Foundations of Government
The name of powers that are explicitly granted to one or more branches of government.
What are enumerated powers?
The process by which children learn values, beliefs and political culture.
What is political socialization?
The "gatekeeper" to the President and the most important power broker in Washington.
Who is the president's chief of staff?
When the government puts a policy issue on its "to-do" list.
What is agenda setting?
The philosophy that posits judges should use their power broadly to further justice.
What is judicial activism?
The type of government in which small groups of officials are elected to represent the people.
What is representative or indirect democracy?
Two ways that interest groups influence government.
What are lobbying Congress, lobbying the Executive Branch, grassroots lobbying, protest activities, candidate endorsement, campaign contributions, and creation of political parties?
Two formal powers of the president.
What are commander-in-chief of the military, appoint ambassadors, negotiate treaties, sign or veto legislation, grant pardons?
The largest percentage of discretionary spending in the federal budget goes to this.
What is defense spending?
The most cited amendment in civil rights cases.
What is the 14th Amendment?
The theory of power in which resources are widely scattered enough that no single elite has full control over the system.
What is pluralism?
Three constitutional amendments that deal with voting rights.
What are the 15th, 17th, 19th, 23rd, and 26th Amendments?
The term for redrawing Congressional boundaries after a census. This term refers to a nonpartisan process.
The relationship between government bureaucrats, congressional committees, and special interest groups who are involved in a given area of policy making.
What is the iron triangle?
The power vested in particular courts to review or revise the decisions of a lower court.
What is appellate jurisdiction?
The system by which the federal government steers state policies through budget allocations.
What is fiscal federalism?
The work in which Madison argued that the combatting factions and preserving liberty is best done through a large republic.
What is Federalist 10?
The approach in which Members of Congress vote according to their own view of what is best for the district, state, or nation.
What is the trustee role?
The movement of individuals back and forth between the public sector (government) and private sector (lobbying).
What is the revolving door?
Federal law calling for gender equity in education, including school sports.
What is Title IX?
The clause in Article I that gives Congress its implied powers. This clause was also cited in McCulloch v. Maryland.
What is the necessary and proper clause?
Unregulated money spent in a campaign in the form of advertising, money to parties, etc (but not given directly to candidates).
What is soft money?
A special type of joint committee responsible for resolving differences in House and Senate versions of a bill.
What is a conference committee?
The federal institution primarily responsible for carrying out monetary policy.
What is the Federal Reserve Board?
The process by which presidents generally defer selection of district court judges to the choice of senators of their own party who represent the state where the vacancy occurs.
What is senatorial courtesy?