U.S. Gov Final

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Initiative

Initiative

A process in which a certain number of qualified voters sign petitions in favor of a proposed statute or constitutional amendment, which then goes directly to the ballot.

Statutory law

A law passed by the legislature

Referendum

A process by which a legislative measure is referred to the State's voters for final approval or rejection

Recall

A petition procedure by which voters may remove an elected official from office before the completion of his or her regular term

Item veto

A governor may veto one or more items in a bill without rejecting the entire measure

Clemency

Mercy or leniency granted to an offender by a chief executive

Pardon

Release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime, by the President (in a federal case) or a governor (in a State case)

Common law

An unwritten law made by a judge that has developed over centuries from those generally accepted ideas of right and wrong that have gained judicial recognition

Precedent

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

Felony

A serious crime which may be punished by a heavy fine and/or imprisonment or even death

Misdemeanor

A lesser offense, punishable by a small fine and/or a short jail term

County

A major unit of local government in most States

Incorporation

The process by which a State establishes a city as a legal body

Zoning

The practice of dividing a city into a number of districts, or zones, and regulating the uses to which property of them may be put

Medicaid

A program administered by the States to provide medical insurance to low-income families

Welfare

Cash assistance to the poor

Regressive tax

Tax levied at a flat rate, without regard to the level of a taxpayer's income or ability to pay

Progressive tax

Type of tax proportionate to income

Bicameral

A legislative body composed of 2 chambers

Reapportionment

Redistribute, as in seats in a legislative body

Seniority Rule

Unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving the top posts in each chamber, particularly committee chairmanships, for members with the longest records of service

Expressed Powers

Those delegated powers if the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution; also called the "enumerated powers"

Impeachment

To bring formal charges against a public official

Constituents

The people and interests that an elected official represents

Filibuster

A stalling tactic in which senators monopolize the Senate floor with the talk and other delays so a bill cannot be brought to vote

Pocket Veto

A 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

22nd Amendment

Limits the number of terms served by the President (maximum 2 full terms- 8 years)

Amnesty

A blanket pardon offered to a group of law violators

Cabinet

An advisory body to the President

Original jurisdiction

The power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court

Appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions of inferior (lower) courts

Judicial Restraint

- A judicial philosophy in which supporters believe that judges should decide cases based on the original intern of the Framers or those who enacted the statute(s) involved in a case, or on precedent

Judicial Activism

A judicial philosophy in which supporters believe that judges should interpret and apply provisions in the Constitution and in statute law in light of ongoing changes in conditions and values

Marbury v. Madison

Established the power of judicial review- greatly expanded the power of the Supreme Court by establishing its right to overturn acts of Congress, a power not explicitly granted by the Constitution.

Suffrage

right to vote

Gerrymandering

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

Registration

procedure of voter identification intended to prevent fraudulent voting

Political Efficacy

one's own influence or effectiveness of politics

Political Socialization

process by which people gain their political attitudes and opinions

Ballot

device that voters use to register a choice in an election

Interest Group

private organizations whose members share certain views and work to shape public policy

Lobbying

activities by which group pressures are brought to bear on legislators the legislative process, and all aspects of the public policy making process

Political Party

a group of persons who seek to control government through winning elections and holding public office

Political Spectrum

the range of political views

Partisanship

the strong support of their party and its policy stands

Plurality

the largest number of votes cast for the office

Ideological

based on a particular set of beliefs- a comprehensive view of social, economic, and political matters

Bipartisan

supported by two parties

Caucus

as a nominating device, a group of like-minded people who meet to select the candidate they will support in an upcoming election

Direct Primary

an election held within a party to pick that party's candidates for the general election

Closed Primary

a party nominating election in which only declared party members can vote

Open Primary

a party-nominating election in which any qualified voter can take part

Party Platform

a formal set of principle goals which are supported by a political party

Citizens United v. FEC (Federal Election Committee)

A case in which the Court held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment