POSC Final Exam Study Guide

V2

administrative adjudication

the process by which an agency resolves disputes and issues orders or decisions

administrative legislation

rules and regulations created by agencies under delegated authority

Administrative Procedures Act

federal law that governs how agencies make rules and adjudicate cases

adverse selection

when one party has hidden information that leads to inefficient or risky exchanges

advice and consent

the Senate’s constitutional role to approve presidential appointments and treaties

affect

emotional response or feeling toward a political object

agenda-setting

the media or actors’ ability to influence which issues the public sees as important

effect

the outcome or consequence produced by a cause or action

amicus curiae

“friend of the court”

appellate court

a court that reviews decisions of lower courts for legal errors

appellate jurisdiction

the authority of a court to hear appeals from lower courts

Article III

the constitutional article establishing the judicial branch and federal courts

Associate Justice

a member of the Supreme Court other than the Chief Justice

australian ballot

A form of secret ballot where votes are cast privately on uniform ballots prepared by the government.

brief

written legal argument submitted to a court

bureaucracy

A system of government in which most important decisions are made by non-elected state officials rather than by elected representatives.

bureaucratic drift

when agencies’ actions shift away from the preferences of elected officials

certiorari

A Latin term referring to an order by which a higher court

Chevron doctrine

principle giving agencies deference when interpreting ambiguous statutes

Chief Justice

the head of the Supreme Court who presides over oral arguments and conferences

circuit court

federal appellate court in one of the geographic circuits

civic duty

the belief that citizens should participate in politics and public life

civil law

legal system and cases involving noncriminal disputes between individuals or organizations

class-action suit

a lawsuit filed on behalf of a large group with similar claims

clientele agency

an agency designed to serve a specific group or sector of society

coalition drift

policy shifts that occur after changes in the political coalition controlling government

concurring opinion

an opinion agreeing with the majority’s outcome but for different reasons

confirmations

Senate approval process for presidential appointments

conservative

ideology favoring limited government

constitutional review

the power to determine whether laws or actions violate the Constitution

court of appeals

a federal appellate court reviewing district court decisions

credit-claiming

when politicians take responsibility for positive policy outcomes

criminal law

laws defining crimes and punishments for offenses against society

customary constitution

unwritten norms and practices that structure political behavior

delegation

when Congress gives authority to agencies or branches to carry out tasks

deregulation

reducing or eliminating government rules on markets or activities

devolution

shifting power from the national government to states or local governments

directional model

voting based on preferring candidates who move policy in a desired direction

dissenting opinion

an opinion disagreeing with the majority’s decision

due process

constitutional guarantee of fair legal procedures and protections

Duverger's Law

principle that single-member districts lead to two-party systems

economic voting

voting based on evaluations of the economy’s performance

election of 1800

the first peaceful transfer of power between political parties in the U.S.

Electoral College

system where electors chosen by states formally elect the president

enumerated powers

powers explicitly listed for Congress in Article I

factions

groups of citizens united by interests adverse to others or the community

federal court of appeals

intermediate appellate courts in the federal judiciary

federal district court

the federal trial courts where cases begin

Federal Reserve System (the Fed)

central bank responsible for monetary policy

Federalist 10

essay arguing large republics control factions

Federalist 78

essay defending judicial review and life tenure for judges

fire alarms

oversight triggered by citizens or interest groups reporting agency problems

fiscal policy

government taxing and spending to influence the economy

"flaw in the pluralist heaven"

critique that pluralism overrepresents wealthy interests

framing

presenting an issue in a way that influences interpretation

funnel of causality

model where background factors shape political attitudes and vote choice

gender gap

differences in political preferences between men and women

gerrymandering

drawing electoral districts to benefit one party

good behavior

the condition under which federal judges retain life tenure

habit

repeated behavior that becomes automatic without conscious thought

implementation

putting laws or policies into action through agencies

inferior courts

lower federal courts created by Congress under Article III

initiative

process allowing citizens to propose and vote on laws

inspectors general

Officials within government agencies who investigate waste

iron triangle

A stable

issue voting

voting based on a candidate’s position on specific issues

judicial activism

judicial philosophy supporting broad interpretation of the Constitution

judicial ideology

the policy preferences or leanings of judges

judicial independence

the separation of courts from political influence

judicial power

the authority to interpret laws and the Constitution

judicial qualifications

The criteria or qualities

judicial restraint

philosophy emphasizing limited judicial interference and deference to elected branches

judicial review

the power to strike down laws or actions as unconstitutional

judicial salaries

protected compensation for judges that cannot be reduced

Judiciary Act of 1789

law that established the federal court system

Judiciary Act of 1801

A law that reorganized the federal judiciary

jurisdiction

a court’s authority to hear a case

liberal

ideology favoring activist government

life tenure

judges keep their position for life under good behavior

"least dangerous branch"

Hamilton’s term for the judiciary lacking enforcement power

Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo

2024 case limiting Chevron deference

major questions doctrine

courts require clear congressional authorization for major policy issues

majority opinion

the official opinion representing the majority of justices

majority rule

system where decisions follow the preference of more than half of participants

Marbury v. Madison

case establishing judicial review

measurement error

inaccuracies in recording or capturing data

median voter theorem

policy gravitates to the preference of the median voter

"merely judgment"

Hamilton’s description of the judiciary’s limited power

monetary policy

central bank actions to manage money supply and interest rates

moot

a case no longer presenting a live controversy

moral hazard

when someone takes more risks because another bears the cost

nominations

presidential selection of individuals for positions subject to Senate approval

non-delegation doctrine

theory that Congress cannot give away legislative power

opinion

a written explanation of a court’s decision

opinion assignment

process where the senior justice in the majority assigns who writes the opinion

oral argument

spoken presentations by attorneys before an appellate court

original jurisdiction

the authority to hear a case first

OSHA

federal agency regulating workplace health and safety

oversight

congressional monitoring of executive agencies

partisan polarization

widening ideological distance between parties