| Term | Definition |
|---|
| commercial speech | communication in the form of advertising. It can be restricted more than many other types of speech but has been receiving interested protection from the Supreme Court |
| committee chairs | the most important influencers of the congressional agenda. They play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house |
| comparable worth | the issue raised when women are paid less than men for working at jobs requiring comparable skill |
| conference committees | congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill |
| Constitution | a nation's basic law. It creates political institutions, assigns or divides powers in government, and often provides certain guarantees to citizens. They can be written or unwritten |
| Council of Economic Advisors | a three-member body appointed by the president to advise the president on economic policy |
| courts of appeal | appelate courts empowered to review all final decisions of district courts, except in rare cases. In addition they also hear appeals to orders of many federal regulatory agencies. |
| crisis | a sudden, unpredictable, and potentially dangerous event requiring the president to play the role of crisis manager |
| critical election | an electoral "earthquake" whereby new issues emerge, new coalitions replace old ones, and the majority party is often displaced by the minority party. These are sometimes marked by a national crisis and may require more than one election to bring about a new party era |
| cruel and unusual punishment | court sentences prohibited by the eighth amendment. Although the Supreme Court has ruled that mandatory death sentences for certain offenses are unconstitutional, it has not held that the death penalty itself constitutes this |
| Declaration of Independence | document approved in 1776 by representatives of American colonies that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence |
| democracy | a system of sleecting policymakers and of organizing government so that policy represents and responds to public's preference |
| district courts | 91 federal courts of original jurisdiction. They are the only federal courts in which no trials are held and in which juries may be empaneled |
| electioneering | direct group involvement in the electoral process. Groups can help fund campaigns, provide testimony, and get members to work for candidates, and some form political action committees (PAC) |
| Electoral College | a unique American institution created by the Constitution that provides for the selection of the president by electors chosen by the state parties. Although the electoral college vote usually reflects a popular majority, the winner-take-all rule gives clout to big states |
| elite theory | theory of government and politics contending that societies are divided along class lines and that an upper-class elite will rule regardless of the formal niceties of governmental organization |
| equal protection of the laws | part of the 14th amendment emphasizing that laws must provide equivalent "protection" to all people. As one member of Congress said during debate on the amendment, it should provide "equal protection on life, liberty, and property" to all a state's citizens |
| Equal Rights Amendment | constitutional amendment originally introduced in 1932 and passed by Congress in 1972 and sent to the state legislatures for ratification, stating that "equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the US or by any state on account of sex." Despite substantial public support and an extended deadline, the amendment failed to acquire the necessary support from 3/4 of the state legislatures |
| establishment clause | part of 1st amendment stating that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" |
| exclusionary rule | the rule that evidence, no matter how incriminating cannot be introduced into a trial if it was not constitutionally obtained. This rule prohibits use of evidence obtained through unreasonable search and seizure |
| Federalist Papers | a collection of 85 articles written by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison under the name "Publius" to defend the Constitution in detail. Collectively, these are second only to the US Constitution in characterizing the framers' intents |
| filibuster | a strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation try to talk it to death, based on the tradition of unlimited debate. Today, 60 members present and voting can halt a filibuster |
| free exercise clause | a 1st amendment provision that prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion |
| free-rider problem | problem faced by unions and other groups when people do not join because they can benefit from the group's activities without officially joining. The bigger the group, the more serious this is. |
| House Rules Committee | an instituion unique to the House of Reps that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to a full house. |
| hyperpluralist theory | theory of government and politics contending that groups are so strong that government is weakened. This is an extreme, exaggerated, or perverted form of pluralism |
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