Terms : Hide Images
| 165067724 | Grants-in-aid (categorical grants) | Aid from federal government to states for specific programs. Helps federal officials control states | |
| 165067725 | Block Grants | Discretionary money given to states. Part of devolution of power to states | |
| 165067726 | Majority-minority voting districts | Districts drawn to create a majority of minorities in a congressional district. Ruled constitutional so long as race is not the primary factor in redistricting | |
| 165067727 | Straight-ticket voting | Voting down party lines | |
| 165067728 | Split-ticket voting | Voting for different parties in the same election. Sign of partisan dealignment | |
| 165067729 | Eminent domain | The government has the authority to take property for the public good, providing that just compensation is given | |
| 165067730 | Amicus curiae brief | Information offered to courts to help them decide a case | |
| 165067731 | Rule of four | Four justices must agree for the case to be heard | |
| 165067732 | Cloture | Limits placed on debates in Senate to end filibusters | |
| 165067733 | Referendum | Legislatures turn decisions over to popular vote | |
| 165067734 | Initiative | Voters petition to vote on an issue | |
| 165067735 | Free Rider | A person who benefits from an interest group or other organization without contributing | |
| 165067736 | Bad tendency doctrine | Used to determine the legality of free speech | |
| 165067737 | Impoundment | Refusal of president to allow agencies to spend funds appropriated by Congress | |
| 165067738 | Issue Advertising | Advertisments advocating a particular issue but intended to illicit votes for a candidate. Usually paid for by interest groups. One method of getting around the FECA spending limits | |
| 165067739 | Log Rolling | Vote and favor trading between legislators | |
| 165067740 | Closed Primary | A primary in which only registered members of the party may vote | |
| 165067741 | Open Primary | A primary in which either party may vote | |
| 165067742 | Winner-takes-All system | An election where the person with the most votes wins with no proportional representation going to runner-ups | |
| 165067743 | Plurality | most votes | |
| 165067744 | Writ of certiorari | Command of court to a lower court to hand up a court case for review | |
| 165067747 | Iron Triangle | Network between interest group, executive agency, and congressional committee | |
| 165067748 | Deregulation | Regulatory agencies relaxing government restrictions on preivate industries | |
| 165067749 | Prior restraint | Censorship before publishing | |
| 165067750 | Compelling interest test | Used to interpret the Free Exercise clause and the Equal Protection Clause. Before the government can deny freedom of religion or show preferential treatment toward any group, it must also prove that it has a compelling public purpose in doing so. | |
| 165067751 | Selective Incorporation | Process by which the Bill of RIghts are applied to state governments through the due process clause of the 14th Amendment | |
| 165067752 | Enumerated Powers | Those powers of the federal government outlined in the Constitution. | |
| 165067753 | Preemption | When a federal law takes over or precludes a state law | |
| 165067754 | Federal Mandate | A requirement placed on a state by federal government, such as to clean its rivers and lakes. They are often required to receive federal funds | |
| 165067755 | Coattail effect | When people win elections because they are members of the same party as a popular politician | |
| 165067756 | Electoral realignment | When the traditional coalitions that make up a voting block are reordered | |
| 165067757 | Honeymoon period | The short time immediately following the inauguration of the new president when he is treated relatively well by the press and his opposition party | |
| 165067758 | Pork-Barrel Legislation | Junk laws that congressmen pass to send money to their districts | |
| 165067759 | Safe seat | A polictical district or election that is predictably won by a party | |
| 165067760 | Affirmative Action | Remedial actions by the government to atone for past prejudices and injustices | |
| 165067761 | Pocket Veto | When the president vetos a bill by refusing to sign it after Congress has adjourned | |
| 165067762 | Cross-cutting cleavage | Divisions in society that make them more heterogeneous | |
| 165067763 | Entitlements | Government expenditures to people who qualify. | |
| 165067764 | Fairness doctrine | Doctrine that required radio and televisin to represent differing opinions. Struck down in 1987 | |
| 165067765 | Clear and present danger doctrine | Speech can be censored if it poses a clear and present danger to the nation's best interest. | |
| 165067766 | Equal Protection Clause | Prohibits any state from passing a law that discriminates against a person or a group of people because of race, religion, national origin, or gender. The due process clause of the Fifth Amendment makes this applicable to the national government as well | |
| 165067767 | Procedural Due Process | Places limits on the way government may exercise its power over citizens. [Habeas Corpus] | |
| 165067768 | Bundling | Several PACs and interest groups combining their maximum contributions into one sum in order to influence law makers | |
| 165067769 | senatorial courtesy | when the president lets members of Congress know of appointees ahead of time | |
| 165067771 | Political Socialization | Process by which individuals learn their political beliefs, namely their party identification. [FAMILY] | |
| 165067772 | Direct Primaries | An election in which votes directly select party candidates. ~Replaced caucuses | |
| 165067773 | Shay's Rebellion | Rebellion of farmers in Massachusetts which demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a strong federal government | |
| 165067774 | Executive Privilege | The president's right to confidentiality regarding personal letters, memoirs and conversations. The president can only use this privilege regarding matters of national security | |
| 165067775 | Executive Agreement | An agreement between heads of state that is legal but does not have the legal force of a Senate-approved formal treaty | |
| 165248945 | Amount of House Representatives | 435 | |
| 165248946 | Amount of Senators | 100 | |
| 165248947 | Advantages of Incumbents | Advertising Credit Claiming Position taking Party identification | |
| 165248948 | Party whips | Assist party leaders in generating support for party legislation | |
| 165248949 | Legislative oversight | Monitor federal agencies and their execution of law | |
| 165248950 | Standing committees | [Both House and Senate] Handle a specific policy area | |
| 165248951 | Joint committees | [Composed of both representatives and senators] Responsible for legislation that overlaps policy areas | |
| 165248952 | Select committees | Appointed to handle a specific issue, such as investigation or impeachment trial | |
| 165248953 | Conference committee | Iron out the differences between a House and Senate bill | |
| 165248954 | House Rules Committee | Reviews all bills submitted by committees before they go to the House floor Assigns them a slot on the calender Allocated time for debate Decides whether a bill can be amended or not | |
| 165248955 | House Ways and Means committee | Writes tax codes, which must be approved by both House and Senate | |
| 165248956 | Senate Finance Committee | Works with teh House Ways and Means Committee to write tax codes | |
| 165248957 | Appropriations Committee | [ Both House and Senate ] Decides how government money will be apportioned to federal agencies |
