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Hopper

A box located by the Speaker's seat in the House where members formally introduce their bills

Committee Referral

The process of referring bills to a committee, which often refers them to subcommittees for study, hearings, and recommendations

Markup Stage

The stage where a final version of the bill is written

Rules Committee

In the House, the committee that decides the length of debate and the extent of amendments to a bill

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to allow unlimited debate on a bill

Cloture

A procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote

Log Rolling

The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation

State of the Union Address

An annual message delivered by the President of the United States to a joint session of the United States Congress

Tonkin Gulf Resolution

A joint resolution that delegated powers to the President to escalate military involvement in Vietnam

Fast Track Authority

A legislative process that allows expedited consideration of trade agreements by Congress

National Security Adviser

Provides regular briefings on military and intelligence matters

Agenda Setting

The media's ability to define the importance of particular events and issues

Bully Pulpit

A platform for pushing the President's agenda to the public

Fire Side Chats

A series of radio addresses given by U.S President Franklin D Roosevelt

Sound bites

Short phrases used to sum up ideas and convey larger policies

Market-Driven Journalism

The practice of selecting and prioritizing news stories based on their ability to generate interest and attract viewers, often influenced by newsworthiness and entertainment value

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

The regulatory body created by the U.S government to hold the media accountable, regulate them, and prevent any one network from gaining too much power

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

A law that allows the public and media to request government documents, promoting transparency, but the government can withhold information based on nine exemptions such as national security, personnel rights, or trade secrets

Article Three, Section One of the Constitution

States that Federal Judges shall hold their offices during good behavior, ensuring their tenure unless found to have broken the law, to protect judicial independence

Judiciary Act of 1801

The Act that reduced the number of Supreme Court justices from six down to five, demonstrating Congress's control over the number of justices who may sit on the court as a check on the power of the Supreme Court

Judicial Review

The power of the judiciary to review and potentially invalidate laws and actions of the legislative and executive branches that are found to violate the Constitution

Fletcher versus Peck

A landmark case in 1810 where Chief Justice Marshall upheld the principle that matters of constitutional interpretation should be heard in the highest courts of the land

Dartmouth College versus Woodward

A case in 1819 where Chief Justice Marshall decided that Dartmouth's original charter was a contract and was thus protected under the constitutional prohibition against state interference in contracts

Court-packing plan

President Franklin D Roosevelt's 1937 plan to prevent the Supreme Court from overturning his New Deal programs by adding new judges to the Court

Rule of Four

At least four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree to issue a writ of certiorari for a case to be heard

U.S Circuit Court of Appeals

Reviews district court decisions for errors

Judicial Implementation

Process of putting court decisions into practice

Precedent

Legal principle established in previous court cases

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Presiding judge managing the Federal court system

Article Three, Section Two

Outlines the process for appointing Supreme Court Justices

Federal Judges

Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate

Senate Judiciary Committee

Responsible for evaluating judicial nominees

U.S Court of Appeals

Appellate courts reviewing district court decisions

Amicus Curiae Brief

Submitted by interested parties not involved in the case

Precedents

Earlier court decisions relevant to the current case

FISA Court

Grants Federal government surveillance powers for national security

Civil Rights

Guarantees equal treatment by the federal government

The United States Report

Publication making Supreme Court decisions accessible

Civil Liberties

Freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution

Griswold v Connecticut

Protected the right to privacy by striking down a law

Ninth Amendment

States individual rights are not limited to those in the Constitution

Lawrence v Texas

Ruled consenting adult homosexuals have a right to privacy

Obergefell v Hodges

Legalized same-sex marriage in the United States

Obergefell v Hodges

The Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, marking a milestone in marriage equality and individual rights protection

Civil Liberties

Freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution that limit government power, also known as negative rights

Right to Privacy

Found in various amendments, it includes protection against self-incrimination and rights not explicitly stated in the Constitution

Griswold v Connecticut

Supreme Court case protecting the right to privacy by striking down a law banning contraceptives

Bowers v Hardwick

1986 Supreme Court case denying the right to engage in homosexual acts

Lawrence v Texas

2003 Supreme Court case overturning Bowers v Hardwick, affirming privacy rights for consenting adult homosexuals

Roe v Wade

1973 Supreme Court case establishing the right to abortion under the right to privacy

Judicial Activism

Judges influencing public policy through decisions, often criticized by those favoring judicial restraint

Executive Order 9066

Signed by F. Roosevelt, authorized sending Americans of Japanese descent to prison camps during WWII

Japanese Internment

Forced relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII

Korematsu v United States

Supreme Court case declaring the evacuation of Japanese Americans constitutional during WWII

Patriot Act

Passed after 9/11 to enhance surveillance and counter terrorism

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments protecting individual liberties, influenced by the English Bill of Rights

First Amendment

Safeguards freedoms of expression, religion, speech, press, and political activity

Second Amendment

Guarantees the right to keep and bear arms

Fourth Amendment

Protects against unreasonable search and seizure

Fifth Amendment

Includes rights in criminal cases like due process and protection against self-incrimination

Eighth Amendment

Guarantees protection against excessive bail, fines, or cruel punishment

Ninth and Tenth Amendments

Reserve powers not given to the federal government to the people or states

Constitutional Amendment Process

Requires 2/3 vote of Congress and 3/4 state approval for ratification.