monster vocab

Pluralism

A theory of government and politics emphasizing that many groups, each pressing for its preferred policies, compete and counterbalance one another in the political marketplace.

Divided government

When the president is from one political party and one or both houses of Congress are controlled by the opposing political party; or a situation in which the house, senate, and presidency are not controlled by the same party

Open Primary

Elections to select party nominees in which voters can decide on Election Day whether they want to participate in the Democratic or Republican contests

PAC

an organization that raises money from individuals and then distribute it in the form of contributions to candidates that the group supports. must register with the FEC and report their donations and contributions to it.

Categorical Grants

Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes, or “categories,” of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions.

Unfunded mandate

when the federal government requires state and local action but does not provide the funds to pay for the action

Judicial review

The power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and, by implication, the executive are in accord with the U.S. Constitution. Judicial review was established by Marbury v. Madison.

Bipartisan

support from both parties of government.

Implied powers

(also known as reserved ) powers, derived from the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution, that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states

Realignment

the process through which voters leave one of the major party coalition and join the other major party's coalition; or The displacement of the majority party by the minority party, usually during a critical election period

Grassroots lobbying

Ordinary citizens raising awareness for a cause and pushing the government to adopt a particular policy; or Efforts by groups and associations to influence elected officials INDIRECTLY, by arousing their constituents

political socialization

The process through which individuals in a society acquire political attitudes, views, and knowledge, based on inputs from family, schools, the media, and others.

interest group

An organization of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals. pursue their goals in many arenas.

oversight

Congress’s monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings; or member of congress constantly watching of others

general election

an election to select the person who will hold office

caucus

A system for selecting convention delegates used in about a dozen states in which voters must attend an open meeting to express their presidential preference.

pork barrel spending

Federal projects, grants, and contracts available to state and local governments, businesses, colleges, and other institutions in a congressional district.

direct democracy

Government in which citizens vote on laws and select officials directly.

block grants

Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services.

suffrage

The legal right to vote, extended to African Americans by the Fifteenth Amendment, to women by the Nineteenth Amendment, and to 18- to 20-year-olds by the Twenty-sixth Amendment.

+ The legal right to vote in the United States, gradually extended to virtually all citizens over the age of 18.

republic

A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.

mandatory spending

expenditures that the federal government is obligated to make, like entitlements and interest on the national debt

inherent powers

The powers of the national government in foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government

dealignment

The gradual disengagement of people from the parties, as seen in part by shrinking party identification; or a decline in the percentage of citizens who identify with one of the major parties

franking privilege

the free mail and electronic signature system used by members of congress; or benefits allowing incumbents in congress to mail letters and other material postage- free

fiscal policy

Use of the federal budget—taxes, spending, and borrowing—to influence the economy; along with monetary policy, a main tool by which the government can attempt to steer the economy. Fiscal policy is almost entirely determined by Congress and the president.

closed primary

Elections to select party nominees in which only people who have registered in advance with the party can vote for that party’s candidates, thus encouraging greater party loyalty.

lobbying

a “communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his or her own behalf, directed to a governmental decision maker with the hope of influencing his or her decision.”

Super PAC

Independent expenditure- may accept donations of any size and can endorse candidates. Their contributions and expenditures must be periodically reported to the FEC.

Motion for cloture

a vote by 60 senators to end a filibuster

Federalism

A way of organizing a nation so that two or more levels of government have formal authority over the same land and people. It is a system of shared power between units of government.

political party

a “team of men [and women] seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election.”

executive order

Regulations originating with the executive branch. Executive orders are one method presidents can use to control the bureaucracy.

white house staff

the president's personal assistants and advisors

issue network(iron triangle)

Subgovernments are composed of interest group leaders interested in a particular policy, the government agency in charge of administering that policy, and the members of congre ssional committees and subcommittees handling that policy; they exercise a great deal of control over specific policy areas.

gerrymandering

Drawing congressional district boundaries to benefit a group, usually a political party; or the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent

filibuster

A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill. Sixty members present and voting can halt a filibuster.

entitlements

Policies for which Congress has obligated itself to pay X level of benefits to Y number of recipients. Social Security benefits are an example.

original intent

making judicial decisions by considering what the founding fathers meant in the constitution

lame duck period

The time during which a president who has lost an election or has ended a second term is still in office before the new president serves; or Period of time when the new president is already elected, but the previous president is still in office

logrolling

When members of the Congress trade votes for favors in order to get the bills they support passed; or A legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers.

selective incorporation

the process by which the Bill of Rights has been applied to the states on a case-by-case basis through the fourteenth amendment

uncontrollable spending

determined by how many eligible beneficiaries there are for a program or by previous obligations of the government and that Congress therefore cannot easily control.

fiscal federalism

The pattern of spending, taxing, and providing grants in the federal system; it is the cornerstone of the national government’s relations with state and local governments.

writ of certiorari

a document issued by the Supreme Court if it has agreed to hear a case; or An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review.

litigation

a lawsuit

monetary policy

influencing the economy through federal interest rates, reserve rates, and the amount of money in circulation; or Managing the economy by altering the supply of money and interest rates

expressed powers

(also known as delegated) powers stated in the constitution given to the federal government

critical elections

An election where new coalitions of voters have formed, beginning a new party era; or an electoral "earthquake" where new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party.

amicus curiae

An Argument filed with a court by an individual or group who is not a party to a lawsuit

“friend of the court”

horse race journalism

tendency of the media to focus on which candidate is ahead in the polls rather than focusing on the issues

political efficacy

The belief that one’s political participation really matters—that one’s vote can actually make a difference.

party polarization

cases in which an individual's stance on a given issue, policy, or person is more likely to be strictly defined by their identification with a particular political party or ideology; or members of government become more extreme and loyal to their party.”

gender gap

the discrepancy in opportunities, status, attitudes between women and men

pocket veto

A type of veto occurring when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president and the president simply lets the bill die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

redistricting

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

midterm election

General elections in the United States that are held two years after the quadrennial (four-year) elections for the President of the United States.

independent expenditures

Expenses on behalf of a political message that are made by groups that are uncoordinated with any candidate’s campaign.

judicial activism

An approach to decision making in which judges sometimes make bold policy decisions, even charting new constitutional ground.

policy agenda

The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people involved in politics at a point in time

cooperative federalism

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government.

stare decisis

A Latin phrase meaning “let the decision stand.” Most cases reaching appellate courts are settled on this principle.

devolution

Transferring responsibility for policies from the federal government to state and local governments.

demographics

study of population

single-member districts

an electoral system in which every elected official represents a geographically defined area,

incumbent

Those already holding office

political culture

An overall set of values widely shared within a society.