The type of government characterized by citizens attending town hall meetings and voting directly on all government actions.
What is direct democracy?
100
Concept of government whereby each branch is given power over the others.
What are checks and balances?
100
The legal concept wherein once a verdict is handed down, you cannot be tried again for the same crime.
What is double jeopardy?
100
A document that is voted on by the delegates attending the national convention. It represents the ideological view and ideas of the political party.
What is party platform?
100
Describes people's perception that Congress and the President are in a state of disagreement that results in little legislation being passed.
What is gridlock?
200
Group theory characterized by many interest groups vying for control resulting in government gridlock.
What is hyperpluralism?
200
A two house legislature.
What is bicameral?
200
Doctrine found in the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution that prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive penalties for crimes committed.
What is cruel and unusual punishment?
200
Political parties that can be described as ideological, single-issue, economically motivated, and personality driven. Examples include the Free Soil Party, Know Nothings, and Bull Moose.
What are third parties?
200
Assistant floor leaders who check with party members and inform the leadership of the status and feelings of members in regard to legislation that is to be voted on.
What are Whips?
300
Derived from the doctrine of natural rights, it was adopted by Jefferson and restricts the power of government especially in the area of protecting the rights of the people.
What is limited government?
300
Clause in the Constitution that states that "the Constitution and the laws of the United States....shall be the supreme law of the land.
What is the supremacy clause?
300
Series of steps that are established by the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh amendments that protect the rights of the accused at every step of an investigation.
What is due process?
300
An election where there is a shift away fro the major parties to a more independent view of party identification.
What is a dealigning election?
300
The power used by Congress to gather information useful for creating legislation, reviewing the actions of executive departments and independent regulatory agencies, conducting investigations, and bringing matters to the public's attention.
What is oversight?
400
Part of Locke's philosophy; rights that are God given such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
What are natural or unalienable rights?
400
Phrase used to describe the mutual respect and legality of laws, public records, and judicial decisions made by the states.
What is full faith and credit?
400
Act that required employers, schools, and public buildings to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of handicapped individuals by providing things such as ramps and elevators.
What is Americans With Disabilities Act?
400
The governing body of a political party which is made up of state and national party leaders.
What is National Committee?
400
The process in which it takes 60 senators to cut off debate and end a filibuster.
What is cloture?
500
Philosophy derived from the idea of natural rights that states that government is only legitimate if the people agree to its authority.
What is Consent of the Governed?
500
Laws that take place after an action has already happened. This is one of Congress' denied powers
What are Ex Post Facto Laws
500
Established in Chaplinsky v New Hampshire, the decision incorporated into law the concept that government can limit free speech if it can be proved that the result of the speech will cause physical violence.
What is Fighting Words Doctrine?
500
Democratic party leaders and elected party officials who automatically are selected as delegates to the National Convention.
What are Superdelegates?
500
A case that established the idea of one man, one vote. This decision created guidelines for drawing up Congressional districts and outlawed gerrymandering