Civi US defs

primaries

elections for the leader of the party

caucuses

meetings, speeches, debates, votes

superdelegates

party members whose votes count more than regular delegates

bipartisanship

the 2 party manage to work together

polarisation

the 2 party are moving to the extremes

apportionment

the way seats are distributed

impeachment

trial but no removal

incumbents

re-elected congressionals

town hall meetings

a representative meeting with their constituents

committees

groups of congressional experts on a subject

majority leader

sets the legislative agenda, organises debates, in charge of party discipline

minority leader

represents and units the party

pork barrel politics / pet projects

adding something to the bill in exchange of a vote

Chief Justice

head of the Supreme Court

judicial review

Supreme Court deciding if it’s constitutional or not

jurisdiction

power to interpret and apply the law

original jurisdiction

a case that hasn’t been judged before

appellate jurisdiction

cases already judged in prior courts

certiorari process

Supreme Court deciding which case to work on (criteria)

District Courts

state level, original jurisdiction

Courts of Appeal

for federal laws

positivism

see the Constitution as a tool for social progress (liberals)

textualism

consider what the Constitution meant when it was written (conservatives)

briefs of amicus curiae / friend-of-the-court brief

people sending arguments in favour of a side for a SC case

electoral college

security against bad politicians and bad people’s judgement. Members are part of their party

social conservatives (Republicans)

want to ban abortion, gay rights… rural areas

fiscal conservatives (Republicans)

pro-business, NY

plurality

gain all seats at 50,1%

proportional

biggest proportion of the people who vote win

majority

runoff = 2e tour

negative campaigning

voting against someone and not for someone

gerrymandering

electoral districts to gain seats quickly, favours polarisation

political parties

seek to win elections, need to compromise

labour unions

professional organisations speaking with the employer for the employee

social movement

short lifespan, coalition of groups

lobbies

professional corporation, to aid clients (interest groups) in a domain

interest groups

raise awareness, raise money, want to change the law

Political Action Committees (PACs)

raise money to help a politician’s campaign, indirect support

litigation

interest groups initiating lawsuits to get to the SC

judicial self-restraint

avoiding making decisions challenging established constitutional norms unless it’s absolutely necessary