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67 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back

Grassroots Lobbying

Interest groups ask the general public to contact (letter writing/phone calls) policy makers and government officials to favor policies that interest groups advocate for.
Caucus
A system for selecting convention delegates used in about a dozen states in which voters, who are party members, must attend an open meeting to express their preference for a presidential nominee.

Direct Democracy



A form of democracy where people have the power. The people themselves determine the laws and policies by which they are governed.

Block Grants

A form of aid that the federal government uses to provide state and local governments a specified amount of funding to assist them in addressing broad purposes, such as social services and law enforcement. They also have fewer strings attached unlike categorical grants. It also gives discretion to local and state governments on how to spend the money.

Congressional Oversight

Congress checks and balances the power of the Executive Branch through the review and monitoring of federal programs and policy implementation. Congress holds specialized hearings and conducts special investigations to do so.

Dealignment

The gradual disconnection of people and politicians from their political parties. In elections, this typically means an increase in Independent voters.

Fiscal Policy


The way a government adjusts spending and taxes in response to the state of the nation’s economy, in an attempt to promote growth and stability.

General Election

An election in which representatives are chosen at both the state and national levels by constituents. Usually used in terms of a national election when the president is chosen.

Closed Primary

A form of election that is used in selecting a party’s candidate for the general election and promotes stronger loyalties within each party. In this form of election, only people who have registered in their party ahead of time gets to vote for their candidate.

Motion for Cloture

To invoke cloture, it takes 60/100 of the Senators to invoke cloture. This is used to force a vote on a bill, ending any filibuster.

Super PAC

A type of independent political action committee which can raise an unlimited amount of money for funding political actions (independent expenditures) but cannot give it directly to a party or candidate. Whereas PACs have a limit on donations and can interact with the party and candidates.

Federalism

Subnational and national governments split the powers. Whereas in a unitary system all power resides in the central government.
Political Socialization
The process that shapes an individual’s attitudes and ideas regarding politics
Expressed/Enumerated Powers
Powers of the federal government that are directly stated in the Constitution.

Lame Duck Period

The 10-week time period that the president’s term is coming to an end, but continues to stay in office even after the president following (successor) has been elected. During this time, the president’s power is perceived as diminished and Congress is less responsive to the president

Midterm Elections

Elections that are held every 2 years where people can elect for Congress, all of the House and for some of Senate (depending on their term), and some state governors (depending on term). The president during this time does not change (continues to be in office)

Franking Privilege

Privilege to send mail without payment of postage. Helpful in communication between elected officials and the people they represent about legislation and member votes, as well as government reports, among other things. Used solely by Congress.

Lobbying

Communication, by an organized group, directed at a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decision. Done through communication with a member of a legislative body rather than attempting to influence the public-(grassroots lobbying)

Party Polarization

Divergence of political attitudes to ideological extremes between parties.

Amicus Curiae

A brief written by an interest group that is not involved in a case, filed to influence court’s decision. “Friend of a court”.

Judicial Activism

States that a court’s reviewing process of policies and procedures can be influenced by current events and the needs of the country. Rulings result in the creation of new rights and/or policy.

Horse Race Journalism

Political journalism of elections that resembles a horse race because it focuses on who is winning or losing the election and/or a politician’s standing among his competitors.

Casework

Help that members of Congress provide to individual constituents who are dealing with government agencies/bureaucracies.

Issue Network/ Iron Triangle

A mutual relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees that benefits all sides. They typically promote issues in areas of domestic policy.

Political Party

An organization of people who share common political goals and exercise political power by running elections.

Gerrymandering

A practice that achieves political advantage for a particular party by manipulating district boundaries.

White House Staff

A group of personal advisors who help the president in a wide range of areas. Do not have to be confirmed by the Senate and include positions such as the Chief of Staff and White House Press Secretary.

Filibuster

A strategy unique to the Senate. It’s an action (ex. prolonged speech) that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically breaching the required procedures.

Executive Order

A group of personal advisors who help the president in a wide range of areas. White House Staff do not have to be confirmed by the Senate and include positions such as the Chief of Staff and White House Press Secretary.

Critical Elections

New issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party (Party realignment). This period is often marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election. A dramatic change in the political system. Results in a new party era

Pork Barrel Spending

A government policy that gives federal projects, grants, and contracts to state and/or local governments to allow members of Congress to take credit.

Entitlements


Policies in which recipients receive benefits automatically unless Congress changes the eligibility requirements.Ex: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

Original Intent


The basis by which conservatives believe the Constitution should be interpreted: the original way in which the framers intended it to be interpreted. This excludes external or modern views

Logrolling/ Reciprocity

An exchange of supportive actions between legislators in Congress, like supporting each other’s bill.

Monetary Policy

The government’s way of restricting how much money is poured into the national economy, just enough to keep the economy going, and not enough to cause inflation. Controlled with the Federal Reserve through open market operations, discount rates on commercial banks’ interest, and reserve requirements.

Selective Incorporation

The process by which the Courts have applied the Bill of Rights to state law/actions.

Suffrage

The legal right to vote. Some examples include the 15th Amendment, which granted African Americans the right to vote, the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, and the 26th Amendment, which gave American citizens over the age of 18 the right to vote.

Fiscal Federalism

The practice by which the federal government spends money on, taxes, and/or provides grants to state and local governments. Often used as a source of influence by the federal government over the state governments.

Writ of Certiorari

The process by which the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear a case and calls upon a lower court to deliver its record of the case to the Supreme Court

Uncontrollable Spending

Expenditures that federal government can not reduce because they are required to fund beneficiaries of the government. Congress can change amount spent by changing a law, but ¾ of budget is considered uncontrollable

Political Efficacy

The belief that political participation matters- one vote makes a difference and can change political affairs.

Litigation

The process of settling a dispute between two parties or enforcing a right by filing a lawsuit through a public court

Gender Gap

The pattern in which women are more likely to support Democrats than men.

Single member Districts

An electoral system where an elected official represents an area. The district elects one representative to a legislature. Used by the House of Representatives.

Pocket Veto

A veto which takes place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who does not sign the bill or veto the bill. In which case, the bill dies.

Redistricting

The process of drawing boundaries for electoral and political districts in the U.S. This usually is done every ten years after the census (An official count of the population).

Independent Expenditures

The advocating through monetary means (advertisements) for or against a candidate or campaign by a group, such as a 527 or SuperPAC. There cannot be any coordination between the group and the candidate

Policy Agenda

the issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actually involved in politics at any given point in time

Cooperative Federalism

This is a form of federalism in which national, state, and local governments divide governmental responsibilities and work together as equals to rule over their people.

Stare Decisis

Principle of taking legal action according to precedents set in similar, previous cases

Devolution

decentralization of power from the central government to state and local governing bodies

Demographics

The composition of a population in terms of defining characteristics like race, sex, age, etc.

Political Culture

Widely-shared beliefs, values, and norms that citizens share about their government

Divided Government

One party controls the White House, and another controls one or both houses of Congress


Open Primary

A primary election, nominating candidates for the general election, in which voters do not have to declare their party affiliation in order to vote

Political Action Committee

A private organization that raises money from individuals and then contributes that money to candidates that it supports

Judicial Review

A power granted to the courts to ensure that acts of Congress and the executive align with the US Constitution. Established as a result of the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison in which the right to interpret the Constitution was given to the Supreme Court.

Categorical Grants

Federal grants used only for specific categories of state and local spendingproject grants- given on basis of merits of application (common)formula grants- given off a formula for legislation or administrative regulation based off other factors like population

Interest Group


A group of people who share similar views on certain aspects of government and try to convince the government to adopt certain policies. To achieve goals, interests groups involve themselves in political campaigns and PACs

Pluralism

A theory of democracy that says that politics is mainly an equal competition among groups, each wanting their own preferences

Unfunded Mandate


Statute or regulation that requires a state or local government to perform certain actions, yet provides no funds to fulfill them

Implied Powers





Extend the federal government’s powers beyond those designated by the Constitution. The elastic clause gives the government all powers “necessary and proper” to carry out enumerated powers of the national government.For example: In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court ruled that the government could use implied powers to create a national bank as a means to carry out its enumerated responsibility (in the constitution) to coin money, regulate its value, impose tax etc.

Incumbent

The person currently holding office. usually win in congressional elections and are re-elected at high rates.

Realignment

When political coalitions change in size/composition or shift on nature of issues that divide a party - for example white Southerners switching from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. creates a new party era.

Republic

A democracy in which representatives are elected to create and implement policy under law.

Bipartisan

Representing or including members from two parties or factions.

Discharge Petition

A petition signed by members of the House of Representatives that brings a bill from committee to the floor, by “discharging” the committee from further consideration.