AP Government Monster Vocab

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Amicus Curiae

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An argument filed with a court by an individual or group who is not a party to a lawsuit. " Friend of the Court".

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Block Grant

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Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services

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Categorical Grants

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Federal grants that can be used only for specific purposes or "categories," of state and local spending. They come with strings attached, such as nondiscrimination provisions. Compare to block grants.

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Casework

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Activities of members of congress that help constituents as individuals; cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get

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Caucus

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A group of like-minded individuals who meet to select the candidate(s) they will support in the upcoming election.

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Closed Primary

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A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote.

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Cooperative federalism

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A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government. They may also share costs, administration, and even blame for programs that work poorly.

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Critical elections

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Elections that disrupt party coalitions and create new ones in a party realignment

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Dealignment

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A process whereby voters move toward nonpartisanship thus weakening the structure of political parties

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Demographic

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A process whereby voters move toward nonpartisanship thus weakening the structure of political parties