| Term | Definition |
|---|
| solicitor general | a presidential appointee and the third-ranking office in the Department of Justice; incharge of appelate court litigation of the fedral gov |
| Speaker of the House | office mandated by the constitution; chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant |
| standing committees | separate subject matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas |
| standing to sue | requirement that plaintiffs have a serious interest in a case, which depends on whether they have sustained or are likely to sustain a direct and substantial inquiry from a party or an action of government |
| stare decisis | let the decision stand |
| statutory construction | judicial interpretation of an act of Congress, sometimes results in passing new legislation |
| subgovernments | iron triangles; network of groups within American political system which exercise a great deal of control in specific areas |
| suffrage | legal right to vote |
| supreme court | pinnacle of the American judiciary system; ensures uniformity in interpreting national laws, resolves conflicts among states, maintains national supremacy in law |
| symbolic speech | nonverbal communication (wearing an armband or burning a flag) |
| third parties | electoral contenders other than the two major parties; unusual and rarely win |
| ticket splitting | voting with one party for one office and the other party for other offices |
| union shop | a provision found in some collective bargaining agreements requiring all employees of a business to join the union within a short period, usually 30 days, and to remain members as a condition of employment |
| unreasonable search and seizure | obtaining evidence in a haphazard or random manner, a practice prohibited by the 4th amendment; probable cause and a search warrant are required for this to be legal |
| veto | constitutional power of the president to send a bill back to congress with reasons for rejecting it; 2/3 vote of each house can override this |
| voter registration | a system adopted by the states that requires voters to register well in advance of election day |
| Voting Rights Act of 1965 | law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African American suffrage |
| War Powers Resolution | law passed in 1973 in reaction to America fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia that requires presidents to consult with Congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces 60 days unless Congress declares war or grants an extension; president views this as unconstitutional |
| watergate | events and scandal surrounding a break in at Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and cover up of White house involvement leading Nixon to resign |
| whips | party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party |
| white primary | one of the means used to discourage African American voting that permitted the exclusion of African Americans to vote in the primary elections |
| winner take all system | legislative seats are awarded to candidates who come in first in their constituencies |
| writ of habeas corpus | a court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody "innocent until proven guilty" |
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