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159 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
1980 Election
1992 Election
1994 Election
1996 Election
2000 Election
2002 Election
2004 Election
2006 Election
2008 Election
14th amendment
The amendment to the US Constitution which specifies who are legal citizens of the United States and their protections under the law.
16th amendment
allows the Congress to levy an income tax without apportioning it among the states or basing it on Census results
17th amendment
"transfers Senator selection from each state's legislature to popular election by the people of each state. It also provides a contingency provision enabling a state's governor
22th amendment
sets a term limit for the President of the United States
25th amendment
deals with succession to the Presidency
26th amendment
standardized the voting age to 18
“Imperial Presidency”
term used to describe a president as an “emperor” who acts without consulting Congress or acts in the secrecy to evade or deceive Congress
“Solid South”
Region controlled by the US Democratic Party from 1877 to 1964. Includes at least all the 11 former Confederate States.
Amendment X
Restates the Constitution's principle of federalism by providing that powers not granted to the national government nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people.
American with Disabilities Act
"A federal law designed to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities by mandating equal access to jobs
Amnesty
pardon: a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense
Amicus Curiae Brief
a brief presented by someone interested in influencing the outcome of a lawsuit but who is not a party to it
Appellate Courts
An appellate court is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal
At large election
All voters in a political jurisdiction may vote for candidates for all offices
Bill of attainder
A legislative determination imposing punishment without trial; prohibited under the United States Constitution
Blanket primary
A primary in which all the names of the candidates for all parties are on one ballot
Block grants
"Formula funds that are not allocated to a specific category and are more flexibly distributed. The grant seeker applies directly to a state for these funds
Brady Bill
This law requires a 7 day waiting period before buying a handgun
Brown v. Board of Education
the Supreme Court decision in 1954 that declared segregation of public schools unconstitutional
Budget and Impoundment control Act
Federal law that governs the role of the Congress in the United States budget process.
Categorical grants
"Issued by the United States Congress
Caucus
meet to select a candidate or promote a policy
Christmas Tree Bill
"In the United States Congress
Civil Rights Act of 1964
"The nation's first comprehensive law making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of race
Clean Air Act
a piece of United States environmental policy relating to the reduction of smog and air pollution
Clinton Coalition
President Bill Clinton's political base
Closed primary
a primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote
Closed rule
Permits general debate for a specified period of time but generally permits no amendments.
Cloture motion
"also called closure and sometimes a guillotine
Coattail effect
 the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election
Conference committee
A committee of members of the House and Senate to confer on differences in measures which have passed both houses.
Congressional Budget Office
Provides information and analysis on economic trends and budget requirements.
Contract with America
a document released by the United States Republican Party during the 1994 Congressional election campaign
Critical election
are terms from political science and political history describing a dramatic change in the political system
De facto segregation
segregation (especially in schools) that happens in fact although not required by law
De jure segregation
segregation that is imposed by law 
Open seat election
Dealignment
a process whereby voters are moved toward nonpartisanship thus weakening the structure of political parties 
Debt
the state of owing something (especially money)
Deficit
"Déficit is a Mexican feature film
Delegated
delegate - a person appointed or elected to represent others
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis
Discharge petition
Starts a process in the House of Representatives to force a bill out of committee.
Discretionary spending
The budget authority that is provided and controlled by appropriation acts and the outlays that result from that budget authority
District Courts
the general trial courts of the United States federal court system
Division of powers
"The division of Federal
Earmarks
A congressional provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees.
Elites/activists Endorsements
"sanction: formal and explicit approval; ""a Democrat usually gets the union's endorsement"""
Entitlements
"a guarantee of access to benefits because of rights
Environmental Protection Agency
an independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment
Ethic in Government Act of 1978
Sets financial disclosure requirements for public officials and restrictions on former government employees' lobbying activities.
Ex post facto
"affecting things past; ""retroactive tax increase""; ""an ex-post-facto law"""
Exclusionary Rule
a rule that provides that otherwise admissible evidence cannot be used in a criminal trial if it was the result of illegal police conduct 
Executive agreements
An agreement made between the executive branch of the US government and a foreign government without ratification by the congress
Executive orders
"a directive issued by the President
Factions
"A political faction is a grouping of individuals
Federal Communication Commission
"An independent agency of the United States government
Federal Reserve System
"The central bank of the United States. The Fed
Federalism
the idea of a federal organization of more or less self-governing units 
Filibuster
A form of obstruction in a legislature or other decision-making body. An attempt is made to extend indefinitely a debate upon a proposal in order to delay the progress or completely prevent a vote on the proposal taking place
Fiscal policy
a government policy for dealing with the budget
Fiscal year
"For the federal government
Formal Franking
Informal Franking
Gender gap
the difference that exists between males and females in access to some social good or benefit based solely on their difference in gender
Great Society
a set of domestic programs proposed or enacted in the United States on the initiative of President Lyndon B. Johnson
Gov. Cabinet Ethics Act 1978
An Extension of the Ethics in Government Act that extended it to include members of the cabinet
Hard money
a specific type of asset-based loan financing through which a borrower receives funds secured by the value of a parcel of real estate
House Ways and Means Committee
the chief tax-writing committee of the United States House of Representatives
Implied powers
powers that the national government does not have specifically listed in the Constitution but which can be reasonably deduced from the expressed or delegated powers
Impoundment
an act that occurs when the President refuses to spend money appropriated by Congress
Incrementalism
"Any method of achieving a goal by means of a series of gradual increments
Incumbency
"Is the leader of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections
Independent regulatory Commissions
"Agencies that were established to be outside the power of both the president and the Congress in their operations. Such agencies have authority that is partly legislative and partly judicial. The first independent regulatory commission
Interest groups
"organization of people who share political
Intergovernmental lobby
"Local and State governments and agencies of local and state governments lobby the federal government in Washington
Issue ads
an ad not supporting or attacking any specific candidate
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)
Judicial restraint
a theory of judicial interpretation that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power
Judicial review
the power of the Supreme Court to review acts of the President and Congress and determine if those acts are constitutional
Line item veto
A provision to allow the President to reject particular portions of the budget rather than simply accept or reject the entire budget
Logrolling
act of exchanging favors for mutual gain; especially trading of influence or votes among legislators to gain passage of certain projects
Majoritarian politics
Mandates
the authority granted by an electorate to act as its representative
Mandatory spending
Spending authorized by permanent law rather than annual appropriations. An example is Social Security
Marbury v. Madison
Supreme Court case decided in 1803 that established the concept of judicial review -- the power of the Supreme Court to review acts of the president and Congress and determine if they are constitutional
Markup (bills)
"refers to the process by which a U.S. Congressional committee or state legislative session debates
Marxist theory
"Posited that communism would be the final stage in human society
McCain-Feingold Act
"Is United States federal law that amended the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971
McCulloch v. Maryland
Supreme Court case decided in 1819 that established the concept of implied powers for the national government
Medicaid
health care for the needy; a federally and state-funded program
Medicare
health care for the aged; a federally administered system of health insurance available to persons aged 65 and over
Minor party/3rd. Parties
A political party whose electoral strength is so weak that it has little chance of gaining control of a government.
Miranda v. Arizona
"A landmark 5-4 decision of the United States Supreme Court. The Court held that statements made in response to interrogation by a defendant in police custody will be admissible at trial only if the prosecution can show that the defendant was informed of the right to consult with an attorney and of the right against self-incrimination prior to questioning by police
Monetary policy
Management of the money supply and interest rates to influence economic activity
Motor Voter Act
 required state governments to allow for registration when a qualifying voter applied for or renewed their drivers license or applied for social services
National Security Council
a committee in the executive branch of government that advises the president on foreign and military and national security; supervises the Central Intelligence Agency
Necessary and proper clause
"establishes the ""implied powers
New Deal Coalition
the alignment of interest groups and voting blocs that supported the New Deal
New Federalism
"a plan
Office of Management and Budget
the executive agency that advises the President on the federal budget
Open primary
a primary in which any registered voter can vote (but must vote for candidates of only one party) 
Open rule
Permits general debate for a specified period of time and allows any member to offer an amendment that complies with the standing rules of the House
Oversight
function of Congress in which it tries to insure that federal agencies do not waste resources 
Party vote
is a vote in which every member of a political party votes the same way
Patronage
granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support
Plea bargaining
The process of negotiating a verdict and sentence without a complete trial
Plessy v. Ferguson
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the doctrine of “separate but equal” public accommodations for blacks and whites. The law would stand until 1954
Plurality
(in an election with more than 2 options) the number of votes for the candidate or party receiving the greatest number (but less than half of the votes)
Pocket veto
"veto of a bill that occurs when the President does not sign or veto a bill passed by both houses of Congress and if
Political Action Committees
groups formed to disburse political campaign funds to candidates for office
Pork barrel
It comes from the plantation practice of distributing rations of salt pork … Just Kidding. a derogatory term referring to appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district
President pro tempore
title of the assistant presiding officer of the Senate who is chosen by the Senate
Primary
election in which political parties choose their nominees or candidates for office
Prior restraint
a legal term referring to a government's actions that prevent communications from reaching the public
Prospective election
Reagan Democrats
"used to denote traditionally Democratic voters
Realignment
"the coming to power of a new coalition
Rehnquist court
"Considered a conservative
Reserved powers
powers that are denied the national government and reserved to the states
Retrospective election
Revenue sharing
distribution of part of the federal tax income to states and municipalities 
Riders
a clause that is appended to a legislative bill
Republican National Committee (RNC) 
provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States
Roe v. Wade
" The Court held that a mother may abort her pregnancy for any reason
Rule of Four
Practice that permits four of the nine justices to grant a writ of certiorari. This is done specifically to prevent a majority of the court from controlling all the cases it agrees to hear
Rules Committee
are chaired by the chambers’ presiding officers and determine which bills will be brought before each chamber for a vote
Rustbelt
urban areas in New England and Midwest characterized by concentrations of declining industries (steel or textiles)
Securities and Exchange Commission
an independent federal agency that oversees the exchange of securities to protect investors
Select committee
One of the types of committees used by Congress. Select committees are usually temporary committees established by one of the houses of Congress to investigate or study a problem (see special committee)
Selective Incorporation
legal doctrine by which portions of the Bill of Rights are applied to the states through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
Senate Judiciary Committee
charged with conducting hearings prior to the Senate votes on whether to confirm or not confirm prospective federal judges (including Supreme Court justices) nominated by the president
Senate Majority Leader
"first-ranking party position
Separation of powers
the system established in the Constitution to give each branch a different responsibility for law in the United States and thus keep any one branch from becoming too powerful
Shays’ Rebellion
"An armed uprising in Central and Western Massachusetts
Single member district
political district in which only the residents of the district can vote for their representative
Soft money
Political contributions made in such a way as to avoid the United States regulations for federal election campaigns
Solicitor General
A law officer appointed to assist an attorney general
Split ticket voting
Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the same election
Standing committee
One of the permanent committees used by each house of Congress
Stare decisis
The principle of following judicial precedent
Straight ticket voting
When a voter in an election casts a ballot that includes only candidates of the same party.
Sunbelt
states in the south and southwest that have a warm climate and tend to be politically conservative
Super delegates
"Delegates not selected based on the party primaries and caucuses. Instead
Super majority
"any qualified majority
Symbolic speech
action that is meant to convey a message
Voting Rights Act of 1965
outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the United States
War Powers Resolution (Act)
Congress joint resolution providing that the President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or if the United States is already under attack or serious threat.
Warren Court
"Marking some of the most dramatic changes in judicial power and philosophy in the history of the American judiciary
Winner takes all
Where the winner of the primary or electoral college vote takes all of the state's convention or electoral college delegates