request to have a court review the findings of a lower court.
Symbolic Speech
Forms of free speech guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution, such as wearing a black armband to protest a governmental action or burning an American flag in protest for political reasons.
Griswold v Connecticut (1965)
Found a "right to privacy" in the Consitution that would ban any state law against selling contraceptives
Elastic Clause
Found in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, it gives Congress the power to make "all laws necessary and proper" to carry out the other defined powers of Congress; also known as the *Necessary and Proper Clause*.
Brown v Board of Education (1954)
Found that segregation was a violation of the Equal Protection clause "separate but equal" has no place
Hazelwood School District v Kulmeier
Freedom of the press is different for students. Principles can censor school newspapers.
Amicus Curiae Brief
Friend of the court; interested groups may be invited to file legal briefs supporting or rejecting arguments of the case.
Selective Benefits
Goods (such as information publications, travel discounts, and group insurance rates) that a group can restrict to those who pay their annual dues.
Continuous Body
Governing unit such as the Senate whose seats are never all up for election at the same time.
Entitlement Programs
Government benefits that certain qualified individuals are entitled to by law, regardless of need. *Examples:* Social Security Medicare
government corporations
Government organizations that provides a service that could be delivered by the private sector and typically charges for its services-US Postal Service
Deficit Spending
Government practice of spending more than is taken in from taxes.
Electoral College
Group of persons (presidential electors) chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President.
Interest Groups
Groups of people who work together for similar interests or goals
single-issue groups
Groups that have a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and often draw membership from people new to politics. These features distinguish them from traditional interest groups.
9th Amendment
Guarantees obvious rights, like the right to travel and rights not specifically mentioned in the Bill of Rights. (Peoples' Rights)
Civil Liberties
Guarantees of the safety of persons, opinions, and property from the arbitrary acts of government.
Judicial Implementation
How and whether court decisions are translated into actual policy, thereby affecting the behavior of others. The courts rely on other units of government to enforce their decisions.
precedence
How similar cases have been decided in the past
Endangered Species Act of 1973
Identifies threatened and endangered species in the U.S., and puts their protection ahead of economic considerations
7th Amendment
In common law, right to trial by jury in civil cases if the amount is over $20.
incumbent
Individuals who already hold office. In congressional elections incumbents generally win
Strict Constructionists
Individuals who believe in a conservative interpretation of the Constitution.
a. Identify the fundamental goal of interest groups in the political process.
Influence public policy
Coattail Effect
Influence that a popular candidate for a top office (e.g., President or governor) can have on the voters' support of other candidates of his/her party on the same ballot.
Policy agenda
Issues that attract attention of public officials and people involved in politics.
Employment Division v Smith
It is constitutional to limit religious practices but not the practice itself. Smith took traditional Native American drugs while he worked in a drug rehab and gets fired; loses his case.
Twenty-Fourth Amendment
It outlawed taxing voters, i.e. poll taxes, at presidential or congressional elections, as an effort to remove barriers to Black voters.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Its director, appointed with the consent of the Senate, is responsible for the preparation of the massive federal budget, which must be submitted to the Congress in January each year. Besides formulating the budget, the OMB oversees congressional appropriations.
Precedent
Judicial use of prior cases as the test for deciding similar cases.
Statutory Law
Law enacted by a legislative body.
Hatch Act (1939)
Law that prohibits government employees from engaging in political activities while on duty.
Constitutional Law
Laws relating to the interpretation of the Constitution.
Class action suits
Lawsuits in which a small number of people sue on behalf of all people in similar circumstances
amicus curiae briefs
Legal briefs submitted by a "friend of the court" for the purpose of influencing a court's decision by raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties
amicus curiae briefs
Legal briefs submitted by a "friend of the court" for the purpose of raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties. These briefs attempt to influence a court's decision.
Brief
Legal document submitted to the court setting forth the facts of a case and supporting a particular position.
Substantive Due Process
Legal process that places limits related to the content of legislation and the extent government can use its power to enact unreasonable laws.
Twenty Second Amendment
Limited the Presidency to a two-term limit
Caucus
Locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political offices.
District Courts
Lowest level of fed. courts, where fed. cases begin & trials are held (bank robbery, environmental violations, tax evasion)
District Courts
Lowest level of federal courts; where federal cases begin and trials are held.
Dealignment
Marks a period when a significant number of voters choose to no longer support a particular political party; see *Crtitical Election.*
Griswold v Connecticut
Married couple wanted to get contraceptives; struck down a Connecticut law prohibiting the sale of contraceptives; established the right of privacy through the 4th and 9th amendment
Kirk Watson
Mayor of Austin from 1997-2001 and became Democratic leader of the Senate, Senate for the 14th district in Texas
Committee Chairman
Member who heads a standing committee in a legislative body; selection relies heavily on party loyalty.
Appropriations
Money used by Congress or a state legislature for a specific purpose.
Richard Durbin
Most current whip for the Democratic Party, Senate
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts.
NOW
National Organization of Women, 1966, Betty Friedan first president, wanted Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforce its legal mandate to end sex discrimination
American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
Nationwide organization for people over 50 that offers discount drug purchases, health & auto insurance, publications, & other activities
Greenhouse Effect
Natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases
Engel v. Vitale (1962)
New York cannot mandate a state-composed non-denominational prayer be read in schools because it violated the establishment clause
8th Amendment
No excessive fines or bails, and no cruel or unusual punishment is to be inflicted.
unreasonable searches and seizures
Obtaining evidence in a haphazard or random manner, a practice prohibited by the 4th Amendment.
Grass Roots
Of or from the common people, the average voter; used to describe opinion and pressure on public policy.
New Jersey Plan
Offered at the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia, it urged the delegates to create a legislature based on equal representation by the states.
senators
One of two people elected to represent a state in the Senate
Divided Government
One party controls the executive, and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress.
Anti-Federalists
Opposed the adoption of U.S. Constitution because it gave too much power to the national government at the expense of the state governments and it lacked a bill of rights. *Key Individuals:* Patrick Henry George Mason Richard Henry Lee
Health Maintenance Organization
Organization contracted by individuals or insurance companies to provide health care for a yearly fee. Such network health plans limit the choice of doctors and treatments. About 60 percent of Americans are enrolled in them or similar programs.
Separation of Powers
Originally developed by Montesquieu in The Spirit of Natural Laws written during the Enlightenment and James Madison in Federalist No. 48, this important doctrine resulted in the establishment of three separate branches of government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, each having distinct and unique powers.
Thirty-Second Spots
Paid political ads 30 seconds in duration
Whips
Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill passing
majority/minority whip
Party leaders who work with the majority or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to the passage of a bill favored by the party
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Passed by Congress in 1991, this act banned discrimination against the disabled in employment and mandated easy access to all public and commercial buildings.
standing committee
Permanent committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas
Sixteenth Amendment
Permitted Congress to levy an income tax
White House Staff
Personnel who run the White House and advise the President. Includes the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary
Partisan
Political opposition drawn along party lines.
Legislative Veto
Power of Congress to veto executive decisions & actions; declared unconstitutional in INS v. Chadha (1983) (violates separation of powers)
Concurrent Jurisdiction
Power shared by federal and state courts to hear certain cases.
Congressional Oversight
Power used by Congress to gather information useful for the formation of legislation, review the operations and budgets of executive departments and independent regulatory agencies, conduct investigations through committee hearings, and bring to the public's attention the need for public policy.
Implied Powers
Powers of the national government that flow from its enumerated powers and the *"Elastic Clause"* of the Constitution.
Reserved Powers
Powers retained by the states, as dictated by the 10th Amendment.
Enumerated Powers
Powers that are granted specifically to the three branches of the federal government under the Constitution; also known as *Expressed Powers*.
Line-item Veto
Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Vertical Federalism
Principle that describes the obligations established by the Constitution between the states and the national government.
Cloture
Procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate in a legislative body; requires a three-fifths vote of the Senate.
standard operating procedures
Procedures for everyday decision making that enable bureaucrats to bring efficiency and uniformity to the running of complex organizations. Uniformity promotes fairness and makes personnel interchangeable
Medicare
Program that covers hospital and medical costs of people 65 years of age and older as well as disabled individuals receiving Social Security.
Engel v Vitale (1962)
Prohibited state-sponsored recitation of prayer in public schools
Twenty Fourth Amendment
Prohibits poll tax in federal elections
Water Pollution Control Act of 1972
Provided funds to build sewage treatment facilities and required industries to remove or treat pollution in water discharged to a lake or stream.
Libel
Publication (written) of statements that wrongfully damage another's reputation; see slander. *Constitutional Connection:* First Amendment *Supreme Court Cases:* New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
22nd amendment
Ratified in 1951, this amendment limits presidents to two terms of office
Civil Rights
Refers to positive acts of government that seek to make constitutional guarantees a reality for all; e.g., prohibition of discrimination.
General Election
Regularly scheduled election at which the voters choose public officeholders.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Regulates air and water pollution, pesticides, radiation, solid waste, and toxic substances. It is the main environmental regulatory agency.
executive order
Regulations originating within the executive branch. They are one method presidents can use to control the bureaucracy
Eleventh Amendment
Restrictions of federal lawsuits
Delegate
Role played by elected representatives who vote the way their constituents would want them to, regardless of their own opinions.
Sweatt v Painter (1950)
Ruled that an all-black school built in a different part of the state did not provide an equivalent to the University of Texas because of its isolation and accessibility.
Tinker v Des Moines School District (1969)
Ruled that students do not lose Constitutional rights when they entered the building but they can be limited if they cause a disruption
Equal Protection Clause
Section of the *Fourteenth Amendment* that guarantees that all citizens receive "equal protection of the laws"; has been used to bar discrimination against blacks and women.
De Facto Segregation
Segregation that exists "in fact," not as a result of laws or governmental actions, i.e., administered by the public; see de jure segregation, segregation.
De Jure Segregation
Segregation that exists as a result of some law or governmental action. *Examples:* Jim Crow Laws
Trial Balloons
Selective leaks aimed at testing the political waters
Harry Reid
Senator from Nevada since 1987 and is Senate Minority Leader, Senate
Plessy v Ferguson (1896)
Seperate but equal facilities based upon race is constitutional
Joe Biden
Served in the senate from 1973 to 2009 and was President Obama's Vice President, Senate
Public goods
Services shared by everyone and cannot be denied to anyone. (ex: highways, public parks, clean water)
Motor Voter Act of 1993
Signed into law by President Clinton, it enables people to register to vote at motor vehicle departments.
Unicameral Legislature
Single-house legislature
Collective Good
Something of value (money, a tax write-off, prestige, clean air, and so on) that cannot be withheld from a group member.
Select Committees
Specially created congressional committees that conduct special investigations. The Watergate Committee and Iran-Contra investigators were select Senate committees.
Discretionary Spending
Spending set by the government through annual appropriations bills, including operating expenses and salaries of government employees.
right-to-work laws
State laws that provide that unions cannot impose a requirement that workers join the union as a condition of their employment.
Environmental Impact Statement
Statement required by Federal law from all agencies for any project using Federal funds to assess the potential affect of the new construction or development on the environment.
Planned Parenthood v Casey (1992)
States can regulate abortion, but not with regulations that impose undue burden upon women; did not overturn Roe, but gave state more leeway in regulating abortion (e.g., 24 hour waiting period, parental consent for minors)
b. Explain why each of the following enhances the influence of public opinion on the voting decisions of members of Congress. • Strong public opinion as expresses in polling results • Competitive re-elections
Strong public opinion as expresses in polling results: 1) Desire to agree with the public and get reelected 2) Duty to represent their constituents Competitive re-elections: 1) The desire to get reelected
Texas v Johnson (1989)
Struck down a law banning the burning of the American flag on the grounds that such action was symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment.
Sweatt v Painter
Sweatt was denied admittance to Texas Law School because of his race. Result: SC ruled that the school had to let him in because the separate facility for negroes was not even close to equal. - 14th A.
Tinker v Des Moines ISD
Symbolic speech is protected (armbands to protest war)
Federalism
System of government, national and state gov divided and balanced
electronic media
TV, radio and Internet
mass media
TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, Internet, popular communication
Conference Committee
Temporary joint committee created to reconcile any differences between the two houses' versions of a bill.
President Pro Tempore
Temporary presiding officer of the Senate.
Common Law
That body of law made up of generally accepted standards of rights and wrongs developed over centuries by judicial decisions rather than in written statutes.
Criminal Law
That body of law passed by both the federal and state governments, that defines crimes and provides for their punishment.
Gideon v. Wainwright
The 1963 Supreme Court decision holding that anyone accused of a felony where imprisonment may be imposed, however poor he or she might be, has a right to a lawyer.
Lemon v Kurtzman
The 1971 Supreme Court decision that established that aid to church-related schools must (1) have a secular legislative purpose; (2) have a primary effect that neither advances nor inhibits religion; and (3) not foster excessive government entanglement with religion.
Roe v. Wade
The 1973 Supreme Court decision holding that a state ban on all abortions was unconstitutional.
Hernandez v Texas
The Court ruled that Mexican Americans formed a separate class that was entitled to protection. Hernandez had the right to be tried by juries from which members of his class were not excluded.
Super Tuesday
The Tuesday on which a number of primary votes take place, with a heavy concentration of Southern states voting.
Regents of the U. of California v Bakke (1978)
The UC Davis program's use of quotas makes it unconstitutional; however, the school IS allowed to consider race as a factor.
Appeasement
The act of making concessions to a political or military rival.
Military-Industrial Complex
The assumption that there is an alliance between the military and industrial leaders.
Appellate Jurisdiction
The authority of a court to review decisions of inferior (lower) courts; see *Original Jurisdiction*.
Individualism
The belief that individuals should be left on their own by the government. One of the primary reasons for the comparatively small scope of American government is the prominence of this belief in American political thought and practice.
a. Describe the winner-take-all feature of the Electoral College.
The candidate who gets the most votes wins all of a state's electoral votes.
Appropriations Committee
The committee responsible for setting specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
The concept of Judicial Review was established during this case
Judiciary Act of 1789
The congressional act which set the scope and limits for the federal judiciary system.
14th Amendment
The constitutional amendment adopted after the Civil War that declares "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immumities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of the law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."
First Amendment
The constitutional amendment that establishes the four great liberties: freedom of the press, of speech, of religion, and of assembly.
8th Amendment
The constitutional amendment that forbids excessive fines or bail & cruel and unusual punishment
Separate But Equal
The judicial precedent established in the Plessy v Ferguson decision that enabled states to interpret the equal protection provision of the Fourteenth Amendment as a means of establishing segregation.
Incorporation Doctrine
The legal concept under which the Supreme Court has nationalized the Bill of Rights by making most of its provisions applicable to the states through the 14th Amendment.
civil liberties
The legal constitutional protections against government.
Suffrage
The legal right to vote, extended to African Americans by the Fifteenth Amendment, to women by the Nineteenth Amendment, and to people over the age of 18 by the Twenty-sixth Amendment.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
The legislative act that removed racial barriers in all places vested with a public interest. *Constitutional Connection:* Fourteenth Amendment Fifteenth Amendment
deregulation
The lifting of government restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities
Deregulation
The lifting of restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities for which government rules had been established and that bureaucracies had been created to administer.
Direct Primary
The most widely used method of making nominations in American politics; an intra-party nominating election at which those who vote choose a party's candidates to run in the general election.
Fiscal Federalism
The national government's use of fiscal policy to influence states through the granting or withholding of appropriations.
Office of Personal Management
The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process
cloture
The official end to a filibuster through a 2/3 vote of the senate
Plaintiff
The party who brings a civil action to court for the purpose of seeking a monetary remedy.
Linkage institutions
The political channels through which people's concerns become political issues on the policy agenda. (Ex in US: Elections, political parties, interest groups, and the media.)
impeachment
The political equivalent of an indictment in criminal law, prescribed by the Constitution. The House of Representatives may impeach the president by a majority vote for "Treason, Bribery, or other Misdemeanors"
Original Jurisdiction
The power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court
Majority leader
The principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House or the party's leader in the Senate
Minority Leader
The principle leader of the minority party in the House or Senate
Ratification
The procedure followed by the states to approve the Constitution and/or its formal amendments.
Policymaking system
The process by which policy comes into being and evolves over time. People's interests, problems and concerns create political issues for gov policymakers. (Ex cycle: Issues shape policy, policy impacts people, people gain more interests, problems and concerns, which create issues etc. etc.)
Politics
The process by which we select our governmental leaders and what policies they pursue. (Politics produces authoritative decisions about public issues)
Reapportionment
The process in which a state legislature redraws congressional districts based on population increases or declines.
Desegregation
The removal of racial barriers either by legislative acts or by judicial action.
Speaker of the House
The representative from the majority party in the House of Representatives who presides over House meetings, recognizes speakers, refers bills to committees, answers procedural questions, and declares the outcome of votes.
Poll Tax
The requirement of a person to pay for the right to vote.
standing to sue
The requirement that plaintiffs have a serious interest in a case, which depends on whether they have sustained or are likely to sustain a direct or substantial injury from another party or from an action of government
Fifteenth Amendment
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
franking privilege
The right of members to post mail to constituents without having to pay postage
Executive Privilege
The right of the president to withhold information from Congress or refuse to testify. *Supreme Court Cases:* U.S. v. Nixon (1974)
right to privacy
The right to a private personal life free from the intrusion of government.
commander in chief
The role of the president as the head of state in supreme command of the United States' armed forces
exclusionary rule
The rule that evidence cannot be introduced into a trial if it was not constitutionally obtained.
"Honeymoon" Period
The short period (days or months) following an election when a president's popularity and ability to influence Congress is at its highest.
Party Realignment
The signaling resulting from a national election or a major shift in the political spectrum and characterized by the start of a party era. Party regulars: enrolled party members who are usually active in the organization of a political party and support party positions and nominated candidates.
probable cause
The situation occurring when the police have reason to believe that a person should be arrested.
Articles of Impeachment
The specific charges brought against a president or a federal judge by the House of Representatives.
oral arguments
The stage in Supreme Court proceedings in which attorneys for both sides appear before the Court to present their positions and answer questions posed by the justices
"a preponderance of the evidence"
The standard of proof in most civil cases in which the party bearing the burden of proof must present evidence which is more credible and convincing than that presented by the other party or which shows that the fact to be proven is more probable than not
"beyond a reasonable doubt"
The standard of proof that must be established to win a civil case. The standard is met when a party's evidence that it's more likely than not that the fact is as the party alleges it to be
Gross domestic product
The sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a nation.
Civil Service System
The system created by civil service laws by which many appointments to the federal bureaucracy are made; established under the *Pendleton Act* of 1883.
Iron Triangle
The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interests groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests.
"Secretary of"
The title given to the heads of the cabinet departments except for the department of justice
Command-and-Control Policy
The typical system of regulation whereby government tells business how to reach certain goals, checks that these commands are followed, and punishes offenders
Majority rule
The will of over half of the voters should be respected in choosing amongst alternatives. (Traditional democratic theory)
Presidential Coattails
These occur when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the president's party because they support the president.
c. Explain one way in which the winner-take-all feature of the Electoral College hinders third-party candidates.
They get alot of popular votes, but no electoral votes unless they carry a state.
b. Explain one way in which the winner-take-all feature of the Electoral College affects how presidential candidates from the two major political parties run their campaigns.
They spend more time in the large or swing states, spending most of their time and money there.
Article III
This article of the constitution outlines the judicial branch of government
Marbury v. Madison
This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
This is the health care reform law. Focuses on reform of the private health insurance market; providing better coverage for those with pre-existing conditions; improving prescription drug coverage in Medicare.
Incumbents
Those already holding office
Incumbents
Those elected officials who are running for new terms of office.
Funded Mandates
Those regulations passed by Congress or issued by regulatory agencies to the states with federal funds to support them.
Unwritten Constitution
Traditions, precedent, and practice incorporated into our form of government that adds to the Constitution's elasticity and its viability. Political parties, the president's cabinet, political action committees, and the federal bureaucracy are important examples.
Red Tape
Used to describe the difficulty it takes to get answers from a bureaucratic agency.
Slander
Verbal defamation of a person's character.
Party Platforms
Voted on by the delegates attending the National Convention, they represent the ideological point of view of a political party.
b. Explain how liberty is in danger when government has too little power. Provide an example to demonstrate this danger
War of 1812, Need to defend the State, Economic crisis, government can't meet the needs of the people.
c. Select two of the following and explain how each has been used to increase the power of the states relative to the federal government. i. Welfare Reform Act of 1996 ii. Block grants iii. Tenth Amendment
Welfare Reform Act- States were given money and power to run their own welfare program. Block Grants- few strings attached, so the states decide where the money goes.
"table a bill"
When a legislative body adopts motion to suspend a bill indefinitely. Requires a majority vote and does not kill the bill
Policy gridlock
When no coalition is strong enough to form a majority and establish policy. The result is that nothing may get done.
Concurring Opinion
Written explanation of the views of one or more appellate judges who support a decision reached by majority of the court but disagree with the grounds for that decision.
Dissenting Opinion
Written explanation of the views of one or more judges who disagree with a decision reached by a majority of the court.
Deficit
Yearly shortfall between revenue and spending.
Intergovernmental relations
a broad array of services to the public and state local and tribal governments
mandates
a command or authorization to act in a particular way on a public issue
Containment Doctrine
a foreign policy strategy advocated by George Kennan that called for the United States to isolate the Soviet Union, "contain" its advances, and resist its encroachments by peaceful means if possible but by force if necessary
republic
a form of government in which the people select representative to govern them and make laws
Independent Regulatory Agencies
a government agency responsible for some sector of the economy, making and enforcing rules to protect the public interest. It also judges disputes over these rules.
Joint Chiefs of Staff
a group that consists of the commanding officers of each of the armed services, a chairperson, and a vice chairperson, and advises the president on military policy
Constitution
a nation's basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. Constitutions can be either written or unwritten.
Detente
a policy, beginning in the early 1970s, that sought a relaxation of tensions between the US and the USSR, coupled with the firm guarantees of mutual security
PACs (Political Action Committees)
a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns directly for the candidate
Shay's Rebellion
a series of attacks on courthouses by a small band of farmers led by Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings
Tariff
a special tax added to uprooted goods to raise their price, thereby protecting businesses and workers from foreign competition
Bureaucracy
a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by undetected state officials rather than by elected representatives
Thirteenth Amendment
abolished slavery
political participation
activities used by citizens to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue
Implied powers
allow Congress to have more powers that was in the Constitution
Cruzan v. Director Missouri Dept. of Health (1990)
allowed a right to privacy and the right to die, which set in motion the passage of "living will" statutes in states
Lynch v. Donnelly (1984)
allowed publicly funded nativity scene on public property
Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg (1971)
allowed the ordering of busing of children to ensure school desegregation
Korematsu v. U.S. (1944)
allowed the president to use an executive order to intern Japanese-Americans during World War II
income
amount of money collected between two points in time
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
an agency created after World War II to coordinate American intelligence activities abroad and to collect, analyze, and evaluate intelligence.
Cap-and-trade system
an approach to pollution control in which the government sets a limit on the amount of emissions allowed (the cap) and then permits companies to buy and sell emissions allowances (the trade)
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
an economic organization consisting primarily of Middle Eastern nations that seeks to control the amount of oil its member produce and sell to other nations and hence the price of oil
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
an independent federal agency established in 1970 to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment
Tenth Amendment
any power that is not given to the federal government is given to the people or the states
Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
appropriate medical screening occurs and if emergency condition exists, the hospital can't discharge or transfer the patient until he/she stabilizes
Formula grants
are noncompetitive awards based on a predetermined formula
Twenty Seventh Amendment
banned congress from raising its members salaries right before the next election
civil disobedience
based on a conscious decision to break a law believed to be unjust
party competition
battle of parties for control of public offices
high-tech politics
behavior of citizens and policymakers and political agenda is shaped by technology
transfer payments
benefits given by the govt directly to individuals
Justiciable Disputes
cases that can be settled by legal methods.
b. Select two of the following and explain how each has been used to increase the power of the federal government relative to the states. • Categorical grants • Federal mandates • Selective Incorporation
categorical grant- states must spend money how the national government wants them to federal mandates- federal government tells states what policies to implement.
Devolution
central gov gives power, property to local groups or gov
Unitary governments
central gov possesses authority and decision-making power
policy voting
choices made on the basic of the voters' policy preferences
political ideology
coherent set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and public purpose
US v. Lopez (1995)
commerce clause does not give Congress the power to pass the Gun Free Schools Act
Equal Rights Amendment
constitutional amendment passed by Congress but never ratified that would have banned discrimination on the basis of gender
Thirteenth Amendment
constitutional amendment that abolished slavery
Fifteenth Amendment
constitutional amendment that guaranteed voting rights regardless of race or previous condition of servitude
a. Define federalism.
constitutional division of power between levels (national and state) government
third parties
contenders other than the two major parties; rarely win elections
soft money
contributions payed for party building at grassroots level or generic party advertising
Social Security Act of 1935
created the Social Security program and the national assistance program for poor families
Miranda v Arizona
criminal suspects must be informed of their right to consult with an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police.
Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992)
decided that restrictions to abortions must no impose an "undue burden or hardship on the mother"
Commonwealth v. Hunt (1842)
declared that labor unions were lawful organizations and that the strike was a lawful weapon
Barron v. Baltimore (1833)
denied that states needed to abide by the Bill or Rights (overturned through selective incorporation cases)
protest
designed to achieve policy change
Seventeenth Amendment
direct election of senators
party realignment
displacement of the majority party by the minority party
campaign contributions
donations to party reported to the FEC 2500 to candidate 30800 to party
14th Amendment
due process and equal protection under the law
monetarism
economic theory; supply of money is the key to a nation's economic health
closed primaries
elections to select party nominations; people who had registered in advance can vote= greater party loyalty
open primaries
elections to select party nominees; voters decided which party of participate in
winner-take-all system
electoral system where legislative seats are awarded to candidates who come first in constituencies
Twelfth Amendment
electors vote separately for President and Vice President
Baker v. Carr (1962)
enabling federal courts to intervene in and to decide legislative redistricting cases
Bush v. Gore (2000)
ended recounts in Florida in the presidential election by declaring the related laws vague and inconsistent, thus deciding the outcome of the election
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
established the court's power of judicial review
Craig v. Boren (1976)
established the precedent that laws must be equal for males and females unless there is viable and reliable evidence that clearly demonstrates that some distinction in the application of the law is necessary
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
established the supremacy of the national government over state governments (states can't regulate national bank)
media events
events staged for media, significant just because the media are there
Full faith and credit
every state must recognize and respect the laws and judgments of other states
independent expenditures
expenses made by groups that are uncoordinated with campaign
rational-choice theory
explain the actions of voters; assumes that individuals act in their best interest
Brandenberg v. Ohio (1969)
extended freedom of speech to allow for threatening speech if the danger was not seen as real (KKK leader case)
checks and balances
features of the Constitution that limit government's power by requiring each branch to obtain the consent of the others for its actions, limiting and balancing power among the branches
Fiscal federalism
financial grants in aid from the national government to state & local govs
invisible party
first stage where candidates want to win early from elite of party
Blue Dog Democrats
fiscally conservative Democrats who are from South or rural parts of US
Texas v. Johnson (1989)
flag burning is a form of symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment
New Deal Coalition
forged by democrats; basic elements: urban working class, ethnic groups, Catholics and Jews, the poor, Southerners, African Americans and intellectuals
Schenck v. US (1919)
free speech can be restricted when there is "clear and present danger," such as during a war
Keynesian economic theory
govt spending and deficits can help economy deal with ups and downs
regressive tax
govt takes greater share of income from the poor than the rich
progressive tax
govt takes greater share of income from the rich than the poor
proportional tax
govt takes some share of income from everyone
party dealignment
gradual disengagement of people from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification
coalition
group of individuals with a common interest on which every political party depends
501(c) groups
groups exampeted from reporting contributions and recieve inlimited contributions
chains
groups of newspapers published by media conglomerates
Factions
groups such as parties or interest groups, which according to James Madison arose from the unequal distribution of property or wealth had the potential to cause instability in government
Citizens United v. FEC (2010)
held that the 1st Amendment prohibited the gov't from restricting independent political expenditures by a nonprofit corporation(which has been extended to for-profit corporations, labor unions and other associations)
feminization of poverty
increasing concentration of poverty among women, especially unmarried women and their children
political socialization
individuals in society acquire political attitudes views and knowledge based on inputs
trial balloons
intentional news leaks for the purpose of assessing the political reaction
Loving v. Virginia (1967)
invalidated laws prohibiting interracial marriage
policy agenda
issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and people involved
national committee
keeps the party operating b/w conventions; composed of representatives from states and territories
consumer price index (CPI)
key measure of inflation; change in cost of buying a fixed basket of goods and services
suffrage
legal right to vote in US
Enumerated powers
list of items that Congress is allowed to do
Twenty Sixth Amendment
lowered the voting age to 18 (from 21)
Federal Reserve System
main instrument for making monetary policy; created by Congress in 1913 to regulate lending practice of banks and thus the supply of money
Ninth Amendment
makes clear that the rights spelled in Constitution are not the only rights for Americans "People's amendment"
monetary policy
manipulation of the supply of money in private hands; steers economy
Super Pacs
may accept donations of any size and can endorse candidates
Interdependency
mutual reliance, as in the economic realm, in which actions in nations reverberate and affect the economic well-being of people in other nations
super delegates
national party leaders who automatically get slot at convention
critical election
new images emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party
print media
newspapers and magazines
minority majority
non-Hispanic whites will represent the minority and the minority groups will represent a majority
527 group
not subject to contribution restrictions b/c do no directly seek the election of particular candidates
Roth v. US (1957)
obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment
patronage
one of the key inducements used by party machines
political efficacy
one's political participation really matters
Anti- Federalists
opponents of the US Constitution at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption
Immigration and Naturalizations Service v. Chada (1983)
outlawed the "legislative veto" or requirement that Congress approve executive actions before they are carried out
Gitlow v. New York (1925)
overturned Barron v. Baltimore and incorporated the right to free speech to the states
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
overturned a city ban on handguns and incorporated the 2nd amendment to states
Taylor v. Louisiana (1975)
overturned a decision that allowed women to be excluded from a jury pool
Clinton v. New York City (1998)
overturned a law that would allow the line item veto on appropriations bills citing a separation of powers breach
Cohen v. California (1971)
overturned the conviction of a man who wore an offensive phrase on a T-shirt in public as the display was ruled unlikely to create a physical reaction
Equal Protection of the Laws
part of the 14th amendment emphasizing that the laws must provide equivalent protection to all people
nomination
party's official endorsement of a candidate for office
random-digit dialing
place telephone numbers randomly to both listed and unlisted for survey
Civil Rights
policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment from the government
Foreign Policy
policy that involves choice taking about relations with the rest of the world. The president is the chief initiator of US foreign policy
party platform
political party's statement of its goals and policies for the next four years
Demography
population changes
Gibbons v. Ogden
power to Congress to regulate interstate commerce
national party convention
power within party, nominate candidates and platform
New York Times v. U.S. (1971)
prevented prior restraint when information to be published is of public concern
selective exposure
process where people consciously choose to get news that share viewpoints
Eighteenth Amendment
prohibited the manufacture, sale, and distribution of alcoholic beverages
Smith v. Allwright (1944)
prohibited the preventing of black voters from participating in primary elections
unemployment rate
proportion of the labor force actively seeking work but unable to find jobs
Near v. Minnesota (1931)
protected freedom of press by outlawing prior restraint (censorship before publication)
Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
protected right to privacy by overturning law banning birth control
Fifth Amendment
protected rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Lawrence v. Texas (2003)
protects the right to privacy for consensual behavior by gay citizens
means-tested programs
provide benefits only to individuals who qualify based on specific needs
entitlement programs
provide benefits to qualified individuals regardless of need
exit poll
public opinion to predict electoral winners with speed and precision
political action committees
raise $ from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions
reappertionment
reallocating seats in the HoR every 10 years based on results of census
Muller v. Oregon (1908)
recognized a 10-hour work day for women workers on the grounds of health and community concerns (not giving men same consideration)
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
refundable fed income tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and families, even if they did not earn enough money to be required to file a tax return
voter registration
register before voting
Minor v. Happersett (1875)
rejected the argument that women should be able to vote based on the 14th amendment's due process clause
Twenty First Amendment
repealed the 18th Amendment of prohibition
Poll taxes
required citizens of a state to pay money in order to vote
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
requires people on welfare to find work within two years and set lifetime maximum of five years on welfare
national chairperson
responsible for the day-to- day activities of the party
Seventh Amendment
right to a trial by jury
Second Amendment
right to bear arms
inflation
rise in price of goods and services
New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
set guidelines for winning libel suits (must prove actual malice)
sample
small proportion of people who are chosen in a survey to represent a whole
subcommittee
specialized groups within standing committees
beats
specific locations from which news frequently emanates
presidential primaries
state's voter go to polls to express preference
Dual federalism
states and the national government each remain supreme with their own spheres
battleground states
states candidates focus on... like to decide outcome
frontloading
states holding primaries early to capitalize on media attention
Privileges and immunities
states may not prevent citizens from their basic rights
Planned Parenthood v Casey
states may regulate abortion as long as there is "no undue burden" on the mother; did not overturn Roe v. Wade but gave states more leeway in regulating abortion (parental consent for minors, 24 hour waiting period)
Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
struck down a law reimbursing religious schools for textbooks and teacher salaries and set up a three part test to determine other issues of separation of church and state
United States v. Virginia (1996)
struck down a military institute's long-standing male-only admission policy (VMI)
Progressive Tax
tax based upon the amount of money an individual earned, such as an income tax. Became legal as a result of the ratification of the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution.
random sampling
technique employed by survey researchers, everyone should have an equal probability of being selected for a sample
Social Security Trust Fund
the "account" into which Social Security employee and employer contributions are "deposited" and used to pay out eligible recipients
"Bully" pulpit
the ability to use the office of the presidency to promote a particular program and/or to influence Congress to accept legislative proposals
Public opinion
the circulation of populations opinions
Connecticut Compromise
the compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that established two houses of Congress: the House of Representatives, in which representation is based on a state's share of the US population; and the Senate, in which each state has two representatives
Miller v. California (1973)
the definition of obscenity was redefined from that of "utterly without socially redeeming value" to that which lacks "serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value"
Extradition
the delivery of an accused criminal from one place to another where the trial will be held
Bill of Rights
the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution drafted in response to some of the Anti-Federalists concerns. these amendments define sich basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, and press and guarantee defendants' rights
Articles of Confederation
the first constitution of the US, adopted by Congress in 1777 and enacted in 1781. The Articles established a national legislature, the Continental Congress, but most authority rested with the state legislature
Limited government
the idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens
Consent of the governed
the idea that government derives its authority by sanction of the people
supply-side economics
the key task for fiscal policy is to stimulate the supply of goods
Reed v Reed
the landmark case in 1971 in which the supreme court for the first time upheld a claim of gender discrimination.
Judicial Review
the power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and by implication, the executive are in accord with the US Constitution. Judicial review was established by Marbury V. Madison
White Primary
the practice of keeping blacks from voting in the southern states' primaries through arbitrary use of registration requirements and intimidation
laissez-faire
the principle that govt should not meddle in the economy
Hydraulic Fracturing
the process of creating fissures, or fractures, in undergound formations by pumping water, sand, and other additives under high pressure into the formations to allow natural gas and oil to flow. this process has allowed the oil and gas industry to open many new oil and gas fields in shale rock, expanding supplies of those fuels.
Electioneering
the process of getting a person elected to public office
Balance of Trade
the ratio of what is paid for imports to what is earned from exports. When more is paid than earned, there is a balance-of-trade deficit
income distribution
the way the national income is divided into "shares" ranging from the poor to the rich
Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)
to be decided in June 2015, it will determine the constitutionality of same sex marriages and/or whether states needed to recognize gay marriages
coalition government
two or more parties join together to form a majority in a national legislature
party machines
type of political party organization that relies heavily on materiel inducements
Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire (1942)
upheld a conviction on theory that "fighting words" inflict injury and/or tend to incite a public disturbance
Gregg v. Georgia (1976)
upheld a death penalty law if the penalty was carried out in a consistent way
California Regents v. Bakke (1978)
upheld affirmative action in a case involving state university quota for admitting minority students
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (1989)
upheld limits on use of public funds to assist in abortions, and set the precedent that the right to an abortion can be regulated
McConnell v. FEC (2003)
upheld provisions strictly regulating "soft money" in the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act
Zelman v. Simmons-Harris (2002)
upheld school voucher program as aid went to the parents not to the public or private school
Gregg v Georgia
upheld the death penalty was NOT cruel and unusual punishment
party image
voter's perception of what each party stands for
ticket splitting
voting with one party of one office and with another party for other offices
mandate theory of elections
winner has mandate from the people to carry out his platform and poltics
gender gap
women= democrat candidate b/c less conservative than men
3rd Amendment
No quartering of soldiers without the consent of the owner.
d. For one of the forms of support you described in (c), explain two different ways in which that form of support helps interest groups to achieve their fundamental goal in the political process.
1) Access/influence policymakers 2) Have like minded people/ policy advocates in office.
c. Describe two different ways by which interest groups support the fundamental goal of political parties in the political process.
1) Monetary contributions/ PAC's 2) Media Contributions
d. Identify a feature of the U.S. Constitution designed to address the problem of government having too little power. Explain how it addresses the problem.
1) Necessary and Proper, Elastic Clause: The Congress shall have Power ... To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. 2) Spells out the governments Enumerated powers in the Constitution.
a. Describe THREE ways in which parties serve as linkage institutions (linking the public to government)
1) Parties give cues to voters; even though party ties have weakened, most voters have a party image of each party; and many voters still rely on a party to give them cues for voting. 2) Parties articulate policies; within the electorate and in the government 3) Political party advocates specific policy alternatives. 4) Parties frame discussion over issues , swaying voter's opinion.
B) Explain two advantages of each form of participation you identified in (A)
1) Protest- Bring public attention, low cost, sympathy, immediate response. 2) Litigation- Numerical majority not necessary, appeal to principle/law opposed to opinion 3) Running for political office- direct impact on political decision- setting policy agenda
a. Identify two characteristics of a valid, scientific, public opinion poll.
1) Random Sample 2) Representative Sample 3) Unbiased Wording in poll 4) Large Sample Size(STRAW POLLS ARE A BAD EXAMPLE)
c. Explain how a Bill of Rights came to be added to the Constitution and how this illustrates a lesson about politics that is still relevant today.
1) The House approved 17 amendments. Of these 17, the Senate approved 12. Those 12 were sent to the states for approval in August of 1789. Of those 12, 10 were quickly approved (or, ratified). Virginia's legislature became the last to ratify the amendments on December 15, 1791. 2) An amendment is proposed, it does not become part of the Constitution unless it is ratified by three-quarters of the states 3) Compromise passed amendments(If you compromise you might not get everything you want but you will get most of what you want.
Title IX
A United States law enacted on June 23, 1972 that states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
Informal Amendment
A change made in Constitution not by actual written amendment. *Methods:* Legislation passed by Congress Actions taken by the President Decisions of the Supreme Court Activities of political parties Custom
Mandate
A claim by a victorious candidate that the electorate has given him or her special authority to carry out promises made during the campaign.
Full Faith and Credit Clause
A clause in Article IV of the Constitution which requires that each state respect the laws, records and court decisions of another state.
Executive Office of the President
A collection of agencies that help the president oversee department and agency activities, formulate budgets and monitor spending, craft legislation, and lobby Congress. *Includes:* National Security Council, Council of Economic Advisers Office of Management and Budget Office of National Drug Control Policy
Stare Decisis
A common law doctrine under which judges are obligated to follow the precedents established in prior decisions
6th Amendment
A constitutional amendment designed to protect individuals accused of crimes. It includes the right to counsel, the right to confront witnesses, and the right to a speedy and public trial.
Sixth Amendment
A constitutional amendment designed to protect individuals accused of crimes. It includes the right to counsel, the right to confront witnesses, and the right to a speedy and public trial.
5th Amendment
A constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Fifth Amendment
A constitutional amendment designed to protect the rights of persons accused of crimes, including protection against double jeopardy, self-incrimination, and punishment without due process of law.
Fourteenth Amendment
A constitutional amendment giving full rights of citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States, except for American Indians.
General Revenue Sharing
A controversial program, in effect between 1972 and 1986, in which the federal government returned federal tax money to state and local governments to spend without restrictions.
Consent of the Governed
A derivative of the doctrine of natural rights; a philosophy, later adopted by Jefferson when he drafted the Declaration of Independence that puts the authority of the government in the people's hands.
Federal Budget
A detailed financial document containing estimates of federal income and spending during the coming fiscal year. *Key Agencies:* Office of Management and Budget Congressional Budget Office Budget Committees Ways & Means Committee (House) Appropriations Committee (House)
Executive Order
A directive, order, or regulation issued by the president; based on constitutional or statutory authority and have the force of law.
Clear and Present Danger Test
A doctrine adopted by the Supreme Court of the United States to determine under what circumstances limits can be placed on First Amendment freedoms of speech, press or assembly. *Supreme Court Cases:* Schenck v. United States (1919) Abrams v. United States (1919) Gitlow v. New York (1925)
Independent Executive Agencies
A federal agency that is not part of any department; its leader reports directly to the president (NASA is an example)
Civil Rights Act of 1964
A federal law that authorized federal action against segregation in public accommodations, public facilities, and employment.
Medicare
A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older
Matching Requirements
A federal requirement that state or local governments must put up some of their own funds in order to get federal money.
Medicaid
A federal system of health insurance for those requiring financial assistance.
Federalism
A form of government in which power is divided between the federal, or national, government and the states.
Impeachment
A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office
Superfund
A fund created by Congress in 1980 to clean up hazardous waste sites. Money for the fund comes from taxing chemical products.
prior restraint
A government preventing material from being published.
Caucus
A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic
Political Party
A group of people joined together by common philosophies and common approaches with the aim of getting candidates elected in order to develop and implement public policy. It is characterized by an organization that is responsible to the electorate and has a role in government.
Elector
A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president.
Judicial Activism
A judicial philosophy in which judges make bold policy decisions, even charting new constitutional ground. Advocates of this approach emphasize that the courts can correct pressing needs, especially those unmet by the majoritarian political process.
Judicial Restraint
A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policy-making roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures.
Gideon v Wainwright
A landmark case in United States Supreme Court history. In the case, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that state courts are required under the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution to provide counsel in criminal cases for defendants unable to afford their own attorneys.
Federal Election Campaign Acts (FECA)
A law passed in 1974 for reforming campaign finances; created the *Federal Election Commission*, provided public financing for presidential primaries and general elections, limited presidential campaign spending, required disclosure, and attempted to limit contributions.
Class Action Suit
A lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of persons with a similar legal claim against a party or individual.
writ of certiorari
A legal document issued by the Supreme Court to request the court transcripts of a case, indication that the court will review a lower court's decision
briefs
A legal document submitted by lawyers to courts. It sets forth the facts of a case, summarizes any lower court decisions on the case, gives the arguments for the side represented by the lawyer, and discusses decisions in other cases that bear on the issue.
Bills of Attainder
A legislative act, illegal without a judicial trial, that inflicts punishment on an individual or group for the purpose of suppressing that person or group.
Bicameral Legislature
A legislature divided into two houses
Department
A major administrative unit with responsibility for a broad area of government operations; usually indicates a permanent national interest in that particular governmental function.
Issue Network
A network of people in Washington, D.C.-located within interest groups, on congressional staff, universities, think tanks, and the media-who regularly discuss and advocate public policies.
Conservative
A person who believes government power, particularly in the economy, should be limited in order to maximize individual freedom; see also *Liberal*.
Lobbyist
A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.
Liberal
A person whose views favor more government involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, & increased government spending; see also *Conservative*.
Ambassador
A personal representative appointed by the head of a nation to represent that nation in matters of diplomacy.
Elite Theory
A perspective holding that society is ruled by a small number of people who exercise power in their self-interest; see also *Pluralism*.
Judicial Activism
A philosophy of judicial decision-making that argues judges should use their power broadly to further justice, especially in the areas of equality and personal liberty.
Affirmative Action
A policy designed to give preferential treatment for members of a previously disadvantaged group
Affirmative Action
A policy designed to redress past discrimination against women and minority groups through measures to improve their economic and educational opportunities
Deregulation
A policy promoting cutbacks in the amount of Federal regulation in specific areas of economic activity.
Exit Poll
A poll taken of a small percentage of voters as they leave the polls; used to forecast the outcome of an election or determine the reasons for voting decisions.
Solicitor General
A presidential appointee and the third-ranking office in the Department of Justice, in charge of the appellate court litigation of the federal government
Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
A proposed amendment to the United States Constitution, aimed at ending discrimination against women; defeated in 1982.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
A regional organization that was created in 1949 by nations including the US, Canada, and most Western European nations for mutual defense and has subsequently been expanded
Seniority System
A rule for picking committee chairs in effect until the 1970's
Federalist Papers
A series of articles written by John Jay, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison urging the adoption of the Constitution. *Key Ideas:* Federalist 10 - Factions, Tyranny of the Majority Federalist 39 - Federalism Federalist 51 - Checks and Balances Federalist 70 - Presidency Federalist 78 - Judicial Review
Medicaid
A shared program between the federal and local governments that covers hospital and nursing home costs of low: income people
Party Dealignment
A shift away from the major political parties to a more neutral, independent ideological view of party identification.
Opinion
A statement of legal reasoning behind a judicial decision. The content of an opinion may be as important as the decision itself.
Lobbying
A strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation by exerting direct pressure on members of the legislature.
Filibuster
A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation try to talk it to death
Crisis
A sudden, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous event requiring the president to play the role of crisis manager.
Unitary system
A system of government in which power is concentrated in the central government.
Petit Jury
A trial jury of 12 that sits at civil/criminal cases.
Second Amendment
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
search warrant
A written authorization from a court specifying the area to be searched and what the police are searching for.
Taft-Hartley Act (1947)
Act that outlawed the closed union shop and certain kinds of strikes, permitted employers to sue unions for violations of contracts, allowed the use of injunctions to stop union activities, and allowed states to adopt right: to: work laws, giving employers more rights regarding the establishment of union shops. Finally, the act gave the president the right to step in and prevent a strike by an entire industry, such as the steel or auto industry, if such an action would threaten the nation's health and safety.
Case Work
Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals
25th Amendment
Adopted in 1967 to establish procedures for filling vacancies in the office of president and vice president as well as providing for procedures to deal with the disability of a president.
Wagner Act
Also called the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, it gave workers involved in interstate commerce the right to organize labor unions and engage in collective bargaining and prevented employers from discriminating against labor leaders and taking action against union leaders.
Whips
Also known as assistant floor leaders, they check with party members and inform the majority leader of the status and feelings of the membership regarding issues that are going to be voted on. Whips are responsible for keeping party members in line and having an accurate count of who will be voting for or against a particular bill.
Separation of Church and State
Also known as the "establishment clause," it is part of the First Amendment to the Constitution prohibiting the federal government from creating a state supported religion.
Party Caucus
Also known as the party conference, it is a means for each party to develop a strategy or position on a particular issue.
Tenth Amendment
Amendment stating that the powers not delegated to the federal gov. are reserved to the states "State's amendment"
Riders
Amendments to bills, often in the form of appropriations, that sometimes have nothing to do with the intent of the bill itself and many times are considered to be pork barrel legislation. Safety net: a minimum government guarantee that ensures that individuals living in poverty will receive support in the form of social welfare programs.
AFL-CIO
American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations joined in 1955 - Largest labor organization in US.
US Chamber of Commerce
American lobbying group that represents the interests of many businesses and trade associations.
Plessy vs Ferguson
An 1896 Supreme Court Decision that provided a constitutional justification for segregation by ruling that a Louisiana law requiring "equal but separate accommodations for the white and colored races" was constitutional
Impeachment
An action by the House of Representatives to accuse the president, vice president, or other civil officers of the United States of committing "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
Iron Triangle
An alliance among an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee. Each member of the iron triangle provides key services, information, or policy for the others.
Incentive System
An alternative to command-and-control, with market-like strategies such as rewards used to manage public policy.
Flat Tax
An alternative to the *progressive income tax* where individuals pay the same percentage regardless of how much they earn
Devolution
An effort to shift responsibility of domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size and activities of the federal government; associated with *Ronald Reagan*.
Critical (Realigning) Elections
An election that signals a party realignment through voter polarization around new issues. *Examples:* 1800, 1828, 1860, 1896, 1932, 1964
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
An emergency supply of up to one billion barrels of oil that is stored in underground salt caverns along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, as mandated by the U.S. Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
Bureaucracy
Any large, complex administrative structure; a hierarchical organization with job specialization and complex rules.
Obscenity
Any work that, taken as a whole, appeals to a prurient interest in sex.
Courts of Appeal
Appellate courts that can review all final decisions from district courts.
Political participation
Citizen activities used to influence the selection of political leaders or the policies they pursue. (Ex: voting, protest, civil disobedience)
"rule of 4"
At least four justices of the Supreme Court must vote to consider a case before if can be heard
Administrative Discretion
Authority given by Congress to the Federal bureaucracy to use reasonable judgment in implementing the laws.
Judicial Review
Authority given to the courts to review the constitutionality of acts by the executive, the legislature, or the states; established in *Marbury v. Madison*.
Jurisdiction
Authority vested in a particular court to hear and decide the issues in any particular case.
Judiciary Committee
Key Senate committee that is responsible for recommending presidential judicial appointments to the full Senate for approval.
Veto
Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature
Speaker of the House
Chose by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency
Speaker of the house
Chosen by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers as the head of the House of Representatives. Second in line after the Vice President to succeed to the presidency
Supremacy clause
Constitution is the ultimate law in US
Writ of Mandamus
Court order directing an official to perform a nondiscretionary or ministerial act as required by law.
Writ of Habeas Corpus
Court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.
cruel and unusual punishment
Court sentences prohibited by the 8th Amendment. Although the Supreme Court has ruled that mandatory death sentences for certain offenses are unconstitutional, it has not held that the death penalty itself constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Special Courts
Courts created by Congress to deal with cases deriving from the delegated powers of Congress such as military appeals, tax appeals, and veteran appeals.
United Nations
Created in 1945 and currently including 193 member nations, with a central peacekeeping mission and programs in areas including economic development and health, education, and welfare. The seat of real power in the UN is the Security Council
Twenty Fifth Amendment
Creates Line of Succession: President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Senator Pro Tempore, Secretary of State
Ex Post Facto Law
Criminal law applied retroactively to the disadvantage of the accused; prohibited by the United States Constitution.
Gridlock
Describes people's perception that Congress and the president are in a state of disagreement that results in little legislation passing.
Representation
Describes the relationship between the few leaders and the many followers.
Sixth Amendment
Designed to protect individuals accused of crimes. It includes the right to counsel, the right to confront witnesses, and the right to a speedy and public trial.
political party
Downs: "team of men seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election"
Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)
Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees the right to marry as one of the fundamental liberties it protects, and that analysis applies to same-sex couples in the same manner as it does to opposite-sex couples.
Mapp v Ohio
Established the exclusionary rule was applicable to the states (evidence seized illegally cannot be used in court)
Mapp v Ohio (1961)
Established the exclusionary rule; evidence illegally obtained cannot be used in court; Warren Court's judicial activism
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Established the principle of "one person, one vote" and made such patterns of representation illegal. The Court asserted that the federal courts had the right to tell states to reapportion their districts for more equal representation.
Schenck v US (1919)
Establishes clear and present danger test limiting freedom of speech (espionage act)
Eight Amendment
Exclusive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Commerce Power
Exclusive power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Executive office responsible for helping the President write the federal budget and monitoring federal spending.
Block Grants
Federal grants to the states and local communities that are for general use in a broad area, such as community development.
Unfunded Mandates
Federal laws that require states to meet certain regulatory standards, but provide no money to help the states comply. Congress enacted a law in 1995 to curtail the practice.
Independent Regulatory Agencies
Federal regulatory agencies that are are administratively independent of both the president and Congress. *Examples:* Federal Trade Commission Securities and Exchange Commission
Mandatory Spending
Federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress.
Hatch Act
Federal statute barring Federal employees from active participation in certain kinds of politics and protecting them from being fired on partisan grounds.
Keystone Pipeline
For transporting oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico; length increasing because easily accessible oil has been tapped. It is not clean: oil spills happen. It goes across residential areas (flooding suburbs with oil) and wildlife areas. This oil is largely for export and not domestic use.
Cabinet
Government departments headed by presidential appointees to help establish public policy and operate a specific policy area of governmental activity.
patronage
Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support
Single issue groups
Groups that vote on a single issue. Typically having a narrow interest, tend to dislike compromise, and draw membership from people new to politics.
Minority rights
Guarantees rights to minorities and allows that they can join majorities through persuasion and reasoned argument. (Traditional democratic theory) Ex: Freedom of speech and assembly.
U.S. v. Lopez (1995)
Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress' authority to regulate interstate commerce.
Gideon v Wainwright (1963)
Held a court appointed attorney will represent defendants who cannot afford counsel
New York Times v Sullivan (1964)
Held that First Amendment protects the publication of all statements, even false ones, about the conduct of federal officials (except with intentionally malice-filled statements)
Hernandez v Texas (1954)
Held that Mexican Americans and all other racial and national groups in the United States had equal protection under the 14th Amendment
Miranda v Arizona (1966)
Held that criminal suspects must be informed of their right to an attorney and of their right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police.
Employment Division v Smith (1990)
Held that states may accommodate otherwise illegal acts done in pursuit of religious beliefs, but they are not required to do so
Exclusionary Rule
Holds that evidence gained by illegal or unreasonable means cannot be used at the court trial of the person from whom it was seized; see also *Inevitable Discovery*. *Constitutional Connection:* Fourth Amendment *Supreme Court Cases:* Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
Defendant
In a civil suit, the person against whom a court action is brought by the plaintiff; in a criminal case, the person charged with the crime.
Rule of Four
In order for a case to be heard by the Supreme Court, four justices must agree to hear the case.
Seventh Amendment
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
McDonald v. Chicago (2010)
Incorporated the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms to the states
a. Explain how liberty is in danger when government has too much power. Provide an example to illustrate this danger
Infringement on rights(Privacy laws and 4th amendment being abused, Eminent Domain)
Ted Cruz
Junior Texas Senator since 2013, Senate
5th Amendment
Innocent until proven guilty; you cannot be held until proven guilty except in a time of war or if you are potentially dangerous to the public; cannot be tried for for the same crime twice, and you do not have to be a witness against yourself. No Double Jeopardy.
Marshall Court
John Marshall's tenure as Chief justice of the Supreme Court, whose leadership resulted in the landmark decisions of Marbury v. Madison, McCulloch v. Maryland, and Gibbons v. Ogden. These cases shifted power to the judiciary and federal government.
Political Action Committees
Known as PACs, they raise money from the special interest constituents and make contributions to political campaigns on behalf of the special interest group.
Pendleton Act
Known as the Civil Service Act of 1883, it set up merit as the criterion for hiring, promoting, and firing federal employees.
Writ of Certiorari
Latin for "to be made more certain," the process in which the Supreme Court accepts written briefs on appeal based on the "rule of four" justices voting to hear the case.
Stare Decisis
Latin for judicial precedent, this concept originated in England in the twelfth century when judges settled disputes based on custom and tradition.
Roe v Wade (1973)
Legalized abortion on the basis of a woman's right to privacy
Superfund
Legislation that mandated the cleanup of abandoned toxic waste dumps and authorized premarket testing of chemical substances. It allowed the EPA to ban or regulate the manufacture, sale, or use of any chemicals that could present an "unreasonable risk of injury to health or environment," and outlawed certain chemicals such as PCBS.
New Deal
Legislation that provided a safety net for all members of society, such as Social Security, under Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the Great Depression.
c. Explain why each of the following limits the influence of public opinion on the voting decisions of members of Congress. • Legislators' voting • Party leadership
Legislators' voting: 1) To appear to not be indecisive to voters, changing their minds based on polls Party leadership: 1) Limits the influence of public opinion to avoid the risk of loosing party support- partisan ideology influence greater than public opinion
White House Staff
Managed by the White House Chief of Staff, who directly advises the president on a daily basis, it includes the more than 600 people who work at the White House, from the chef to the advance people who make travel arrangements. The key staff departments include the political offices of the Office of Communications, Legislative Affairs, Political Affairs, and Intergovernmental Affairs. It includes the support services of Scheduling, Personnel, and Secret Service and the policy offices of the National Security Affairs, Domestic Policy Affairs, and cabinet secretaries.
NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, founded in 1909 to abolish segregation and discrimination, to oppose racism and to gain civil rights for African Americans, got Supreme Court to declare grandfather clause unconstitutional
NRA
National Rifle Association formed a lobbying arm for 2nd amendment gun ownership rights
d. Explain two reasons why the Electoral College has not been abolished.
No alternative History/tradition Benefits small states
Third Amendment
No quartering of soldiers in private houses during times of peace or war
4th Amendment
No unreasonable searches of someones' property or breaking or entering with out the owners consent or a search warrant, granted only if there is reasonable evidence for a crime.
symbolic speech
Nonverbal communication, such as burning a flag or wearing an armband.
Virginia Plan
Offered at the Constitutional Convention at Philadelphia, it urged the delegates to create a legislature based on the population of each state.
congressional districts
One of a fixed number of districts into which a state is divided, each district electing one member to the national House of Representatives
patronage
One of the key inducements used by party machines. Occurs when a job, promotion, or contract is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone
b. Explain the two side so the debate over whether to include a Bill of Rights in the Constitution.
One of the many points of contention between Federalists and Anti-Federalists was the Constitution's lack of a bill of rights that would place specific limits on government power. Federalists argued that the Constitution did not need a bill of rights, because the people and the states kept any powers not given to the federal government. Anti-Federalists held that a bill of rights was necessary to safeguard individual liberty.
Establishment Clause
Part of the 1st Amendment stating that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion."
Executive Agreement
Pact made by the president with the head of a foreign state; a binding international agreement with the force of law but which (unlike a treaty) does not require Senate consent.
Natural Rights
Part of Locke's philosophy; rights that are God given such as life, liberty, and property.
Free Exercise Clause
Part of the *First Amendment* guaranteeing to each person the right to believe whatever that person chooses in matters of religion. *Supreme Court Cases:* Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) Employment Division v. Smith (1990)
Establishment Clause
Part of the *First Amendment* prohibiting either the establishment of a religion or the sanctioning of an existing religion by the government; see also *Free Exercise Clause*. *Supreme Court Cases:* Engel v. Vitale (1962) Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) Lee v. Weisman (1992)
due process clause
Part of the 14th Amendment guaranteeing that persons cannot be deprived of life, liberty, or property by the U.S. or state governments without due process of law.
Committee Chairs
Play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house.
Senatorial Courtesy
Policy that gives senators the right to be notified by the chief executive of pending political nominations, usually judicial. Once informed, the approval of the senators from the state from which the judge comes is obtained and the appointment process moves on. This courtesy does not apply to Supreme Court justice nominations.
Regulatory Policy
Policy that results in government control over individuals and businesses. Examples of regulatory policy include protection of the environment and consumer protection.
PAC's
Political Action Committees, raise money for candidates &/or parties
Ideological Party
Political Party based on a particular set of beliefs, a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters. *Examples:* Libertarian Party
Talking Heads
Politicians who use sound bites or other means to present a superficial look at a policy position rather than an in-depth approach in explaining their views.
Bipartisan
Politics that emphasizes cooperation between the major parties.
Expressed Powers
Powers that congress has that are specifically listed in the Constitution; also known as the *Enumerated Powers*.
Delegated Powers
Powers which are granted to, and exercised ONLY by the national government. The delegated powers are specifically listed in the U.S. Constitution at Articles I, II, III; also known as *Expressed Powers*.
"New Federalism"
President Ronald Reagan's effort to restore to state governments the responsibility for making and implementing policies.
Line Item Veto
Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a bill without vetoing it in its entireity; passed by Congress in 1996 and declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1998. *Supreme Court Cases:* Clinton v. City of New York
Fourth Amendment
Protects Americans against unreasonable searches and seizures. No soldier, Gov agent, or police can search your home without a search warrant.
A) Identify three forms of participation in the political process other than voting.
Protest Litigation Running for political office
Clean Air Act of 1970
Required EPA to develop and enforce regulations to protect the public from airborne contaminants; forced states to follow and make sure the laws for followed in relation to the EPA. States allowed to decide officials for enforcement.
Bakke v UC Regents
Reserving 16 seats for minority students is violation of EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE of the 14th Amendment; UC acting unconstitutionally
House Rules Committees
Reviews almost all bills coming from a House committee before they go to the full House
6th Amendment
Right to a speedy and public trial, with help of a lawyer, and the right to confront witnesses in criminal cases.
2nd Amendment
Right to bear arms.
Fourth Amendment
Right to privacy: have to have a search warrant or probable cause to search, protects you from unreasonable search and seizure of your home and property
Natural rights
Rights inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property. The concept of natural rights was central to English philosopher John Locke's theories about government and was widely accepted among America's Founders.
10th Amendment
Rights not specifically given to the national government are retained by the people and State. (States' Rights)
Senatorial Courtesy
Senate will not confirm a presidential nomination for a position within a state (ex., District Court Judge) w/o consent of senior senator of President's party from that state. Informal appointment process (by tradition)
Standing Committees
Separate subject-matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas.
Children's Health Insurance Program
State and Federal government partnership that helps to cover children and pregnant women in families whose income are too high to qualify for Medicaid but too low to afford private coverage.
Checks and Balances
System of overlapping the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, to permit each branch to check the actions of the others and thus no branch of government may dominate the other; see *Separation of Powers*.
Civil Law
That body of law relating to human conduct, including disputes between private persons and between private persons and government not covered by criminal law.
Marbury vs. Madison
The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court asserted its power to determine the meaning of the US Constitution, establishing the court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress
Marbury v. Madison
The 1803 case in which the Supreme Court asserted its rights to determine the meaning of the US Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress
Barron v. Baltimore
The 1833 Supreme Court decision holding that the Bill of Rights retrained only the national government, not the states and cities.
Gitlow v. New York
The 1925 Supreme Court decision holding that freedoms of the press and speech are "fundamental personal rights and liberties protected by the due process clause of the 14th Amendment from impairment by the states" as well as by the federal government.
Near v Minnesota
The 1931 Supreme Court decision holding that the first amendment protects newspapers from prior restraint.
Brown vs. Board of Education
The 1954 Supreme Court decision holding that school segregation is inherently unconstitutional because it violates the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection, marking the end of legal segregation in the United States
Engel v Vitale
The 1962 Supreme Court decision holding that state officials violated the 1st Amendment when they wrote a prayer to be recited by New York's schoolchildren.
NY Times v Sullivan
The 1st amendment protects all publications of statements, even false ones, about conduct of public officials except when statements are published with strictly malicious intentions
Court Packing
The act of placing members of the same political party on the bench so that opinion of the court will be consistent with that of the political party; associated with *Franklin Roosevelt*.
Foreign Policy
The actions and stands that a nation takes in every aspect of its relationships with other countries; everything a nation's government says and does in world affairs.
Due Process/Due Process Clause
The constitutional guarantee that "no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law." *Constitutional Connections:* Fifth Amendment Fourteenth Amendment
Double Jeopardy
The constitutional prohibition against a person being put on trial more than once for the same offense. *Constitutional Connection:* Fifth Amendment
Extradition
The constitutional provision which allows a state to request another state to return fugitives.
Burger Court
The description given the United States Supreme Court from 1969 to 1986 (led by *Chief Justice Warren Burger*). It was expected that the "Burger Court" would become a conservative court under Warren Burger and reverse many of the liberal rulings of the earlier *Warren Court*.
Rehnquist Court
The description given the United States Supreme Court from 1986 to the present (led by Chief William H. Rehnquist). It is marked by its conservative rulings, cutting back on the rights of the accused and expanding the concept of federalism.
Warren Court
The description of the United States Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Earl Warren) from 1953 to 1969 which became the symbol of judicial activism and which handed down many landmark decisions on desegregation, civil rights, First Amendment freedoms, and the rights of criminal defendants
Declaration of Independence
The document approved by representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarchy and declared their independence
Watergate
The events and scandal surrounding a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and the subsequent cover-up of White House involvement, leading to the eventual resignation of President Nixon under the threat of impeachment.
Logrolling
The exchange of political favors for support of a bill.
Capital Punishment
The execution of an individual by the state as punishment for heinous offenses. *Constitutional Connection:* Eighth Amendment
Political Socialization
The factors that determine voting behavior such as family, religion, and ethnic background.
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which define such basic liberties as freedom of religion, speech, and press and guarantee defendants' rights.
Articles of Confederation
The first national constitution of the United States that created a government lasting from 1781 to 1789; replaced by the current Constitution.
Shared Powers
The fused or overlapping powers and functions of the separate branches of government.
National Committee
The governing body of a political party made up of state and national party leaders.
Independent Executive Agency
The government not accounted for by cabinet departments, independent regulatory agencies, and government corporations; its administrators are typically appointed by the president and serve at the president's pleasure. *Examples:* NASA
Chief Justice
The head Justice on the Supreme Court who presides over the Court's public sessions
merit principle
The idea that hiring should be based on entrance exams and promotion ratings to produce administration by people with talent and skill
Merit Principle
The idea that hiring should be based on entrance exams and promotion ratings to produce administration by people with talent and skill.
Watergate
The illegal entry and phone monitoring of the Democratic headquarters by members of the Republican Party.
Government
The institutions that make authoritative decisions for any given society
Eminent Domain
The power of a government to seize private property for public use, usually with compensation to the owner. *Constitutional Connection:* Fifth Amendment
judicial review
The power of the courts to determine whether acs of Congress and those of the executive branch are in accord with the US Constitution, established by Marbury vs. Madison
Free-rider problem
The problem faced by unions and other groups when people do not join because they can benefit from the group's activities without officially joining. The bigger the group, the more serious the problem.
Gerrymandering
The process in which state legislatures create congressional districts, many of which are oddly shaped and favor the political party in power in the state making the changes.
Policy Implementation
The process of carrying out public policy
Agenda Setting
The process of forming the list of matters that policymakers intend to address.
Referendum
The process whereby a legislative proposal is voted upon by popular vote.
New Jersey Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population.
Virginia Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state's share of the US population
libel
The publication of false or malicious statements that damage someone's reputation.
Incorporation Doctrine
The selective application of the protections of the federal Bill of Rights to the states. *Supreme Court Cases:* Gitlow v. New York (1925)
self-incrimination
The situation occurring when an individual accused of a crime in compelled to be a witness against himself or herself in court.
Concurrent Powers
Those powers which are exercised independently by both the national and state governments. Those powers shared by both levels of governments, i.e., state and national. *Examples:* Maintain law & order Levy tax Provide for the general welfare
Council of Economic Advisors
Three economic experts to help president understand and develop economic policy; must be confirmed by senate
Lemon Test
Three-prong test used to determine the constitutionality of a government action under the *Establishment Clause.* *Constitutional Connection:* First Amendment *Supreme Court Cases:* Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
b. Identify the fundamental goal of major political parties in the political process.
To get a candidate elected
civic duty
a citizen should vote...support democratic gov
party identification
a citizen's self-proclaimed preference for one party of the other
Federalists Papers
a collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail
National Security Council (NSC)
a committee in the executive branch of government that advises the president on foreign and military and national security
Equal Rights Amendment
a constitutional amendment passed by Congress in 1972 stating that "equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any state on account of sex." The amendment failed to acquire the necessary support from three-fourths of the state-legislatures.
Census
a count of the population issued by the government for demographic changes
writ of habeas corpus
a court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody
separation of powers
a feature of the Constitution that requires each of the three branches of government- executive, legislative, and judicial- to be relatively independent of the others. Power is shared among these three institutions
American Disabilities Act of 1990
a federal mandate prohibiting discrimination against the disabled in employment, public transportation, telecommunications services, and public accommodations and services operated by private entities to anyone physically or mentally disabled
union shop
a provision found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employees of a business to join the union within a short period, usually 30 days, and to remain members as a condition of employment
Arms Race
a tense relationship beginning in the 1950s between the Soviet Union and the United States whereby one side's weaponry became the other side's goad to procure more weaponry, and so on.
European Union
a transnational government composed of most European nations that coordinates monetary, trade, immigration, and labor policies, making its members one economic unit.
Super PACs (independent expenditure-only committees)
a type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates.
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
broadly interpreted interstate commerce clause, encompassing virtually every form of commercial activity, while asserting the supremacy clause
linkage institutions
channels where people's concerns become political issues on the government's agenda
melting pot
characterizes US, mixing of cultures, ideas and people
campaign strategy
game plan for electoral campaign
Fifteenth Amendment
gave African American men the right to vote
Twenty Third Amendment
gives the right of voting to citizens in Washington D.C. and that they get votes in the electoral college
Eighth Amendment
gives us the right to bail or they can stay in jail until their trial, no unreasonable bail, forbids cruel and unusual punishment
Fourteenth Amendment
granted citizenship to anyone born in the United States and guaranteeing all citizens equal protection and due process of the law "selective incorporation"
Nineteenth Amendment
granted women the right to vote in 1920
Elastic clause
granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary
investigative journalism
in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams, and schemes
underemployment rate
includes people actively seeking work but unable to find jobs, those who want work but have stopped searching, and those working part-time because they are unable to find full-time work
poverty level
income threshold below which people are considered poor based on what a family must spend for an "austere" standard of living
Duncan v. Louisiana (1968)
incorporated the 6th amendment protection of a right to a jury trial to states
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)
incorporated the 6th amendment right to an attorney
Mapp v. Ohio (1961)
incorporated the Fourth Amendment exclusionary rule that forbid evidence from illegal searches and seizures to be used in court cases
Cantwell v. Connecticut (1940)
incorporated the free exercise clause, recognized absolute freedom of belief
narrowcasting
media programming that is focused on a particular interest and audience
national party convention
meeting of party delgates to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform
press conferences
meetings of public officials with reporters
direct mail
method to raise money where requests are sent to people who have supported something similar in the past
Categorical grants
money given for a particular category, but no specific programs
Project grants
money given to a specific project already approved in all its parts beforehand
Block grants
money given with no specified category
policy entrepreneur
people who invest their political "capital" in an issue
selective perception
people's beliefs often guide what they pay the most attention to
relative deprivation
perception by an individual that he is not doing well economically compared to others
talking head
person talking to camera (face) stimulating
social welfare policies
provide benefits, cash or in-kind, to individuals, based on entitlement or means testing
Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
ruled separate but equal is inherently unequal
Dred Scott v. Sanford (1857)
ruled slaves were not citizens and couldn't sue in court, and that slaves were legal property and owners could not be restricted in where they took them
Edwards v. Aguillard (1987)
ruled that a law requiring the teaching of creationism held no secular purpose and violated the establishment clause
District of Columbia v. Heller (2008)
ruled that individuals have a constitutional right to keep a loaded handgun, but questions remained on how future cases would be decided
Furman v. Georgia (1972)
ruled that the death penalty was used in a discriminatory way and constituted cruel and unusual punishment in certain situations, such as accidental murder
United States v. Nixon (1974)
ruled there was a limit to presidential privilege and that presidents are subject to due process under the law
caucus
selecting convention delegates; opening meeting to express preference
Electoral College
selection of pres by electors chosen by the state parties
political culture
set of values widely shared within a society
Bradwell v. Illinois (1873)
sex discrimination case that ruled that the 14th amendment equal protection clause did not protect the right to practice a profession (woman not allowed to be a lawyer)
Cooperative federalism
sharing of governmental responsibilities between federal, state, and local agencies and institutions
sound bites
short videos lasting 10 secs; shown from a speech
Twentieth Amendment
shortened the time between the election and inauguration day ("Lame Duck Amendment") from March 4 to January 20 for president and vice president, and to January 3 for senators and representatives
Reno v. ACLU (1997)
struck down law prohibiting indecent and offensive material on the internet
Standing to Sue
sufficient stake in a matter to justify seeking relief through the court system
Federalists
supporters of the US Constitution at the time the states were contemplating its adoption
Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969)
symbolic speech of students (in this case anti-war armbands) is protected by the First Amendment if doesn't create a disruption to education
McCulloch v. Maryland
that deal with the formation of a federal bank and a series of individual banks
U.S. Consitution
the document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the institutional structure of US government and the tasks these institutions preform. It replaced the Articles of Confederation
Isolationism
the foreign police course of the United States followed throughout most of its history whereby it tried to stay out of other nations' conflicts, particularly European wars
Obergfell v Hodges
the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
Secretary of defense
the head of the Department of Defense and the president's key adviser of military policy and, as such, a key foreign policy actor
Secretary of State
the head of the Department of State and traditionally the key adviser to the president on foreign policy
Cold War
the hostility between the United States and the Soviet Union, which often brought them to the brink of war and which spanned the period from the end of WWII until the collapse of the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist regimes in 1989 and the years following
Iron Triangles
the relatively ironclad relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees
Eminent Domain
the right of a government or its agent to expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation.
Roe v. Wade (1973)
the right to privacy gives a woman the right to an abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)
upheld state laws setting up segregation as long as it was "separate but equal"
Reynolds v. Simms (1964)
upholds the "one man, one vote" standard for state legislative apportionment
fiscal policy
use of the federal budget to to influence the economy; almost entirely determined by Congress and the president
proportional representation
used throughout Europe, awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won in election
Buckley v. Valeo (1976)
using the justification of freedom of speech, "reasonable restrictions" on campaign contributions are allowed, but limits on campaign expenditures are not
wealth
value of assets owned
responsible party model
view about how parties should work; parties should offer clear choices to the voters and once in the office, should carry out their campaign promises
reapportionment
The process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census
one man, one vote
The rule that, under the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution, legislative voting districts must be the same voting size.
select committee
A congressional committee appointed to perform a special function beyond the authority or capacity of a standing committee
trustee
A congressman. They listen to their constituents' ideas, takes them into consideration, and then formulates an opinion of his own and acts upon that opinion
Hatch act
A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics while on duty of for employees in sensitive positions at any time
caucus
A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic
bicameral
A legislature divided in two houses
joint committee
A permanent committee appointed from both houses of congress in order to perform investigations or special studies
Ways and Means Committee
A permanent committee of the House of Representatives, which makes recommendations to the House on all bills for raising revenue. The committee is the principal source of legislation concerning issues such as taxation, customs duties, and international trade agreements
lobbyists
A person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest. They try to persuade legislatures to support their cause
discharge petition
A petition signed by the members of the House of Representatives to bring a bill from committee to the floor for consideration
rules committee
A powerful committee in the House of Representatives that creates a rule(order) for each bill to be debated
bully pulpit
A public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue-the presidency
impeachment-vote required
A simple majority from the house and a 2/3 vote from the senate is required to impeach a president
seniority system
A simple rule for picking committee chairs, in effect until the 1970s. The member who had served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled the chamber became chair, regardless of party loyalty, mental state, of competence
filibuster
A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill. must have 60 members to stop filibuster
Baker vs. Carr
A supreme course case on the legality of reapportionment violating the 14th amendment.
casework
Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals, particularly by cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get
domestic policy
Administrative decisions that are directly related to all issues and activity within the US borders. Congress is usually divided on these issues, making it hard for the president to pass bills in this area
Iron triangle
Also known as sub governments, they consist of interest groups, government agencies, and congressional committees or subcommittees that have a mutually dependent, mutually advantageous relationship; they dominate some areas of domestic policymaking
executive agreement
An agreement, usually pertaining to administrative matters and less formal than an international treaty, made between chiefs of state without senatorial approval
State of the Union
An annual message to Congress in which the president reports on the state of the nation and outlines a legislative program, required by the constitution
lame-duck
An elected official whose successor has already been elected, causing them to have little influence on the government
off-year election
An election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring. Generally the president's party loses seats in congress
Executive Office of the President
An organization of several agencies staffed by the President's closest advisors who work directly with the president or a presidential assistant
senatorial courtesy
An unwritten tradition whereby nominations for state-level federal judicial posts are usually not confirmed if they are opposed by a senator of the president's party from the state in which the nominee will serve.
commerce clause
Article 1, section 8 of the constitution which gives Congress the power "to regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes"
foreign policy
As the chief diplomat the president has the power to make treaties, with the support of congress, make executive agreements, and appoint and meet with ambassadors. Congress usually backs the president on foreign policy
conference committee
Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill
Nancy Pelosi
Current Minority Leader of the House, previously served as the speaker of the house, House of Representatives
Mitch McConnell
Current majority leader of for the Republican Party. Assumed office in 1985, Senate
Joe Straus
Current speaker of the Texas house of Representatives
David Dewhurst
Governor of Texas before Ted Cruz
Kevin McCarthy
House Republican majority leader
John Boehner
Republican speaker of the House from 2011 to 2015 under Obama. Representative from Ohio, House of Representatives
Pendleton Civil Service Act
Passed in 1883, an act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage
25th Amendment
Ratified in 1967, this amendment permits the vice president to become acting president if the Vice President and the president's cabinet determine that the president is disabled, and it outlines how a recuperated president can reclaim the job
Eric Cantor
Republican Minority whip from 2009-2011 an Majority leader from 2011-2014, House of representatives
Lamar Smith
Republican politician in for Texas's 21st district, including most of Austin, since 1987, House of representatives
John Cornyn
Senior senator from Texas, Senate
Patrick Leahy
Senior senator from Vermont, served as the pro tempore during the Obama presidency, Senate
veto, override veto
The constitutional power of the president to send a bill back to Congress with reasons for rejecting it. A two-thirds vote in each house can override a veto
gerrymandering
The act of manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor one party or class.
pork-barreling
The process of congressman using federal projects, grants, and contracts that are available to gain public support
logrolling
The exchange of support or favors, especially by legislators for mutual political gain as by voting for each other's bills
Independent Executive Agencies
The government agencies not accounted for by cabinet departments. Their administrators are appointed by the president and serve at the president's pleasure-NASA
"power of the purse"
The influence that legislatures have over public policy because of their power to vote money for public purposes.
Air Force One
The luxury aircraft that carries the president
quorum
The minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meeting to make the proceedings of that meeting valid
committee chairperson
The most important influencers of their committees' agendas, committee chairs playtime dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committees bills when they are brought before the house
Congress
The national legislative body of the US, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Its members are elected in two year terms
pardon
The president has the power to grant these to someone, forgiving them of a crime or excusing them from a punishment
reprieve
The presidential power to postpone the execution of a sentence imposed by a court of law; usually done for humanitarian reasons or to await new evidence
Executive Departments
The primary units of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States that make up the cabinet, includes the Departments of State, Treasury, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Defense, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security.
Minority leader
The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate
Majority leader
The principal partisan ally of the speaker of the house or the majority party's manager in the Senate. The majority leader in each house is responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes on behalf of the party's legislative positions
Article II
The section of the constitution that outlines the executive branch of government
Presidential coattails
The tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election
regulation
The use of governmental authority to control or change some practice in the private sector
Camp David
These accords, signed by President Jimmy Carter, established the framework for a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt
constituent
a voting member of a community such as a congressman's district