Ap Government Vocab Ch. 15-16

Front 1

A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials.

Back 1

bureaucracy

Front 2

Washington pays state and local governments and private groups to administer federal programs.

Back 2

government by proxy

Front 3

An economic theory that government should not regulate or interfere with commerce.

Back 3

laissez-faire

Front 4

The extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by laws.

Back 4

discretionary authority

Front 5

The government offices to which people are appointed on the basis of merit, as ascertained by a written exam or by applying certain selection criteria.

Back 5

competitive service

Front 6

A job that is filled by a person whom an agency has already identified.

Back 6

name-request job

Front 7

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.

Back 7

iron triangle

Front 8

A network of people in Washington, D.C.-based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies.

Back 8

issue network

Front 9

Legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency.

Back 9

authorization legislation

Front 10

A legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency.

Back 10

appropriation

Front 11

Funds for government programs that are collected and spent outside the regular government budget.

Back 11

trust funds

Front 12

The ability of a congressional committee to review and approve certain agency decisions in advance and without passing a law.

Back 12

committee clearance

Front 13

The authority of Congress to block presidential action after it has taken place.

Back 13

legislative veto

Front 14

Complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done.

Back 14

red tape

Front 15

The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Back 15

judicial review

Front 16

The view that judges should decide cases strictly on the basis of the language of the laws and the Constitution

Back 16

judicial restraint approach

Front 17

The view that judges should discern the general principles underlying laws or the Constitution and apply them to modern circumstances

Back 17

activist approach

Front 18

A federal court authorized by Article II of the Constitution that keeps judges in office during good behavior and prevents their salaries from being reduced.

Back 18

constitutional court

Front 19

The lowest federal courts; federal trials can only be held here

Back 19

district courts

Front 20

Federal courts that hear appeals from district courts; no trials.

Back 20

courts of appeals

Front 21

Courts created by Congress from specialized purposes whose judges do not enjoy the protections of Article III.

Back 21

legislative courts

Front 22

A examination of the political ideology of a nominated judge.

Back 22

litmus test

Front 23

Cases concerning the Constitution, federal laws, or treaties

Back 23

federal-question cases

Front 24

Cases involving citizens of different states who can bring suit in federal courts.

Back 24

diversity cases

Front 25

An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send a case up for review.

Back 25

writ of certiorari

Front 26

A method whereby a poor person can have his or her case heard in federal court without charge.

Back 26

in forma pauperis

Front 27

A rule that allows a plaintiff to recover costs from the defendant if the plaintiff wins.

Back 27

fee shifting

Front 28

The party that initiates a lawsuit.

Back 28

plaintiff

Front 29

A legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit.

Back 29

standing

Front 30

The rule that a citizen cannot sue the government without the government's consent.

Back 30

sovereign immunity

Front 31

A case brought by someone to help him or her and all others who are similarly situated

Back 31

class-action suit

Front 32

A written statement by an attorney that summarizes a case and the laws and rulings that support it.

Back 32

brief

Front 33

A brief submitted by a "friend of the court"

Back 33

amicus curiae

Front 34

A brief, unsigned court opinion

Back 34

per curiam opinion

Front 35

A signed opinion of a majority of the Supreme Court.

Back 35

opinion of the court

Front 36

A signed opinion in which one or more members agree with the majority view but for different reasons.

Back 36

concurring opinion

Front 37

A signed opinion in which one or more justices disagree with the majority view.

Back 37

dissenting opinion

Front 38

"Let the decision stand," or allowing prior rulings to control the current case.

Back 38

stare decisis

Front 39

An issue the Supreme Court will allow the executive and legislative branches decide.

Back 39

political question

Front 40

A judicial order enforcing a right or redressing a wrong.

Back 40

remedy