GAP Vocab

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Three-Fifths Compromise: Agreement that each slave counted as three-fifths of a person in determining representation in the hOuse of Representatives and for taxation
Delegated powers: Powers specifically granted to the national govt by the Constitution
New Deal coalition: Alliance of southern conservatives, religious, and ethnic minorities who supported the Democratic Party for 40 years
Conference committee: A temporary committee to work out a compromise version of a bill that has passed the HOuse of Representaives &Senate in diff. forms
Politics: Method of maintaining, managing, and gaining control of government
Gridlock: When opposing parites &interests often block each other's proposals, creating a pol. stalemate/inaction btwn the esecutive &legislative branches of govt
Pardon: A convicted person is exempt form the penalities of a crime
Cloture rule: Prevents filibustering and ends debate in the Senate, by a 3/5s vote of the Senate
Electoral college: Representatives from each state hwo formally cast ballots for the president &vice president
Constitutional courts: Federal courts created by Congress under Article III of the Constitution, including the district courts, courts of appeals, &specialized courts such as the U.S. Court of International Trade
Single-member districts: Only one representative is chosen form each district
Eminent domain: Allows the govt to take property for public use but also requires the govt to provide just compensation for that property
Hyperpluarlism: Democracy seen as a system of many groups pulling govt in many directinos at the same time, causing gridlock ineffectiveness
Moderate: Person whose views are between conservative and liberal and may include some of both ideologies
District courts: Lowest level of fed. courts, where fed. cases begin &trials are held
General election: Voters choose officeholder form among all the candidates nominated by pol. parties/running as independents
Civil rights: Positive acts of govt designed to prevent discrimination &provide equality before the law
Full Faith &Credit Clause: States are required to recognize the laws &legal documents of other states
Initiative: Allows voters to petition to propose legislation &then submit it for a vote by qualified voters
Interest group: A group of private citizens whose goal is to influence &shape public policy
Pure speech: Verbal communication of ideas and opinions
Runoff primary: When no candidate receives a majority of votes, an election held betweent eh two candidates who received the most votes in the primary
Incorporation doctrine: The Supreme Court ruling that most guarantees in teh Bill of Rights are applicatable to the states through Amend. XIV
Stare decisis: Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases
Rules committee: Determines the rules of debate for bills in teh HOuse of Representaties
Radical: Ideological view that favors rapid funamental change in teh existing social, economic, or political order
Writ of habeas corpus: Requires a judge to evaluate whther there is sufficient cause to keep a person in jail
Privileges and immunities: States are prohibited from unreasonably discriminating against residents of other states
Environmental impact statement: Required studies &reports of likely environmental impacts, filed w. the Environmental Protection Agency prior to the beginning of a project
Articles of Confederation: The first national constitution of the U.S. that created a govt lassting from 1781-1780; replaced by the current Constitution
Plessy v. Ferguson: The Supreme Court case that upheld separate-but-equal segregation in 1896
Senatorial courtesy: The practice of allowing senators form teh president's party who represent the state where a judicial district is located, to apporve or diapprove potential nominees for the lower federal courts
Suffrage: The right to vote
Direct democracy: Citizens meet and make decisions abt public policy issues
Conservative: A person whose pol. views favor more local, limited govt, less govt regulations, conformity to social norms &values; rough on criminals
Inherent powers: Powers that exist for the national govt b/c the govt is sovereign
Ratification: Method of enacting a constitution or amendment into law
Cabinet: Govt depts headed by presidential appointees to help establish public policy &operate a specific policy are of govt activity
Judicial activism: The Court should play an active role in determining national policies
Political socialization: Complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, belifs, and values
Reserved powers: Powers belonging specifically to the states and the people because they were not delegated to teh national government nor denied to the states
Concurrent jurisdiction: The authority to hear cases is shared by federal &state courts
President pro tempore: Serves as president of the Senate in teh aabsence of the VP; chosen by the majority party
Constituent: All residents of the state for Senators, all residents of a district for House members
Recall: Special election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before his or her term expires
Policy formulation: The crafting of a policy to resolve public problems
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): Created to allow the free movement of goods between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. by lessening and eliminating tariffs
Equal Protection Clause: Constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally
National chairman: Appointed by a committee as head of the party
Orignial jurisdiction: Court hears and decides a case for the first time
Judicial review: Authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive/state/legislature; est. in Marbury v. Madison
Pork barrel legislation: Legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary of unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a memeber's chance of reelection
Political agenda: Issues that merit action, as determined by the public or those in power
Exclusionary rule: Rule that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be used agains the person form whom it was seized
Get-out-the-vote: A compaign near the end of an election to get voters out to the polls
Prior restraint: Censorship of information before it is published or broadcast
Amendment: A revision/change to a bill, law, or constitution
Natural rights: Basic rights that are guaranteed to all persons; basic rights that a government cannot deny
Sound bite: A brief statement on TV or radio
Line item veto: The president can reject a par tof a bill while approving the rest; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
Connecticut Compromise: State disputes btwn the states of over the structure of the legislative branch
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 business, schools, colleges, and labor
Legislative courts: Courts created by COngress for a specialized purpose w/ a narrow range of authority
Concurring opinion: Justice/justices who agree w/ the majority's opinion but not with the reason behind the decision
Rule of four: Requirement that a case can only be heard by the Supreme Court if four justices vote to hear the case
Select committee: Comittee selected for a specific purpose
Declaration of Independence: Drafted in 1776 by T. Jefferson declaring America's separation from Great Britain
Government: The formal &informal institutions, people, &processes used to create &conduct pulbic policy
Representative democracy: Citizens choose officals (representatives) who make decisions about public policy
Federalists: Supported a strong central govt &expanded legislative powers
Direct primary: Party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election
Bureaucracy: A systematic way of organizing a complex &large adminstrative structure w/ responsibility for carrying out day-to-day tasks of the organization, departments, &agencies of the govt
Brief orders: The returning of a case to a lower court b/c a smiliar case was recently decided
Bureaucratic theory: The hierarchical structure and standarized procedures of govt allow bureaucrats to hold the real power over public policy; proposed by Max Weber
Superdelegates: Party officials in the Democratic Party who attend the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses
Rider: An addition of amendment added to a bill that often has no realtion to the bill but that may not pass onits own merits
Judicial restraint: Holds that the Court should avoid taking the initiative on social &pol. questions, operation strictly w/n the limits of the Constitution
Writ of certiorari: Order by the court directing a lower court to send up the records of a case for review
Dealigning election: Party loyality becomes less important to voters, &they vote for the other party candidate/independent
Split-ticket voting: Voting for candidates form more than one party in teh same election
Front-loading: Choosing an early date to hold the primary election
Certificate: A lower court asks the Supreme Court abt a rule of law/procedure
Ideology: A consistent set of beliefs by groups/individuals
Public policy: The exercise of government power in doing those htings necessary to maintain legitmate authority and ocntrol over society
Revenue sharing: Giving money back to the state and local government with no strings attached
Incorporation: Application of portions of the Bill of Rights to the states under Amend. XIV
Federal system: Power is divided btwn the states &the fed. govt
Standing committee: Permanent committee
Deviating election: Minority party is able to win teh support of majority party members, independents, &new voters
Majority-minority districts: Drawing district boundaries to give a minority group a majority
Double jeopardy: Being tried twice for the same offense
Federalist Papers: Written by Hamilton, Jay, &Madision to support ratification of the U.S. Constituiton
Federal budget: AMount of monety the federal govt expects to receive &authorizes govt to spend for a fiscal (12 mo.) year
Interstate compacts: Agreements btwn states to work together on common issues
Elite theory: A small group of people identified by wealth/ pol. power, who rule in their self-interest
Bicameral: A legislature divided into two chambers; Congress has the Senate and the House of Representatives
Speech plus: Verbal and symbolic speech used together
Democracy: A system whereby the people rule either directly/by elected representation
Off-year election: An election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; midterm election
Majority leader: The elected leader of the party with the most seat in the House of Representatives/Senate
Political culture: A set of basic values and beliefs about one's country or government that is shared by most citizens and that influences political opinions and behaviors
Oversight: Congress monitors policies of the executive branch
Limited govt: Basic prinicple of U.S. govt that each person has rights that govt cannot take away
Civil liberties: Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens
Appellate jurisdiction: Gives the court authority to hear cases on appeal form the lower courts
Implied powers: Not expressed, but may be considerered through the use of the Necessary and Proper (elastic) Clause
Casework: Assistance given to constituents by congressional members, answering questions/doing favors
Hatch Act: Prohibits govt employees from engaging in pol. activities whle on duty/running for office/seeking poli. funding while off duty; if in sensitive positions, may not be involved w/ pol. activities on/off duty
Block grant: Money given to states for general programs within a broad category
Political party: Voluntary association of people who seek to control the government through common principles, based on peaceful and legal actions such as the winning of elections
Policy adoption: The approval of a policy by legislation
Elastic clause: The necessary &proper clause, Art. I, Sec. 8, Clause 18 that allwos Congress to pass laws to carry out its powers
Marbury v. Madison: Est. the principle of judicial review
Substantive due process: The policies of government of the particular subject matte rof the laws determining what the law is about and whether the law is fair or if it violates constitutional protections
Self-incrimination: Accusing oneself or giving evidence that may prove oneself guilty
Sampling: Using a represenative cross-seciton of the general population chosen at random in the polling process
Checks and balances: Each branch of govt is subject to restraints by the other two branches
Mandates: Requirements imposed by the national govt on state &local govts to comply w/ fed. rules ®ulation
Grassroots: Avg voter at the local level
Coattail effect: Weaker/lesser-known candidates form the president's party profit from the president's popularity by winning votes
Trustee: After listening to constiutents, elected representatives vote based on their own opinions
War Powers Act: Limits teh ability of the president to commit troops to combat
Bill of Rights: The first 10 amendments to teh Constitution guaranteeing certain rights and liberties to the people
Apportionment: Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state
Liberal: A person whose views favor more govt involvemnt in business, social welfare, minority rights, &increased govt spending
Straight-ticket voting: Voting for candidates all of the same party
Critical election: Sharp changes int eh existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions
Dissenting opinion: Justice/justices who disagree with the majority opinion
Procedual due process: Method of government action, or how th elaw is carried out according to the established rules and procedures
Freedom of expression: Freedom of speech/right to petition the govt for redress as Amend I right
Dual federalism: Fed. &state govts each ahve defined responsibilities w/n their own sphere of influence; "layer cake" federalism
Joint committee: Committee made up of members of both hosue of Congress
Public opinion: A colleciton of shared attitudes of citizens about government, politics, and the making of public policy
Fiscal policy: The policies of taxation &spending that comprise the nation's economic policy
Lemon test: Standard set by the Supreme Court in Lemon v. Kurtzman to measure the constituionality of state laws in regard to freedom of religion
Issue network: Individuals in WA--located w/n interest groups, congressional staff, think tanks, universities, &the media--who regulary discuss &advocate public policies
Federalism: A division of govtal powers btwn the national govt &states
Lobbying: Attempting to influence policymakers though a variety of methods
Miranda v. Arizona: Requires that anyone arrested for a crime be advised of teh right to counsel and the right to remain silent
Loose constructionist: The belief that judges should have freedom in interpreting th eConstitution
Mandatory spending: Required govt spending by permanent laws
Strict constuctionist: The view that justices should base decisions on a narrow interpretation of teh COnstitution
Brown v. BOE of Topeka, KA: Supreme Court decision that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson: ended legal segregation, said school regulation is unconstitutional
Primary election: Nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election
Entitlement program: Payments mad eto people meetin geligibility requirements, such as Social Security
Lobbyist: Uses pol. persuasion to influence legislation &benefit his/her org.
Maintaining elections: Traditional majorty power maintains power based on voters' party loyalty
Devolution: An effort to shirft responsibility of domestic programs to the states in order to decrease the size &activites of the fed. govt; some states have attempted to shift responsibilities further to local govts
Grants-in-aid: Programs, money, &resources provided by the fed. govt to state &local govts to be used for specific projects &programs
Presidential preference primaries: Voters select delegates to teh presidential nominating convention
Politcal ideology: A consistent set of beliefs about politics and public policy taht sets the framework for evaluation government and public policy
Executive privilege: The right of the president to withhold info from COngress/ refuse to testify; limited by the Supreme Court in U.S. v. Nixon
Divided govt: One party controls the executive, &the other party controls on /both houses of Congress
Ex post facto law: Laws applied to acts committed before passage of the laws are unconstitutional
Pluralist theory: INterest gorups compete in the political arena with each promoting its own policy preferences through organized efforts
Impeachment: Bringing charges of wrongdoing against a govt official by the House of Representatives
Iron triangle: Alliances tha tdevelop btwn bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, &congressional committees/subcommittees
Precedents: Standars or guides based on prior decisions that serve as a fule for settling similar disputes
Policy evalution: Determines if a policy is achieving its goals
Discretionary spending: Spending set by the govt through appropriations bills, including operation expenses &salaries of govt employees
Incumbent: The person currently holding office
Seniortiy system: System in which the chairmanship of a committee is given tot eh member with the longest continuous service
Policy implementation: Carrying out a policy through government agencies and courts
Legislative veto: To reject the actions of the president/executive agency by a vote of one/both house of Congress w/o the consent of th epresident; ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Immigration &Naturalization Service v. Chadha
Concurrent powers: Powers shared by the federal and state govts
Opinion leaders: Those individuals held in great respect becasue of their position, expertise, or peronsality, who may informally and unintentionally influence others
Logrolling: The exchange of pol. favors for support of a bill
Reactionary: Ideological view that favors a return to a previous state of affairs
National debt: Amount of money owed by the government
Congressional districting: State legislatures draw congressional districts for states w/ more than one representaive
Anti-Federalists: Opposed the adoption of the U.S. Constitution b/c it gave too much power to the national govt at the expense of the state govts and it lacked a bill of rights
Courts of appeals: Federal courts that review decisions of federal district courts, regulatory commissions, &other fed. courts
Appropriations: Money granted by Congress/a state legislature for a specific purpose
Symbolic speech: Using actions and symbols rather than words to convey an idea
Straw poll: Early form of polling that asks the same question of a large number of people
Categorical grant: Federal grants for specific purposes define by law
Sampling errors: Percentage of possible erros in teh polling process
Supremacy CLause: Ntional law supersedes all other laws passed by states (Art VI)
Comparable worth: Women should be paid salaries equal to men for equivalent job responsibilities &skills
Incrementalism: Small changes in policy over long periods of time; usually in reference to budget-making--that th ebest indicator of this year's budget is last year's budget plus a small increase
Virginia Plan: Madison's plan for a bicameral legislature, whith the executive and judiciary chosen by the legislature
McCulloch v. Maryland: Supreme Court decision upholding the supremacy of the national government over the states
Social insurance programs: Programs to help the elderly, ill, and unemployed if the claimant has paid into them
Social welfare policy: Government program to enhance quality of life
Monetary policy: Economic policy in which money is controlled through the Federal Reserve
Fiscal year: A 12-month pd, October through Septmeber, for planning the federal budget
Watergate: Break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate building in 1972 that resulted in a cover-up and the subsequent resignation of Nixon
Referendum: Procedure whereby the state submits legislation to its voters for approval, allowing citizens to vote directly on issues
Constituency service: Casework, assistance to constituents by congressional members
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise: Resolved differences btwn northern and southern states; Congress could not tax exports nor ban the slave trade for 20 yrs.
Bill: A law proposed by the legislature
Caucus (congressional): An association of congressional members who advocate a pol. ideology/regional/ethnic/economic interest
Jurisdiciton: The authroity of the courts to hear &decide issues in certain cases
Extradition: States may return fugitives to a state from which they fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the state's gov
Cooperative federalism: Cooperation among federal, state, &local govts; "marble cake" federalism
Incumbency effect: Tendency of those alrady holding office to win reelection due to advgs b/c they already hold the office
Mass media: All forms of communication that reach a large portion
Dealignment: When a significant # of voters choose to no longer support a particular pol. party
Two-party system: Several political parties exist, but only two major political parties compete for power and dominate elections
Social contract theory: A voluntary agreement between teh government and the governed
Executive agreement: Agreement w/ another head of state not requiring approval form teh Senate
Closed primary: Only registered party members may vote
Motor voter law: Allows citizens to register to vote at welfare and motor vehicle offices
Franking privilege: Privilege that allows member sof COngress to mail letters &other materials to constituents postage-free
Deficit: Govt spending exceeds revenue
Floor leaders: Direct party strategy &decisions in teh HOuse of Representatives &Senate
Electorate: People qualified to vote
Constitution: The document setting forth the laws &principles of the govt; a plan of govt
Speaker of the House: Leading officer in the HOuse of Representatives, chosen by the majority party
Gerrymandering: Drawing of congressional districts to favor one pol. party/group over another
Bills of attainder: Prohibits a person being found guilty of a crime w/o a trial
Free Exercise Clause: Congress may not make laws restricting/ prohibiting a person's relgious practices
Realignment: A shift of voting patterns to form new coaltions of party support
Traditional democratic theory: Government depends upon the consent of the governed
Establishment Clause: Prohibits the establishment of a national religion
Super Tuesday: Day when most southern states hold presidential primaries
Filibuster: A lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill; used only in teh Senate
Open primary: Voters may choose the candidates of either party, whether they belong to the party or not
Political efficacy: Belief that a person can influence politics and public policymaking
Popular sovereignty: Basic principle of U.S. government which holds that the people are the source of all govermental power
Caucus: Locally held mtg in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to pol. offices
Blanket primary: Voters may vote for candidates of either party
Discrimination: Unfair treatment of a person based on race/group membership
Unfunded mandates: Requires states to enforce legislation without the funding necessary
Executive order: The president directs an agency to carry out policies/existing laws
Media event: A speech or photo opporutnity staged to give a politician's view on an issue
Separation of powers: Practice by which power is separated among three branches of government; each branch has its own powers and duties and is independent of and equal to the other branches
Gatekeepers: Media executives, news editors, &prominent reporters who deicde whoat news to present &how it will be presented
Soft money: Money distributed form a national political party organization that wasn ot regulated by law; restricted by the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002
At-large: All the voters of a state/country elect their representative
Fiscal federalism: Nitonal govt's use of fiscal policy to influence states through the granting/withholding of appropirations
Political action committee: Extention of an interest group that contributes money to political campaigns
Constitutional law: Laws relating to the interpretation of the Constitution
Markup: Rewrite of a bill after hearings have been held on it
Brief: Legal document submitted to the court setting forth the facts of a case and supporting a particular position
Agenda setting: The process of forming the list of matters that policymakers intend to address
Impoundment: Refusal of the president to spend money Congress has appropriated
Amicus curiae brief: Friend of the court; interested groups may be invited to file legal briefs supporting/rejection arguments of the case
Majority opinion: The majority of justices agree on the decision &the reasons for th edecision
Necessary and Proper Clause: Gives Congress the powers to pass all laws necessary to carry out their constitutional duties; "elastic" clause (Art. I, Sec. VIII, Clause XVIII)
Reapportionament: Redistribution of the congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution
Trial balloon: Tests the public reaction to policy or appointments by releasing information to the media and gaugin public reaction

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Number of cards 242