PAC

is the name commonly given to a private group, regardless of size, organized to elect political candidates or to advance the outcome of a political issue or legislation.

Under the Federal Election Campaign Act, an organization becomes a "political committee" by receiving contributions or making expenditures in excess of $1,000 for the purpose of influencing a federal election.

Cal Plural Executives

Bicameral

any legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses; in the united states, the senate represents 50 statewide voter constituencies, and the HOR represents voters in 435 separate districts.

gerrymandering

drawing district boundary lines for political advantage

Apportionment

Allocation of legislative seats to jurisdictions based on population.  Seats in the US HOR are apportioned to the states on the basis of their population after every 10 year census.

Pork Barreling

Legislation designed to make government benefits, including jobs and projects used as political patronage, flow to a particular district or state.

Bipartisanship

Agreement by members of both the democratic and the republican parties.

Term Limits

Limitations on the number of terms that an elected official can serve in office.  The Constitution limits the president to two terms.  There are no limits on the terms of senators or representatives.

Filibuster

Delaying tactic by a senator or group of senators, using the Senate's unlimited debate rule to prevent a vote on a bill.

Cloture

Vote to end debate - that is, to end a filibuster - which requires a three-fifths vote of the entire membership of the senate.

Open Seat

Seat in a legislature for which no incumbent is running for reelection.

Congressional Hearings

Congressional committee sessions in which members listen to witnesses who provide information and opinions on matters of interest to the committee, including pending legislation.

Stare Decisis

Judicial precept that the issue has already been decided in earlier cases and the earlier decision need only be applied in the specific case before the bench; the rule in most cases, it comes from the Latin for "the decision stands."

Standing

Requirement that the party who files a lawsuit have a legal stake in the outcome.

Rule of 4

At least four justices must agree to hear an appeal from a lower court in order to get a case before the Supreme Court.

Court of Appeals

3-justice panels that include a presiding justice and associate justices who review approximately 25,000 requests for an appeal each year.