Studied by 116 people
Representative democracy vs. Direct democracy
Representatives vs. direct citizen participation in decision-making
Purpose of the Bill of Rights
Protect individual liberties from government infringement
Selective incorporation
Applying Bill of Rights to states via the 14th Amendment
Purpose of the Federalist Papers
Promote ratification of the U.S. Constitution
Process for amending the Constitution
Proposal and ratification by states or Congress (2/3 Congress, ¾ States)
Federalism
Division of power between federal and state governments
Purpose of the 10th Amendment
Reserve powers to states not delegated to federal government
Money's effect on federal-local power balance
Influences resources allocation and policy decisions
Devolution
Transfer of power from federal to state governments
Establishment Clause vs. Free Exercise Clause
Separation of church and state vs. freedom of religion
Exclusionary Rule
Illegally obtained evidence cannot be used in court
1965 Voting Rights Act
Prohibited racial discrimination in voting practices
Political ideology
Beliefs about government's role and policies
Drawback of citizen journalism
Potential lack of accuracy and bias in reporting
Confirmation bias
Tendency to favor information confirming existing beliefs
Main goal of political parties
Win elections and influence government policies
Two-party system
Political system dominated by two major parties
Lobbying
Influencing government decisions through advocacy
Primary election vs. General election
Nominating candidates vs. electing officeholders
Party platform
Set of principles and goals of a political party
Electoral college
Body that elects the U.S. President based on state votes
Incumbents' advantage in elections
Recognition, resources, and experience favoring re-election
Pork barrel legislation
Government spending benefiting specific districts or states
Purpose of redistricting
Adjusting electoral district boundaries for equal representation
Responsibility for redistricting in most states
State legislatures
Gerrymandering
Manipulating district boundaries for political advantage
Most powerful leaders in each house of Congress
Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader
Select committee vs. Conference committee
Temporary vs. permanent committees for specific tasks
Filibuster
Tactic to delay or block Senate legislation through extended debate
Reason for appropriation bills starting in the House
Reflects closer connection to the people's interests
Congress overriding a president's veto
Two-thirds majority vote in both houses
Branch declaring laws unconstitutional
Judicial branch, particularly the Supreme Court
Process for impeachment
Charges by House, trial by Senate requiring two-thirds vote
Cabinet
Advisory body to the President, heads of executive departments
Cabinet members' appointment
Nominated by President, confirmed by Senate
Role of the bureaucracy
Implement and administer government policies
Congress oversight of the bureaucracy
Reviewing agency actions, budgets, and programs
Stare decisis
Legal principle of following precedent in court decisions
Supreme Court's original jurisdiction
Cases involving ambassadors, states, or disputes between states
Supreme Court justices' appointment
Nominated by President, confirmed by Senate
Judicial restraint vs. Judicial activism
Limiting vs. expanding the court's role in policymaking
Congress → Bureaucracy
Funding + Political Support
Bureaucracy → Congress
Policy choices + execution
Bureaucracy → Interest Groups
Low regulation and special favors
Interest Groups → Bureaucracy
Congressional support via lobbying
Congress → Interest Groups
Friendly legislation and oversight
Interest Groups → Congress
Electoral support
Note 
Flashcard (22)