Foundations of American Democracy
Key structures of the Constitution that allow each governmental branch to enact forms of oversight over the other. This helps to ensure that a single branch does not get to powerful or form a tyranny.
Check and Balances
A term first used by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, used to refer to his office as president as an ideal position from which to advocate his political agenda.
Bully Pulpit
One key clause in this amendment is "equal protection of the laws"; this amendment played a key role in cases like Brown v. Board of Education and Obergefell v. Hodges.
14th Amendment
Refers to a person who adopts a political ideology which favors more government regulation of business and an increased support for social welfare, but usually less regulation of private social conduct (ex. pro choice).
Liberal
These independent expenditure groups are legally able to raise and spend large amounts of money in support of a candidate running for political office, but cannot contribute hard money directly to the candidate they support.
Super PACs
Powers held by Congress that are explicitly listed in the U.S. Constitution.
Enumerated Powers
A member of congress working to get federal money into their state or district
Pork Barrel
This constitutional clause was the basis for the Brown v Board of Education ruling as well as many other civil rights rulings that states groups should be treated the same as everyone else
Equal protection
A political philosophy and essential element of American democracy that promotes and encourages a diversity of political stances and participation which will result in the negotiation and compromise of solutions for the benefit of society.
Pluralism
This is the election strategy that candidates sometimes use when they are trying to relate to the people on the "ground level." Going door to door is a good example of this.
Grassroots campaigning
An agreement between a government and the people, in which the people consent to be governed so long as the government protects the natural rights of the people.
Social Contract
Part of Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution that allows Congress to regulate the trade of goods across state lines.
Commerce Clause
A citizen's entitlement to fair treatment through the judicial system and requires the state to respect the legal rights owed to an individual or group. This clause shows up in both the 5th and 14th Amendments.
Due Process
Refers to the citizens' faith and trust in their government and also refers to the citizens' feeling that they can have an influence on the political system.
Political Efficacy
This type of election in which voters select the candidate that they want to win in the general election, prevents voters who are not registered with a specific party from accessing that specific party's ballot.
Closed primary
Government structure in which there are different branches of government that have different responsibilities.
Separation of Powers
A right held by the federal courts to make rulings on the constitutionality of laws and executive and legislative actions.
Judicial Review
The constitutional concept that civil liberties of the Bill of Rights are applied to the states through the Due Process clause of the 14th Amendment.
Incorporation Doctrine
The process by which individuals learn and acquire a political lens.
Political Socialization
This is the term that describes special interest groups mobilizing their members to contact their representatives and push for or against certain policy.
Grassroots lobbying
A group that tries to influence the government for the benefit (or interest) of its own members. This was heavily discussed in Madison's Federalist #10
Faction
A legal doctrine that requires judges to follow the precedents established in prior court decisions and historical court cases.
Stare Decisis
This concept allows the Supreme Court to incorporate certain parts of certain amendments, rather than incorporating entire amendments at once.
Selective Incorporation
Different from fiscal policy in which congress controls revenue and spending, this type of policy is controlled by the Federal Reserve Board and controls the amount of money that is in circulation.
Monetary policy
Citizens United v FEC set a precedent that corporations have free speech rights and money is free speech. But, the ruling of this case two months later directly led the to creation of powerful expenditure only political action committees.
Speechnow.org v FEC