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100 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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project grants
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Congress appropriated funds of a certain sum, allocated to gov units based on applications
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Prospective Judgment
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A voter's evaluation of a candidate based on what he or she pledges to do about an issue if elected
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Prospective voting
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Voting for a candidate because one favors his or her ideas for addressing issues after the election. (Ch. Prospective means "forward-looking.") See also Retrospective voting (Ch. 8)
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Public bill
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A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern. A bill involving defense expenditures is a public bill; a bill pertaining to an individual's becoming a naturalized citizen is not. See also Private bill (Ch. 11)
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Public policy
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The final action(s) taken by government in promotional, regulatory, or distributive form.
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Public-interest lobby
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A political organization the stated goals of which will principally benefit nonmembers. (Ch. 9)
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purpose of federal grants
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supply state and local govs with revenue, to establish minimum national standards for things such as highways and clean air, to equalize resources among the states by taking money from people with high incomes through federal taxes and spending it through grants in states where the poor live, to attack national problems yet minimize the growth of federal agencies
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Purposive incentive
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The benefit that comes from serving a cause or principle from which one does not personally benefit. (Ch. 9)
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Push Polls
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"Polls" taken for the purpose of providing information on an opponent that would lead respondents to vote against that candidate
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Pyramid structure
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A method of organizing a president's staff in which most presidential assistants report through a hierarchy to the president's chief of staff. (Ch. 12)
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Quasi-judicial
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A characteristic of independent regulatory agencies that gives them judicial power to interpret regulations they create.
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Quasi-legislative
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A characteristic of independent regulatory agencies that gives them legislative powers to issue regulations.
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quid pro quo
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something given with the expectation of receiving something in return
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quorum
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(KWAWR-uhm) The minimum number of members of a committee or legislative body who must be present before business can officially or legally be conducted. In the United States Congress, for example, either house must have a majority (218 in the House of Representatives, 51 in the Senate) to have a quorum.
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Quorum call
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A calling of the roll in either house of Congress to see whether the number of representatives in attendance meets the minimum number required to conduct official business. (Ch. 11)
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race
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a grouping of human beings with distinctive characteristics determined by genetic inheritance
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racism
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The belief that some races are inherently superior (physically, intellectually, or culturally) to others and therefore have a right to dominate them. In the United States, racism, particularly by whites against blacks, has created profound racial tension and conflict in virtually all aspects of American society. Until the breakthroughs achieved by the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, white domination over blacks was institutionalized and supported in all branches and levels of government, by denying blacks their civil rights and opportunities to participate in political, economic, and social communities.
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Raiding
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An organized attempt by voters of one party to influence the primary results of the other party
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Railway Labor Act?
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It governs labor relations in the railway and airline industries in the United States. The Act, passed in 1926 and amended in 1936 to apply to the airline industry, seeks to substitute bargaining, arbitration and mediation for strikes as a means of resolving labor disputes.
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rally point
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a rise in public approval of the president that follows a crisis as Americans "rally round the flag" and the chief executive
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Random Sampling
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A method of poll selection that gives each person in a group the same chance of being selected
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Ratings
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An assessment of a representative's voting record on issues important to an interest group. Such ratings are designed to generate public support for or opposition to a legislator. (Ch. 9)
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Reagan Democrats
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Traditional Democratic middle-class voters turning to Ronald Reagan during the 1980s.
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Reaganomics
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The federal economic policies of the Reagan administration, elected in 1981. These policies combined a monetarist fiscal policy, supply-side tax cuts, and domestic budget cutting. Their goal was to reduce the size of the federal government and stimulate economic growth. See also Supply-side theory; Monetarism (Ch. 16)
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realigning election
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an election during period of expanded suffrage and change in the economy and society that proves to be a turning point, redefining the agenda of politics and the alignment of voters within parties
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realignment
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occurs when a party undergoes a major shift in its electoral base and political agenda, the groups of people composing the party coalition may split up, resulting in a vastly different party. Realignments are rare and tend to be signaled by a critical election, last one occurred during the New Deal between the working-class and ethnic groups under the Democratic party
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Reapportionment
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The process in which a state legislature redraws congressional districts based on population increases or decreases.
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Reapportionment Act of 1929
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Act that provides for a permanent size of the House and for the number of seats, based on the census, each state should have.
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Recess appointment
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A presidential appointment made when the Congress is not in session that usually lacks enough votes in the Senate for confirmation. The position must be confirmed by the Senate by the end of the next session of Congress, or the position becomes vacant.
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Red tape
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Complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done. (Ch. 13)
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Reform party
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a minor party founded by Ross Perot in 1995; focuses on national gov reform, fiscal responsibility, and political accountability; recently struggled with internal strife and criticism that i lacks an identity
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Regional Primary
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A proposed system in which the country would be divided into five or six geographic areas and all states in each region would hold their presidential primary on the same day
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Registered voters
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People who are registered to vote. While almost all adult American citizens are theoretically eligible to vote, only those who have completed a registration form by the required date may do so. (Ch. 6)
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regulations
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Rules that govern the operation of a particular government program that have the force of law
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regulatory agency
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executive agency responsible for enforcing laws pertaining to a certain industry, the agency writes guidelines for the industry, such as safety codes, and enforces them through methods such as inspection
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Regulatory policy
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Policy that results in government control over individuals and businesses. Examples of regulatory policy include protection of the environment and consumer protection.
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Rehnquist Court
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First nominated by Richard Nixon in 1971, William Rehnquist was confirmed as the 16th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court after Warren Burger retired in 1986. He was known as a conservative jurist and his stewardship over the court reflected a court of judicial restraint and conservative tendencies.
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reinforcing cleavages
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divisions within society that reinforce one another, making groups more homogeneous or similar
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Religious right
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An evangelical conglomeration of ultraconservative political activists, many of whom support the Republican Party.
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Religious tradition
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The moral teachings of religious institutions on religious, social, and economic issues. (Ch. 5)
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Remedy
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A judicial order preventing or redressing a wrong or enforcing a right. (Ch. 14)
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Renewable resources
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Those natural resources such as solar energy that can be used over again.
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representative democracy
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Form of government under which citizens vote for delegates who in turn represent citizens' interest within the government. The US is this.
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representatives
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Popularly elected officials who serve in state legislatures and in the House of Representatives in Congress. Representing the local districts from which they are elected, representatives support the interests of their constituents by proposing bills and programs. Elected for two-year terms, representatives in Congress must be sensitive to their constituents’ concerns in order to be reelected.
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Republic
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A form of democracy in which power is vested in representatives selected by means of popular competitive elections. See also Representative democracy (Ch. 2)
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Republican Party
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Political party that evolved from the Whig Party, coming to power after Lincoln's election. It is one of the two current major political parties.
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Reserved Power clause
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Found in the Tenth Amendment, it gives states powers not delegated to the national government.
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Restrictive rule
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An order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made into a bill on the legislative floor. See also Closed rule; Open rule (Ch. 11)
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Retrospective voting
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Voting for or against the candidate or party in office because one likes or dislikes how things have gone in the recent past. (Ch. Retrospective means "backward-looking.") See also Prospective voting (Ch. 8)
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Revenue sharing
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A law providing for the distribution of a fixed amount or share of federal tax revenues to the states for spending on almost any government purpose. Distribution was intended to send more money to poorer, heavily taxed states and less to richer, lightly taxed ones. The program was ended in 1986. (Ch. 3)
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Reverse discrimination
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Discrimination against whites or males, usually with regard to employment or education. Those who oppose affirmative action programs often claim reverse discrimination as a result of such programs. Alan Bakke is an example.
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revolving door
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employment cycle in which individuals who work for governmental agencies regulating interests eventually end up working for interest groups or businesses with the same policy concern
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Rider
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An amendment on a matter unrelated to a bill that is added to the bill so that it will "ride" to passage through the Congress. When a bill has lots of riders, it is called a Christmas tree bill. (Ch. 11)
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Right to Privacy
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the right to be let alone; a judicially created doctrine encompassing an individual's decision to use birth control or secure an abortion
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Right-of-reply rule
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A rule of the Federal Communications Commission that if a person is attacked on a broadcast (Ch. other than in a regular news program), that person has the right to reply over that same station. (Ch. 10)
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right-wing
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A descriptive term for an individual or a political faction that advocates very conservative policies. Right-wing groups generally support free enterprise. In the United States, the right wing generally argues for a strong national defense program and opposes federal involvement in promoting social welfare. (Compare left-wing.) Although both major political parties in the United States have right-wing factions, right-wing policies are usually associated with the Republican party.
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Robert's Rules of Order
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A handbook for running meetings effectively and efficiently, based on the procedures used in the British parliament. The principles included in the handbook are applicable to any decision-making organization, from Congress to community club committees. The handbook sets the guidelines for such issues as leading debates; recognizing speakers; defining the role of the chair and other officers; proposing, seconding, and voting on motions; and writing and amending constitutions and bylaws.
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Roll-call vote
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A congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering "yea" or "nay" to their names. When roll calls were handled orally, it was a time-consuming process in the House. Since 1973 an electronic voting system permits each House member to record his or her vote and learn the total automatically. See also Voice vote; Division vote; Teller vote (Ch. 11)
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Routine stories
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Media reports about public events that are regularly covered by reporters and that involve simple, easily described acts or statements. For example, the president takes a trip or Congress passes a bill. (Ch. 10)
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rugged individualism
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The belief that all individuals, or nearly all individuals, can succeed on their own and that government help for people should be minimal. The phrase is often associated with policies of the Republican party and was widely used by the Republican president Herbert Hoover. The phrase was later used in scorn by the Democratic presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman to refer to the disasters of Hoover’s administration, during which the stock market Crash of 1929 occurred and the Great Depression began.
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Rule of Four
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At least 4 justices of the Supreme Court must vote to consider a case before it can be heard
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Rules committee
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One of the most important committees of the House of Representatives; its function is to create specific rules for every bill to be debated by the full House.
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runoff primary
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election held between top two vote-getters in a primary election, when neither received a legally required minimum percentage of the vote, many states require a runoff when no candidate receives at least 40 percent of the primary vote for his or her party
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Safe districts
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Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55 percent or more. (Ch. 11)
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Safe seat
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An elected official who, as an incumbent, has an easy reelection as a result of his incumbency or the political makeup of the district.
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Safety net
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A minimum government guarantee that ensures that individuals living in poverty will receive support in the form of social welfare program.
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saving amendment
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Amendment to a bill proposed in hopes of softening opposition by weakening objectionable elements of the bill.
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search warrant
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Document issued by the courts to allow the police to search private property. TO obatain this, the police must go before a judge and explain (1) where the want to search, and (2) what they are looking for. This also limits where the police may search and what they may take as evidence (Fourth Amendment).
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SEC
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The SEC was created by section 4 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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Second Bill of Rights
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Franklin D Roosevelt's State of the Union Address in 1944: 1 the right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries, shops, farms, or mines of the nation; the right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation; the right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return that would give him and his family a decent living; the right of every business man, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad; the right of every family to a decent home; the right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health; the right to adequate protection form the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment; the right to a good edu
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Second Treatise of Civil Government
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Written by John Locke, it contains the blueprint principles found in the Declaration of Independence.
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Second-order devolution
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The flow of power and responsibility from states to local governments. (Ch. 3)
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Secular Realignment
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The gradual rearrangement of party coalitions, based more on demographic shifts than on shocks to the political system
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segregation
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The policy and practice of imposing the separation of races. In the United States, the policy of segregation denied African-Americans their civil rights and provided inferior facilities and services for them, most noticeably in public schools (see Brown versus Board of Education), housing, and industry. (See integration, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and separate but equal.)
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Select committees
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Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose. See also Standing committees; Joint committees (Ch. 11)
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Selective attention
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Paying attention only to those parts of a newspaper or broadcast story with which one agrees. Studies suggest that this is how people view political ads on television. (Ch. 10)
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selective exposure
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the process by which individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases
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Selective Incorporation
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doctrine by which most - but not all - protections found in Bill of Rights are made applicable to states via 14th Amendment.
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selective perception
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the process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages
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Selective Service System
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The system used in the United States to draft young people into armed service. Though the United States at present has no draft, young men are required by law to register with the Selective Service when they reach the age of eighteen.
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self-incrimination
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Being forced or coerced to testify against oneself. Self-incrimination is prohibited by the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Under this principle, a person may choose (given certain restrictions) to “take the Fifth,†refusing to testify in court or before a legislative or executive committee. Prohibiting self-incrimination not only helps guarantee due process of law, but also maintains one of the basic principles of American law by putting the burden of proof on the prosecution. (See also Miranda decision.)
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senate
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Upper house of Congress, in which each state has two representatives. Has power to approve cabinet, ambassadors, and judges, and treaties.
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Senate confirmation
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The process outlined in Article Two of the Constitution, giving the Senate the authority to approve appointments made by the president.
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Senate, United States
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The upper house of the United States Congress. Two senators are elected from each state, regardless of state population, guaranteeing each state equal representation. Senators are elected for six-year terms. The Senate tends to respond more directly than the House of Representatives to issues of national, rather than local, concern, though both houses of Congress participate in all aspects of legislation and policymaking. The Senate has the exclusive right to try cases of impeachment, approve presidential appointments, confirm treaties, and elect a vice president if no candidate receives a majority from the Electoral College. The vice president serves as presiding officer of the Senate.
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Senatorial Courtesy
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A process by which presidents, when selecting district court judges, defer to the senators in whose state the vacancy occurs
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Senior Executive Service
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established by Congress in 1978 as a flexible, mobile corps of senior career exeuctives who work closely with presidential appointees to manage government
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Seniority
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A system guaranteeing that those who serve in office the longest get preferential treatment. In Congress, those representatives who serve the longest get seniority in their committee assignments.
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seniority rule
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a legislative practice that assigns the chair of a committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee
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Separate-but-equal doctrine
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The doctrine established in Plessy v. Ferguson (Ch. 1896), in which the Supreme Court ruled that a state could provide "separate but equal" facilities for African Americans. (Ch. 19)
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Separation of church and state
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Also known as the "establishment clause," it is part of the First Amendment to the Constitution prohibiting the federal government from creating a state-supported religion.
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Sequential referral
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A congressional process by which a Speaker may send a bill to a second committee after the first is finished acting, or may refer parts of a bill to separate committees. (Ch. 11)
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Sequester
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Automatic, across-the-board cuts in certain federal programs that are triggered by law when Congress and the president cannot agree on a spending plan. (Ch. 16)
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Service strategy
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A policy of providing poor people with education and job training to help lift them out of poverty. (Ch. 17)
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Shared powers
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Those powers that are concurrent, or overlapping, between the federal and state governments. Taxation is a shared power, for instance.
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Shays's Rebellion
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A rebellion in 1787 led by Daniel Shays and other ex-Revolutionary War soldiers and officers to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes. The revolt highlighted the weaknesses of the Confederation and bolstered support for a stronger national government. (Ch. 2)
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shield law
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Law guaranteeing news reporters the right to protect the anonymity of their sources. Many states have passed shield laws, but there is no federal shield law.
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Silent majority
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A phrase used to describe people, whatever their economic status, who uphold traditional values, especially against the counterculture of the 1960s. (Ch. 5)
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Simple resolution
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An expression of opinion either in the House of Representatives or the Senate to settle housekeeping or procedural matters in either body. Such expressions are not signed by the president and do not have the force of law. See also Concurrent resolution; Joint resolution (Ch. 11)
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Simpson-Marzzoli Act (1987)
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Act that resulted in more than 2 million illegal aliens who were living in this country since 1982 being allowed to apply for legal status.
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Sixteenth Amendment (1913)
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Authorized Congress to impose and collect federal income taxes.
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