political party
group of persons who seek to control the government through the winning of elections and the hold of public office
minor party
one of the political parties not widely supported
bipartisan
supported by two parties
coalition
temporary alliance of several groups who come together to form a working majority and to control a government
ideological parties
parties based on a particular set of beliefs
open primary
in a Democratic candidate election in which anyone can vote
nomination
the process of a party or selecting a candidate
subsidy
money from the government
executive power
the power to execute, enforce, and administer law
legislative power
the power to make law and to frame public policies
oligarchy
the power to rule in held by a small, self-appointed elite
presidential government
the executive and legislative branches are separated, independent, and coequal
checks and balances
each branch is subject to a number of constitutional checks by the other branches
separation of powers
dividing the powers of government among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches
federalism
a system in which power is divided between the national and state governments
judicial review
the right of the supreme court to determine if a law violates the constitution
rule of law
holds the government and its officers subject to the law
habeas corpus
no unlawful imprisonment
ex posto facto
law applied to an act committed before its passage
elastic clause
the part of the Constitution that permits Congress to make any laws "necessary and proper" to carrying out its powers
