gov ap review

affirmative action

affirmative action

Programs intended to give a boost or preference to minority applicants in contracting, employment, housing, and college/professional school admissions over white applicants.agenda setting

agenda setting

Identification of the problems and/or issues that require the attention

of the government to resolve.

amicus curiae brief

a brief submitted to the court by an interested third party that outlines issues it thinks are important in the case.

Amicus curiae

“friend of the court”

appellate jurisdiction

The power that a court has to review the decision of a lower

court; the Supreme Court exercises appellate jurisdiction in the overwhelming majority of

the cases it hears.

bill

a proposed law

bill of attainder

A law that makes a person guilty of a crime without a trial; neither

Congress nor the states can enact such a law under the Constitution.

blanket primary

A primary election in which candidates from all parties are on the

ballot, and a registered voter can vote for the Democratic candidate for one office and the

Republican for another.

block grants

Federal funds to the states for programs in broad policy areas such as

law enforcement with few, if any, restrictions on how the money is used.

brief

A written document submitted to a court that presents the facts and legal

reasoning of a party to the lawsuit.

capital-gains tax

A tax on the sale of stock or real property.

casework

Services performed by an elected official for constituents

Ex: A member of Congress gets tickets to tour the White House for a family or contacts the Department of Veterans Affairs for a person in his/her district

categorical grant

Federal funds to states and local governments for specific

programs that usually require the recipient to match the money provided and have other

strings attached.

caucus

Made up of members of Congress that may or may not be from the same

party but share common policy concerns; the Congressional Black Caucus is an example.

The term also refers to a meeting of all the members of a party in Congress.

clear and present danger test

Limitations on freedom of speech established in Schenck v. U.S. (1919). The famous example is that a person cannot yell fire in a crowded theater.

closed convention

A party national convention at which the nominee has already

been determined through the primaries; one candidate won a majority of the delegates before the convention.

closed primary

A primary election that is limited to registered voters of a particular

political party.

closed rule

Issued by the House Rules Committee; strict time limit for debate in the

House and no amendments can be offered.

cloture

Method to cut off a filibuster in the Senate. The Senate needs 16 votes to call

for cloture and 60 votes to end a filibuster.

coattail effect

The ability of a strong or popular candidate to get other candidates on

the ticket elected; most often used in connection with a presidential candidate helping

other members of the party win an election.

committee report

Issued by the standing committee that examined the bill, it

includes the text of the bill as reported by the committee, a summary of its provisions,

and reasons for committee approval.

concurrent powers

Powers that are shared by both the federal government and the

states.

Ex: taxing, borrowing, eminent domain, establishing criminal codes, maintaining law and order, and spending to promote the general welfare

concurring opinion

An opinion written by one or more judges in an appellate case

that agrees with the decision but presents a different legal argument.

conference committee

A committee made up of members of the House and the

Senate that is responsible for reconciling the differences when two versions of the same

bill pass both houses of Congress.

congressional-executive agreement

Trade agreement that only requires approval of

a majority of both houses of Congress and not a two thirds vote of the Senate.

constitutional courts

Courts created by Congress under Article III where the judges

serve for life; the U.S. Courts of Appeals are an example.

creative federalism

Identified with President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society; the

federal government determines the needs of the states.

cross-ownership

In the mass media, a corporation owns a broadcast outlet, for

example, a television or radio station, and a newspaper in the same market.

de facto segregation

Segregation that results from living patterns rather than law.

de jure segregation

Segregation that results from law, for example, the Jim Crow

laws in the South required racial segregation in public schools, public accommodations,

public transportation, and many other areas.

deregulation

Reducing or completely eliminating federal government oversight of

an industry so as to allow it to operate more freely; deregulation is supposed to encourage

competition and reduce costs to consumers.

discount rate

The interest rate that the Federal Reserve charges to member banks for

loans. The discount rate is set by the Federal Reserve Board.

discretionary spending

Federal spending that is authorized through the

appropriations process, for example, the amount included in the defense budget for

personnel.

divided government

Occurs when the president is from one party and Congress is

controlled by the other party. This also occurs if the House is controlled by one party and

the Senate by the other party.

dual federalism

A model of the relationship between the federal government and the

states where each is supreme in their own sphere and tension exists between them; also

known as layer-cake federalism. States’ rights are emphasized, and the federal

government is limited to the enumerated powers.

due process

Protection against the arbitrary loss of life, liberty, and property

provided for under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.

entitlements

Government benefits provided to Americans who qualify because of

their age, income, and/or status, for example, children living below the poverty line, the

disabled, and veterans.

enumerated powers

Powers that the Constitution specifically grants to the federal

government (Congress); also known as delegated powers.

establishment clause

First Amendment freedom of religion protection that focuses

on the separation of church and state.

ex post facto law

A law that makes an action a crime that was legal when it was

committed or increases the penalty for a crime after it has been committed. Under the

Constitution, neither the states nor Congress can pass such a law.

exclusionary rule

rule Evidence that is obtained illegally is not admissible in court.

executive agreement

An agreement between the United States and another country

that does not require approval of the Senate; different from treaty.

executive order

Action by the president that does not require the approval of

Congress.

exit poll

A poll conducted on election day to determine how people voted.

fast track authority

The president is granted the power to negotiate trade

agreements that Congress must vote up or down without any amendments.

federal budget deficit

Difference in any year between government spending and

government revenue; the national debt is the cumulative unpaid total of the annual deficit.

filibuster

Talking a bill to death on the Senate floor so that no other business can be

conducted; only a cloture vote can end a filibuster.

fiscal policy

Using taxes and spending to impact the economy; associated with

Keynesian economics.

flat tax

A single low tax rate on all taxpayers coupled with the elimination of all or

most exemptions.

franking privilege

The right of members of Congress to free use of the mail for

official business.

free exercise clause

First Amendment freedom of religion protection against

interference with the practice of religion.

front-loading

Refers to the practice of bunching presidential primaries early in the

year so that a majority of the delegates are selected by March.

fruit of the poisonous tree

Additional evidence that is discovered from evidence

obtained through an illegal search, which is also not admissible in court

full faith and credit clause

Laws, court decisions, and records of one state are

recognized and valid in every other state.

gender gap

Men and women hold different positions on a wide range of political

issues; women tend to vote for the Democratic party more than men.

gerrymandering

The redrawing of legislative district lines in such a way to favor

one political party over the other; racial gerrymandering refers to creating districts that

guarantee the election of minority candidate.

good-faith exception

If the authorities act “in good faith,” evidence that otherwise

may have been excluded may be admissible.

grassroots lobbying

Organizing a letter-writing campaign or taking out

advertisements to influence public opinion and persuade elected officials to support a

particular policy..

gross domestic product

The total output of goods and services produced in the

United States, which is a measure of the health of the economy

Group of Eight (G8)

World’s major industrial nations—Canada, France, Great

Britain, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States—plus Russia who meet regularly to

discuss global economic issues.

hard money

Money used directly by a candidate running for office and is subject to

campaign finance laws and Federal Election Commission regulations.

hate speech

speech Offensive speech against racial/ethnic minorities, women, and

homosexuals that creates a hostile environment.

implied powers

Power of the federal government not specifically mentioned in the

Constitution but derived from the necessary and proper clause.

incorporation doctrine

The Bill of Rights, with certain exceptions, applies to states

and municipalities as well as the federal government through the Fourteenth Amendment.

independent executive agency

Part of the Executive Branch but not included in any

Executive department; the head of the agency is appointed by the president and serves at

the pleasure of the president. NASA and the CIA are examples.

independent regulatory agency

Part of the Executive Branch and responsible for regulating and oversight of a segment of the economy; managed by board or

commissions appointed by the president for a fixed term. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an example.

interest group

An organization whose members share the same concerns, and try to

influence public policy that impact those concerns.

issue network

A looser relationship than the iron triangle; refers to the numerous

people who are involved in the formulation of policy, including the president, members

of Congress, the cabinet, lobbyists, interest groups, government agencies, and scholars

and academics..

joint committee

A committee of Congress made up of members of both houses that

focuses on issues of general concern but does not propose legislation; the Joint Economic

Committee is an example.

judicial activism

Courts have a more expansive role to play in shaping public

policy.

judicial restraint

The function of the courts is to say when the law is not to make

new law.

judicial review

The power of the Supreme Court to declare law passed by Congress

or the state legislatures or an Executive action unconstitutional; established in Marbury v.

Madison (1803).

Keynesian economics

Associated with the ideas of British economist John Maynard

Keynes; economic slumps are the result of too little demand; government can stimulate

demand by increasing spending and cutting taxes even if this results in growing deficits.

laissez-faire economics

Government should keep its hand off the economy, and not

interfere with business; popular concept in the nineteenth century when the federal

government actually helped business through land grants to the railroads and high

protective tariffs.

leak

An unauthorized release of information to the press from someone in the

government.

legislative veto

Congress rejects an action of the president by a majority vote of both

houses; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Lemon Test

Criteria established in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) concerning a law or government action dealing with religion. Such laws or actions are constitutional if they serve a secular purpose, does not inhibit or advance religion, and does not entangle the government with religion.

line-item veto

Allows the president to selectively veto parts of a bill without vetoing

the entire bill; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

lobbying

The way an interest group tries to influence public policy.

logrolling

An agreement between two or more members of Congress to vote for each

other’s bills.

mandate

Law, regulation, or court decision that compels a state or local government

to do something under the threat of legal action or the cut off of federal funds.

mandatory spending

Federal spending that is required by law, for example, for

entitlement programs such as Social Security and veterans’ benefits.

means test

Income must be at a certain level to qualify for benefits from federal or

state programs. There are means tests for such programs as foods stamps and Medicaid.

media event

A staged public event that gives the press the opportunity to see an

elected official in action, and that presents the politician in a good light.

midterm elections

Congressional elections held between presidential elections; the

president’s party usually loses seats in Congress.

monetary policy

Control of the growth of the monetary supply by the Federal

Reserve System.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Treaty that established a free

trade zone between the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

off the record

A reporter cannot directly use information provided in an interview.

on background

A reporter can quote information provided in the interview, but

cannot attribute the quote specifically to the interviewee.

on deep background

A reporter can use information provided in the interview, but

cannot make even an indirect reference to the source.

on the record

A reporter can quote and use the name of the source of information

provided in the interview.

open convention

A party national convention at which no candidate has won a

majority of the delegates in the primaries; the candidate is chosen by the convention.

original jurisdiction

the first court to hear a case; the Supreme Court has original

jurisdiction in cases involving two or more states, the United States and a state, a state

and the citizens of another state, and foreign diplomats.

party dealignment

Weakening of ties between the voters and the two major parties;

voters increasingly identify themselves as independents.

party realignment

Shift in voter loyalty in response to critical events; this occurred

in 1932 with the election of Democrat Franklin Roosevelt.

platform

A statement of a political party on the issues facing the country that is

adopted at the national convention; each issue position is known as a plank.

plurality opinion

Supported by three or four justices because the decision, but not

the legal reasoning, is supported by a majority.

pocket veto

The president does not sign a bill within 10 days of Congress adjourning

causing the bill to fail and not become a law.

political action committee

Established by a corporation, labor union, or other interest group to raise and contribute money to the campaigns of candidates for office or to a national party.

political agenda

The issues the American people believe are important for the

government to handle.