An argument filed with a court by an individual or group who is not a party to a lawsuit

An office holder running for office

The free mail and electronic signature system used by members of Congress.

Impacting the economy through taxing and spending in the budget

A lawsuit

When a court follows precedent by letting a previous decision stand

Face-to-face meetings of party members at the local or state level to determine their party’s candidate for office

The process of talking a bill to death

Influencing the economy though federal interest rates, reserve rates, and the amount of money in circulation

A process by which the national government gives more power and authority to the states

A philosophy that the Supreme Court should make bold new policy

The time during which a president who has lost an election or has ended a second term is still in office before the new president serves.

A vote by 60 senators to end a filibuster.

When members of Congress trade votes for favors in order to get the bills they support passed

The process by which an individual develops his or her political beliefs

A document issued by the Supreme Court if it has agreed to hear a case

A presidential directive

Drawing congressional district boundaries to benefit a group, usually a political party

A provision in a bill that benefits a specific congressional constituency

When the president is from one political party and one or both houses of Congress are controlled by the opposing political party

Making judicial decisions by considering what the founding fathers meant in the Constitution

A vote by party members to determine their party’s candidate for office, which is restricted to those who are registered to the party.

Changing congressional district boundaries based on a new census

The use of spending by the national government through the grant process to influence state policies

A federal requirement that forces the states to spend their own money