AP Gov. Vocab #2

Interest group- a group of private citizens whose goal is to influence and shape public policy. 
Two- party system- several political parties exist, but only two major political parties compete for power and dominate elections.
 
Gerrymandering- drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another. 
Jurisdiction- the authority of the courts to hear and decide issues in certain cases. 
Brief orders- the returning of a case to a lower court because a similar case was recently decided. 
Opinion leader- those individuals held in grant respect because of their position, expertise, or personality, who may informally and unintentionally influence others. 
Congressional districting- state legislatures draw congressional districts for states with more than one representative. 
Liberal- a person who views favor more government involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, and increased government spending. 

National debt- amount of money owed by the government. 
Suffrage- the right to vote. 

Pork barrel legislation- legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a members chance of reelection. 
Precedents- standards or guides based on prior decisions that serve as a rule for settling similar disputes. 
Appellate jurisdiction- gives the court authority to hear cases on appeal from the lower courts. 
Pardon- a convicted person is exempt from the penalties of a crime. 
President pro tempore- serves as president of the senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority party. 
Cooperative federalism- cooperation among federal, state, and local governments; "marble cake" federalism. 
Articles of confederation- the first national constitution of the US that created a government lasting from 1781 to 1789; replaced by the current constitution. 
Legislative courts- courts created by congress for a specialized purpose with a narrow range of authority. 
Prior restraint- censorship of information before it is published or broadcast. 
Get-out-the-vote- a campaign near the end of an election to get voters out to the polls. 
Anti-federalists- opposed the adoption of the US constitution because it gave too much power to the national government at the expense of the state government and it lacked a bill of rights. 

AP Gov. Vocab #1

Apportionment- distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state. 
Politics- method of maintaining, managing, and gaining control of government. 

Elastic Clause- the necessary and proper clause, article 1, section 8, clause 18 that allows Congress to pass laws to carry out it's powers. 
General election- voters choose officeholder from among all the candidates nominated by political parties or running as independents. 
Direct primary- party members vote to nominate their candidate for the general election. 
Extradition- states may return fugitives to a state from which they have fled to avoid criminal prosecution at the request of the states governor. 
Amicus curiae brief- friend of the court; interested groups may be invited to file legal beside supporting or rejecting arguments of the case. 
Watergate- break-in at the democratic national committee headquarters at the watergate building in 1972 that resulted in a cover-up and the subsequent resignation of president Nixon. 
Majority leader- the elected leader of the party with the most seats in the house of reps or senate. 
Off-year election- an election taking place in a year when no presidential elections are occurring; midterm election. 
Gridlock- when opposing parties and interests often block each others proposals, creating a political stalemate or inaction between the executive and legislative branches of government. 
Legislative veto- to reject the actions of the president or executive agency by a vote of one or both houses of congress without the consent of the president; ruled unconstitutional by the supreme court on immigration and naturalized services v. Chadha. 
Impoundment- refusal of the president to spend money congress has appropriated. 
Front- loading- choosing an early date to hold the primary election. 
Marbury v. Madison- established the principle of judicial review. 
Initiative- allows voters to petition to propose legislation and then submit I for a vote by qualified voters. 
Initiative- allows voters to petition to propose legislation and then submit it for a vote by qualified voters. 
Political ideology- a consistent set of beliefs about politics and public policy that sets the framework for evaluating government and public policy. 

Federalist papers- written by Hamilton, jay, and Madison to support ratification of the US constitution. 
 
Limited government- basic principle of US government cannot take away. 
Media event- a speech or photo opportunity staged to give a politicians view on an issue. 
Discretionary spending- spending set by the government through appropriations bills, including operating expenses and salaries of government employees. 
Popular sovereignty- basic principle of US government which holds that he people are the source of al governmental power. 
Democracy- a system whereby the people rule either directly or by elected representation.
 
Discrimination- unfair treatment of a person based on race or group membership.