A.P. Government Thanks Josh

Amicus curiae

(Friend of the court) documents filled by interested parties to encourage the court to grant or deny the certiorari or to urge the court to decide a case a particular way

Stare decisis

(To stand by that which is decided) the principal that the precedent decisions are to be followed by the courts

Cloture

3/5 vote to end a filibuster and start a vote

Oversight

A committees's investigation of the executive and of government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends

Realignment

A dramatic change in the political system that involves changes in the parties

Unfunded mandate

A federal order mandating that the states operate and pay for a program created at the national level

Impeachment

A formal charge by the House that the president (or another member of the executive branch) has committed acts of "treason, bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors," which may or may not result in removal from office

Political party

A group of citizens united by ideology and seeking control of government of government in order to promote their political ideas

Caucus

A meeting of the local members of a political party especially to select delegates to a convention or register preferences for candidates running for office

Federalism

A political system in which power is divided between the central and local units

Dealignment

A trend or process whereby a large portion of the electorate abandons its previous partisan affiliation, without developing a new one to replace

Midterm election

A type of election where the people can elect their representatives in the middle of the term of the executive or of another set of members

Super political action committees (Super PACs)

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.

Open primary

A vote for certain members of a political party open to voters, regardless of party affiliation

Closed primary

A vote for certain members of a political party that is only open to people of that party

General election

An election involving all or most constituencies of a state or nation in the choice of candidates

Critical election

An election that marks a realignment or long-term shift in party allegiance

Single-member districts

An electoral district that returns one officeholder to a body with multiple members such as a legislature

Interest group

An organization of individuals who share a common political goal and unite for the purpose of influencing government decisions

Filibuster

Any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length

Entitlements

Benefits guaranteed to qualified recipients

Uncontrollable spending

Budget expenses that are either fixed by federal law or are largely out of the government's control from year to year

Political efficacy

Citizen's feelings of effectiveness in political affairs

Executive order

Clarifications of congressional policy issued by the President and having the full force of law

Fiscal federalism

Difference in spending between the federal and local government

Redistricting

Divide or organize an area into new political districts

Fiscal policy

Economic policy in which government regulates the economy through its power to tax and spend

Monetary policy

Economic policy in which the government regulates the economy by manipulating interest rates to control the money supply

Demographic

Factors of the population

Block grants

Federal funds provided for a broad purpose, unrestricted by the detailed requirements and regulations

Categorical grants

Federal funds provided for a specific purpose, restricted by detailed regulations and compliance standard.

Writs of certiorari

Formal requests by the United States Supreme Court to call up the lower court case it decided to hear on appeal

Party polarization

Greater ideological differences between the parties and increased ideological agreement within the party

Selective incorporation

Incorporation of rights on a case-by-case basis

Grassroots lobbying

Indirect lobbying that efforts that spring from widespread public concern

Lobbying

Interest group activities aimed at persuading policy makers to support the group's positions

Litigation

Lawsuit

Casework

Legislative work on behalf of an individual constituents to solve their problems with government agencies and programs

Gerrymandering

Manipulating the boundaries of the electoral constituency to favor a class or results

Divided government

One party controls the presidency while the other party controls Congress

Judicial review

Power of the Supreme Court to rule on the Constitutionality of laws

Expressed powers of Congress

Powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution

Implied powers of Congress

Powers not elaborated in the Constitution but was intended.

Pocket veto

Presidential authority to kill a bill submitted within ten days of the end of a legislative session by not signing it

Inherent Powers

Presidential powers implied but not explicitly given by the Constitution

Franking

Privilege of free mail service provided to members of Comgress

Political socialization

Process by which we learn our political orientations and allegiances

Pork barrel

Public works projects and grants for specific districts paid for by General revenues

Pork barrel

Public works projects and grants for specific districts paid for by general revenues

Suffrage

Right to vote in a political election

Independent expenditures

Spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them

Mandatory spending

Spending on certain programs required by existing law

Original intent

The actual intent or purpose of the framers of the Constitution

White House staff

The approximately 400 employees within the Executive Office of the President who work most closely and directly with the president

Political culture

The broad patterns of ideas, beliefs, and values about citizens and government held by a population

Incumbency advantage

The electoral edge afforded to incumbents

Cooperative federalism

The federal system in which the national and state governments share responsibilities for most domestic policy areas

Political action committees (PACs)

The fundraising arms of of interest groups

Incumbent

The holder of an office

Policy agenda

The issues and interests defined by a political party or group

Horse-race journalism

The media's focus on the competitive aspects of politics rather than on actual policy proposals and political decisions

Issue network/Iron triangle

The phenomenon of a clientele group, congressional committees, and bureaucratic agency cooperating to make mutually beneficial policy

Logrolling

The practice of voting for each other's proposed legislation to get more support

Gender gap

The tendency of men and women to differ in their political views on some issues

Pluralism

The theory that a multitude of groups, not the people as a whole, govern the United States

Devolution

The transfer of powers and responsibility to states from the federal government

Judicial activism

View that the court should be lawmaking, policymaking bodies

Judicial restraint

View that the courts should reject any active lawmaking functions and to stick to judicial interpretations of the past

Lame duck period

When Congress (or either chamber) reconvenes in an even-numbered year following the November general elections to consider various items of business