Term
|
Definition
| A system of selecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to the public's preferences. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A form of government that derives its power, directly or indirectly, from the people. In a republic the people selet representatives who make laws. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| What you know, not who you know counts(Pendleton Act) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The accumulation of judicial decisions applied in civil law disputes |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A legislature divided into two houses. The U.S. Congress and every American state legislature except Nebraska's are bicameral |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Procedures such as the initiative, the referendum, and the recall, by which voters can have a direct impact on policymaking and the political process by means of the voting booth |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule, regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A theory of gov. and politics emphasizing that politics is mainly a competition among groups, each one pressing for its own preferred policies. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A theory of gov. and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. An extreme, exaggerated, form of pluralism. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A way of organizing a nation so that all power resides in teh central gov. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A way of organizing a nation so that two levels of gov. have formal authority over teh same land and people. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Supporters of the U.S. Constituition at teh time the states were contemplating its adoption. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Opponents of the U.S. Constitution. Argued that it was a class-based document, that it would erode fundamental liberties, and it would weaken the power of the states |
|
|
Term
| Articles of Confederation |
|
Definition
| The first constitution of the US, adopted by Congress in 1777 and encated in 1781. Established a national legislature, the Continental Congress, but most authority rested with the state legislatures` |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that established two houses of Congress: House of Reps (Population), and the Sentate (two for each state) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state's population |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Called for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state's share of the US population |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison to defend the constitution in detail. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress, and by implication the executive, are in accord with the US Constitution. Established by John Marshall and his associates in Marbury v. Madison |
|
|
Term
| Full faithand credit clause |
|
Definition
| A clause in Article IV, Section I requiring each state to recognize the offical documents and civil judgments rendered by the courts of other states |
|
|
Term
| Privileges and immunities clause |
|
Definition
| A clause in Article IV, Section 2 according citizens of each state most of the privileges of citizens of other states |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A legal process whereby an alleged criminal offender is surrendered by the officials of one state to officials of the state in which the crim is alleged to have been committed. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constituion. (Established judicial review) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A 1819 decision that established the supremacy of the national gov. over state gov. Congress had certainn implied powers in addition to the enumerated powers in the Constitution. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The channels or access points through which issues and people's policy preferences get on the gov.'s policy agenda. (Political parties, interest groups, and the mass media) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A system of gov. in which both the states and the national gov. remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Authorizes Congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out the enumerated powers |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Makes the Constitution, national laws, and treaties supreme over state laws when the national gov. is acting within its constitutional limts |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| System of gov. in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national gov. (i.e. costs, administration, even blame) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Part of the First Amendment stating that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A first Amendment provision that prohibits gov. from interfering with the practice of religion |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Legal briefs submitted by a "friend of the court" for the purpose of raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of teh formal parties |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The rule that evidence, no matter how incriminating, cannot be introduced into a trial if it was not constitutionally obtained. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The legal concept under which the Supreme Court has nationalized the Bill of Rights by making most of its provisions applicable to the states through the 14th Amendment |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The publication of false or malicious statements that damage someone's reputation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A policy designed to give special attention to or sompensatory treatment to members of some previously disadvantaged group |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An immigration law, named after its legislative sponsors that requires employees to document the citizenship of their employees. Civil and criminal penalties can be assessed against employers who knowingly employ illegal immigrants |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| One of the methods used by Southern states to deny African Americans the right to vote. (Grandfather could vote in 1860, you can vote) Declared unconstituional |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case first, usually in a trial. They determine the facts about a case |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The jurisdiction of courts that hear cases brought to them on appeal from lower courts. They only review the legal issues involved. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A court order forcing action. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisone in custody |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A latin phrase meaning "let the decision stand." |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The 91 federal courts of original jurisdiction. Only federal courts in which no trials are held and in which juries may be empaneled |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A state-level methodof direct legislation that gives voters a chance to approve or disapprove legislation or a constitutional amendment proposed by the state legislature |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Entites composed of bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees, which have dominated some areas of domesic policymaking. Characterized by mutual dependency, in which each elements provides key service, imformation, or policy for the others |
|
|
