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AP US GOV VOCAB
all of them
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| affirmative action | a policy designed to correct the effects of past discrimination; requirement by law that positive steps to be taken to increase the number of minorities in businesses, schools, colleges, and labor. |
| agenda setting | the process of forming the list of matters that policymakers intend to address. |
| amendment | a revision or change to a bill, law, or constitution. |
| amicus curiae brief | friend of the court; interested groups may be invited to file legal briefs supporting or rejecting arguments of the case. |
| anti-federalist | opposed the adoption of the U.S. Constitution because it gave too much power to the national government at the expense of the state governments and lacked a bill of rights. |
| appellate jurisdiction | gives the court authority to hear cases on appeal from the lower courts. |
| apportionment | distribution of representatives among the states based on population of each state. |
| article III | establishes the supreme court and gives congress the power to establish the lower courts, provides that judicial compensation cannot be lowered during tenure, provides jurisdiction of the courts, and addresses treason and its punishment. |
| articles of confederation | the first national constitution of the united states, which created a government lasting from 1781-1789; replaced by the current constitution. |
| at-large | all the voters of a state or county elect their representatives. |
| baker v carr 1961 | the supreme court ruled that reapportionment challenges are not political questions if brought under the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment. |
| benchmark | initial poll on a candidate and issues on which campaign strategy is based and against which later polls are compared. |
| bicameral | a legislature divided into two chambers; congress has the senate and the house of representatives. |
| bill of rights | the first 10 amendments to the constitution, guaranteeing certain rights and liberties to the people. |
| bill | a law proposed by the legislature. |
| bills of attainder | finding a person guilty of a crime without a trail; prohibited under the constitution. |
| bipartisan campaign reform act | banned the use of soft money in federal campaigns, placed limits on issue advertising, and increased the 1974 limits on individual and group contributions to candidates; also called mccain-feingold. |
| blanket primary | voters may vote for candidates of either party. |
| block grant | money given to states for general programs within a broad catergory. |
| brief orders | the returning of a case to a lower court because a similar case war recently decided. |
| brief | legal document submitted to the court setting forth the facts of a case and supporting a position. |
| brown v board of education 1954 | supreme court decision that overturned plessy v ferguson, ended legal segregation, stating that school segregation is unconstitutional. |
| brutus no 1 | written by anti-federalist robert yates to convince the people to not ratify the constitution, suggested that republics had to be small and homogeneous, not large and diverse. also said the bill of rights was a critical part in the protection of liberties |
| bureaucracy | a systematic way of organizing a complex, large. administrative structure with responsibility for carrying out the day-to-day tasks of the organization, departments, and agencies of government. |
| bureaucratic theory | the hierarchical structure and standardized procedures of government allow bureaucrats to hold the real power over public policy; proposed by max weber. |
| cabinet | government departments headed by presidential appointees to help establish public policy and operate a specific policy area of government activity. |
| candidate-centered campaigns | election campaigns and other political processes in which candidates, not political parties, have most of the initiative and influence. |
| casework | assistance given to constituents by congressional members, answering questions or doing favors. |
| categorical grants | federal grants for specific purposes defined by law. |
| caucus | locally held meeting in a state to select delegates who, in turn, will nominate candidates to political offices. |
| certificate | a lower court asks the supreme court about a rule of law or procedure. |
| checks and balances | each branch of government is subject to restraints by the other two branches. |
| citizens united v federal election commission 2010 | supreme court ruled the limiting the ability of businesses, unions, and other groups to fund their own efforts to elect or defeat candidates for office is unconstitutional. |
| civil liberties | constitutional freedoms guaranteed to al citizens. |
| civil rights act of 1964 | prohibited discrimination in employment and in places of public accommodation, outlawed bias in federally funded programs, and created the equal employment opportunity commission. |
| civil rights | positive acts of government designed to prevent discrimination and provide equality before the law. |
| civil service | a system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create nonpartisan government service. |
| closed primary | only registered party members may vote. |
| cloture | prevents filibustering and ends debate in the senate by a three-fifths vote of the senate. |
| coattail effect | weaker or lesser-known candidates from the president’s party profit from the president’s popularity by winning votes. |
| commerce and slave trade compromise | resolved differences between northern and southern states; congress could not tax exports nor ban the slave trade for 20 years. |
| commerce clause | gives the national government the power to regulate trade with foreign nations, between the states (interstate commerce) and with the native tribes; often used by the courts to expand the powers of congress. |
| committee of the whole | a congressional committee tat includes al members of the house of representatives, and which meets in the house chamber for the consideration of measures under relaxed procedural rules. |
| comparable worth | women should be paid salaries equal to men for equivalent job responsibilities and skills. |
| concurrent jurisdiction | the authority to hear cases is shared by federal and state courts. |
| concurrent powers | powers shared by the federal and state governments. |
| concurring opinion | justice(s) who agree with the majority’s opinion but not with the reason behind the decision. |
| conference committee | a temporary committee to work out a compromise version of a bill that has passed the house of representatives and senate in different forms. |
| congressional districting | state legislatures draw congressional districts for states with more than one representative. |
| conservative | a person whose political views favor more local, limited government, less government regulation, and conformity to social norms and values; tough on criminals. |
| constituency service | casework; assistance to constituents by congressional members. |
| constituent | all residents of the state for senators, all residents of a district for house members. |
| constitution | the document setting forth the laws and principles of the government; a plan of government. |
| constitutional courts | federal courts created by congress under article III of the constitution, including the districting courts, courts of appeals, and specialized courts such as the u.s. court of the international trade. |
| constitutional law | laws relating to the interpretation of the constitution. |
| cooperative federalism | cooperation among federal, state, and local governments; marble cake federalism. |
| courts of appeals | federal courts that review decisions of federal district courts, regulatory commissions, and other federal courts. |
| critical election | sharp changes in existing patterns of party loyalty due to changing social and economic conditions. |
| dealigning election | party loyalty becomes less important to voters, and they vote for the other party candidate or independents. |
| dealignment | when a significant number of voters choose to no longer support a political party. |
| declaration of independence | drafted in 1776 by thomas jefferson, declared america’s separation from great britain. |
| deficit | government spending exceeds revenue. |
| delegate | members of congress who vote based on the wishes of their constituents, regardless of their own opinions. |
| delegated powers | powers specifically granted to the national government by the constitution. |
| democracy | a system whereby the people rule either directly or by elected representation. |
| department of education | administers federal aid programs to public and private schools and engages in educational research. |
| department of homeland security | prevents terrorist attacks within the united states and helps recovery from attacks that do occur; includes coast guard, secret service, border patrol, immigration and visa services and federal emergency management agency. |
| department of transportation | promotes mass transit programs and programs for highways, railroads and air traffic; enforces maritime law. |
| department of veterans affairs | promotes the welfare of veterans of the armed forces and administers laws that provide benefits for former members of the armed services and their dependents. |
| deviating election | minority party is able to win the support of majority party members, independents, and new voters. |
| devolution | an effort to shift responsibility of domestic programs to states in order to decrease the size and activities of the federal government; some states have attempted to shift responsibilities further to local governments. |
| direct democracy | citizens meet and make decisions about public policy issues. |
| direct primary | party members vote to nominate heir candidate for the general election. |
| discharge petition | a method of bring a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee; necessary when a committee chair refuses to place the bill on the committees agenda. |
| discretionary spending | spending set by the government through appropriations bills, including operating expenses and salaries of government employees. |
| discrimination | unfair treatment of a person based on race or group membership. |
| dissenting opinion | justice or justices who disagree with the majority opinion. |
| district courts | lowest level of federal courts, where federal cases being, and trails are held. |
| divided government | one party controls the executive, and the other party controls one or both of the houses of congress. |
| double jeopardy | being tried twice for the same offense. |
| dual federalism | federal and state governments each have defined responsibilities within their own sphere of influence; layer cake federalism. |
| due process clause | guarantee under the fifth and fourteenth amendments that all levels of government must operate within the law and provide fair procedures of law. |
| eighth amendment | ensures no excessive bails or fines, nor cruel and unusual punishment. |
| elastic clause | the necessary and proper clause, article 1, section 8, clause 18, that allows congress to pass laws to carry out its powers. |
| electoral college | representatives from each state who formally cast ballots for the president and vice president. |
| electorate | people qualified to vote. |
| elite theory | a small group of people, incentivized by wealth or political power, who rule in their self-interest. |
| eminent domain | allows the government to take property for public use but also requires the government to provide just compensation for that property. |
| engle v vitale 1962 | the supreme court ruled school-sanctioned prayer in public schools is unconstitutional. |
| entitlement program | payments are made to people meeting eligibility requirements, such as through social security. |
| entrance/exit polls | polls conducted as voters enter or leave selected polling places on election day. |
| enumerated (expressed) powers | powers given specifically to the national government; for congress those powers are listed in article 1, section 8, including coining money, taxing, and declaring war. |
| environmental impact statement | required studies and reports of likely environmental impacts, filed with the environmental protection agency prior to the beginning of a project. |
| equal protection clause | constitutional guarantee that everyone be treated equally. |
| equality of opportunity | all people should have the same opportunities to compete and achieve. |
| establishment clause | prohibits the establishment of a national religion. |
| ex post facto law | laws applied to acts committed before passage of the laws are unconstitutional. |
| exclusionary rule | rule that evidence acquired as a result of an illegal act by police cannot be against the person from whom it was seized. |
| executive agreement | agreement with another head of state not requiring approval from the senate. |
| executive orders | orders issued by the president that carry out the force of law. |
| executive privilege | the right of the president to withhold information from congress or refuse to testify; limited by the supreme court in U.S. v nixon. |
| extradition | states may return fugitives to a state from which they have fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the state’s governor. |
| federal budget | amount of money the federal government expects to receive and authorizes government to spend for a fiscal (12 month period) year. |
| federal election commission | created under the federal election campaign act of 1974 to administer and enforce campaign finance laws. |
| federal system | power is divided between the states and the federal government. |
| federalism | a division of governmental powers between the national government and the states. |
| federalist #10 | madison suggests that the union under the new constitution is a safeguard against factions, defined factions, and argued to either eliminate factions by removing their causes, or limit their impact by controlling their effects. |
| federalist #51 | madison argues that the government under the new constitution will not become too powerful because the separation of powers will keep each branch in check. |
| federalist #70 | hamilton argues the need for a strong executive leader. |
| federalist #78 | hamilton claims the judical branch is created to protect the constitution and maintain separation of powers and checks and balances; he proclaims that the branch is the weakest of the three; judges shall have life tenure; hints at judicial review power. |
| federalist papers | written by hamilton, jay, and madison to support ratification of the U.S. constitution. |
| federalists | supported a strong central government and expanded legislative powers. |
| fifteenth amendment | guarantees citizens’ right to vote regardless of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. |
| fifth amendment | addresses protections against self-incrimination, guarantees of due process, eminent domain, and grand jury indictment for capital crimes. |
| filibuster | a lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill; used only in senate. |
| first amendment | guarantees freedom of religion, speech , press, assembly, and petition. |
| fiscal federalism | national government’s use of fiscal policy to influence states through the granting or withholding of appropriations. |
| fiscal policy | the policies of taxation and spending that compromise the nation’s economic policy. |
| fiscal year | a 12 month period, october through september, for planning the federal budget. |
| floor leaders | direct party strategy and decisions in the house of representatives and senate. |
| fourteenth amendment | guarantees rights of citizenship, due process, and equal protection. |
| fourth amendment | protections from unlawful search and seizure. |
| franking privilege | privilege that allows members of congress to mail letters and other materials to constituents postage-free. |
| free enterprise | private businesses operate in competition and free of government control; capitalism. |
| free exercise clause | congress may not make laws restricting or prohibiting a person’s religious practices. |
| freedom of expression | freedom of speech or right to petition the government for redress as a first amendment right. |
| front-loading | choosing an early date to hold the primary election. |
| full faith and credit clause | states are required to recognize the laws and legal documents of other states. |
| gatekeepers | media executives, news editors, and prominent reporters who decide what news to present and how it will be presented. |
| general election | voters choose officeholders from among all the candidates nominated by political parties or running as independents. |
| gerrymandering | drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party of group over another. |
| get out the vote | a campaign near the end of an election to get voters out to the polls. |
| gideon v wainwright 1963 | court ruled that in state trials, those who cannot afford an attorney will have one provided by the state, overturning betts v brady. |
| government | the formal and informal institutions, people, and processes used to create and conduct public policy. |
| grand committee | a committee formed at the constitutional convention, composed of one member rom each state, who helped create the great compromise to settle the dispute between the large and small states over the representation in the house of congress. |
| grants-in-aid | programs, money, and resources provided by the federal government to state and local governments to be used for specific projects and programs. |
| grassroots | average voter at the local level. |
| great (connecticut) compromise | settle disputes between the states over the structure of the legislative branch. |
| gridlock | when opposing parties and interests block each other’s proposals, creating a political stalemate or inaction between the executive and legislative branches of government. |
| hatch act | prohibits government employees for engaging in political activities while on duty or running for office or seeking political funding while off duty; if in sensitive positions, they may not be involved with political activities on or off duty. |
| hold | informal practice by which a senator informs his or her floor leader that he or she does not wish a particular bill or other measure to reach the floor for consideration. |
| hyperpluralism | democracy seen as a system of many groups pulling government in many directions at the same time, causing gridlock and ineffectiveness. |
| ideology | a consistent set of beliefs by groups or individuals. |
| impeachment | bringing charges of wrongdoing against government officials by the house of representatives. |
| implied powers | not expressed but may be considered using the necessary and proper (elastic) clause. |
| impoundment | refusal of the president to spend money congress had appropriated. |
| incorporation | application of portions of the bill of rights to the states under the fourteenth amendment. |
| incorporation doctrine | the supreme court ruling that most guarantees in the bill of rights are applicable to the states through the fourteenth amendment. |
| incrementalism | small changes in policy over long periods of time; usually in reference to budget-making— that the best indicator of this year’s budget is last year’s budget plus a small increase. |
| incumbency effect | tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to advantages of currently holding that office. |
| incumbent | the person currently holding office. |
| individualism | individuals possess the freedom to make choices as they wish. |
| inherent powers | powers that exist for the national government because it is sovereign. |
| initiative | allows voters to petition to propose legislation and then submit it for a vote by qualified voters. |
| interest groups | a group of private citizens whose goal is to influence and share public policy. |
| interstate compacts | agreements between the states to work together on common issues. |
| iron triangle | alliances that develop between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees ot subcommittees. |
| issues network | individuals in washington— located within interest romps, congressional staff, think tanks, universities, and the media— who regularly discuss and advocate public policies. |
| joint committee | committee made up of members of both houses of congress. |
| judicial activism | holds that the court should play an active role in determining national policies. |
| judicial restraint | holds that the court should avoid taking the initiative on social and political questions, operating strictly with the limits of the constitution. |
| judicial review | authority given the courts to review constitutionality of acts by the executive, states, or the legislature; established in marbury v madison. |
| jurisdiction | the authority of the courts to hear and decide issues in certain cases. |
| legislative (congressional) caucus | an association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest. |
| legislative courts | courts created by congress for a specialized purpose with a narrow range of authority. |
| legislative veto | to reject the actions of the president or executive agency by a vote of one or both houses of congress without the consent of the president; ruled unconstitutional by the supreme court in immigration and naturalization service v chadha. |
| lemon test | standard set by the supreme court in lemon v kurtzman to measure the constitutionality of state laws regarding freedom of religion. |
| letter from a birmingham jail | response from dr martin luther king jr. to a newspaper letter criticizing civil rights demonstrations where he argues that he and his fellow demonstrators have a duty to fight for justice. |
| liberal | a person whose views favor more government involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, and increased government spending. |
| limited government | basic principle of u.s. government that each person has rights that government cannot take away. |
| line item veto | the president can reject a part of a bill while approving the rest; declared unconstitutional by the supreme court. |
| lobbying | attempting to influence policymakers through a variety of methods. |
| lobbyist | uses political persuasion to influence legislation and benefit his of her organization. |
| logrolling | the exchange of political favors for support of a bill. |
| loose constructionist | the belief that judges should have freedom in interpreting the constitution. |
| maintaining elections | traditional majority power maintains power based on voters’ party loyalty. |
| majority leader | the elected leader of the party with the most seats in the house of representatives or senate. |
| majority opinion | a statement that presents the views of the majority of supreme court justices regarding a case and the reasons for that decision. |
| majority-minority district | a district in which a racial minority group(s) compromise a majority of the district’s total population. |
| mandates | requirements imposed by the national government on state and local governments to comply with federal rules and regulations. |
| mandatory spending | required government spending by permanent laws. |
| marbury v madison 1830 | established the principle of judicial review. |
| mark-up | rewrite a bill into its final form after hearings have been held on it. |
| mass media | all forms of communication that reach a large portion of the population. |
| mcculloch v maryland 1819 | supreme court decision upholding the supremacy of the national government over the states. |
| mcdonald v chicago 2010 | the supreme court struck down a handgun ban at the state level, using judicial precedents under the fourteenth amendment’s due process clause, strengthening citizens’ rights to keep and bear arms for self-defense in your ow home. |
| media event | a speech of photo opportunity staged to give a politicians’s view on an issue. |
| merit system | a system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage. office of personnel management (opm) administrators civil service laws, rules, and regulations. |
| miranda v arizona | requires that anyone arrested for a crime be advised of the right to counsel and the right to remain silent. |
| mid-term elections | congressional elections that take place in years when no presidential election is occurring. |
| moderate | person whose views are between conservatives and liberal and may include some of both ideologies. |
| monetary policy | economic policy in which the money supply is controlled through the federal reserve. |
| motor voter law | allows citizens to register to vote at welfare and motor vehicle offices. |
| national chairperson | appointed by a committee as head of the party. |
| national debt | amount of money owed by the government. |
| natural rights | basic rights that are guaranteed to all person; basic rights that a government cannot deny. |
| necessary and proper clause | gives congress the powers to pass all laws necessary to carry out their constitutional duties, found in article 1, section 8, clause 18; also called the elastic clause. |
| new deal coalition | alliance of southern conservatives, religious, and ethnic minorities who supported the democratic party for 40 years. |
| new jersey plan | proposal for a single-chamber congress in which each state had one vote; favored by the smaller states who preferred equal representation among the states. |
| new york times co v united states 1971 | the supreme court reaffirmed its position of prior restraint, refusing to stop the publication of the pentagon papers, and strengthening freedom of the press, even in times of national security. |
| nineteenth amendment | establishes women’s right to vote. |
| ninth amendment | unenumerated rights of the people. |
| north american free trade agreement (nafta) | created to allow the free movement of goods between canada, mexico, and the united states by lessening and eliminating tariffs. |
| off-year election | an election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; mid-term election. |
| open primary | voters may choose the candidates of either party, whether they belong to the party or not. |
| opinion leaders | those individuals held in great respect because of their position, expertise, or personality, who may informally and unintentionally influence others. |
| opinion poll | an assessment of public opinion by the questioning of a representative sample of the population. |
| original jurisdiction | court hears and decides a case for the first time. |
| oversight | congress monitors policies of the executive branch. |
| pardon | a convicted person is exempt from the penalties of a crime. |
| participatory democratic theory | government depends upon the consent of the governed; often referred to as traditional democratic government because it emphasizes citizen participation. |
| party in government | all of the appointed and elected officials at the national, state, and local levels who represent the party as members; office holders. |
| party in organization | all of the people at the various levels of the party organization who work to maintain the strength of the party between elections, help raise money, and organize the conventions and party functions. |
| party in the electorate | all of the people who associate themselves with one of the political parties. |
| party-line voting | voting for candidates based upon the party to which they belong, usually voting a straight ticket. |
| plessy v ferguson | the supreme court case that upheld separate-but-equal segregation in 1896. |
| pluralist theory | interest groups compete in the political arena with each promoting its own policy preferences though organized efforts. |
| pocket veto | the president lets ta bill die by neither signing nor vetoing it at the end of a legislative session. |
| policy adoption | the approval of a policy by legislation. |
| policy evaluation | determines if a policy is achieving its goals. |
| policy formulation | the crafting of a policy to resolve public problems. |
| policy implementation | carrying out a policy through government agencies and courts. |
| political action committee (pac) | extension of an interest group that contributes money to political campaigns. |
| political agenda | issues that merit action, as determined by the public or those in power. |
| 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. |
| political efficiacy | belief that a person can influence politics and public policy making. |
| political ideology | a consistent set of beliefs about politics and public policy that sets the framework for evaluating government and public policy. |
| 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. |
| political polarization | increasing ideological differences between the parties which creates a distance where members of political parties vote along party lines and become less likely to cross party lines to vote with the other party, leading to gridlock. |
| political socialization | complex process by which people get their sense of political identity, beliefs, and values. |
| politico | members of congress vote based on party loyalty. |
| popular sovereignty | basic principles of u.s. government which holds that the people are the source of all governmental powers. |
| pork barrel legislation | legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a member’s chance of reelection. |
| precedents | standards or guides based on prior decisions that serve as a rule for settling similar disputes. |
| president pro tempore | serves as president of the senate in the absences of the vice president; chosen by the majority party. |
| presidential preference primaries | voters select delegates to the presidential nominating convention. |
| primary election | nominating election held to choose party candidates who will run in the general election. |
| prior restraint | censorship of information before it is published or broadcasted. |
| privileges and immunities clause | states are prohibited from unreasonably discriminating against residents of other states. |
| procedural due process | method of government action, or how the law is carried out according to established rules and procedures. |
| prospective voting | voting based on how the voter believes the candidate will perform in office. |
| public opinion | a collection of shared attitudes of citizens about government, politics, and the making of public policy. |
| public policy | the exercise of government power in doing those things necessary to maintain legitimate authority and control over society. |
| pure speech | verbal communication of ideas and opinions. |
| radical | ideological view that favors rapid fundamental change in the existing social, economic, or political order. |
| ratification | method of enacting a constitution or amendment into law. |
| rational-choice voting | voting based on what voters perceive to be in their own best interest. |
| reactionary | ideological view that favors a return to a previous state of affairs. |
| realigning elections | when a minority party wins by building a new coalition of voters that continues over successive elections. |
| realignment | a shift of voting patterns to form new coalitions of party support. |
| reapportionment | redistribution of the congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution. |
| recall | special election initiated by petition to allow citizens to remove an official from office before his or her term expires. |
| referendum | procedure whereby the state submits legislation to its voters for approval, allowing citizens to vote directly on issues. |
| representative democracy | citizens choose officials (representatives) who make decisions about public policy. |
| republicanism | a system in which the people give authority to government and exercise their power by delegating it to representatives chosen by them through the election process. |
| reserved powers | powers belonging specifically to the states and the people because they were not delegated to the national government nor denied to the states. |
| retrospective voting | voting based on past performance of the candidate. |
| revenue sharing | giving money back to state and local governments with no strings attached. |
| rider | an addition or amendment added to a bill that often has no relation the the bill but that may not pass on its own merits. |
| roe v wade 1973 | supreme court decision that reaffirmed the recognition of a constitutional right of privacy for a woman to determine whether to terminate a pregnancy, while recognizing that the state may have a compelling interest in maternal life and health. |
| rule of four | requirement that a case can only be heard by the supreme court if four justices vote to hear the case. |
| rule of law | all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced. |
| rules committee | determines the rules of debate for bills in the house of representatives. |
| runoff primary | when no candidate receives a majority of votes, an election held between the two candidates who received the most votes in the primary. |
| sampling errors | percentage of possible errors in the polling process. |
| sampling | using a representative cross-section of the general population chosen at random in the polling process. |
| schenck v united states 1919 | supreme court decision that speech was not protected during wartime because it would relate a clear and present danger, establishing a standard for measuring would and would not be protected. |
| second amendment | ensures the right to keep and bear arms. |
| select committee | committee selected for a specific purpose. |
| self-incrimination | accusing oneself or giving evidence that may prove oneself guilty. |
| senatorial courtesy | the practice of allowing senators form the president’s party who represent the state where a judicial district is located to approve or disapprove potential nominees for the lower federal courts. |
| seniority system | system in which the chairmanship of a committee is given to the member with the longest continuous service. |
| 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. |
| seventeenth amendment | established direct election of senators by popular vote. |
| seventh amendment | preserves the right to a jury trial in city cases. |
| shaw v reno 1993 | the supreme court ruled that legislative redistricting must be mindful of race and in compliance with the voting rights act of 1965 and its amendments. |
| shay’s rebellion | uprising led by daniel shay’s in an effort to prevent courts from foreclosing on the farms of those who could not pay taxes; caused many to criticize the articles of confederation and admit the weak central government was not working. |
| signing statements | written comments issued by a president at the time legislation is signed, making comments about the bill signed or indicating the president’s attitude towards the bill and how they intent to ignore or to implement it. |
| single-member districts | only one representative is chosen from each district. |
| sixth amendment | guarantees rights to a speedy, public trail and an impartial jury; to confront witnesses; and to have an attorney. |
| social contract | a voluntary agreement between the government and the governed. |
| social insurance programs | programs to help the elderly, ill, and unemployed if the claimant has paid into them. |
| social welfare program | government program to enhance quality of life. |
| soft money | cash contributed to a political party or political action committee with no limits attached to the amount that can be received; citizens united v federal escalation commission held that it is a form of free speech protected by the first amendment. |
| soft money | money distributed from a national poltical party organization that was no regulated by law; restricted by the bipartisan campaign finance reform act of 2002. |
| soundbite | a brief statement on tv or radio. |
| speaker of the house | leading officer in the house of representatives, chosen by the majority party. |
| speech plus | verbal and symbolic speech used together. |
| split-ticket voting | voting for candidates from more than one party in the same election. |
| standing committee | permanent committee. |
| stare decisis | doctrine or policy of following rules or principles laid down in previous judicial decisions (precedents). |
| straight-ticket voting | voting for candidates all of the same party. |
| straw poll | early form of polling that skis the same question of a large number of people. |
| strict constructionist | the view that justices should base decisions on a narrow interpretation of the constitution. |
| substantive due process | the police’s of government or the subject matter of the laws determine what the law is about and whether the law is fair or if it violates constitutional protections. |
| suffrage | the right to vote. |
| super tuesday | day when most southern states hold presidential primaries. |
| superdelegates | party officials in the democratic party who attend the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses. |
| supremacy clause | national law supersedes all other laws passed by states; found in article VI of the constitution. |
| supreme court | the highest court in the federal government; final interpreter of the.s. constitution. |
| symbolic speech | using actions and symbols rather than words to convey an idea. |
| tenth amendment | reserves powers of the sates and the people. |
| third amendment | sets conditions for quartering of troops in private homes. |
| thirteenth amendment | abolishes slavery. |
| 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. |
| time, place, and manner restrictions | limits that the government can impose on the occasion, location, and type of individual expression in some circumstances. |
| tinker v des moines independent community school district 1969 | supreme court ruled that wearing black armbands in protest of the vietnam war was symbolic speech, protected by the first amendment. |
| tittle IX of the education amendments act of 1972 | federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity that is federally funded. |
| tracking polls | continuous surveys that enable a campaign or news organization to chart a candidate’s daily rise or fall in support. |
| traditional democratic theory | government depends open the contest of the governed. |
| trial balloon | tests the public reaction to policy or appointments by releasing information to the media and gauging public reaction. |
| trustee | after listening to constituents, elected representatives vote based on their own opinions. |
| twelfth amendment | provides for election of president and vice president by separate ballot in electoral college. |
| twentieth amendment | sets terms and sessions of executive and legislative branches; lame duck. |
| twenty-fifth amendment | addresses presidential succession, disability, and vice-presidential vacancies. |
| twenty-fourth amendment | abolishes poll taxes as a requirement for voting. |
| twenty-second amendment | placed limits of two terms for presidential terms of office. |
| twenty-sixth amendment | lowered the voting age in federal elections to 18. |
| twenty-third amendment | allows for voting rights in district of columbia in presidential elections. |
| two-party system | several political parties exist, but only two major political parties compete for power and dominate elections. |
| unfounded mandates | requires states to enforce legislation without the funding necessary. |
| united states v lopez | supreme court found that the 1990 gun free school zones act did violate the constitution, claims congress was overreaching its powers granted under the commerce clause. |
| veto | the constitutional powers of the president to send a bill back to congress with reasons for rejection; a two-thirds vote in each house of congress si needed to override it. |
| virginia plan | madison’s plan for a bicameral legislature, with the executive and judiciary chosen by the legislature. |
| voting rights act of 1965 | allowed federal registrars to register voters and outlawed literacy tests and other discriminatory tests. |
| war powers act | limits the ability of the president to commit troops to combat. |
| war powers act | passed by congress in 1973 in reaction to american fighting in southeast asia; requires presidents to consult with congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless congress declares war/extensions. |
| 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 president nixon. |
| white house office | personal and political staff members who help with the day-to-day management of the executive branch; includes the chief of staff, counsel to the president, and press secretary. |
| wisconsin v yoder 1972 | the supreme court ruled that wisconsin could not require amish parents to send their children to public school beyond the eighth grade because it would violate long-held religious beliefs. |
| writ of certiorari | order by the court directing a lower court to en dump the records of a case for review. |
| writ of habeas corpus | requires a judge to evaluate whether there is sufficient cause to keep a person in jail. |
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