The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Judicial Review

Those who favor a weaker national government. (And

stronger state governments).

Anti-federalists

A group with a distinct political interest.

Factions

Power given to the state governments alone.

e.g. -- the power to issue licenses, regulate commerce wholly within the state, etc.

Reserve Powers

Those who favor a stronger national government.

Federalists

Constitutional authority is shared by three different branches of government.

Separation of Powers

A weak constitution that governed America during the

Revolutionary War.

"league of friendship"

ratified in 1781.

Articles of Confederation

Proposal at the Constitutional Convention to have equal state

representation

New Jersey Plan

Government authority shared by national and state government

with the goal of protecting personal liberty.

Federalism

Compromise between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan:

**A popularly elected House of Representatives based on state

population.

**A state-selected Senate, with two members for each state.

Great Compromise

A meeting in Philadelphia in 1787 that produced a new

constitution.

Constitutional Convention

Powers shared by the national and state government.

e.g.-- Collecting taxes, building roads, having courts, etc.

Concurrent Powers

Powers given to the national government alone.

e.g.-- the authority to print money, declare war, make

treaties, etc.Enumerated, Delegated or Expressed Powers (formal

powers)

A proposal at the convention that would create three separate

branches with a legislative branch with at least one house

of the legislature elected directly by the people.

The Virginia Plan

Authority shared (and checked) by three branches of

government.

Checks and Balances

A 1786-1787 rebellion in which ex-Revolutionary War soldiers

attempted to prevent foreclosures of farms as a result of high interest rates and taxes.

Shay’ Rebellion

First 10 amendments to the Constitution.

Bill of Rights

A law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty.

Bill of Attainder

A law that makes and act criminal although the act was legal when it was committed.

Ex Post Facto Law

An order to produce an arrested person before a judge.

Habeas Corpus

Could not levy taxes or regulate commerce

Sovereignty, independence retained by states

One vote in Congress for each state

Nine of thirteen votes in Congress required for any measure

Delegates to Congress picked, paid for by state legislatures

Little money coined by Congress.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Name That Amendment

All Males (races) can vote

15th

All Women can vote19

All 18 year olds can vote

26

Prohibits a Poll Tax

24

State can not deny you due process or equal protection of

the law

14th

Washington DC receive three electoral votes

23

Procedure enabling voters to reject a measure passed by

legislature. About 1/2 the states permit this procedure.

Referendum

The effort to transfer responsibility for many public

programs and services from the federal government to the

states.

Devolution

Money from the national government that states can

spend within broad guidelines determined by Washington. (a

part of devolution)

Block Grants

Section of the Constitution allowing Congress to pass all laws "necessary

and proper" to its duties, and which has permitted Congress to exercise powers not specifically given to it (enumerated)

by the Constitution.

Elastic Clause or Necessary & Proper Clause

Doctrine holding that the national government is supreme

in its sphere, that states are supreme in theirs, and the two

spheres should be kept separate. (Layered Cake)

Dual Federalism

Process that permits voters to put legislative measures directly on the ballot, by getting enough

signature on a petition.

Initiative

Terms set by the national government that states must

meet whether or not they accept federal grants. Most concern civil

rights and environmental protection.

Mandates

Federal grants for specific purposes, such as building and airport. Often require local matching funds.

Categorical Grants

A citizen's capacity to understand and influence

political events.

Political Efficacy

First amendment ban on laws "respecting an establishment of

religion.”

Establishment Clause

First Amendment requirement that law cannot prevent free

exercise of religion.

Free Exercise Clause

(many things that might be safely said in peacetime may be

punished in wartime.) For example, fire in a theater.

Clear-and-Present Danger Test

It involves a state trying to tax the Bank of the United States. Using the

Elastic clause this case expanded federal power.

McCulloch V. Maryland

When the Rule of Four asks for a case from the lower court to be sent up for

reviewWrit of Certiorari

Latin for “to stand by things decided” When the court uphold precedent.

Stare Decisis

A friend of the court brief that interest group will submit to the court to try to

influence their opinion.Amicus Curiae

 Reviews cases decided against the United States and determines whether the government will seek review in the

Supreme Court.Solicitor General

Court cases that apply Bill of Rights to states.

Selective Incorporation

The clause in the 14th amendment that deals with

criminal rights.

Due Process Clause

The clause in the 14th amendment that deals with civil

rights.

Equal Protection Clause

The Court held that criminal suspects must be informed of their right to

consult with an attorney and of their right to remain silent prior to

questioning by police, because of the due process clause in the 14th

Amendment Miranda v. Arizona

Supreme Court decided that reapportionment issues (attempts to change the way voting districts are

delineated) present questions appropriate for judicial resolution,

thus enabling federal courts to intervene in and to decide

reapportionment cases.Baker v. Carr

Decided that evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth

Amendment protection against "unreasonable searches and seizures"

may not be used in criminal prosecutions in state courts, as well as federal courts Related to the Due Process clause of the

14th Amendment 1961

Mapp v. Ohio

Supreme Court unanimously ruled that state courts are required by the 6th and 14th Amendments (both due process and equal protection) of the

Constitution to provide lawyers in criminal cases for defendants unable

to afford their own attorneys Gideon v. Wainwright

Improperly gathered evidence may not be introduced in a

criminal trial.

Exclusionary Rule

An act that conveys a political message.

Symbolic Speech

Censorship of a publication.

Prior Restraint

Supreme Court says the First Amendment applies to states

1925.

Gitlow v. New York

Established Judicial Review.

Marbury v. Madison

A Supreme Court decision upholding state-enforced racial

segregation 1896.

Plessy v. Ferguson

A Supreme Court decision that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas

Landmark case in which the Court first found a "right to privacy" in the Constitution.

Griswold v. Connecticut

A ruling that declared all state laws prohibiting abortion

unconstitutional 1973.

Roe v. Wade

Designing remedies for overcoming racism and sexism by taking race and gender into

account.

Affirmative Action

Main points: employment and public accommodations

Broad in scope, strong enforcement mechanisms

Effects: dramatic rise in African American voting & mood of Congress

shifted to pro-civil rights.

1964 Civil Rights Act

How people think or feel about particular things. - Not easy to measure.

Public Opinion

A survey of public opinion.

Poll

Method of selecting from a population in which each person has an equal probability of being

selected.

Random Sample

The difference between the result of random samples taken

at the same time.

Sampling Error

Polls based on interviews conducted on Election Day with

randomly selected voters.

Exit Polls

the process by which personal and other background traits influence one’s views about

politics and government.

Political Socialization

This reflects attitudinal differences between men and women about the

size of government, gun control, social programs, and gay rights

Gender Gap

A more or less consistent set of beliefs about what policies

government ought to pursue.

Political Ideology

Requirement that voters be able to read; formerly used in the

South to disenfranchise African Americans.

Literacy Test

Requirement that for an individual to automatically qualify to vote, his or her

grandparents had to have voted (excluded former slaves and

their descendants).

Grandfather Clause

630,000 new voters in two months

Accounted for almost 40% of applications in 2001-2002

Scant evidence of impact on turnout or election outcomes.

Motor Voter Act of 1993

Requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing Troop & Congress can request the withdrawal after 60 daysWar Power Resolution (Act) 1973

WHAT EVASIVE STRATEGIES DID SOUTHERN STATES USE TO PREVENT AFRICAN AMERICANS FROM VOTING?

Literacy test Poll tax White primaries Grandfather clauses Intimidation of African American voters.

They seek to elect candidates to public office.

Political Parties

When a shift occurs in the popular coalition supporting one

or both parties.

Critical or Realignment Period

A meeting of party delegates held every four years.

National Convention

An electoral system in which the winner is that person who gets the most votes, even if they do not receive a majority; used in almost all American elections.

Plurality System

Voting for candidates of different parties for various offices in the

same election.

Split Ticket Voting

Voting for candidates who are all of the same party.

Straight Ticket

An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete

in national elections.

Two-Party System

A group legally able to solicit campaign contributions from

individuals within an organization and, under certain restrictions, to funnel these to

candidates for office

PAC’s

An election intended to select a party's candidates for elective

office

Primary Election

A meeting of voters to help choose a candidate for office.

Caucus

An election used to fill an elective office.

General Election

A primary election in which voters must first declare to which party they belong.

Closed Primary

A primary in which voters can vote for the candidates of either

the Democratic or the Republican party

Blanket Primary

Organizations that, under an IRS code, raise and spend money to

advance political causes.

527’s

The person currently in office

Incumbent

The result of having districts of very unequal size.

Malapportionment

Drawing a district in some bizarre or unusual manner in order to create an electoral

advantage

Gerrymandering

Public money can be used only for these types of campaign

Presidential

What groups are loyal to the Democrats?

1. African Americans most loyal2. Jews slipping somewhat

3. Hispanics somewhat mixed4. Catholics, southerners,

unionists departing the coalition lately

Loyal Groups to the Republican party

1. Party of business and professional people

2. Very loyal, defecting only in 1964

3. Usually wins vote of poor because of retired, elderly voters

The government agency charged with regulating the electronic media

FCC

A principle that formerly obliged broadcasters to present both sides of

an issueFairness Doctrine

An obligation for broadcasters to give all candidates equal access to the

media

Equal Time Rule

information sent out to the media in order to observe the reaction of an

audience. Trail Balloon

How can Congress Check the President on Foreign Policy

Approve treatiesApprove ambassadors

Declare War

List the Foreign Policy Powers of the President

Commander in Chief of the military (commit troops)

Negotiate TreatiesNominate Ambassadors

How can the President go around the formal checks when

it comes to foreign policy?

Executive Agreements

An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate and forbids a particular bill from being amended on the floor.

Closed Rule

A rule used by the Senate, providing to end or limit debate.

Cloture

A joint committee appointed to resolve differences in House and Senate versions of the same bill.

Conference Committee

A device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had a bill for thirty days, may petition to have it

brought to the floor.

Discharge Petition

An attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking

action on the bill.

Filibuster

A vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a

majority of Republican legislators.

Party Polarization

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hopes of winning their

votes in return

Pork barrel legislation

Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a

certain subject area.

Standing Committee

What are some incumbency advantages?

Media coverage is higher for incumbents.

Incumbents have greater name recognition due to franking, travel to

the district, news coverage.Members secure policies and

programs for voters.

The group that decides what business comes up for a vote & what the limitations on debate should be

House Rules Committee

Unrelated amendments added to a bill.

Rider

The system under which committee chairs are awarded to members who

have the longest continuous service on the committee

Seniority

The ability of members of Congress to mail letters to their constituents free

of charge

Franking Privilege

Structures of authority organized around expertise and

specialization.

Bureaucracy

A theory that no one interest group consistently holds political

power.

Pluralist Theory

• An independent expenditure, in elections in the United States, is a political campaign communication that expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate that is not made in cooperation, consultation or concert with or at the request or suggestion of a candidate, candidate's authorized ...= 527’s

• Citizens United (court case) opened up that Corporations can give unlimited amounts of money to groups.

THE CONSTITUTION• Designed to protect property rights and 

provide control• British desire to manage F&I war debt leads 

America from being allies in 1763 to enemy in 1776 

• Articles of Confederation to weak so need something else (Shay’s proves it)

• The Compromises of 1787 and the Articles• Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists• Marbury and Article III

UNIT II- CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

• Civil Liberties are derived from the Bill of Rights and place restrictions on what the Government can do.

• Civil Rights come from the Civil War amendments (13, 14 and 15) and provide protections for citizens.

• Doctrine of Selective Incorporation• First Amendment (5 parts: RSPAP)

UNIT III – THE BRANCHES• Congress: Article 1- Section 8• Congress: Rules and Qualifications• Committees:  Standing (permanent); Joint 

(both houses); Conference (bill reconciliation); Select (temporary)

• Agency oversight and review• Majority Party; Speaker; Rules committee• Pork and Log Rolling / Trustee & Delegate

• THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH – ARTICLE II– Requirements– Powers and limitations– Treaties vs. Executive Agreements– OMB– Agency heads and the power of appointment– Global leader and coalition builder

• Executive Privilege  (“Nixon”)• Inherent Powers (“Lincoln”)• Power of the Media (“Bully Pulpit”)• Enemy Combatant (“Bush”)

• THE JUDICIARY:  ARTICLE III– Three tier system– Supreme Court sets its own docket– Jurisdiction can be limited by Congress– Original vs. Appellate Jurisdiction– Key Terms: Rule of 4; Certiorari; Precedent; Stare 

Decisis;  Amicus Curie; Solicitor General; 

–Majority Opinion ; Concurring Opinion– Judicial Activism– Judicial Restraint

• INTEREST GROUPS– Purpose is to gain access and input– Lobbyist is a representative hired by an interest 

group to push their particular agenda– 3 Big economic interest groups are trade 

associations (ABA); Labor (UAW); Farmers– Largest today are Gun Lobby (nra) and Abortion 

Groups– Key input is on specialized knowledge and 

technical expertise– Growth of PACs and 527’s have changed political 

campaigning forever.

• POLICY (social welfare)– Public policy requires issue recognition; agenda to 

solve; and money– Great Depression– Social Security Act is pay as you go (age, disability, 

and unemployment insurance)– Gov’t has now expanded into food providing and 

education and E.I.C. to replace welfare–Medicare & Medicaid–Means Test / Non Means Test– Entitlement vs. Discretionary Spending

• Policy (economic)–Monetary Policy (Federal Reserve Bank) – raising 

and lowering the interest rate

– Fiscal Policy – taxing and spending.  President creates the budget (OMB) and congress appropriates the funding.

• Policy (foreign)–Washington’s Farewell Address– Presidential Doctrines (Monroe; Roosevelt; 

Truman; Nixon; Carter; Reagan; Bush– Tariffs (nationalism) vs. Globalization– Bretton-Woods Agreement (1945)• IMF; World Bank; Dollar replaces gold • Internationalism/Multilateralism

• NATO; First Strike Capability; SALT TREATIES • ANTI-BALLISTIC TREATY • STAR WARS (Reagan)• WAR POWERS ACT (“Consequence of Vietnam”)