Review

1. Realigning Elections: an election that dramatically changes the political system
2. Filibuster: an obstructive manner in a legislature by speaking at inordinate length
3. Habeas Corpus: a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court
4. Plurality: The excess of votes cast for one candidate over those votes cast for any other candidate
5. Rule of Four: The rule of four is a Supreme Court of the United States practice that permits four of the nine justices to grant a writ of certiorari
6. Social Capital: refers to connections within and between social networks
7. Pocket Veto: An indirect veto of a legislative bill by the president or a governor by retaining the bill unsigned until after the legislative session is over
8. Senatorial Courtesy: A custom whereby presidential appointments are confirmed only if there is no objection to them by the senators from the appointee's state especially from the senior senator of the president's party from that state
9. Concurrent Powers: held by both the states and the federal government and may be exercised simultaneously within the same territory and in relation to the same body of citizens
10. Logrolling:  the exchange of support or favors, especially by legislators for mutual political gain as by voting for each other's bills
11. Rider: A schedule or writing annexed to a document such as a legislative bill or insurance policy
12. Standing Committee: A permanent committee that meets regularly
13. Expressed Powers: a list of nonspecific responsibilities found in Article 1 Section 8 of the United States Constitution, which iterates the authority granted to the United States Congress
14. Trustee: A member of the board of the foundation who takes part in the decision making process
15. Judicial Review: Review by the Supreme Court of the constitutional validity of a legislative act
16. Delegate: A person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular, an elected representative sent to a conferenc
17. Necessary & Proper Clause: establishes the "implied powers," by which Congress has authority to pass legislation in areas not specifically listed in the Constitution
18. Political Agenda:  a set of issues and policies laid out by an executive or cabinet in government that tries to influence current and near-future political news and debate
19. Commerce Clause: states that the United States Congress shall have power "To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes"
20. Deficit: An excess of expenditure or liabilities over income or assets in a given period
21. Issue Network: an alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite in order to promote a single issue in government policy
22. National Debt: The total amount of money that a country's government has borrowed, by various means
23. Iron Triangle: a term used by political scientists to describe the policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups
24. Divided Government: a situation in which one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of the United States Congress
25. Due Process: Fair treatment through the normal judicial system, esp. as a citizen's entitlement
26. Executive Privelege: The privilege, claimed by the president for the executive branch of the US government, of withholding information in the public interest
27. Eminent Domain:  The right of a government or its agent to expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation
28. Take-care Clause: imposes a duty on the President to take due care while executing laws
29. Central Clearance: the sole agency charged with granting, denying, and revoking security clearance eligibility for the Army
30. Stare decisis: The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.
31. PACs: political action committee
32. Block Grant: A grant from a central government that a local authority can allocate to a range of services
33. Coattail Effect:  the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election
34. Selective Perception:
35. Cloture: A procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote
36. Incorporation: the act of forming and legally establishing a new corporation
37. Political Efficacy: one's own influence or effectiveness on politics
38. Devolution: The transfer or delegation of power to a lower level, esp. by central government to local or regional administration
39. Nullification: doctrine that a state can refuse to recognize or to enforce a federal law passed by the United States Congress
40. Political Ideologies: An organized system of political beliefs, values, and ideas
41. Gender Gap: The discrepancy in opportunities, status, attitudes, etc. between men and women
42. Silent Majority: an unspecified large majority of people in a country or group who do not express their opinions publicly
43. Superdelegates: an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party
44. Bully Pulpit: A public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue
45. Trial Balloon: A tentative measure taken or statement made to see how a new policy will be received
46. Red tape: Excessive bureaucracy or adherence to rules and formalities, esp. in public business
47. Laissez-faire: Abstention by governments from interfering in the workings of the free market
48. Judicial Restraint: a theory of judicial interpretation that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power
49. Judicial Activism: an interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions
50. Sovereign Immunity: an exemption that precludes bringing a suit against the sovereign government without the government's consent; "the doctrine of sovereign immunity originated with the maxim that the king can do no wrong"

Review

1. Amicus curiae: a brief submitted by a "friend of the court"
2. Brief: a written summary by an attorney that summarizes a case and the laws and rulings that support it
3. Class-action Suit: a case brought by someone to help him or her and all other who are simarly situate.
4. Sovereign Immunity: The rule that a citizen cannot sue the government without the government consent.
5.  Concurring Opinion: a signed opinion in which one or more members agree with the majority view but for different reasons
6. Courts of Appeals: federal courts that hear appeals from district courts; no trials
7. Dissenting Opinion: a signed opinion in which one or more justices disagree with the majority view.
8. Constitutional Courts: A federal court authorized by Article III of the constitution that keeps judges in office during good behaviour and prevenst their salaries from being reduced. Supreme courts, appellate and district courts are all examples.
9.  District Courts: The lowest federal courts; federal trials can be held only here.
10. Judicial Review: the power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.
11.  Litmus Test: An examination of the political idealogy of a nominated judge.
12. Writ of certiorari: an order by a higher court drecting a lower court to send up a case for review.
13. Marbury v. Madison: upheld judicial review of congressional acts.
14. Writ of mandamus: an extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act taht the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion
15. Senatorial courtesy: The president nominates a "qualified" person to be a judge, and the senate approves or rejects the nomination based on those qualifications.
16. Adversarial System: the tendency of the national media tobe suspicious of officials and eager to reveal unflattering stories about them.
17. Political Question: an issue the Supreme Court will allow the executive and legislative branches decided.
18. Judicial Activism: The steps that a federal courts takes toward correcting injustices.
19. Judicial Restraint: the view that judges should decide cases strictly on the basis of the language of the laws and the Constitution.
20. Plaintiff: the party that initiates a lawsuit.
21. Stare desisis: "let the decision stand", or allowing prior rulings to control the current case.
22. Remedy: a judicial order enforcing a right or redressing a wrong.

Gas Prices

 Over the weekend the gas prices jumped up 3 cents, which took the gas price to $4 a gallon this week across America. As of Monday, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline now stands at $3.952, according a daily survey from motorist group AAA. That's up from $3.943 a gallon on Sunday and continues a 44-day streak of gas price increases. Gas currently is more than $4 a gallon in 13 states and in the District of Columbia. this weekend's surge was a delayed reaction to deadly storms across the South last week that temporarily knocked out power at some oil refineries along the Gulf Coast. Also refiners around the Great Lakes have been shut down recently for scheduled maintenance, which has put upward pressure on gas prices across the Midwest. Gas prices have not averaged $4 a gallon nationwide since July 2008.  The AAA also that gas prices go up into going into Memorial Day hoilday which starts the begining of the summer driving, but they believe that gas prices shouldn't hit $5.


I believe that this has to do with the constitutional law, the common law, the state and federal governement. Also the National Economic Council which advises with economic planning. The State and the Federal government has to split how much each gas it will be depending on how much gas and oil supply we get from our refineries. My opinion about this is that I am glad, that the gas prices won't be going up but at the same time, the gas prices need to drop. I believe everything that is happening to our refineries need to get fix very soon so the gas prices can drop. What is your opinion about this situation?



http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/02/news/economy/gas_prices/index.htm?hpt=T2

Budget Deal Passes

After last week, when the government shut down do to the Congress not agreeing to a deal. The Congress final came to a agreement , and know sending it to President Obama for his signature. The measure cuts $38.5 billion in spending while funding the government for the rest of the current fiscal year, which ends September 30. With its passage, the White House and Congress will now focus on what are expected to be more rancorous battles over a budget for fiscal year 2012 and the upcoming need to raise the federal debt limit. A final-hour agreement last Friday in talks involving Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and House Speaker John Boehner included the spending cuts demanded by Republicans as a step toward controlling America's skyrocketing debt. In the House, the vote was 260-167 and the Senate vote was 81-19. 
With the deal passing the Congress, took the $38.5billion cut and cut:
-funding a wide range of domestic programs
-service for high-speed rail
-emergency first responders
-National Endownment for the Arts
-de-fund Planned Parenthood
-de-fund President Obama's Health Care Reform

I believe this has to do with the whole check & balances. The Congress as in the House and the Senate has to come to agreement and once they come to agreement. They then send it to the President for him to have his imput on it and then he signs it and it becomes a bill/law. My opinion about this is im glad that the government finally came to a agrrement because if they didn't many of the people who work in the government wouldn't of got paid. Also, now that there is a agreement, the government can continue to reduce our major debt problem. Whats your opinion about this situation?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/04/14/house.budget.vote/index.html?hpt=T2

U.S House Speaker Speaks....

The U.S House Speaker John Boehner, told our country that our nation's mounting debt is a moral threat to us which  is $14.1trillion debt. John Boehner remarks where apart of his speech he gave in Nashville at the National Religious Broadcasters annual convention. He is pushing towards a short-term plan that would cut $4 billion from the debt.The proposal would extend for two weeks the continuing resolution authorizing government funding, which expires at midnight Friday. Without a deal, the government will have to shut down Saturday for the first time in more than 15 years. Boehner said that the Republicans and the Democrats need to work together and figure out cut spending and rein in government instead of shutting it down. The Republican-led house already passed a spending messure that cuts $61billion from current levels for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30. However, Senate Democrats consider those cuts draconian and won't pass them.They want to negotiate a more targeted plan that allows for some new spending in key growth areas such as clean energy. Alot of the Republican say they will pass the two week extension to allow continuing negotiations without a shutdown. While other Democratics believe that the plan is "acceptable" but not preferred. Also the $4 billion in spending cuts would come from program terminations that President Barack Obama included in his proposed budget for fiscal year 2012, which begins October 1. It is to be said from a source that the $1.3 billion in cuts would come from eliminating six federal programs and $2.7 billion in savings would come from getting rid of earmarks in the continuing resolution that's currently keeping the government operating.

I believe this has to do with the Office of Management and Budget which prepares national budget and is the largest office for it. This also has to also do with the Congress and the President dealing with check and balances. My opinion upon this news with the governement is that if the Congress cannot set a budget for the U.S then we will be in serious trouble and instead of trying to cut down our debt it will continue to grow and grow. I also believe that since John Boehner is the U.S House Speaker he should stand up and set a certain budget that is good enough for us to continue maken us a better and stronger country. What is your opinion upon the U.S House Speaker speaking upon the budget?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/27/us.spending.cuts/index.html

President Obama + Health Care

President Barack Obama tried to seize the political middle in the continuing fight over health care reform Monday, telling a group of governors that he's willing to give states earlier flexibility in how they implement the overhaul signed into law last year. President Obama set up a proposal that would allow states to apply for " innovation waivers" which will be starting in 2014 which is 3 years ahead of schedule with pushing the health care reform bill. A state could seek an exemption waiver beginning in 2014 if it comes up with an alternative for the provision requiring everyone to obtain health coverage unless they can't afford it. To get the waiver the state must meet four criteria:
-- Provide coverage plans at least as comprehensive as would have been available under health insurance exchanges in the bill;

-- Provide coverage at least as affordable as would have been available under the bill;

-- Provide coverage for as many people as would have been covered under the bill; and,

-- Budget neutrality, meaning they cannot increase the federal deficit.



This topic relates to our class because it has to do with federalism. Which we learned in class, federalism has to do with the government because it connects the government to our federal spending and other federal things. My opinion upon this topic is that, President Obama did the right thing by creating this because it helps people that don't have coverage in the health care area and also it helps the people who can't afford help care. Also it's helping the states with building up their health care coverage. what is your opinion upon this topic???

 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/02/28/obama.health.care/index.html

The State of Union

The State of Union is an annual address presented by the President of the United States to the United States Congress. In which the President address his overall plans in the next year before he is up for election again. This year the President addressed the Congress last tuesday at 9pm and this year the Congress all sat together to show the U.S. that we were getting along during the hard times since the shooting that happen in Tucson, where Jared Lee Loughner shot U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords on January 8,2011. Usually the Congress is split up and they sit apart but luckly they weren't. But the President had many plans that he says will set up the United States to become a better country in the next couple years. These are the main things the President went over in his address:

Revenue/Savings:

• A 5 year freeze in domestic spending projected to save $400 billion over the next decade
• Elimination of billions in tax breaks for oil companies
• Reductions in health care costs, including Medicare and Medicaid
• Reform for Social Security
• Ending the Brush-era tax cuts
• A proposal to "merge, consolidate and reorganize the federal government
• A ban on congressional earmarks
• a proposal to lower the corporate tax rate.

Expenses:

• Pledge to provide 80% of Americans with high-speed rail access in 25years.
• Pledge to have 1million electric vehichles on the road by 2015.
• Pledge to have 80% of the country's electricity come from clean-energy sources by 2035.
• New investment in biomedical research, information technology and clean-energy technology.
• A call to make a $10,000 tuition tax credit permanent.
• A continuation of the $4.35 billion Race to the Top incentive program offering competitive federal grants to local school systems.
• A call to "redouble" efforts to repair America's aging road and bridges.

Other:

• A challenge to pursue innovation in "our generations' Sputnik moment."
• Replace the No Child Left Behind reform.
• Raised the bar for the schools in the states and wants the schools to meet the bar.
• Creating new jobs for Americans.
• Expects to be out of Afghanistan by July2011.

The Republicans wore a red tie and respond only to some of President Obama's proposal and only claped sometimes while the Democrats wore a blue tie and clapped alot when President Obama talked about all of his proposals. The House Speaker introduced President Obama and sat behind him with the vice president. This has to do with everything in our gonvernment.

My opinion about the State of Union, for this to be the first one I watch, it was good. I think President Obama made alot of good points about what America needs to improve on when it comes to the problems and issues that we are going threw. I also think that the Republicans should of have been more supporitive when it came to the President making  his proposals. But it is to be said that the since President Obama is Democratic then the Republicans don't support that much and rather see a Republican as the Head of our Country. Well i believe we need to stick with a Democratic President like Obama. What is your opinion when it comes to the State of Union??

http://www.whitehouse.gov/state-of-the-union-2011

Skins:

It is to be said that MTV is now in hot water with the Parents Televison Council due to MTV showing Skins. Skins is a show, that is aried on MTV on Mondays nights at 10pm. The PTC is upset due to the show showing too much skin, sex, drugs, and other scandalous things that have executives and advertisers wondering if the show goes too far. The series has already lost five of the largest advertisments which include H&R Block, GM, Subway, Wrigley, and Taco Bell. All of the companys said that they will not be advertise during the airing of Skins. Skins is based off of British BBC series with the same name and has drawn considerable media attention as the next new hot thing that MTV is hoping will strike gold. But if it's anything like the British version - which it seems to be - parents are in for some eye-covering moments.In later episodes of the show, teenagers will be running through the streets with drug-induced erections, girls will flash their breasts and engage in underage sex if it is anything like the British show - or the first episode of the American version.

The Parent Television Council has complained to the U.S. Deparatment of Justice, the U.S. Senate, and the  House Judiciary Committees. The PTC complained, due to them saying that it is child pornography that MTV is showing. They consider it child pornography because of the sexual content and the having cast memebers as young as 15. Also the PTC considers it the most dangerous show on TV now. MTV responded by "saying the show addressed real-world issues confronting teenagers in a frank way"."We review all of our shows and work with all of our producers on an ongoing basis to ensure our shows comply with laws and community standards. We are confident that the episodes of 'Skins' will not only comply with all applicable legal requirements, but also with our responsibilities to our viewers."





This controversy has to due with child pornography which relates to Obscenity which connects to the ammendments. Which it has long held that child pornography is illegal even if it is not obscene because of the government's interest in protecting children, it would not let Congress ban pornography.
My opinion when it comes to Skins is that the show comes on at 10pm and it says it is for MA people(which is 17 or order). If your child is watching this show then it is the parents fault and they shouldn't let them watch it. If the PTC is upset then they should be talking to all the parents and telling them to turn off their childrens tvs. Everyone should let it be shown because it shows how teenagers act in the real world and it lets the parents know what they should watch out for their children and what their children are doing. Also, before you become a parent, you are a teenager and a child so the parents should know that tennagers do these things and the parents might even have done some of the things shown. Also the show also helps tennagers and it shows the danger to some of the things that can happen to a tennager if they try any of the things shown on tv. This is my opinion. What do you think about this controversy??




http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2011/01/21/2011-01-21_mtv_show_skins_may_be_in_hot_water_for_alleged_child_pornography_depictions_of_t.html