Foundations of American Democracy
Also known as "marble cake federalism." This is a political system wherein federal, state, and local governments share responsibility in governing the people.
Cooperative Federalism
Authority held by Congress to review, monitor, and supervise federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation. This authority is implied in the Constitution, public laws, and House and Senate rules.
Congressional Oversight
The practice or policy of allocating resources or employment to individuals belonging to groups that have a history of being discriminated against.
Affirmative Action
The belief that power is concentrated in the hands of a few wealthy and powerful people.
Elitism
The act of attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials. A typical strategy of interest groups.
Lobbying
A political system that organizes a government into two or more levels that hold independent and separate powers.
Dual Federalism or layered cake federalism
A power enacted by the U.S. president allowing that office to pass a rule or regulation as law. Acts as a directive to a bureaucratic agency instructing them how to enforce a law or regulation.
Executive Order
These include protection from discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, color, race, ethnicity, age, political affiliation, religion, and disability. They are typically protected by the due process clause and equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.
Civil Rights
Refers to a person who adopts a political ideology which favors less government regulation of business and support for social welfare, but more regulation of private social conduct.
Conservative
Refers to the needs, wants, and desires of the majority of the people in regard to a political or social issue or problem. Also can be used to judge the actions or performance of an individual or entity of government.
Public Opinion
Essays written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton in 1788 urging the ratification of the U.S. Constitution following the drafting of the Constitution at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787.
Federalist Papers
A relationship among Congress (particularly sub-committees of Congress), government agencies, and interest groups that helps create U.S. policy.
Iron Triangle
A section of the First Amendment that reserves the right of citizens to accept any religious belief and freely engage in religious rituals.
Free Exercise Clause
The largest of American third parties, this belief includes small government influence in a person's life while being fiscally conservative.
Libertarian
Campaign contributions made to political parties and committees, but not to candidates directly. It often involves spending by Super PACs and can amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.
Soft Money
Part of the Madisonian system in which the government is divided into three branches with each branch having distinct responsibilities.
Separation of Powers
A power of the Senate in which a minority party may block a bill from going to a floor vote by continuing debate. This can only be broken by establishing a 60% cloture.
Filibuster
This amendment contains protection against self incrimination, against double jeopardy, and the first mention of the due process clause in the constitution.
5th Amendment
Simply, somebody who does not align themselves with any particular political party.
Independent
An order from the federal government that all state and local governments must follow. State and local governments must comply with these in order to receive federal aid. Sometimes these go unFUNded.
Mandates
A body of representatives from each of the states in the U.S. who formally cast votes to elect the next president of the U.S.
Electoral College
These are the three main models of representation.
Delegate, Trustee, and Politico
Stated as a civil liberty in Art. 1 Sec. 9, this protection prohibits Congress from passing laws which retroactively criminalizes behavior.
Ex Post Facto
The belief that competing groups are too numerous and that all of the competing ideas weaken government and can cause policy gridlock.
Hyperpluralism
A SCOTUS case that led to the creation of Super Pacs
Citizens United v FEC