Unit 2 Vocab & Study Guide - AM/AZ Gov

Reapportion

Redistribute, as in seats in a legislative body

Gerrymandering

The drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group

Constituency

The people and interests that an elected official represents

Trustee

Lawmaker who votes based on their conscience and judgement, not the views of their constituents

Partisan

Lawmakers who owe their first allegiance to their political party and votes according to the party line

Oversight Function

Review by legislative committees of the policies and programs of the executive branch

Franking Privilege

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letter and other materials postage-free

Strict Constructionist

One who argues a narrow interpretation of the Constitution's provisions, in particular those granting powers to the Federal Government

Liberal Constructionist

One who argues a broad interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution, particularly those granting powers to the Federal Government

Consensus

General agreement among various groups on fundamental matters; broad agreement on public questions

Bankruptcy

The legal proceeding by which a bankrupt person's assets are distributed among those to whom they owe debts

Eminent Domain

Power of a government to take private property for public use

Appropriate

Assign to a particular use

Impeach

To bring formal charges against a public official; the House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach civil officers of the United States

Acquit

Find not guilty of a charge

Censure

Issue a formal condemnation

Standing Committee

Permanent committee in a legislative body to which bills in a specified subject matter area are referred

Joint Committee

Legislative committee composed of members of both houses

Quorum

Least number of members who must be present for a legislative body to conduct business; majority

Filibuster

Various tactics (usually long speeches) aimed at defeating a bill in a legislative body by preventing a final vote; associated with the U.S. Senate

Cloture

Procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate in a legislative body

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature; literally (Latin) "I forbid"

Pocket Veto

Type of veto a chief executive may use after a legislature has adjourned; when the chief executive does not sign or reject a bill within the time allowed to do so

Balance The Ticket

When a presidential candidate chooses a running mate who can strengthen his chance of being elected by virtue of certain ideological,geographic, racial, gender, or other characteristics

Presidential Primary

An election in which a party's voters (1) choose State party organization's delegate to their party's national convention, and/or (2) express a preference for their party's presidential nomination

Platform

A political party's formal statement of basic principles, stands on major issues, and objectives

Keynote Address

Speech given at a party convention to set the tone for the convention and the campaign to come

Electoral College

Group of persons chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President

Electorate

All of the people entitled to vote in a given election

Mass Media

Those means of communication that reach large audiences, especially television, radio, printed publications, and the Internet

Executive Order

Directive, rule, or regulation issued by a chief executive or subordinates, based upon constitutional or statutory authority and having the force of law

Executive Agreement

A pact made by the President directly with the head of a foreign state; a binding international agreement with the force of law but which (unlike a treaty) does not require Senate consent

Amnesty

A blanket pardon offered to a group of law violators

Isolationism

A purposeful refusal to become generally involved in the affairs of the rest of the world

Foreign Policy

A group of policies made up of all the stands and actions that a nation takes in every aspect of its relationships with other countries; everything a nation's government says and does in world affairs

Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case

Plaintiff

In civil law, the party who brings a suit or some other legal action against another (the defendant) in court

Defendant

In a civil suit, the person against whom a court action is brought by the plaintiff; in a criminal case, the person charged with the crime

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions of inferior courts

Criminal Case

A case in which a defendant is tried for committing a crime as defined by the law

Civil Case

A case involving a noncriminal matter such as a contract dispute or a claim of patent infringement

Docket

A court's list of cases to be heard

Precedent

Court decision that stands as an example to be followed in future, similar cases