Law & Politics [C-F]
Commander-in-Chief
Formal constitutional role of the President as leader of the nation's armed forces.
Concurrent powers
Powers shared and exercised jointly under the Constitution by both national and state governments. Examples include taxation and law enforcement.
Concurrent resolution - A statement of the "sense" or opinion of the Congress, passed by both the House and the Senate. Not binding as a matter of law.
Conference Committee
Committee comprised of both House and Senate members charged with working out the differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
Conservatism
Political philosophy that favors limited government with minimal regulation and governmental interference in the economy and other aspects of social life. In general, conservatives favor giving power to state and local governments rather than to the national government.
Constitution
The structures and fundamental principles of a government, usually in written form (Great Britain is notable for its "unwritten" constitution). The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land, meaning that all other laws (including state laws), executive actions and judicial decisions must be consistent with it. Granting power to the government from the people, the Constitution of the United States can only be changed by the people (through their representatives). Read About the United States Constitution.
Constitutional amendment
A formally proposed and ratified change to the Constitution that becomes a fully binding provision of the Constitution itself
Constitutional democracy
System of governance based on popular sovereignty in which the structures, powers and limits of government are set forth in a constitution.
Constitutional law
Law that finds its basis in the Constitution. More particularly, "constitutional law" is the sum of the interpretations of constitutional questions rendered by the Supreme Court and subsidiary courts in their written and published decisions.
Continuing resolution
A temporary spending bill which funds government programs until funds are appropriated for them.
Cooperative federalism
View that the national and state governments are partners, not competitors, in the exercise of governmental authority
Crossover voting
Members of one party voting for candidates of another. Encouraged by open primaries.
Debt
Accumulated amount of unpaid budget deficits.
Deficit
Amount by which spending exceeds available funds during a fiscal year.
Deficit spending
Spending more money than is raised in taxes in a fiscal year.
Delegate
A representative who bases his or her votes on the majority opinions of the people he or she represents.
Democracy
Form of government in which policy alternatives are voted on by the people with majority determining the outcome.
Direct democracy
System or process that depends on the voice of the people (and not representatives), usually through referendums or initiatives, to make public policy decisions.
Direct primary
Election in which rank-and-file members (and not the leaders) of a political party select nominees to represent their party in the general election.
Discretionary spending
Spending that can be raised, lowered, kept even or eliminated by the Congress as it sees fit.
Divided-party government
Situation in which the Congress and the Presidency are controlled by opposing political parties.
Dual federalism
View that the national government and state governments have distinct realms of authority which do not overlap and into which the other should not intrude.
Electoral college
Mechanism by which the President is chosen. Each state has a number of electoral votes equal to the number of members it sends to the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
Entitlement programs
Benefits extended to individuals who meet legislatively established eligibility requirements. Any individual who meets the requirements is considered "entitled" to the benefit, regardless of the overall amount spent on providing the benefit to all eligible individuals.
Equal protection clause
Provision in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution that guarantees all people "equal protection under the law."
Equality of finish
Equality of outcomes, generally measured in socioeconomic status. The "finish" in question generally refers to accomplishments after entering adulthood.
Equality of start
Equality of opportunity, generally measured in terms of equal access to quality education and training.
Executive agreement
Agreement made between the President of the United States and the leader of another country or countries. Has the same effect as a treaty but does not need to be ratified by the Senate.
Executive branch
Branch of government charged with "executing" or implementing and enforcing the laws.
Executive privilege
Claim that the President, as the leader of the Executive Branch, has the prerogative to divulge or refuse to divulge information in a manner that he believes most consistent with the national interest.
Faction
A group of individuals united in the pursuit of shared political values. A political party is a large faction. See The Federalist No. 10.
Federalism
System of government in which powers are divided and shared between different levels, e.g. national, state and local.
Federalist Papers
Series of essays written in support of ratifying the Constitution. Written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison.
Federalists - Supporters of the Constitution during the battle for its ratification. Also became one of the first two major political parties in the United States.
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