-
the right of senators and representative to send job-related mail without paying postage
franking privilege
-
a statement that presents the views of the majority of supreme court justices regarding a case
Majority Opinion
-
A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his or her opinion
Dissenting Opinion
-
A court's calendar, showing the schedule of cases it is to hear
Dockett
-
Power of the Supreme Court to say whether any federal, state, or local laws of government action goes against the Constitution
Judicial Review
-
The practivce of using earlier judidical rulings a a basis for deciding cases
Stare Decisis
-
A ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later, similar case
Precedent
-
authority for both state and federal courts to hear and decide cases
Concurrent jurisdiction
-
group of advisors to the president that includes the heads of his top level executive departments
Cabinet
-
a nation's overall plan for dealing with other nations
Foreign Policy
-
a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment
pardon
-
a person appointed to vote in presidential election for the major candidates
elector
-
a rule or command that carries out the law
executive order
-
a person from a legislator's district
constituent
-
authority for only federal courts to hear and decide cases
executive jurisdiction
-
representative on an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making
Lobbyist
-
president's power to kill a bill by not signing it for 10 days while Congress is not in session
Pocket Veto
-
refusal to sign a bill or resolution
Veto
-
government project grant that primarily benefits the home district or state
-
a tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bill's sponsor withdraws it
Fillibuster
-
a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed
Ex Post Facto Law
-
to accuse government officials of misconduct in office
Impeach
-
Years of service, used as consideration for assigning committee members
Seniority
-
the authority to hear cases for the first time
original jurisdiction
-
oddly-shaped election district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group
gerrymander
-
a population count taken by the Census Bureau
Census
-
a legislature consisting of two parts, or houses
bicameral
-
a court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person
Writ of Habeas Corpus
-
to send a case back to a lower court to be tried again
remand
-
the authority of a court to hear a case appealed from a lower court
appelate jurisdiction
-
an order to delay a person's punishment until a higher court can hear the case
reprieve
-
a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without trial or a fair hearing
Bill of Attainder
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