Terms : Hide Images
| 169244423 | Affirmative action: | programs intended to give a boost or perference to minority applicants in contracting, employment, housing, and college/professional school admissions over white applicants | |
| 169244424 | agenda setting | identification of the problems and/or issues that require the attention of the government to resolve | |
| 169244425 | amicus curiae brief | means "firned of the court". it is a brief submitted to the court by an interested third party that outlines issues it thinks are important in the case | |
| 169244426 | antifederalists | 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. notalbe antifederalists were patrick henry and thomas jefferson | |
| 169244427 | appellate jurisdiction | the power that a court has to review the decision of a lower court; the supreme court exercises appellate jurisdiction in the overwhelming majority of the cases it hears | |
| 169244428 | bill of attainder | a law that makes a person guilty of a crime without a trial; neither congress nor the states can enact such a law under the constitution. | |
| 169244429 | blanket primary | elections in which candidates from all parties are on the ballot, and aa regirstered voter can vote for the democratic candidate for one office and the republican for another. | |
| 169244430 | block grants | federal funds to the states for programs in broad policy areas such as law enforcement with few, if any, restrictions on how the money is used | |
| 169244431 | brief | a written document submitted to a court that presents the facts and legal reasoning of a party to the lawsuit | |
| 169244432 | capital-gains tax | a tax on the sale of stock or real property | |
| 169256702 | casework | services performed by an elected official for constituents. a member of congress gets tickets to tour the white house for a family or contacts the department of veterans affairs for a person in his/her district. | |
| 169256703 | categorical grant | federal funds to states and local government for specific programs that usually require the recipient to match the money provided and have other strings attached | |
| 169256704 | caucus | made up of members of congress that may or may not be from the same party but share common policy concers; the congression black causus is an example. the term also refers to a meeting of all the members of a party in congress | |
| 169256705 | checks and balances | related to the separation of powers; each branch of the government has the power to limit the other branches of government so that one is not dominant, for example, the president can veto a bill passed by congress but congress can override the veto. | |
| 169256706 | closed convention | a party national convention at which the nominee has already been determined through the primaries; one candidate won a majority of the delegates before the convention | |
| 169256707 | closed primary | a primary election that is limited to regirstered voters of a particular political party | |
| 169256708 | closed rule | issued by the house rules committee; strict time limit for debate in the house and no amendments can be offered | |
| 169256709 | cloture | method to cut off a filibuster in the senate, the senate needs 16 votes to call for cloture and 60 votes to end a filibuster | |
| 169256710 | coattail effect | the ability of a strong or popular candidate to get other candidtates on the ticket elected; most often used in connection with a presidential condidate helping other members of the party win an election | |
| 169256711 | cofederal system | a political system in which the states are sovereign and determine what authority the central government has | |
| 169256712 | committee report | issued by the standing committee that examined the bill, it includes the texxt of the bill as reported by the committee, a summary of its porvisions, and reasons for committee approval | |
| 169256713 | comparable worth | determining what compensation an employee should recieve based on a calculation of the worht of that job; intended to eliminate the discrepancies in salaries paid to women and men; also known as pay equity | |
| 169256714 | concurrent powers | powers that are shared y both the federal government and the states; taxation and the creation of courts are examples | |
| 169256715 | concurring opinion | an opinion written by one or more judges in an appellate case that agrees with the decision but presents a different legal argument | |
| 169256716 | conference committee | a committee made up of members of the house and the senate that is responsible for reconciling the differences when two versions of the same bill pass both houses of congress | |
| 169256717 | congressional review | congress can nullify a federal regulation within 60 days after it was issued through a joint resolution | |
| 169256718 | congressional-executive agreement | trade agreement that only requires approval of a majority of both houses of congress and not a two thirds vote of the senate | |
| 169256719 | constitutional courts | courts created by congress under article iii where the judges serve for life; the us courts of appeal are an example | |
| 169256720 | containment policy | policy adopted by the united states toward the soviet union after world war ii; any attempt by the soviet union or communism to expand would be met by american counterforce | |
| 169256721 | cooperative federalism | a model of the relationship between the federal government and the states that developed during the 1930s. sometimes referred to as marble cake federalism because the power of the federal government expands into areas that the states are usually responsible for. | |
| 169256722 | cost-benefit analysis | a method of evaluating a public policy by determining if the benefits of the policy outweigh its costs | |
| 169256723 | creative federalism | identified with president lyndon johnson's great society; the fedreal government determines the needs of the states | |
| 169256724 | cross-ownership | in the mas media, a corporation owns a broadcast outlet, for example, a television or radio station, and a newspaper in the same market. | |
| 169256725 | de facto segregation | segregation that results from law, for example, the jim crow laws in the south required racial segregation in public schools, public accommodations, public transportation, and many other areas | |
| 169256726 | delegate | an elected official who considerers it an obligation to vote the way a majority of his/her constituents wants | |
| 169256727 | deregulation | reducing or completely eliminating federal government oversight of an industry so as to allow it to operate more freely; deregulation is supposed to encourage competition and reduce costs to consumers | |
| 169256728 | detente | american policy of easing tensions with the soviet union during the nixon administration; the policy led to increased trade, cultural exchanges, and arms control agreements | |
| 169256729 | discount rate | the interest rate is set by the fedreal reserve board. the interest rate that the fed charges to member banks for loans | |
| 169256730 | discretionary spending | federal spending that is authorized through the appropriations process, for example, the amount included in the defense budget for personnel | |
| 169256731 | dissenting opinion | an opinion by a judge who voted in the minority that explains the reasons for opposing the majority opinion | |
| 169256732 | divided government | occurs when the president is from one party and congress is controlled by the other party. this also occurs if the house is controlled by one party and the senate by the other party. | |
| 169256733 | domino theory | cold war argument that if one country in a region fell to communism, the other counries in the region would quickly follow | |
| 169256734 | dual federalism | aka layer cake federalism. states' rights are emphasized, and the federal government is limited to the enumerated powers. | |
| 169256735 | due process | protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property provided for under the fifth and fourteenth amendments | |
| 169256736 | electoral college | a group of persons known as electors who officially elect the president and vice president of the united states. the number of electros each state has is equal to the total number of representatives in congress. for example, two senators + the number of members of the house. to be elected president, the candidate needs a majority vote of the electoral college | |
| 169256737 | entitlements | government benefits provided to americans who qualify because of their age, income, and or status. for example, children living below the poverty line, the disabled, and veterans. | |
| 169256738 | enumerated powers | powers that the constitution specifically grants to the fedreal government; also known as delegated powers | |
| 169256739 | delegated powers | also known as enumerated powers | |
| 169256740 | equal access rule | the broadcast media must give all candidates for politcal office the same opportunity to be heard under federal communications commission rules | |
| 169256741 | establishment clause | the first amendment freedom of religion protection that focuses on the separation of chuch and state | |
| 169256742 | exclusionary rule | evidence that is obtained illegally is not admissible in court | |
| 169277338 | executive agreement | an agreement between the united states and another country that does not require the approval of the senate; different from treaty | |
| 169277339 | fairness doctrine | abolished by the federal communications commission in 1987, it required that broadcast media present opposing sides of controversial issues | |
| 169277340 | fast track authority | The right of the president to negotiate trade agreement with other nations, which are then submitted to Congress for approval or rejection within a specified time. | |
| 169277341 | fiscal policy | using taxes and spending to impact the economy; associated with the keynesian theory | |
| 169277342 | flat tax | a tax in which people pay an identical rate regardless of income | |
| 169277343 | full faith and credit clause | laws, court decisions, and record of one state are recognized and valid in every other state | |
| 169277344 | gender gap | Difference in political views between men and women | |
| 169277345 | general agreement on tariff and trade | international agreements that seek to increase trade among countries by lowering tariffs | |
| 169277346 | good faith exception | if authorities act "in good faith", evidence that otherwise may have been excluded may be admissible | |
| 169563427 | government corporation | may recieve part of its funding from congress and is managed by a board appointed by the president. the function that it performs could be carried out by private enterprise. the us postal service is an example | |
| 169563428 | grassroot lobbying | organizing a letter writing campaign or taking out advertisements to influence public opinion and persuade elected officials to support a particular policy | |
| 169563429 | group of eight | world's major industrial nations. includes canada france, great britain, germany, italy, japan, and the united states, plus russia | |
| 169563430 | hard money | Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed. | |
| 169563431 | heightened scrutiny | standard adopted in craig vs boren. classification of individuals based on gender must be related to an important government objective; replaced minimum rationality standard | |
| 169563432 | incorporation doctrine | the bill of rights, with certain exceptions, applies to states and municipalities as well as the federal government through the 14th amendment | |
| 169563433 | independent executive agency | part of the executive branch but not included in any executive department; head of the agency is appointed by the president and serves at the pleasure of the president. example nasa | |
| 169563434 | independent regulatory ageny | part of the executive branch and responsible for regulating and oversight of a segment of the economy; managed by board or cmomissions appointed by the president for a fixed term. example: FCC | |
| 169563435 | issue network | a looser relationship than the iron triangle; refers to the numerous people who are involved in the formulation of policy, including the president, members of congress, the cabinet, lobbyists, interest groups, government agencies, and scholars and academics | |
| 169563436 | iron triangle | a close relationship between a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group | |
| 169563437 | jim crow laws | laws passed by state legislatures in the south in the late 19th and early 20th century to create a racially segregated society in order to deprive african americans of the right to vote | |
| 169563438 | joint committee | A committee of the House and the Senate that usually acts as a study group and reports its findings back to the House and the Senate. does not propose legislation.example: joint economic committee. | |
| 169563439 | judicial activism | an interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court). Basically, needs and times can influence a decision | |
| 169563440 | judicial restraint | view that the courts should reject any active lawmaking functions and stick to judicial interpretations of the past | |
| 169563441 | judicial review | power of supreme court to declare law passed by congress unconstitutional | |
| 169563442 | LAPS test | miller vs california. work is considered obscene if it lacks "literary, artistic, political, or scientific" value | |
| 169563443 | leak | an unauthorized release of information to the press from someone in the government | |
| 169563444 | legislative courts | Courts created by Congress for specialized purposes whose judges do not enjoy the protections of Article III of the constitution. Judges serve for a fixed term. | |
| 169661208 | legislative veto | congress rejects an action of the president by a majority vote of both houses; declared unconstitutional by the supreme court | |
| 169661209 | line item veto | allows the president to selectively veto parts of a bill without vetoing the entire bill; declared unconstitutional by the supreme court | |
| 169661210 | lobbying | the way an interest group tries to influence public policy | |
| 169661211 | logrolling | an agreement between two or more members of congress to vote for each other's bills | |
| 169661212 | mandate | law, regulation, or court decision that compels a state or local government to do something under the threat of legal action or the cut off of federal funds | |
| 169661213 | mandatory spending | federal spending that is required by law, for example, for entitlement programs such as social security and veterans' benefits | |
| 169661214 | means test | income must be at a certain level to qualify for benefits from federal or state programs. there are means tests for such programs as foods stamps and medicaid | |
| 169661215 | monetary policy | policy that involves changing the rate of growth of the money supply in circulation in order to affect the cost and availability of credit | |
| 169661216 | muckrakers | during the progressive era, journalists committed to bringing political corruption and unsavory business practices to the public's attention. today they are known as investigative reporters | |
| 169661217 | new deal coalition | political coalition created by franklin roosevelt in the 1930s that included the south, organized labor, urban voters, and racial.ethnic minorities including catholics, jews, and african americans | |
| 169661218 | coalition | the union of diverse things into one body or form or group | |
| 169661219 | new federalism | a policy in 1969, that turned over powers and responsibilities of some U.S. federal programs to state and local governments and reduced the role of national government in domestic affairs (states are closer to the people and problems) | |
| 169661220 | nonpartisan election | an election in which candidates run as independents without party affiliation | |
| 169661221 | north american free trade agreement (NAFTA) | treaty that established a free trade zone between the united states, canada, and mexico | |
| 169661222 | off the record | a reporter cannot directly use information provided in an interview | |
| 169661223 | on background | a reporter can quote information provided in the interview, but cannot attribute the quote specifically to the interviewee | |
| 169661224 | on deep background | a reporter can quote information provided in the interview, but cannot even make an indirect i=reference to the source | |
| 169661225 | on the record | a reporter can quote and use the name of the source of information provided in the interview | |
| 169661226 | open convention | a party national convention at which no candidate has won a majority of the delegates in the primaries; the candidate is chosen by the convention | |
| 169661227 | original jurisdiction | the first court to hear a case; the supreme court has original jurisdiction in cases involving two or more states, the united states and a state, a state and the citizens of another state, and foreign diplomats | |
| 169661228 | party dealignment | weakening of ties between the voters and the two major parties; voters increasingly identify themselves as independent | |
| 169661229 | party machine | political organization, typically at the local level, that wielded considerable power through its ability to get out the vote; relied heavily on patronage and providing services to consituents; often corrupt | |
| 169661230 | party realignment | shift in voter loyalty in response to critical events; this occurred in 1932 with the election of democrat franklin roosevelt | |
| 169661231 | platform | a statement of a political party on the issues facing the counrty that is adopted at the national convention; each issue position is known as a plank. a document stating the aims and principles of a political party | |
| 169716226 | appropriations process | process of providing funding for governmental activities and programs that have been authorized | |
| 169857810 | plurality opinion | decision of a court when a majority agrees with the decision but not with the reasoning | |
| 169857811 | pocket veto | the president does not sign a bill within 10 days of congress adjourning | |
| 169857812 | policy formulation | The crafting of a policy to resolve public problems | |
| 169857813 | political agenda | the issues the american people believe are important for the government to handle | |
| 169857814 | political ideology | the coherent set of beliefs about politics and the role of the government | |
| 169857815 | political socialization | the process by which americans learn about the political system and develop their political views | |
| 169857816 | pork barrel legislation | legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return | |
| 169857817 | recess apppointment | presidential appointment made when congress is not in session, and does not requre immediate confirmation | |
| 169857818 | recession | a downturn in the economy; two consecutive quarters of a negative gross domestic prodect | |
| 169857819 | revenue sharing | a program that distributed federal funds to the states and municipalities with no restrictions on how the money could be spent | |
| 169857820 | revolving door | the practice of the government officials becoming lobbyists for the industry or companies they were responsible for regulating while they were public servants. example: a gov official quits his job to be a lobbyist for the company he regulated | |
| 169857821 | rider | an amendment that is completely unrelated to the subject of a bill | |
| 169857822 | right of rebuttal rule | a person attacked on radio or television must be given a reasonable opportunity to respond | |
| 169857823 | rule making | the process by which federal agencies adopt regulations; includes public notice, hearings, and written comments | |
| 169857824 | rule of four | four of the nine supreme court justices must agree in conference to hear a case before it is put on the docket | |
| 169857825 | docket | a temporally organized plan for matters to be attended to | |
| 169857826 | select committee | a temporary committee of congress set up for a specific purpose that is outside the scope of the standing committees basically, they are temporary committees made to do specific things that standing committees couldn't do | |
| 169857827 | soft money | money used by national, state, or local party organizations that is not regulated by the FEC or federal election commission | |
| 169857828 | federal election commission | they regulate the amount of money PACs give to candidates for a campaign | |
| 169857829 | splinter parties | third parties splintered off of the two major parties | |
| 169857830 | stagflation | a time of high inflation and high unemployment. happened once in 1970 | |
| 169857831 | standing committee | permanent committee of congress that deals with legislation and oversight. example: senate foreign relations committee | |
| 169857832 | straight-ticket voting | opposite of split ticket voting. vote for one party. | |
| 169857833 | trial balloon | a story presented to the media to gauge the public reaction to a policy or program under consideration | |
| 169857834 | trustee | an elected official who takes the views of consituents into account but casts a vote based on his best judgement or conscience | |
| 169857835 | unitary system | a political system in which all power is derived from the central government | |
| 169857836 | whip | a party leader in congress who makes sure the party members are present for important votes | |
| 169857837 | workfare | move people from welfare to this place. | |
| 169857838 | writ of certiorari | formal document issued by the supreme court to a lower court indicating it will hear a case |
