Vocabulary

Question 1

Bully Pulpit

Answer 1

Platform from which to advocate an agenda.
EX. Theodore Roosevelt used writing and speech skills to communicate his beliefs

Question 2

Original Jurisdiction

Answer 2

A court’s authority to hear and decide a case for the first time before any appellate review occurs

Question 3

Horse Race Journalism

Answer 3

Focus on polling data and public perception instead of candidate policy, and almost exclusive reporting on candidate differences rather than similarities.

Question 4

Amicus Curiae

Answer 4

Part- judicial branch
Idea- qualified individuals or organizations file opinin to be considered as a third party.
Ex. Case about public health. Independent company warns it’s large effect.

Question 5

Straight ticket voting (also called straight party voting)

Answer 5

Allows voters to choose a party’s entire slate of candidates with just a single ballot mark.

Question 6

Trend V.S Pattern

Answer 6

A trend is a general change in one variable compared to another over a period of time.
A pattern is a sequence of data points that show a shape or structure we can easily recognize

Question 7

Midterm V.S. Presidential Elections

Answer 7

Presidential General Elections are every four years.
Midterm elections fall in between at the 2-year mark. “General” election basically means it is an election that happens in all states and territories at the same time. While the Midterm Primaries ran earlier in the year and determined the nominees who would run, the Midterm General Election is on the second Tuesday in November, just as the Presidential Election.

Question 8

Linkage Institutions

Answer 8

Structures that connect individuals to the government and facilitate communication between citizens and policymakers.
EX. Media, interest groups, political parties

Question 9

Political Efficacy

Answer 9

The belief that one’s actions can influence political processes and that individuals have the capability to make a difference in governance
EX. When people feel a high level of political efficacy, they are more likely to participate in elections, believing their vote matters.

Question 10

Stare Decisis

Answer 10

“let the decision stand” holds that courts and judges should honor “precedent”—or the decisions, rulings, and opinions from prior cases.

Question 11

Natural Rights (John Locke)

Answer 11

Everyone is entitled to Life, Health, and Possessions. We give up the most extreme to enter common wealth and protection

Question 12

Popular Sovereignty

Answer 12

All members of the commonwealth are equal in natural rights. Decisions in the government are made by the consent of the governed

Question 13

Republicanism
Baron de Montesquieu

Answer 13

Consent of governed is used through elections and representatives. Separated powers and voted by the people

Question 14

Representative Government Theories Participatory

Answer 14

-Emphasis on participation in politics and civil society.
-Policymaking institutions are influenced by citizens directly
-Impossible fully because there are too many people
EX. -town hall meetings

Question 15

Pluralist Democracy

Answer 15

System wherein various interest groups compete for influence in policymaking. Pooling interest to persuade legislation.
EX. gun rights, retired people,

Question 16

elite democracy

Answer 16

Part- Federal power
Idea- power is concentrated in
the hands of a small, privileged
group.
Ex. Electoral college, rich individual contribution, president election of federal judges

Question 17

Amicus briefs

Answer 17

are filed by people who typically take the position of one side in a case, in the process supporting a cause that has some bearing on the issues in the case

Question 18

Shay’s Rebellion
Articles of Confederation

Answer 18

Part- weakness in articles of confederation
Idea- taxes were not regulated by a federal government

Question 19

Territorial Disputes
Articles of Confederation

Answer 19

territories were lost and illegal speculating of land

Question 20

Economic Recession

Answer 20

Taxes and economics were failing with no one to regulate them

Question 21

Categorical Grants

Answer 21

Strict provisions money to the states with strings attached with specific areas of need
EX. Healthcare, road, construction

Question 22

Block Grants

Answer 22

Part- Power of purse
Idea- Larger sums of money given to states for essential purpose
EX. Education, community development

Question 23

Mandates

Answer 23

-Federal rules sent and rewarded with funding.
-Unfunded mandates are for complying without funding

Question 24

Dual Federalism
Layered

Answer 24

States and federal governments layering responsibilities. Used in the earlier years but stopped in the 1930s with FDR

Question 25

Cooperative Federalism

Answer 25

States and federal governments sharing responsibilities in a marble cake. This shares costs, mandates, guidelines, and grants. Made during FDR

Question 26

Unitary Government

Answer 26

a system of political organization in which most or all of the governing power resides in a centralized government.

Question 27

Germane

Answer 27

Having to do with the topic or bill presented

Question 28

Filibuster/Cloture

Answer 28

Used kill bills and stop them from being passed. Can be stopped with a cloture with voting

Question 29

Mandatory Spending (Congress)

Answer 29

spent for programs such as social security, insurance, and government assistance

Question 30

Discretionary spending

Answer 30

non-mandatory expenditures Ex. Education

Question 31

Pork-Barrel spending

Answer 31

discretionary spending that is funded for individual members

Question 32

Earmarks

Answer 32

spending bills on a specific line item to funnel money to vendors or buisness

Question 33

Grants-in-aid

Answer 33

financial programs constructed to facilitate relationship between the state and federal government

Question 34

Trustee

Answer 34

Official expected to vote independently

Question 35

Delegate

Answer 35

Official expected to represent the views of their constituents even with different beliefs

Question 36

Prior Restraint

Answer 36

part- federal government idea- Censorship of news material before it is made public. Ex. New York Times V. United States

Question 37

Representative Government

Answer 37

American Republicanism which is a combination of participatory, pluralist, and elitist.

Question 38

The Virginia Plan

Answer 38

Each state was represented proportionally to it's population

Question 39

New Jersey Plan

Answer 39

Each states were represented equally regardless of size

Question 40

Bicameral

Answer 40

Consisting of two houses

Question 41

Unicameral

Answer 41

Consisting of one single house

Question 42

Pocket Veto

Answer 42

If congressional session ends in 10 days the president can choose not to sign it. It will then have to go through the entire legislative process again. Congress can overturn this with a 2/3 vote.

Question 43

Standing Committees

Answer 43

Part- legislative house Idea- Permanent specialized committees Ex. House Ways and Means Committee

Question 44

Joint Committees

Answer 44

Part- legislative Idea- Made of both the Senate and House members. Communicate to the public and investigations but do net send bills to the floor

Question 45

Select Committees (House and Senate)

Answer 45

Temporary organized for special purpose. Carry out investigations for special legislation. (The House Watergate Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Unfair Campaign Practices)

Question 46

Conference Committees (House and Senate)

Answer 46

temporary made for writing a bill. Negotiate between houses and compromise bills and voted on for amendments. Disbanded once it is negotiated

Question 47

Pigeonholed (Committees and Houses)

Answer 47

Committees refuse to vote a bill out and keep it from being considered in the houses. Can be forced with a discharge petition

Question 48

Chief of Staff

Answer 48

Part- executive Idea- top aide to the president manages the executive office by controlling access to the president

Question 49

Secretary of Cabinets

Answer 49

-Appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate -run their departments and carry out the president's policies

Question 50

Federal Judges

Answer 50

-Appointed by the president and confirmed by the senate -serve for life

Question 51

Opinion poll

Answer 51

Part- voter behavior Idea- opinions on policy and interests

Question 52

Benchmark poll

Answer 52

Part- voter behavior Idea- taken at start of campaign to measure progress

Question 53

Tracking poll

Answer 53

Part- voter behavior Idea- measures thoughts on behavior over time

Question 54

Entrance/exit polls

Answer 54

Part- voter behavior Idea- measure on site what people are voting

Question 55

caucus

Answer 55

meeting of local party members for choosing delegates of national convention.

Question 56

fiscal federalism

Answer 56

division of government functions and finances