Chapter 4: Ap Gov

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one person, one vote

Back 1

The principle that each legislative district within a state should have the same number of eligible voters so that representation is equitably based on population.

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State Constitution

Back 2

The document that describes the basic policies, procedures, and institutions of the government of a specific state, much as the U.S. Constitution does for the federal government.

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Political Machine

Back 3

An organisation designed to solicit votes from certain neighborhoods or communities for a particular political party in return for services and jobs if that party wins.

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Progressive Movement

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Advocated measures to destroy political machines and instead have direct participation by voters in the nomination of candidates and the establishment of public policy.

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Governor

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Chief elected executive in state government

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Package or General Veto

Back 6

The authority of a chief executive to void an entire bill that has been passed by the legislature. The veto applies to all bills, whether or not they have taxing or spending components, and the legislature may override this veto, usually with a two-thirds majority of each chamber.

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Line-item Veto

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The authoirty of a chief executive to delete part of a bill passed by the legislature that involves taxing or spending. The legislature may override a veto, usually with a two-thirds majority of each chamber.

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Pardon

Back 8

The authority of a governor to cancel someone's conviction of a crime by a court and to eliminate all sanctions and punishments resulting from the conviction.

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Commute

Back 9

The action of a governor to cancell all or part of the sentence of someone convicted of a crime, while keeping the conviction on the record.

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Parole

Back 10

The authority of a governor to release a prisoner before his or her full sentence has been completed and to specify conditions that must be met as part of the release.

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Extradite

Back 11

The send someone against his or her will to another state to face criminal charges.

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Term Limits

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Restrictions that exist in some states about how long an individual may serve in state or local elected offices.

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Inclusion

Back 13

The principle that state courts will apply federal laws when those laws directly conflict with the laws of the state.

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Missouri (Merit) Plan

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A method of selecting judges in which a governor must appoint someone from a list provided by an independent panel. Judges are then kept in office if they get a majority of "yes" votes in general elections.

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Direct Initiative

Back 15

A process in which voters can place a proposal on a ballot and enact in into law without involving the legislature or the governor.

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Indirect Initiative

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A process in which the legislature places a proposal on a ballot and allows voters to enact it into law, without involving the governor or futhur action by the legislature.

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Direct (Popular) Referendum

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A process in which voters can veto a bill recently passed in the legislature by placing the issue on a ballot and expressing disapproval.

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Advisory Referendum

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A process in which voters cast nonbinding ballots on an issue or proposal.

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Recall

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A process in which voters can petition for a vote to remove office holders between elections.

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Dillon's Rule

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A court ruling that local governments do not have any inherent sovereignity but instead must be authorized by state government.

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Charter

Back 21

A document that, like a constitution, specifies the basic policies, procedures, and institutions of a minicipality.

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County

Back 22

A geographical district created within a state with a government that has general responsibilities for land, welfare, environment and where appropriate, rural service policies.

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Municipality

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A government with general responsibilities, such as, city, town or village government, that is created in response to the emergence of relatively densely populated area.

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Special District

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A local government that is responsible for a particular function, such as K-12 education, water, sewage or parks.

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Town Meeting

Back 25

Form of local government in which asll eligible voters are invited to attend a meeting at which budgets and ordinances are proposed and voted on.

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Mayor

Back 26

Chief elected executive of a city.

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City council

Back 27

The legislature in a city government.

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Manager

Back 28

A professional executive hired by a city council or county board to manage daily operations and to recommend policy changes.

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District Based elections

Back 29

Election in which candidates run for an office that represents only the voters of a specific district within the jurisdiction.

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At-large Election

Back 30

Election in which candidates for office must compete throughout the juridiction of a whole.

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Commission

Back 31

Form of local government in which several officials are elected to top positions that have both legislative and executive responsibilities.

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Public Corporation (Authority)

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Government organization established to provide a particular service or run a particular facility that is independent of other city or state agencies and is to be operated like a business. Examples include a port authority or a mass transit system.

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Nonpartisan Election

Back 33

A contest in which candidates run without formal identification or association with a political party.

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Domestic dependent nation

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A type of sovereignity that makes an Indian tribe in the US outside the authority of state governments but reliant on the federal government for the definition of tribal authority.

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Trust relationship

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The legal obligation of the United States federal government to protect the interests of Indian tribes.

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Compact

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A formal, legal agreement as that between a state and a tribe.

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Reservation land

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Land designated in a treaty that is under the authority of an indian nation and is exempt from most state laws and taxes.

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Trust land

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Land owned by an Indian nation and designated by the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs as exempt from most state laws and taxes.

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Progressive Tax

Back 39

The tax level increases as the wealth or ability of an individual or business to pay.

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Regressive Tax

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The tax level increases as the wealth or ability of an individual or business decreases.

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Segregated funds

Back 41

Money that comes in from a certain tax or fee and then is restricted to a specific use, such as gasoline tax that is used for road maintenance.