An individual who works for a group seeking to influence government by taking elected officials to conferences, dinners, or outings; such activities are limited by the FEC

The chief diplomat to foreign nations; one of the most important positions in the executive branch outside of the president

A written document upon which all laws are based and reinforces the rule of law, or that no one is above the law in a society

First constitution of the US, lacked a national judicial branch which created problems

French political philosopher who first expressed the idea of a separation of powers

Rights given to individuals by the government in order to guarantee positive actions such as voting, equal access to facilities, etc

Refers to the type of jurisdiction where a case could be heard either in a federal or state court; typically happens when a citizen of one state sues someone in a different state

Separation based on race which was found unconstitutional and resulted in laws being passed to help minorities during and after the 1950s

An intra-party election within a state to select delegates for a candidate who will go to the party's national convention to select a presidential candidate

The people's right to rule; expressed through democracy and voting

Refers to the type of jurisdiction where only federal courts can hear cases involving federal matters and only state courts can hear cases involving state matters

Chief executive within a state

Bias in which a news source only presents one side of a story instead of giving all sides equal time

A group within American society that help to select candidates for public office, control certain aspects of the government, and help to provide a link between the public and government

Number of Congresspeople who are needed to override a presidential veto of a bill

Term for the minimum number of congresspeople who need to be present in order to conduct business

The primary way most cases get to the SC, though most are never heard; either the plaintiff or defendant dislikes the results of their case and requests a review by the SC

Supreme Court case which established the court's power of judicial review; one of the earliest decisions of the Supreme Court

This group of Congresspeople must come together to make an agreement if the Senate and the House both pass the same bill but with different provisions and language

This phrase represents the president's role as leader of the armed forces, although the power to declare war technically resides within the legislative branch

Organization within the government which elects the president; created in order to protect the government from the people

This theory of the presidency states that the president can only do what Congress allows them to do; best exemplified by Taft and many presidents before 1900

Type of power of Congress that is not directly stated in the Constitution; gained through the Elastic Clause of the Constitution

Many of those who opposed the adoption of a new constitution in 1787 were convinced to do so by adding this section of the Constitution in order to protect individual rights

British political philosopher who first expressed the idea of natural rights

A document which instructs a lower court to send a case up for the Supreme Court to review; one method for a case getting to the SC

Type of spending that can be controlled every year

This expressed power of Congress allows them to print money and control how much is in circulation at one time

The right of the people to rule through democracy and voting; is a requirement of all state constitutions in addition to limited government

A process used to select delegates for a party's national convention that relies on in-person discussion; only used by smaller states

A problem for some voters who do not vote because they don't think it matters

A group within American society that helps to inform the public about a specific issue, influence elected officials to support their cause, and raise money to help get particular candidates elected

Bias in which a news source calls a particular group of people by an inflammatory name, like "radical", "fascist", or "socialist"

The use of various means to prevent a particular group from voting

People on the right side of the political spectrum who generally favor freedom and believe the government should stay out of people's affairs and the economy

The collection of varying ideas of the American people that sometimes informs politicians about the actions government should take

The things that a society generally agrees needs to be done by the government

A test given to voters in the South before 1965 in order to test education; used to discriminate against minorities

Bias in which a news source prioritizes one type of story favored by its audience rather than another story, regardless of importance to the nation

Any means for communicating with large numbers of people

Organization which raises money to advertise or campaign for a particular candidate or issue

Bias in which a news source gives opinions rather than facts

Amendment to the Constitution that allowed women to vote

Bias in which a news source shows one story prominently (like on a front page of a newspaper) but buries other stories so that they are hard to find

The process of drawing congressional district lines in order to favor one political party or group over another

One of the writers of the Federalist Papers who advocated for the Constitution because it limited the power of the chief executive and the government in general

Type of government spending that provides services during a recession through deficit spending

Organization in the executive branch whose job it is to oversee and regulate specific parts of American society like the FDA, FCC, or FBI

Department inside the cabinet responsible for protecting the US from foreign attack; required by the Constitution to be run by someone not actively in the military in order to protect the nation from the military

This phrase represents the president's role as the leader of all of the American people and as just a regular person in most regards

The power of the president to enforce and carry out laws passed by Congress

The power of the president to not be subject to petty lawsuits and partisan attacks while president

This theory of the presidency states that the president can do anything that the Constitution doesn't directly prohibit them from doing; best exemplified by Theodore Roosevelt and most presidents after 1932

When people in a state can vote directly on an issue

This phrase represents the president's role as the leader of law-making through their power to veto bills and introduce bills into Congress

The staff who works for the president in the White House and also the president's closest personal advisors; e.g. the press secretary, chief of staff, National Security Council, etc.

The president's official group of advisors and assistants on issues inside and outside the nation; like the VP, is only as powerful as the president allows them to be

The division of power between different levels/geographic locations of the nation; like national and state capitals

"The most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived" as stated by John Adams; only roles are to take over for the president and to be the honorary leader of the Senate

This Proclamation, or executive order, by President Lincoln temporarily freed slaves in Confederate states because it's issuing was not necessarily constitutional; required passage of the 13th Amendment to become permanent

Type of power of Congress that is not directly stated in the Constitution but is a power that any government in history would have; e.g. make treaties

A tax on an imported (or foreign) good; part of Congress' power to regulate foreign trade

Trying to stop a bill by "talking it to death" or refusing to give up the floor by speaking for as long as possible; only possible in the Senate because of limitations on speaking time in the House

Clause in the Constitution which gives Congress the ability to regulate foreign and interstate trade

This type of spending cannot be controlled by Congress; mandated by laws like the Social Security Act

A bicameral is a type of legislature in the U.S. or "two house"

Upper house of Congress which has virtual representation; 2 legislators per state which help to govern the state as a whole

Lower house of Congress which has geographic representation; number of legislators based on population and are tied to a specific area

"Powers of the _________" gives Congress the ability to control the money that comes in and goes out of the Government

When the president decides to reject a bill that has been passed by Congress

A change to the Constitution; allowed for the government to change over time

Critical issue which divided the founding fathers; they mainly ignored it in order to form the nation

The idea expressed by both John Locke and Thomas Jefferson that the right to rule is given by consent of the governed; violation of this gives citizens the right to revolt

The right to rule; one of the four essential components of a nation

The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies

First written document in European history which limited the power of the king

Writer of the Declaration of Independence

Leader of the House of Representatives who is elected by other representatives of the same political party

A small group within Congress that "marks up" bills and recommends whether or not a bill should move forward for further hearings in the process of becoming a law

Type of power of Congress that is directly stated in the Constitution

An assistant to the majority leader in Congress; helps to organize and count votes

"Congress' power to __________" (also called oversight) is a check on the executive branch when they call in its members to testify in front of a congressional committee about a particular issue

This member of the executive branch is also the "President of the Senate" and has the power to break tie votes in the Senate

Policy of government spending in order to keep employment high, prices stable, and promote growth

A opinion is a written decision by the Supreme Court

This type of government is ruled by religious leaders

This type of democracy combines legislative and executive powers into one branch of the government by having the legislature elect its leader instead of the people

The second section of the DOI which listed the complaints of the colonists against the king

Politicians who wanted the United States to pass a new constitution in 1787 because of the problems caused by a weak central government under the Articles of Confederation

Amendment to the constitution which guarantees freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and other rights

Portion of a civil rights law that guarantees women equal access to education and sports in schools

The power of the SC to declare a law unconstitutional, part of the system of checks and balances

A ruling becomes this for future decisions of the SC and lower courts

Process by which an immigrant becomes a citizen

Type of jurisdiction held by federal district courts; refers to the type of court that hears a case first

MLK protested the civil rights movement

Type of judicial philosophy where a judge generally relies on the original intent of the writers of the Constitution as past precedent to decide cases

Type of opinion issued by a justice of the SC who agrees with the outcome of a case but not the reasons stated by the majority

Aspect of law in the United States which ensures that the government act fairly and follow the rules; guaranteed equally to all citizens through the 14th Amendment

Type of opinion issued by the SC that becomes the precedent for future cases; most common type of ruling

Type of judicial philosophy where a judge generally relies on modern-day circumstances and beliefs to decide a case

Rights which protect individuals from the government and arbitrary actions it might take

Amendment to the constitution which guarantees citizens the right to own guns and use them in self-defense

Type of jurisdiction held by courts of appeal where they only hear cases already heard by lower/district courts