Elections
This term describes the media’s primary role in elections, which is keeping track of who is ahead in the polls rather than focusing on the issues.
What is scorekeeper/horserace journalism?
Congressional members who usually vote along party lines align with this view
What is the partisan or organizational view?
These are the three constitutional qualifications of the president
What is 35 years old, resident for 14 years, and natural born citizen?
This amendment changed the method of election for Senators to popular election by the people
What is the 17th?
This case upheld a student’s reasonable right to free speech. In this case, wearing an armband in protest.
What is Tinker v Des Moines?
These are two activities that occur at national conventions
What is solidifying the party platform, officially nominating Presidential and VP candidates, unifying the party?
Two unique powers specific to the House of Representatives
What is charging impeachment, creating tax bills, deciding the president in the case no candidate receives 270 electoral votes?
This is often the byproduct of divided government, as different parties find it difficult to compromise
What is gridlock?
This body holds the power of “advice and consent.”
What is the Senate?
This number of Supreme Court Justices must agree to hear a case
What is 4?
While caucuses and primaries select delegates to vote at the convention, these party officials are undecided and strengthen the power of party leadership
Who are superdelegates?
These individuals assist the party leaders in both the House and Senate and ensure members show up to vote
Who are party whips?
The OMB, CEA, and NSC are all parts of this section of the bureaucracy
What is the Executive Office of the President (EOP)?
The Fed, the FCC, and the SEC all fall under this type of agency heading
What are Independent Regulatory Commissions?
This concept states that the Supreme Court (along with all other courts) must follow their own precedents
What is stare decisis?
This Supreme Court case essentially established Super PACs by declaring corporate campaign spending a form of free speech
What is Citizens United v. FEC?
Some members are known for this form of wasteful spending, designed specifically to benefit their district.
What is pork barrel spending?
This amendment set forth the guidelines for presidential succession and disability
What is the 25th?
Committee chairs come from the majority party and are usually chosen on this basis
What is seniority?
This case first stated that school sponsored prayer was unconstitutional
What is Engle v. Vitale?
This case ruled that candidates can spend as much of their own money as they want on their own campaigns
What is Buckley v. Valeo?
In this 1962 case, the Supreme Court ruled that legislative districts must be roughly equal in population, establishing the principle of 'one person, one vote.
What is Baker v. Carr?
These are two reasons why independent regulatory commissions/agencies are given independence from the rest of the government
What is freedom from partisan pressures, the ability to make more efficient decisions, the fact that they are experts in their field, etc.?
These are the two clauses of the 14th amendment that have been used to selectively incorporate the Bill of Rights
What are the equal protection and due process clauses?
The Court has applied this standard when making any classification based on race
What is strict scrutiny?