Government and Politics AP Review

Government and Politics AP Review Vocabulary – Part 3 poverty line – Yellow Dog Democrat The information found in this presentation is gleaned from a variety of sources including AP review material, AP government websites and my personal knowledge.

poverty line This term refers to an economic level, created by the Census Bureau, under which a person is thought to live in a “culture of poverty.”

precinct A precinct is any kind of subdivision of a city for the purpose of election organization. For cities that employ a city council or commission, normally precincts divide the area of constituency for a council member. A precinct map of Philadelphia and the level of votes for President Barack Obama in 2008

President of the Senate The President of the Senate is a position held by the Vice-President of the United States and is the office that presides over the Senate. However, since the vice-president is seldom in the Senate, the President Pro Tempore runs the daily goings on of the Senate. Vice President and President of the Senate – Joe Biden

President of the United States The president is the head of the executive branch of the federal government and is responsible for enforcing the laws of the Congress. The position of president has changed over the years, with some presidents exerting more power and influence than others. Most of these changes coincide with the extent of power and influence of the Congress. The position has directed national energies as well as compelled citizens to accept ideas of what is right and what is acceptable. In 2008, the nature of who the president is and what they can be changed as the first black man won a general election, narrowly winning the chance to run in the face of strong female candidate. The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama

President Pro Tempore While the vice president is the one who constitutionally presides over the Senate, it is actually the “temporary presiding officer” or president pro tempore that does much of the day to day officiating of the Senate’s duties. The president pro tempore is third in line to the presidency, after the vice president and the Speaker of the House. This official is selected by the majority of the Senate (therefore, the position goes to a member of the majority party). This person is, traditionally, the most senior member of the Senate in the majority party. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HA) is the current President Pro Tempore and the most senior member of the U.S. Senate.

Debates are very instrumental for candidates as they can build momentum or kill it. Candidates even have their own “spin doctors” who, after the debate, try to convince people their candidate won. Presidential debates are ran by the Commission on Presidential Debates, a body that determines the rules and sites of debates. It has been criticized in the past for excluding third party candidates. Beyond the Kennedy-Nixon debates (left), other memorable ones included President Ford declaring that the Soviets did not control Eastern Europe (1976 against Mr. Carter), Mr. Reagan asking if citizens were better off now than they were four years ago (1980 against Mr. Carter) and Mr. Dukakis responding stoically to whether he would support the death penalty if his wife was raped and murdered (1988 against Mr. Bush). He said he would not support such a punishment. presidential debates The first televised presidential debate occurred in 1960 between Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-MA) and Vice President Richard M. Nixon (R). Mr. Kennedy won the closest presidential election in U.S. history at the time.

presidential elections (1960-2008) 1960 – VP Richard Nixon (R) v. Sen. John Kennedy (D-MA) While his challenger touted change , Mr. Nixon suggested his experience would serve the country well. Mr. Kennedy benefited from southern support due to his running mate, Sen. Lyndon Johnson (D-TX) . Mr. Kennedy won a razor thin victory with a 55% voter turnout. He was the first Catholic to hold the office of president. 1964 – Pres. Lyndon Johnson (D) v. Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) Pres. Johnson touted a continuation of the policies of fallen Pres. Kennedy, including in the areas of civil rights while also pushing his “Great Society.” Mr. Goldwater called for a push back of government programs and a tougher foreign policy. The Johnson campaign successfully portrayed Mr. Goldwater as an extremist, helped by the famous “Daisy” political ad. Pres. Johnson won in a landslide with 62% voter turnout. 1968 – Fmr. VP Richard Nixon (R) v. VP Hubert Humphrey (D); Gov. George Wallace (AI-AL) When Pres. Johnson said he would not seek re-election, VP Humphrey became the candidate but only after the assassination of Sen. Kennedy and the violent and tumultuous Democrat Convention in Chicago. Meanwhile, Mr. Nixon promised law and order with a plan to end the Viet Nam War. Mr. Nixon won a close race with a 61% voter turnout. 1972 – Pres. Richard Nixon (R) v. Sen. George McGovern (D-SD) Mr. Nixon’s foreign policy achievements drew much support while Mr. McGovern, a liberal, called for an immediate withdraw from Viet Nam. His ticket was compromised when his running mate, Sen. Thomas Eagleton (D-MO) , had to withdraw when it

it was discovered he received electroshock therapy. He was replaced by Sargent Shriver (D-NY). Mr. Nixon won easily over then-small concerns of a burglary at the Watergate Hotel. There was a 55% voter turnout. 1976 – Pres. Gerald Ford (R) v. Gov. Jimmy Carter (D-GA) Gov. Carter was a political unknown but used that to say he was removed from the corruption and cynicism of Washington. Pres. Ford, coming to the office after Pres. Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal, had to justify his pardoning of Mr. Nixon, recover from a tough primary battle against Gov. Ronald Reagan (R-CA) and overcome a shaky debate performance but he made it a very close race. Mr. Carter won a slight victory with a 54% voter turnout. 1980 – Pres. Jimmy Carter (D) v. fmr. Gov. Ronald Reagan (R-CA) Mr. Reagan entered the campaign with a positive persona that contrasted the dour Pres. Carter. He asked people if they were better off now than four years ago. Pres. Carter, surviving a tough primary battle against Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), had to overcome a weak economy, stagflation, an energy crisis and the hostage situation in Iran. Mr. Reagan won in a blowout with a 52.6% voter turnout. 1984 – Pres. Ronald Reagan (R) v. Sen. Walter Mondale (D-MN) Noted for Mr. Mondale’s selection of Rep. Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY) as the first woman vice-presidential candidate, it was hindered by his promise to raise taxes. Pres. Reagan touted his record, a rebound economy and his optimistic attitude, epitomized in his commercials that declared it was “morning time” in America again. Pres. Reagan won a landslide victory with a 53.1% voter turnout. 1988 – VP George H.W. Bush (R) v. Gov. Michael Dukakis (D-MA) Promising to continue Mr. Reagan’s policies but lacking the charisma, Mr. Bush

struggled against the governor. He promised no new taxes and pushed for a kinder, more gentle nation. It was also a, at times, dirty campaign, with an independent- sponsored ad featuring convict Willie Horton from Massachusetts. Mr. Bush won with a 50.1% voter turnout. 1992 – Pres. George H.W. Bush (R) v. Gov. Bill Clinton (D-AR); Ross Perot (Ref-TX) Mr. Bush, though wildly popular after the Gulf War, struggled with a slow economy and low approval ratings. The energetic baby boomer Mr. Clinton struck the right note with declaring, “it’s the economy, stupid.” Mr. Perot proved more than formidable. He did not win any electoral votes but it is thought he took many votes from Pres. Bush. Mr. Clinton won a plurality victory with 55.1% voter turnout. 1996 – Pres. Bill Clinton (D) v. Sen. Bob Dole (R-KS); Ross Perot (I-TX) It was the young, quasi-successful president against a World War II hero with a long career in the Senate. The age difference really manifested itself in the debates. Pres. Clinton won, becoming the first Democrat since Franklin Roosevelt to win re-election. However, it was another plurality victory and a low 49.1% voter turnout. 2000 – VP Al Gore (D) v. Gov. George W. Bush (R-TX) Mr. Gore selected the first Jewish vice-presidential candidate, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), and ran, at times, separate from his former boss. Mr. Bush, a governor with a bipartisan history, ran on his pledge to bring “integrity” back to the White House. In the closest race in U.S. history and after a disputed count in Florida, Mr. Bush won an electoral victory with 51 % voter turnout. 2004 – Pres. George W. Bush (R) v. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) In the aftermath of September 11th, Mr. Bush was a wartime president and promised

to stay the course against America’s enemies. Mr. Kerry was hindered by his change of vote on the Iraq War, a devastating independent attack on his time in Viet Nam and what was characterized as a lack of personal charisma. Pres. Bush earned an easier victory than 2000 with 55.3% voter turnout. 2008 – Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) v. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) Mr. Obama survived a tough primary race against Sen. Hillary Rodham-Clinton (D- NY) but was aided by a well-timed economic downturn prior to the election. Mr. McCain, widely respected for his time as a POW in Viet Nam and long career as a “maverick” was set back by his inability to articulate an economic plan. Mr. Obama’s youth and ebullient nature brought out record young voters. He won an easy victory with 59% voter turnout.

presidential elector Each state has a certain amount of electoral votes (equal to the number of representatives and senators it has in the U.S. Congress). Each of those votes are represented by an elector, an official tasked with casting a vote on behalf of their state in the spirit of the votes from the people of that state. Most states require its electors to vote as the people do but in a couple of states, electors are allowed, though it seldom happens, to vote otherwise. Virginia presidential electors are sworn into office by Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leroy Hassell in December 2008.

presidential job approval ratings This is the lifeblood of a president’s effectiveness and perception and the main problem is that such a measure can vary greatly from week to week, month to month or even day to day. The biggest approval ratings were in the 90% range with Harry S. Truman after World War II and George H.W. Bush after the Gulf War. The lowest were seen with the aforementioned Mr. Truman, Richard Nixon and George W. Bush in the 30% range.

primary election A product of the Progressive Era (1901-1920), primary elections were designed to give people more power by allowing them to elect, not just a president but also who the candidates for president should be. Each presidential year begins with primary elections, beginning with Iowa. The primaries use to conclude with a final decision during the nominating conventions but nowadays, primaries are held so early (front loaded primaries), that the favored candidate is known well before the summer conventions. This cartoon shows the contentious nature of the 1912 Ohio primary between President William H. Taft and former President Theodore Roosevelt.

progressive The strongest era for progressive politics was during the presidencies of Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft and Woodrow Wilson. The Progressive Era of U.S. history, from 1901 until 1920, was characterized by several overreaching goals: improve the responsiveness of the government to the concerns of the people, give the people more power to direct the activities of government, curing societal ills like drinking and poverty and increasing the role of the government in solving economic, political and social issues.

proportional representation Proportional representation refers to an electoral system in which the amount of seats a party has in the legislature closely matches the percentage of votes it received during elections. One major argument that advocates proclaim is that such a system more accurately showcases the opinions of the public while detractors complain that to have so many parties within one legislature weakens the body and leads to a greater chance of government instability. Countries like Finland and Israel have proportional representation. The parliament of Finland is one of many legislatures that seat representatives on the basis of proportional representation.

protest vote A protest vote is one cast not for a particular candidate but based on the voter’s displeasure with the other candidate’s performance or beliefs. Some observers saw Ross Perot’s 1992 presidential support as a protest against the dominance of the two major parties and, what Mr. Perot characterized as, fiscal irresponsibility. The 2010 election of Scott Brown of Massachusetts to fill Edward Kennedy’s vacated seat in the Senate was seen by many as a protest vote against President Obama’s policies.

public funding This refers to any project or program that receives partial or complete funding by the federal government. This is opposed to private funding, which comes from individuals.

public policy Public policy is those ideas that form the basis for public laws. This policy is either codified or considered common sense by the public. As such, public policy can change to fit the mood of the country or emergencies as they occur. Public policy, for better or worse, often comes from the Congress on their own initiative or at the president’s.

push polling In short, this is an attempt by one candidate to smear their opponent by suggesting negative characteristics in the form of a poll. For example, the McCain campaign in the Republican primaries in 2000 claimed the Bush campaign called South Carolina residents with polling questions such as, “Would you be more likely or less likely to vote for John McCain for president if you knew he had fathered an illegitimate black child?” In fact, he and his wife had adopted a Bangladeshi girl. However, if the alleged source was behind this, the Bush campaign attempted to persuade voters with misinformation (also known as “lies” back in the good old days). Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) 2000 primary race in South Carolina has long been rumored to have been scuttled by push polling conducted by the Bush campaign. Gov. George Bush (R-TX) went on to win the South Carolina primary and eventually, the presidency.

Reagan Democrat During the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections, President Ronald Reagan was able to sway conservative Democrats to vote for him and support his policies. These voters were mostly characterized as white, northern working-class men who felt the Democrat Party had abandoned the working class in favor of other groups. President Ronald Reagan inspired support from working class Democrats during his 1980 and 1984 election victories.

realignment This is a phenomenon where voters switch from one party to another, impacting subsequent elections. These shifts normally define the beginning of new political eras. Such realignments were seen as Democrats that were fiscally conservative sided with Ronald Reagan, earning the moniker “Reagan Democrats.” President Andrew Jackson’s personality and policies created an exodus of some Democrats to create a new Whig Party.

re-districting This is a process that occurs every ten years (after the census) requiring state legislatures to redraw all congressional districts based on the population changes that occurred.

Reform Party The American Reform Party was founded by Texas billionaire, H. Ross Perot. The businessman’s goal was to create a more responsible government with more integrity and fiscal responsibility. The party’s high watermark was the 1992 presidential election but it dovetailed from there. Its only electoral victory was the election of Jesse Ventura as the governor of Minnesota. However, the party soon disintegrated as the Ventura and Perot supporters could not agree on a shared platform. Mr. Ventura left the party and state parties severed its national connections.

Rehnquist Court William Rehnquist was appointed to the Court by President Richard Nixon and in 1986, President Ronald Reagan selected him as the chief justice hoping the jurist’s conservative history would reverse some of the trends of the Warren Court. Chief Justice Rehnquist did not disappoint as his court became known for its judicial restraint and reinforcing the rights of states. Some of the Rehnquist Court’s more notable cases include attaching consent to abortions for teenage mothers in Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), the reinforcement of gun carrying restrictions at schools in U.S. v. Lopez (1995), reinforcing the sovereignty of state legislatures in Printz v. U.S. (1997) and Bush v. Gore (2000).

Republican Party Established in 1854 in Ripon, Wisconsin, it was a refuge for a collection of abolitionists, dissatisfied Democrats and rejects from the now-defunct Whig Party. It presented its first candidate for president two years after its founding, John Fremont, but he performed, predictably, poor. However, four years later, Abraham Lincoln became the first Republican president and remains its most beloved. Other well-known Republican presidents include Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan (often seen as the spiritual leader of the modern conservative movement) and George W. Bush.

Republican Party Electoral Coalition Since 1960, the Republican Party, like the Democrat Party, have enjoyed the support of some consistent groups of voters to include: men, white Protestants, business leaders, rural dwellers and those making over $50,000 a year.

representative democracy This is a form of government that is based on the consent of the public. The concepts of representative democracy come from ancient examples as well as the theories of Enlightenment thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The Second Continental Congress spelled out the beginnings of representative democracy in the United States.

reserved powers Based on the clause in the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the reserved clause says that any power not expressly written for the federal government is reserved for the states. The notion of reserved powers as alluded to in the 9th and 10th amendments are the basis of some of the arguments against the health care law passed and signed in March 2010.

revenues Revenues are simply the money that is collected by the government to pay for its service and obligations. The biggest source of revenue for the U.S. government is in the form of taxes. The 2008 revenue breakdown for the state of Kansas

right and right wing Both of these terms stem from the same concept. In the political spectrum of ideas, conservatives (a belief in lesser government involvement and lower taxes) is to the right. From this, those who are considered conservatives are considered to be on the right. Actions taken by conservatives as a group are considered actions taken by the right wing of the government. Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) is considered one of the most conservative members of the U.S. Congress.

Roberts Court After the death of Chief Justice Rehnquist, President George W. Bush appointed John Roberts to fill that role. Along with Samuel Alito taking the retired position of the Court’s first female jurist, Sandra Day O’Connor, it was the president’s hope that the Roberts Court would continue the conservative track of the Rehnquist Court.

Rule of Four The process by which the Supreme Court hears a case begins when four justices agree to accept the same. This is referred to as the “rule of four.” Though there are more than 8,000 cases seeking the attention of the Supreme Court, it only hears 75-100 cases. However, when the Court hears an appeal, they are advised by law clerks. When the justices decide to hear a case, the petitioner and the respondent are told to present oral arguments before the Court.

running mate A running mate refers to the one seeking the office of vice president as part of a team with the one seeking the presidency. Often, the choice of vice-president is meant to address something the presidential candidate lacks. This can refer to a specific policy of importance at the moment or, at other times, the running mate is from a portion of the country that the other’s culture and background can not reach. In recent years, the choice of vice-president has not proved as affective. The last running mate to have a large impact on a general election was Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy’s choice of Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas in 1960. During the 2008 general election, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) was John McCain’s running mate and Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) was Barack Obama’s running mate.

Second Amendment Perhaps no amendment has produced more controversy than the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In word, the amendment refers to the keeping of a well-armed militia by the states. However, some gun rights’ advocates have pointed to the words of the Founding Fathers in other areas to make the assertion that the amendment refers to the general right of Americans to own weapons. A major special interest group that advocates such a position is the National Rifle Association (NRA). More recent gun legislation has focused on the limit of the amendment towards automatic weapons and a waiting period and background check for those wanting to purchase a weapon. By the way, I do not believe Jefferson ever looked this manly in real life.

Secretary of Agriculture President George Washington was the first to suggest a board of agriculture but the department was not created until the mid-1800s and did not became a cabinet-level organization until the late 1800s. The secretary is responsible for all things agrarian including food, farming and rural development. Within the Agricultural Department (USDA) one can find the U.S. Forest Service and the Food Stamp Program. Tom Vilsack of Iowa is the Secretary of Agriculture under President Barack Obama

Secretary of Commerce The secretary is responsible for the business growth and health by promoting the interests of business and trade. The secretary also oversees the Bureau of the Census, the Patent and Trademark Office and oddly enough, the National Weather Service as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. Gary Locke of Washington is the Secretary of Commerce under President Barack Obama

Secretary of Defense The Secretary of Defense heads up the Department of Defense, an executive department since 1947. The secretary oversees the military and advises the president on issues related to the creation of military policy. The secretary works with but over the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Previous Secretaries of Defense included George C. Marshall, Robert McNamara and Caspar Weinberger. Leon Panetta of California is the Secretary of Defense under President Barack Obama and a former member of the Clinton Administration.

Secretary of Education The secretary oversees all issues related to education and education policy. They are also responsible for ensuring all federal laws and grants related to education are enacted and functional. Arne Duncan of Illinois is the Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama.

Secretary of Energy The secretary oversees all issues related to energy resources, nuclear energy as well as energy conservation. Stephen Chu of California is the Secretary of Energy under President Barack Obama and a former Nobel Prize winner in physics.

Secretary of Health and Human Services The secretary is tasked with the health of all American citizens. The agencies the secretary oversees include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas is the Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama

Secretary of Homeland Security The newest executive department was born out of the attacks on the U.S. on 11 September 2001. The secretary is responsible for protecting the country against future attacks. To this end, it works with the CIA and FBI and directly controls agencies such as the Border Patrol, Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard. Janet Napolitano of Arizona is the Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development The secretary is responsible for advising the president on matters of housing and urban development. The first Secretary of HUD was Robert Weaver, appointed by President Lyndon Johnson and Mr. Weaver was the first black person to serve a cabinet position. Shaun Donovan of New York is the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama.

Secretary of the Interior The secretary, as head of the Department of the Interior, oversees such programs like the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Park Service (NPS). Ken Salazar of Colorado is the Secretary of Interior under President Barack Obama

Secretary of Labor The secretary is responsible for all things related to labor, labor unions and workplace issues. Part of the secretary’s responsibilities include the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Francis Perkins, the Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was the first female cabinet member in U.S. history. Hilda Solis of California is the Secretary of Labor under President Barack Obama

Secretary of State It was once typical that the position of Secretary of State was the stepping stone to the presidency. Today, that is not the case but the position is no less important. The secretary represents the country and the president in foreign affairs as the chief diplomatic officer. The list of former secretaries of State is a who’s who of American legends. It is truly one of the most important and influential posts within the U.S. government. Hillary Rodham-Clinton of New York is the Secretary of State under President Barack Obama

Secretary of Transportation The secretary is responsible for all things transportation in the country and its infrastructure such as bridges, roads and tunnels. As part of their responsibilities, the secretary is also responsible for the National Transportation Safety Board, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration. Ray Lahood of Illinois is the Secretary of Transportation under President Barack Obama. He is also a former Republican member of the House

Secretary of the Treasury The Department of the Treasury is one of the oldest executive departments – one of the first three created under the leadership of Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. The secretary is the main economic advisor for the president and is tasked with creating and recommending economic and tax policy. This would include advise on how to proceed economically on an international scale. The secretary also serves as the chairman of the president’s Economic Council and oversees the U.S. Mint. Timothy Geithner of New York is the Secretary of Treasury under President Barack Obama

Secretary of Veterans Affairs The Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs is responsible for everything related to veterans. The biggest issue the secretary must deal with is the issue of benefits and claims as well as care of servicemen and women upon their discharge from the military. Erik Shinseki of Hawai’i is the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs under President Barack Obama

select committee Select committees are temporary ones created by the House and Senate to address specific issues that do not pertain to any one standing committee. The Watergate hearings were conducted by a select committee. The House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming hear testimony on recent evidence of scientific impropriety in ecological research

Government and Politics AP Review