Key Terms (1-88)

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Majority Rule

Back 1

Fundamental democratic principle that the majority's view be respected.

The Constitution is designed to limit majority rule.

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Checks and Balances

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System in which each branch can limit the power of the other two branches.

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Unitary System

Back 3

System of government in which all power is invested in a central government.

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Federalism

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A system of government in which power is divided by a written constitution between a central government and regional governments.

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Expressed Powers

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Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Also known as enumerated powers.

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Implied Powers

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Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution.

Derived from the elastic or necessary and proper clause.

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Reserved Powers

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Powers not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states.

Held by the states through the 10th Amendment.

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Cooperative Federalism

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Situations in which the national and state governments work together to complete projects.

Also known as fiscal federalism.

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Categorical Grant

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Funds provided for a specific and clearly defined purpose.

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Block Grant

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Funds granted to the states for a broadly defined purpose.

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Mandates

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Rules telling states what they must do to comply with federal guidelines.

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Devolution

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A movement to transfer the responsibilities of governing from the federal government to state and local governments.

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Political Culture

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A set of widely shared political beliefs and values.

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Political Socialization

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The process by which political values are formed and passed from one generation to the next.

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Political Opinion

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Attitudes about institutions, leaders, political issues, and events.

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Political Ideology

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A cohesive set of beliefs about politics, public policy, and the role of government.

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Political Efficacy

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The belief that one's political participation makes a difference.

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Split-Ticket Voting

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Voting for candidates of different parties for different offices in the same election.

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Political Party

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A group of citizens who organize to win elections, hold public offices, operate governments and determine public policy.

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Plurality Election

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The winning candidate is the person who receives more votes than anyone else, but less than half the total.

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Single-Member District

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An electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office.

Typically leads to legislatures dominated by two political parties.

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Party Era

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An historical period dominated by one political party.

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Critical Election

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An election when significant groups of voters change their traditional patterns of party loyalty.

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Party Realignment

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The majority party is displaced by the minority party, thus ushering in a new party era.

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Divided Government

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A government in which one party controls the presidency while another party controls Congress.

This pattern has dominated the U.S. since the 1970s.

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Interest Group

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An organization of people whose members share views on specific interests and attempt to influence public policy to their benefit.

Do not elect people to office.

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Political Action Committee (PAC)

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Formed by business, labor, or other interest groups to raise money and make contributions to the campaigns of political candidates whom they support.

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Free Riders

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People who benefit from an interest group without making any contributions.

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Power Elite theory

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The theory that a small number of very wealthy individuals, powerful corporate interest groups, and large financial institutions dominate key policy areas.

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Pluralist Theory

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The theory that many interest groups compete for power in a large number of policy areas.

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Hyperpluralist Theory

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The theory that government policy is weakened and often contradictory because there are so many competing interest groups.

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Mass Media

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Means of communication such as newspapers, radio, television, and the Internet that can reach large, widely dispersed audiences.

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Linkage Institutions

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Institutions that connect citizens to government.

Main examples: Mass media, interest groups, and political parties

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Horse-race Journalism

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The tendency of the media to cover campaigns by emphasizing how candidates stand in the polls instead of where they stand on the issues.

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Congressional Redistricting

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The reallocation of the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives.

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Gerrymandering

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The legislative process by which the majority party in each state legislature redraws congressional districts to ensure the maximum number of seats for its candidates.

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Incumbent

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An officeholder who is seeking reelection.

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Franking Privilege

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The right of members of Congress to mail newsletters to their constituents at the government's expense.

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Standing committees

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Permanent subject-matter congressional committees that handle legislation and oversee the bureaucracy.

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Conference Committees

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Temporary bodies that are formed to resolve difference between House and Senate versions of a bill.

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House Rules Committee

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Sets the guidelines for floor debate.

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House Ways and Means Committee

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Committee that handles tax bills.

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Seniority

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Unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving committee chairs to members of the committee with the longest records of continuous service.

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Filibuster

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A way of delaying or preventing action on a bill by using long speeches and unlimited debate to "talk a bill to death."

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Cloture

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A Senate motion to end a filibuster.

Requires 3/5 vote.

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Logrolling

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Tactic of mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.

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Oversight

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Congressional review of the activities of an executive agency, department, or office.

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Delegate role of Representation

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When members of Congress cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents.

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Closed Primary

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Voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket.

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Frontloading

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The recent patterns of states holding primaries early in order to maximize their media attention and political influence.

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Soft Money

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Contributions to political parties for party-building activities.

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527 Group

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A tax-exempt organization created to influence the political process.

Not regulated by the Federal Election Commission because they do not coordinate their activities with a candidate or party.

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Veto

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The president's constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

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Line-Item Veto

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The power to deny specific dollar amounts or line items from major congressional spending bills.

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Executive Agreement

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A pact between the president and a head of a foreign state.

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Executive Privilege

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The president's power to refuse to disclose confidential information.

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Lame-Duck Period

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The period of time in which the president's term is about to come to an end.

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Bureaucracy

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A large, complex organization of appointed officials.

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Executive Order

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A directive, order, or regulation issued by the president.

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Iron Triangle

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An alliance among an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee.

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Issue Network

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Includes policy experts, media pundits, congressional staff members, and interest groups who regularly debate an issue.

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Policy Agenda

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A set of issues and problems that policy makers consider important.

Mass media plays an important role in influencing which of these will receive public attention.

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Appellate Jurisdiction

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The authority of a court to hear an appeal from a lower court.

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Senatorial Courtesy

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An unwritten tradition whereby the Senate will not confirm nominations for lower court positions that are opposed by a senator of the president's own party from the state in which the nominee is to serve.

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Writ of Certiorari

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An order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for its review.

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Rule of Four

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The Supreme Court will hear a case if four justices agree to do so.

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Solicitor General

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The solicitor general is responsible for handling all appeals on behalf of the United States government to the Supreme Court.

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Amicus Curiae Brief

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A friend of the court brief filed by an interest group of interested party to influence a Supreme Court decision.

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Stare Decisis

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A Latin phrase meaning "let the decision stand."

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Judicial Restraint

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Philosophy that the Supreme Court should use precedent and the Framers' original intent to decide cases.

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Judicial Activism

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Philosophy that the Supreme Court must correct injustices when the other branches of government or the states refuse to do so.

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Monetary Policy

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Involves regulating the money supply, controlling inflation, and adjusting interest rates.

Controlled by the Federal Reserve Board.

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Fiscal Policy

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Raising and lowering taxes and government spending programs.

Controlled by the executive and legislative branches.

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Entitlement Program

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A government-sponsored program that provides mandated benefits to those who meet eligibility requirements.

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Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

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Responsible for preparing the budget that the president submits to Congress.

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Civil Liberties

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Legal and constitutional rights that protect individuals from arbitrary acts of government.

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Civil Rights

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Policies designed to protect people against arbitrary or discriminatory treatment by government officials or individuals.

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Selective Incorporation

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Case-by-case process by which liberties listed in the Bill of Rights have been applied to the states using the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

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Establishment Clause

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A provision fo the 1st Amendment that prohibits Congress from establishing an official government-sponsored religion.

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Free Exercise Clause

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A provision of the 1st Amendment that guarantees each person the right to believe what he or she wants. However, a religion cannot make an act legal that would otherwise be illegal.

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Clear and Present Danger Test

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Judicial interpretation of the 1st Amendment that government may not ban speech unless it poses an imminent threat to society

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Writ of Habeas Corpus

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A court order directing that a prisoner by brought before a court and that the court officers show cause why the prisoner should not be released.

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Bill of Attainder

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A legislative act provides for the punishment of a person without a court trial.

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Ex Post Facto Law

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A law applied to an act committed before the law was enacted.

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Exclusionary Rule

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Supreme Court guideline that prohibits evidence obtained by illegal searches or seizures from being admitted in court.

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Miranda Warnings

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Police must read these to suspects prior to questioning that advises them of their rights.

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Strict Scrutiny

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Supreme Court rule that classification by race and ethnic background is inherently suspect and must be justified by a "compelling public interest."

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Affrimative Action

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A policy requiring federal agencies, universities, and most employers to take positives steps to remedy the effects of past discrimination.