NG 9-17 KEY TERMS TO STUDY

Concurring opinion

A Supreme Court opinion where a justice agrees with the majority but for different reasons

Dissenting opinion

A Supreme Court opinion where a justice disagrees with the majority

Stare decisis

The principle of following legal precedent

Judicial review

The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Judicial restraint

A philosophy where judges defer to elected branches of government

Critical election

An election that causes a long-term shift in voter loyalty

Divided government

When different political parties control different branches of government

Bipartisanship

Cooperation between two political parties

First-past-the-post

A voting system where the candidate with the most votes wins

Interest group

An organization that tries to influence public policy

Lobbying

Attempting to influence government officials’ decisions

Amicus curiae brief

A legal document submitted to the court by someone not directly involved in the case

Collective action problem

The difficulty of organizing people when individuals can benefit without participating

Oversight

Congress monitoring executive agencies

Filibuster

A Senate tactic used to delay or block a vote

Speaker of the House

Leader of the House of Representatives

Executive order

A presidential directive that has the force of law without Congress approval

Cabinet

Heads of executive departments who advise the president

Veto

The president’s power to reject a bill

Judicial branch

The branch that interprets laws and the Constitution

District courts

Trial-level federal courts

Circuit courts

Federal appellate courts

Supreme Court docket

List of cases the Court agrees to hear

Rule of four

Four justices must agree to hear a Supreme Court case

Judicial activism

A philosophy where judges actively interpret the Constitution to address societal issues

Federalism

Power is shared between national and state governments

Preemption

Federal law overrides state law

Citizen legislature

A part-time legislature with low pay and short sessions

Merit system

System of hiring government workers based on ability

Iron triangle

Relationship between Congress, agencies, and interest groups

Bureaucracy

Agencies that implement government policy

Fiscal policy

Government use of spending and taxes to influence the economy

Mandatory spending

Required government spending by law

Entitlements

Government benefits people qualify for

Treaty

A formal international agreement requiring Senate approval

Executive agreement

An international agreement made by the president without Senate approval

NATO

Military alliance between North America and Europe

Soft power

Influence through attraction rather than force

Foreign policy

How a country interacts with other countries

Global South

Regions with lower income, inequality, and colonial history

Global North

Developed countries with high income and advanced infrastructure

Foreign direct investment (FDI)

Long-term business investment in another country

Oxfam model

Aid focused on empowerment and long-term sustainability

Handout model

Direct aid that may create dependency

Disaster relief

Short-term aid after emergencies like hurricanes

Neo-colonialism

Indirect control of countries through economic or political influence

World systems theory

Model dividing countries into core, periphery, and semi-periphery

IMF

Organization that stabilizes global economies and exchange rates