| Terms |
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Australian Ballot
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the secret ballot
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representative form of government
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republic
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plantiff
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party instigating a civil lawsuit
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watchdog
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Media role over monitoring congress.
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political equivalent of an indictment
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impeachment
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Laissez-faire
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economic philosophy of nongovernment intervention in economic matters
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NRA
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National Rifle Association. Single issue group.
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recall
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Procedure for submitting to popular vote the removal of officials from office before the end of their term
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issue network
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Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern
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Commission
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a gov't agency with regulator power
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Categorical-Formula Grants
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Congress appropriates funds for specific purpose. These funds are subject to detailed federal conditions. The local government receiving the federal funds must put up some of its own money. They provide federal supervision to ensure that the money is spent as Congress wants.
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revenue bills
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Must originate in the House.
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funding vehicles of special interest groups
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PACs
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congresspersons garner votes because of a strong president
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presidential coattails
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devolution
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The transfer of powers and responsibilities from the federal government to the states
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Soft money
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unrestricted and unregulated legal campaign contributions made to political parties
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litigation
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Lawsuits used to achieve a purpose.
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entitlements
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policies for which congress has obligated itself to pay x lvl of benefits to y number of recipients. Social Security benifits are an example.
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general election
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Elections in which voters elect officeholders
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hard money
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Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed. Raising such limited funds was harder than raising unlimited funds, hence the term's name
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protectionism
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Policy of erecting trade barriers to protect domestic industry
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centralists
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People who favor national action over action at the state and local levels
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affirmative action
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Remedial action designed to overcome the effects of discrimination against minorities and women
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party identification
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An informal and subjective affiliation with a political party that most people acquire in childhood.
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institutional powers
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Relate to checks and balances. Ratification of treaties by Senate, House votes for impeachment, etc.
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fillibuster
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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.
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This appeals to a particular audience that has a particular interest
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narrowcasting
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Article VI makes the national government the dominant government
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Supremacy clause
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the equivalent of an electoral "earthquake"
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critical election
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Judicial review
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courts ruling on the constituionality of laws and government action
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separation of powers
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Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches, with the legislative branch making law, the executive applying and enforcing the law, and the judiciary interpreting the law
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antifederalists
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those opposed to the ratification of the constitution because it gave too much power to the central government at the expense of the states and because of the lack of a bill of rights. IMPORTANT PEOPLE: Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson
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Jim Crow laws
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legislation that legalized segregation even after the adoption of the 14th Amendment
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Policy agenda
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agenda that results from the interaction of linkage institutions
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ABA / AMA
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American Bar Association (attorneys) and American Medical Association (doctors). Professional interest groups.
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Revenues
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The financial resources of the federal government. The individual income tax and Social Security tax are two major sources of revenue.
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racial gerrymandering
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The drawing of election districts so as to ensure that members of a certain race are a minority in the district; ruled unconstitutional in Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960)
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social insurance
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programs in which eligibility is based on prior contributions to government, usually in the form of payroll taxes.
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standing committee
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A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area
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open primary
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Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote
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political ideology
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A consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government
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punctuating policy
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Radical changes to public policy that occur only after the mobilization of large segments of society to demand action
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plea bargain
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Agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for a more serious offense
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tariff
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a tax levied on imports to help protect a nation's industries, labor, or farmers from foreign competition. it can also be used to raise additional revenue
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Bill of Attainder
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legislative punishment for one person (prohibited)
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competitive federalism
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views the national government, the 50 states, and the thousands of local governments as competing with each other over ways to put together packages of services and taxes
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President of the Senate
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The Vice President's traditional role.
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a collective attitude of citizens ona given issue or question
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public opinion
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when one party controls the white house and another party controls congress
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divided govt
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this organization's purpose is to influence politicians
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special interest groups
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Implied powers
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"nessicary & proper" to carry out congress
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natural law
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God's or nature's law that defines right from wrong and is higher than human law
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Tracking poll
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polls conducted by media outlets to gauge the potential outcome of a political election on a periodic basis
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De facto segregation
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segregation of schools and other public facilities through circumstance with no law supporting it
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Cloture
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the process in which it takes 60 senators to cut off a filibuster and that is aimed at protecting minority interests
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Straw vote
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nonbinding vote used to determine the views of a small cross section of voters
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Exit Poll
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Public opinion surveys used by major media pollsters to predict electoral winners with speed and precision
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Articles of Confederation:
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first constitution of the United States, proved to be weak though with no branches and no bill of rights and several other problems which then called for the making of the Constitution
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popular consent
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The idea that a just government must derive its powers from the consent of the people it governs
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lobbyist
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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
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interstate compact
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An agreement among two or more states. Congress must approve most such agreements
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amicus curiae brief
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Literally, a "friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case
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closed shop
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A company with a labor agreement under which union membership can be a condition of employment
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absentee
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Ballots used for those who do not wish to report to their polling station.
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rider
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A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage.
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voting is based on where the candidate stands on the issue
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policy voting
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Exclusionary rule
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rule that resulted from the Mapp v Ohio- police must have a search warrant
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full faith and credit clause
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Clause in the Constitution (Article IV, Section 1) requiring each state to recognize the civil judgments rendered by the courts of the other states and to accept their public records and acts as valid
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health maintenance organization (HMO)
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Alternative means of health care in which people or their employers are charged a set amount and the HMO provides health care and covers hospital costs
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Executive Office of the President
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The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, and several other units
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devolution revolution
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the effort to slow the growth of the federal government by returning many functions to the states
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necessary and proper clause
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An implied power giving Congress the right to pass all laws considered "necessary and proper" to carry the federal government's reponsibilities as defined by the Constitution.
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Gitlow v New York (1925)
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case that incorporated the First Amendment into a state case for the first time
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content- or viewpoint-neutrality
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laws that apply to all kinds of speech and to all views, not just that which is unpopular or divisive
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Congressional Budged Office (CBO)
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set up by the Congress, this office evaluates the cost of legislative proposals
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General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
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agreement wherein new trade barriers would be avoided by member nations, existing tariffs would be eliminated, and protective tariffs would be used only for emergency situations
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