Law & Politics [R-S]
Recall
Mechanism authorized in some states by which voters may remove an individual from office in the middle of his or her term. There is no provision for a recall at the national level.
Referendum
A public policy decision referred to the people by a legislative body. Used only at the state level.
Regressive tax
Tax collected at increasingly lower rates or percentages as income level increases.
Republic
Form of government in which decisions are made by representatives who are chosen by the people.
Rider
An attachment to a piece of legislation that is generally unrelated to the rest of the bill.
Rule of Four
Decision rule used by the Supreme Court in deciding which cases to hear. If four of the nine Justices agree to do so, the Court will hear a case.
Safe seat
A congressional seat that is very likely to be held by the incumbent (current occupant of the seat) after the next election.
Sampling error
Error that arises as a matter of chance in the process of selecting individuals for participation in a public opinion poll or other study.
Separation of powers
The division governmental authority and powers and assigning them to distinct branches.
Shared powers
Powers which are held and exercised by more than one level of government.
Socialism
Philosophy and form of government based on the notion that the governmental authority ought to be used to promote fair and equal socioeconomic outcomes in terms of education, wealth and other important ways. Socialistic governments generally own or exercise substantial control over sectors of the economy that impact large portions of the population and maintain significant wealth and income redistribution programs.
Soft money
Political contributions not regulated by federal campaign finance laws. It is money given directly to political parties for the purposes of "party building." It is not to be used on or given directly to candidates in support of election efforts.
Speaker
Individual selected by the House to preside over the proceedings of the House in formal session. The Speaker of the House is almost always a member of the majority party.
Split-ticket voting
The practice of casting votes for candidates of different political parties on the same ballot, e.g. casting a vote for the Democratic presidential candidate while voting for the Republican congressional candidate.
Standing
The legal right to bring a suit before a court. To have standing, and individual must show that he or she has been harmed in a real way, not merely that he or she might be harmed in the future.
Standing committees
Permanent legislative committees in the House and Senate with established issue and policy jurisdictions.
Stare decisis
Literally "let the decision stand." General practice followed by the Supreme Court of adhering to previous decisions when it makes new ones.
Subcommittee
Smaller, more specialized committees which are organized and operate under the authority standing committees.
Subsidy
An economic benefit given by the government to an individual, business or group that engages in behavior deemed beneficial by policy makers. Subsidy payments can take the form of direct cash payments, tax credits or tax deductions.
Surplus
Amount by which available funds exceed spending during a fiscal year.
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