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Federalists

Supporters of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government.

Antifederalists

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government.

Separation of powers

Constitutional division of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Checks and balances

Constitutional grant of powers that enables each branch of government to check the others.

Divided government

Governance divided between parties, especially when one holds the presidency and the other controls Congress.

Judicial review

The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law that conflicts with the Constitution.

Impeachment

Formal accusation by the lower house of legislature against a public official.

Executive order

Directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law.

Federalism

Power distributed between a central government and subdivisional governments (states).

Implied powers

Powers inferred from expressed powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

Necessary and proper clause

Clause that sets forth the implied powers of Congress.

Commerce clause

Clause that gives Congress the power to regulate business activities crossing state lines.

Concurrent powers

Powers given to both national and state governments, such as levying taxes.

Linkage institutions

Means by which individuals express preferences regarding public policy.

Political culture

Widely shared beliefs, values, and norms about citizen-government relations.

Political ideology

Consistent pattern of beliefs about political values and the role of government.

Interest group

Collection of people sharing a common interest seeking to influence government.

Caucus

Meeting of local party members to choose officials or candidates and decide the platform.

Open primary

Election in which any voter may vote to narrow down candidates for a party nomination.

Closed primary

Election in which only registered party voters may vote to narrow down candidates.

Winner-take-all system

Election system where the candidate with the most votes wins.

Minor party/3rd party

Small political party that rises and falls with charismatic candidates.

De-alignment

Weakening of partisan preferences leading to a rise in independents.

Public opinion (polling)

Distribution of individual preferences or evaluations within a population.

Political socialization

Process by which individuals develop political attitudes, values, and beliefs.

Electoral college

System used in electing the president and vice president through electors.

Reserved powers

Powers given to states by the 10th amendment not granted to the national government.

Retrospective Voting

Voting based on the recent past performance of a party or candidate.

Rational choice voting

Voting based on perceived individual interest.

Prospective voting

Voting based on predictions of future performance by a party or candidate.

Trustee model

Member of Congress who uses their judgment to decide how to vote.

Delegate model

Member of Congress who follows constituents’ voting preferences.

Politico

Member of Congress who acts as a delegate on important issues and as a trustee on others.

Popular sovereignty

Government's power comes from the will of the people.

Limited government

Political system with restrictions to protect individual rights and liberties.

Natural rights

Rights to "life, liberty, and property" as described by Thomas Jefferson.

Republicanism

Government form where elected leaders represent the interests of the people.

Social contract

Agreement to give up some freedoms for government protection.

Pluralist democracy

Model where no one group dominates politics and organized groups compete.

Participatory democracy

Model where citizens directly decide on policy.

Elite democracy

Model where a small number of wealthy, educated people influence decisions.

Supremacy clause

Establishes that the Constitution and federal laws take priority over state laws.

Block grant

Federal grants to states for broad programs, increasing state power.

Categorical grant

Federal grants restricted to specific purposes, increasing federal power.

Filibuster

Tactic used by senators to block a bill through unlimited debate.

Pork barrel

Federal funding for localized projects to please constituents.

Judicial activism

Belief that justices should defend individual rights and liberties.

Judicial restraint

Belief that justices should defer to elected branches and interpret the Bill of Rights narrowly.

Redistricting

Adjusting electoral districts by state legislatures.

Reapportionment

Redistribution of House seats based on population changes.

Stare decisis

Principle of making legal decisions based on past precedents.

Bully pulpit

Presidency as a platform to promote an agenda to the public.

Advice & consent

Senate's authority to ratify treaties and confirm appointments.

Free exercise clause

Prevents federal interference with citizens’ religious practices

ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE

This prevents the federal government from supporting an official religion

DUE PROCESS CLAUSE

Provisions of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments that limit the power of the government to deny people “life, liberty, or property” without fully respecting their legal rights and the correct legal procedure.

EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSE

A provision of the Fourteenth Amendment that prohibits states from denying equal protection of the laws to their residents.

SELECTIVE INCORPORATION

-The gradual process of applying amendments in the Bill of Rights to state and local governments by way of the 14^th amendment.

POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES (PAC’S)

An organization, usually representing an interest group or corporation, that raises money (limited) with the goal of supporting or defeating candidates, parties, or legislation.

SUPER PACS

Also called an "independent expenditure-only committee," may raise unlimited funds in support of a candidate or party if they do not coordinate in any way with the candidate or party or donate directly to the candidate.

IRON TRIANGLE

A longstanding, mutually beneficial relationship between an interest group, congressional committee, and bureaucratic agency devoted to similar issues.

HORSERACE JOURNALISM

focuses on -who is winning or ahead in the polls rather than on candidates' policy agenda or debates.

GATEKEEPING

The media’s role in setting the political agenda by drawing public and government attention to certain issues.

WATCHDOG

The role played by the national media in investigating political personalities and exposing scandals.

CANDIDATE CENTERED

Political campaigns that focus on the candidates for office—their personalities and issues—rather than the