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.