Voting and Elections
The electoral rule in which the candidate with the most votes wins, even without receiving more than 50%.
Plurality
Redrawing electoral district boundaries, usually after a census.
Redistricting
What is the term for the division of government work into specialized tasks and responsibilities?
Division of Labor
The president’s constitutional role as the head of the U.S. armed forces.
Commander and Chief
The model of representation in which a member of Congress votes according to the preferences of their constituents.
Delegate Representation
The principle that single-member districts using plurality elections tend to encourage a two-party system.
Duverger's Law
What type of gerrymandering draws district boundaries to protect current officeholders from strong challengers?
Incumbent Gerrymandering
What type of oversight involves Congress actively monitoring an agency, rather than waiting for a problem to arise?
Police-Patrol Oversight
The presidential power to forgive a federal offense.
Pardon
The strategy in which a member of Congress highlights accomplishments or services provided to constituents to gain electoral support.
credit-claiming
The law that allows eligible citizens to register to vote while applying for or renewing a driver's license at participating state agencies.
Motor Voter Law
Redistributing seats in the House of Representatives among states based on population.
Reapportionment
What is the process called when a government agency holds a hearing to resolve a dispute, such as whether someone qualifies for benefits?
Administrative Adjudication
The presidential power to prevent a bill from becoming law by not signing it when Congress adjourns in a way that prevents its return.
Pocket Veto
The privilege that allows members of Congress to send official mail to constituents without paying postage.
Franking Privilege
The additional value people receive from voting that is independent of whether their preferred candidate wins, such as civic duty or personal satisfaction.
What is D in the rational choice model equation?
What is the term for a district drawn to ensure that a racial minority makes up a majority of its population?
Majority-Minority District
What is the term for government agencies becoming more focused on expanding their own budgets than serving the public?
budget maximizers
The 1973 law that generally requires the president to seek congressional authorization to continue certain military actions beyond 60 days.
War Powers Resolution
The model of representation in which elected officials use their own judgment rather than simply following constituents’ wishes.
Trustee Representation
The Supreme Court case that treated campaign spending as a form of political speech protected by the First Amendment.
Buckley v. Valeo
The principle that legislative districts should have roughly equal populations.
one person, one vote
What type of oversight occurs when Congress responds to complaints or problems brought to its attention by citizens or interest groups?
Fire-Alarm oversight
The president's informal group of trusted advisers who may not hold official government positions.
Kitchen Cabinet
The practice of a member of Congress securing government spending or projects that benefit their home district.
Pork-Barrel Legislation