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| 7998074823 | affirmative action | government-mandated programs that seek to create special employment opportunities for african americans, women, and other victims of past discrimination. | 0 | |
| 7998074825 | amicus curiae briefs | "friend of the court" briefs that qualified individuals or organizations file in lawsuits to which they are not a party, so the judge may consider their advice in respect to matters of law that directly affect the cases in question. | 1 | |
| 7998074826 | appellate jurisdiction | term used to describe courts whose role is to hear appeals from lower courts. | 2 | |
| 7998074827 | articles of confederation | the united states' first constitution. the government formed lasted from 1781 to 1789. proved inadequate because it did not have the power to collect taxes from the states or regulate foreign trade. | 3 | |
| 7998074828 | bicameral | consisting of two legislative houses. (house of representatives and senate) | 4 | |
| 7998074829 | bill of rights | first 10 amendments to the US constitution. guarantees personal liberties and limits the powers of the government. | 5 | |
| 7998074831 | block grants | federal money given to states with only general guidelines for its use. the states have the authority to decide how the money will be spent. | 6 | |
| 7998074833 | broad constructionism | belief that the constitution should be interpreted loosely when concerning the restrictions it places on federal power. emphasize the elastic clause/"necessary and proper" | 7 | |
| 7998074834 | brown v. board of education | 1954 case in which supreme court ruled to overturn the "seperate but equal" standard as it applied to education. | 8 | |
| 7998074835 | budget deficit | condition that arises when federal expenditures exceed revenues. | 9 | |
| 7998074836 | budget resolution | set of budget guidelines that must pass both houses of congress in identical form by april 15. guides govt spending for the following fiscal year. | 10 | |
| 7998074837 | categorical grants | federal aid give to states with strings attached. states must adhere to federally mandated guidelines for spending it. | 11 | |
| 7998074838 | caucus | meeting of local party members for the purpose of choosing delegates to a national party convention. also refers to a meeting of the democratic members of the house of representatives. | 12 | |
| 7998074839 | census | a process mandated by the constitution by which the population of the US is officially counted every 10 years. data is used to help distribute federal money and to reapportion congressional districts. | 13 | |
| 7998074840 | checks and balances | the system that prevents any branch of govt from becoming too powerful by requiring the approval of more than one branch for all important acts. | 14 | |
| 7998074841 | civil court | court in which lawsuits are heard. | 15 | |
| 7998074842 | civil disobedience | requires activists to protest peacefully against laws they believe unjust and to be willing to accept arrest as a means of demonstrating the justice of their cause. | 16 | |
| 7998074846 | civil service system | method of hiring federal employees based on merit rather than on political beliefs or allegiances. replaced the spoils system in the US. | 17 | |
| 7998074847 | class action suit | a lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of people and whose result affects that group of people as a whole. | 18 | |
| 7998074848 | clear and present danger test | interpretation by justice Oliver Wendell Holmes regarding limits on free speech if it presents clear and present danger to the public or leads to illegal actions; for example, one cannot shout "Fire!" in a crowded theater. | 19 | |
| 7998074849 | closed primary | Primary election in which voting is restricted to registered members of a political party. | 20 | |
| 7998074850 | cloture | A motion in the Senate to end debate, often used in the event of a filibuster. Requires a three-fifths majority of Senate | 21 | |
| 7998074851 | coalition | A combination of groups of people who work together to achieve a political goal. | 22 | |
| 7998074852 | commander in chief | The president's role as leader of all United States military forces. The is one of the executive powers authorized in the Constitution. | 23 | |
| 7998074853 | concurrent powers | Constitutional powers shared by the federal and state governments. | 24 | |
| 7998074854 | conference committee | Congressional committee that includes representatives of both houses of Congress. Their purpose is to settle differences between the Houes and Senate versions of bills that have been passed by their respective legislatures. | 25 | |
| 7998074855 | congressional budget office | Congressional agency of budget experts who assess the feasibility of the president's plan and who help create Congress's version of the federal budget. | 26 | |
| 7998074856 | congressional district | The geographically defined group of people on whose behalf a representative acts in the House of Representatives. Reapportioned every 10 years according to new census data. All of equal size. | 27 | |
| 7998074857 | conservative | A political ideology that tends to favor defense spending and school prayer and to disapporve of social programs, abortion, affirmative action, and a large, active govt. Generally affiliated with the Republican party. | 28 | |
| 7998074858 | constitutional convention | An as-of-yet untried method by which the Constitution may be amended. Two-thirds of all state legislatures must petition the federal govt to call into effect. | 29 | |
| 7998074859 | cooperative federalism | Preeminent form of US federalism. (Marble cake analogy) National and state governments share many powers. | 30 | |
| 7998074860 | criminal court | Court in which criminal trials are heard | 31 | |
| 7998074862 | delegated powers | Constitutional powers granted solely to the federal government. | 32 | |
| 7998074863 | direct democracy | All enfranchised citizens vote on all matters of government. | 33 | |
| 7998074864 | divided government | When the presidency is controlled by one party and Congress by another. | 34 | |
| 7998074866 | dual federalism | Form of US federalism during nation's early history. Federal and state governments remain separate and independent (layer cake analogy) | 35 | |
| 7998074867 | due process | Established legal procedures for the arrest and trial of an accused criminal | 36 | |
| 7998074868 | elastic clause | The section of the Constitution that allows Congress to pass laws "necessary and proper" to the performance of its duties. Allows Congress to stretch its pwers beyond those that are specifically granted to it. | 37 | |
| 7998074869 | electoral college | Constitutionally established body created for the sole purpose of choosing the president and v.p. | 38 | |
| 7998074870 | eminent domain | The power of the government to take away property for public use as long as there is just compensation for property taken. | 39 | |
| 7998074871 | entitlement programs | Social insurance programs that allocate federal funds to all people who meet the conditions of the program. Social Security is an example of the largest and most expensive program. | 40 | |
| 7998074873 | establishment clause | Section of the constitution that prohibits the government from designating one faith as the official religion of the US. | 41 | |
| 7998074875 | executive agreement | Presidential agreements made with foreign nations. Have the same legal force as treaties but do not require the approval of the Senate. | 42 | |
| 7998074876 | executive privilege | The right of the prsident to withhold information when doing so would compromise national security. (not specifically mentioned in Constitution) | 43 | |
| 7998074877 | ex post facto laws | If allowed, these laws would punish people for actions that occurred before such actions were made criminal. | 44 | |
| 7998074878 | extradition | Process by which governments return fugitives to the jurisdiction from which they have fled. | 45 | |
| 7998074879 | federal reserve board | Executive agency that is largely responsible for the formulation and implementation of monetary policy. | 46 | |
| 7998074880 | federalism | Term describing a system under which the national government and local governments (state) share powers. | 47 | |
| 7998074881 | federalist papers | A series of essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay to defend the constitution and persuade Americans that it should be ratified. | 48 | |
| 7998074883 | filibuster | A lengthy speech that halts all legislative action in the Senate. | 49 | |
| 7998074884 | first amendment | Protects the rights of individuals against the government by guaranteeing the freedom of speech, the press, religion, and assembly. | 50 | |
| 7998074885 | fiscal year | Twelve-month period starting on Oct. 1 when government budgets go into effect. | 51 | |
| 7998074888 | front loading | Because early primaries have grown increasingly important in recent years, many states have pushed forward the date of their primary elections. | 52 | |
| 7998074889 | full faith and credit clause | Section of the Constitution that requires states to honor one another's licenses, marriages, and other acts of state courts. | 53 | |
| 7998074890 | general election | Election held on the first Tuesday of November, during which voters elect officials. | 54 | |
| 7998074891 | gerrymandering | The practice of drawing congressional district lines to benefit one party over the other. | 55 | |
| 7998074893 | gramm-rudman-holdings bill | Set budget reduction targets to balance budget but failed to eliminate loopholes. | 56 | |
| 7998074894 | great compromise | Settlement reached at the Constitutional convention between large states and small states. Called for two legislative houses. | 57 | |
| 7998074897 | hatch act | A congressional law that forbade government officials from participating in partisan politics and protected government employees from being fired on partisan grounds; revised to be less restrictive in 1993. | 58 | |
| 7998074898 | house of representatives | Lower house of US Congress, in which representation is allocated to states in direct proportion to their population. Has sole power to initiate appropriations legislation. | 59 | |
| 7998074899 | house rules committee | Determines the rules for debate of each bill, including whether the bill may be amended. This is the most powerful committee in the House. | 60 | |
| 7998074900 | impeachment | Process by which a president, judge, or other govt official can be tried for high crimes and misdemeanors. | 61 | |
| 7998074903 | initiative | Process through which voters may propose new laws. | 62 | |
| 7998074905 | iron triangle | Also called subgovernment. Formed by the close working relationship among various interest groups, congressional committees, and executive agencies that enforce federal regulations. | 63 | |
| 7998074907 | joint committee | Congressional committee composed of members of both houses of Congress, usually to investigate and research specific subjects. | 64 | |
| 7998074908 | judicial activism | Refers to the actions of a court that frequently strikes down or alters the acts of the executive and/or legislative branches. | 65 | |
| 7998074909 | judicial restraint | Refers to the actions of a court that demonstrates an unwillingness to break with precedent or to overturn legislative and executive acts. | 66 | |
| 7998074910 | judicial review | The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional. | 67 | |
| 7998074913 | legislative oversight | One of Congress's most important tasks... In order to check the power of the executive branch, congressional committees investigate and evaluate the performance of corresponding executive agencies and departments. | 68 | |
| 7998074914 | liberal | Ideaology that tends to favor govt spending on social programs, affirmative action, rights to abortions, and an active Govt. Usually affiliated with Democratic Party. | 69 | |
| 7998074915 | limited government | principle of govt that states that govt powers must be confined to those allowed it by the nations Constitution. | 70 | |
| 7998074916 | line item veto | Power held by some chief executive to excise some portions of a spending bill without rejecting the entire bill. (Esp. Governors) | 71 | |
| 7998074917 | mandate | Level of support for an elected official as perceived through election results. | 72 | |
| 7998074918 | marbury v. madison | Supreme Court decision that established the principle of judicial review. | 73 | |
| 7998074919 | john marshall | Third Chief Justice (early 1800s). Federalist who worked to increase the powers of the federal govt over the states. Established the principle of judicial review. | 74 | |
| 7998074921 | national convention | Occasion at which a political party officially announces its presidential nominee and reveals its party platform for the next four years. | 75 | |
| 7998074923 | national security council | Presidential advisory board established in 1947 to consult with the president on matters of defense and foreign policy. | 76 | |
| 7998074925 | nomination | Endorsement to run for office by a political party. | 77 | |
| 7998074927 | office of budget and management | Executive branch office responsible for drawing up the president's proposals for the federal budget. | 78 | |
| 7998074928 | open primary | Primary election in which voters may vote in whichever party primary they choose, though they must select that party before entering the voting booth. | 79 | |
| 7998074929 | original jurisdiction | Used to describe a court's power to initially try a case. | 80 | |
| 7998074930 | override | The constitutional power of congress to supersede a president's veto by a two-thirds majority in both houses. | 81 | |
| 7998074931 | pardon | Cancellation of criminal punishment, granted by presidents and governors. | 82 | |
| 7998074932 | platform | Statement of purpose and policy objectives drafted and approved by political parties at their national conventions. | 83 | |
| 7998074934 | pocket veto | if the president fails to approve a bill passed during the last ten days of a congressional session, the bill does not become law. | 84 | |
| 7998074939 | pork barrel | Budget items proposed by legislators to benefit constituents in their home state or district. Sometimes unnecessary but are passed because they are politically beneficial. | 85 | |
| 7998074940 | president pro tempore | Individual chosen to preside over the Senate whenever the vice president is unavailable to do so. Chosen by the senate from among its members. | 86 | |
| 7998074941 | primary elections | Form of election held by the majority of states, during which voters select the nominees for political parties. | 87 | |
| 7998074943 | priviledges and immunities clause | Section of the Constitution stating that a state may not refuse police protection or access to its courts to US citizens because they live in a different state. | 88 | |
| 7998074944 | progressive income tax | Increases tax rates for people with higher incomes | 89 | |
| 7998074945 | quorum | The minimum number of people required for the legislature to act | 90 | |
| 7998074947 | reapportionment | The process by which congressional districts are redrawn and seats are redistributed among staes in the House. | 91 | |
| 7998074948 | recall election | Process through which voters can shorten an office holder's term. | 92 | |
| 7998074949 | referendum | process through which voters may vote on new laws. | 93 | |
| 7998074950 | regulatory agency | Executive agency responsible for enforcing laws pertaining to a certain industry. | 94 | |
| 7998074951 | representative democracy | Form of govt under which citizens vote for delegates who in turn represent citizens' interests within the govt. | 95 | |
| 7998074952 | reserved powers | Constitutional powers that belong solely to the states. | 96 | |
| 7998074954 | runoff primary | Election held between top two vote-getters in a primary election, which neither recieved a legally required minimum percentage of the vote. | 97 | |
| 7998074959 | select committee | Temporary committee of Congress, usually created to investigate specific issues. | 98 | |
| 7998074961 | senate | Upper house of Congress, in which each state has two representatives. Has power to approve cabinet, ambassadors, and judges, and treaties. | 99 | |
| 7998074962 | senatorial courtesy | A check placed on the president by which candidates for the federal bureaucracy must first be approved by a vote within the Senate. | 100 | |
| 7998074963 | separation of powers | The system that prevents any branch of govt from becoming too powerful by dividing important tasks among the 3 branches. | 101 | |
| 7998074967 | Speaker of the House | Individual chosen by members of the House of Representatives to preside over its sessions. | 102 | |
| 7998074968 | split ticket voting | Choosing candidates from different parties for offices listed on the same ballot. | 103 | |
| 7998074969 | spoils system | Political practice of trading govt jobs and preferences for political and financial support. | 104 | |
| 7998074970 | standing committee | a permanent congressional committee | 105 | |
| 7998074971 | strict constructionism | Belief that Constitution should be read in a way that limits powers of the federal govt as much as possible. | 106 | |
| 7998074972 | supremacy clause | section of the Constitution that requires conflicts between federal and state law to be resolved in favor of federal law. | 107 | |
| 7998074973 | Supreme Court | highest court in the US. | 108 | |
| 7998074976 | three-fifths compromise | Counted slaves as three-fifths of a person in apportionment and taxation. | 109 | |
| 7998074977 | twenty-fourth amendment | outlawed poll taxes | 110 | |
| 7998074978 | twenty-second amendment | Limited the number of years an individual may serve as president | 111 | |
| 7998074980 | United Nations | International organization established following WW2, aiming to preserve international peace and cooperation. | 112 | |
| 7998074981 | unanimous consent decree | Agreement passed by the Senate that establishes the rules under which a bill will be debated, amended, and voted upon. | 113 | |
| 7998074982 | unwritten Constitution | Certain deeply ingrained aspects of our govt that are not mentioned in the Constitution, such as parties, conventions, and cabinet meetings. | 114 | |
| 7998074983 | veto | Power held by chief executives to reject acts of the legislature. | 115 | |
| 7998074984 | voting rights act of 1965 | Federal law that increased govt supervision of local election practices, suspended literacy tests, and expanded govt efforts to register voters. | 116 | |
| 7998074986 | war powers act | Law requiring the president to seek periodic approval from Congress for any substantial troop commitment. | 117 | |
| 7998074989 | writ of habeas corpus | A court order requiring an explanation as to why a prisoner is being held in custody. | 118 | |
| 7998074990 | writ of certiorari | a legal document issued by the supreme court to request the court transcripts of a case. | 119 |
