question

the process of taking legal action

answer

litigation

question

grants of money from the federal govt. to states for programs in certain general areas rather than for specific kinds of programs; opposite of categorical grants

answer

block grants

question

federal grants for specific purposes defined by federal law; such grants usually require that states or locality put up money to "match" some part of the federal grants, though the amount of matching funds can be quite small Ex. to build an airport

answer

categorical grants

question

a requirement the federal govt. imposes as a condition for receiving federal funds; usually deals with environmental policy an civil rights which makes it difficult for any state or local official to argue its attachment; its the govt.'s way of keeping control on the states

answer

federal mandates

question

when congressmen can become experts in certain fields because trying to swallow everything that Congress does in one bite is impossible. That congressman gives facts and issues to his fellow congressmen

answer

specialization

question

the process of exchanging favors between congressmen; logrolling can influence the legislative process because people can be exchanging favors for votes to get people to vote on their side

answer

reciprocity/logrolling

question

the U.S. govt is based on federalism, with the government power divided between several, but primarily two, entities

answer

Federalism

question

a political philosophy of devolution, or the transfer of certain powers from the United States federal government back to the states

answer

New Federalism

question

the transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, especially by central government to local or regional administration

answer

Devolution

question

elections in the United States in which members of the United States Congress (House and Senate members) and some legislatures and governors are elected (not the president)

answer

Mid-term elections

question

the fact that being in office helps a person stay in office because of a variety of benefits that go with the position Ex. Incumbency Advantage- the advantage gained by House members after serving more than one term. Incumbency Advantage has increased over the last few years due to weak party identification, meaning voters are more easily swayed by standing representatives, and by increased resources to Incumbents which allows them to go home and influence their Constituents more

answer

Incumbency

question

political contributions made in such a way as to avoid U.S. regulations for federal election campaigns (as by contributions to a political action committee AKA PAC)

answer

soft money

question

expenditures required by previous commitments the federal government has made

answer

mandatory spending

question

federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

answer

discretionary spending

question

benefits to which every eligible person has a legal right and that the government cannot deny Ex. Social Security

answer

entitlements

question

under a majority voting system, a second election hold only if no candidate wins a majority of the votes in the first general election. Only the top two vote-getters can compete in the runoff

answer

run-off elections

question

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population

answer

redistricting

question

The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent

answer

gerrymandering

question

An electoral district in which candidates are chosen on an individual basis rather than as representatives of a geographically defined, single-member district. At-large electoral districts can be held at the legislative and presidential levels

answer

at-large member district

question

An electoral district in which voters choose one representative or official

answer

single member district

question

Theory that democracy can be achieved through competition among multiple organized groups and that individuals can participate in politics through group memberships and elections

answer

plurality

question

benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

answer

franking privilege

question

Projects congressmen secure for their home state that often waste federal money but secure votes

answer

pork barrel

question

synonym of non germane amendment; unrelated to a bill that is added to the bill so that it will "ride" to passage through the Congress Ex. A recent notable example of a rider was in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. An amended version of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010 that was signed into law by Barack Obama only one week before, the amended bill included a rider for the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, whose student loan reform was completely unrelated to the broader bill's primary focus on health care reform

answer

rider

question

an amendment that would add new and different subject matter to a bill. (can be irrelevant) to get something passed

answer

non germane amendment

question

an amendment to a bill must be strictly relevant to the bill

answer

germane amendment

question

Voting by member of one party for a candidate of another party

answer

Crossover Voting

question

Voting for candidates from different parties on the same ballot

answer

Split-ticket Voting

question

A legislature divided into two houses EX: the congress and every american state leg. (EXCEPT NEBRASKA!!!!!!****)

answer

bicameralism

question

One party controls the White House, and another controls one or both houses of Congress POSITIVE: It checks the power of the president's party House (ex: the Republican House of Reps checks the Democratic Senate) and allows both Democrats and Republicans to influence legislature and policy NEGATIVE: It creates gridlock and has the potential to actually prevent productivity from happening in the Legislature

answer

divided government

question

the same party controls the white house and both houses of congress

answer

unified government

question

an electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. Critical election periods are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era

answer

Critical elections

question

displacement of the majority party by the minority party

answer

Party Realignment

question

limits imposed on all branches of a government by vesting in each branch the right to amend or void those acts of another branch

answer

Checks and Balances

question

An examination of the political ideology of a nominated judge

answer

Litmus Test

question

political journalism of elections that resembles coverage of horse races because of the focus on polling data, public perception instead of candidate policy, and almost exclusive reporting on candidate differences rather than similarities

answer

Horse race Journalism

question

Article V; the (difficult) process of adding or deleting words to the constitution (27 times since 1788); propose by 2/3 vote of Congress or Constitutional Convention (never used); ratify by 3/4 vote of state legislators or state convention (only used once); president MUST sign it

answer

Amendment Process (Formal)

question

Changing the meaning of the Constitution without a formal amendment (ex. Supreme Court opinions, laws, custom)

answer

Amendment Process (Informal)

question

the national government has the power to regulate anything involved with interstate commerce (traffic, train, etc.)

answer

Interstate Commerce Clause

question

2/3 rds of Congress; can override a Presidential veto by the Legislature

answer

Super Majority

question

when state laws overlap fed. govt laws, fed. govt. is supreme

answer

Supremacy Clause

question

power literally in Constitution given specifically to the fed govt

answer

Enumerated Powers/Delegated

question

not stated, but implied by Necessary & Proper Clause

answer

Implied Powers

question

the notion that the constitution grants to the federal government only those powers specifically named in its text

answer

Expressed Powers

question

a statement in the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8) granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers

answer

Elastic Clause

question

State laws formerly pervasive throughout the south requiring public facilities and accommodations to be segregated by race; ruled unconstitutional

answer

Jim Crow Laws

question

A judicial doctrine whereby most but not all of the protections found int he Bill of Rights are made applicable to the states via the Fourteenth Amendment

answer

Incorporation of the Bill of Rights (selective incorporation)

question

Fiscal Policy has to do with the taxing and/or spending of the fed government, and the budget of the government

answer

Fiscal Policy

question

Monetary Policy is regulating the money supply, controlling inflation/deflation, adjusting the interest rates to regulate the economy, the cost of money, and adjusting the band reserve requirements

answer

Monetary Policy

question

right to a private personal life free from intrusion of the government

answer

Privacy Rights

question

an informal title for certain high-level officials in the United States; Political czars can run or organize governmental departments, and may devote their expertise to a single area of work. The "czars" have various official titles which may include the terms adviser, director, administrator, or diplomatic envoy; czars are generally executive branch officials appointed by the President either with Senate approval or without it

answer

Policy Czars

question

a business entrepreneur who seeks to gain profit through subsidies, protectionism, government contracts, or other such favorable arrangements with government(s) through political influence (also known as corporate welfare)

answer

Policy Entrepreneurs

question

A policy making alliance among loosely connected participants that comes together on a particular issue, then disbands

answer

Issue Networks

question

public interest organizations that do research on policy questions and disseminate their findings in books, articles, conferences, etc.

answer

Think Tanks

question

a statute that includes provision for automatic termination of a government program, agency, etc., at the end of a specified time period unless it is reauthorized by the legislature

answer

Sunset Legislation

question

the means by which individuals express preferences regarding the development of public policy

answer

Linkage Institutions

question

a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had the bill for thirty days, may petition to have it brought to the floor

answer

Discharge Petition

question

it says whatever is not explicitly stated as a responsibility of the federal government, is under control of the states http://study.com/academy/lesson/reserved-powers-definition-examples.html

answer

Reserved Powers Clause

question

Legislation passed in 1990 that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities. Under this Act, discrimination against a disabled person is illegal in employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and government activities

answer

Americans with Disabilities Act

question

Established new standards for ambient air quality, set new limits on emissions from stationary and mobile sources to be enforced by both state and federal governments, and increased finds for air pollution research; soon discovered that the deadlines set were overly ambitious (especially those for auto emissions). Deadlines were extended and revised over the next 10 years

answer

Clean Air Act

question

Ended discrimination in the workplace through the commerce clause, and is considered the most progressive legislation ever

answer

Civil Rights Act of 1964

question

This Act outlawed discriminatory voting practices that had been responsible for the widespread disenfranchisement of African Americans in the United States. Specifically, it outlawed the practice of requiring literacy tests

answer

Voting Rights Act of 1965

question

a law passed in 1973 in reaction to American fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia that requires presidents to consult with Congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless Congress declares war or grants an extension

answer

War Powers Resolution

question

Ended federal entitlement status of welfare, in its place, federal govt. gave block grants to states to administer welfare, "strings" attached to these grants: recipients must work within 2 years, recipients cannot receive benefits for more than 5 years

answer

Welfare Reform Act of 1996

question

"One man, one vote." Ordered state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in population; Warren Court's judicial activism

answer

Baker v. Carr

question

Established exclusionary rule; illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court; Warren Court's judicial activism

answer

Bakke v. Regents of the University of California

question

1963 ruling that a defendant in a felony trial must be provided a lawyer free of charge if the defendant cannot afford one

answer

Gideon v Wainwright

question

1966 ruling that upon arrest, a suspect has the right to remain silent and the right to consult with a lawyer

answer

Miranda v. Arizona

question

1st Amendment protects campaign spending; legislatures can limit contributions, but not how much one spends of his own money on campaigns

answer

Buckley v. Valeo

question

Prohibited state-sponsored recitation of prayer in public schools by virtue of 1st Amendment's establishment clause and the 14th Amendment's due process clause; Warren Court's judicial activism

answer

Engel v. Vitale

question

1971 defining government actionsin dealing with religion--must not inhibit or advance religion and does not entangle the goverment with religion

answer

Lemon v. Kurtzman

question

Involving bigamy (the act of going through a marriage ceremony while already married to another person), the Court decided that illegal acts cannot be defended by "religious duty"

answer

Reynolds v. U.S.

question

A Native American who claims to have to take medications as part of a religion. He was fired by his employer for taking drugs. The law was declared unconstitutional

answer

Oregon v. Smith

AP GOV- College Board Speak Terms – Flashcards

Unlock all answers in this set

Haven't found what you were looking for?

Search for samples, answers to your questions and flashcards