GLoSSARy 381
Superdelegate A party leader or elected official
who is given the right to vote at the party’s national
convention. Superdelegates are not elected at the
state level.
Super PAC A political organization that aggregates
unlimited contributions by individuals and
organizations to be spent independently of
candidate committees.
Supremacy Clause The constitutional provision
that makes the Constitution and federal laws
superior to all conflicting state and local laws.
Supremacy Doctrine A doctrine that asserts
the priority of national law over state laws. This
principle is stated in Article VI of the Constitution.
Symbolic Speech Expression made through articles
of clothing, gestures, movements, and other forms of
nonverbal communication.T
Technical Assistance The practice of sending
experts in such areas as agriculture, engineering,
and business to aid other nations.
Terrorism A systematic attempt to inspire
fear to gain political ends, typically involving
the indiscriminate use of violence against
noncombatants.
Third Party A political party other than the two
major political parties (Republican and Democratic).
Ticket Splitting Voting for candidates of two or
more parties for different offices. For example, a
voter splits her ticket if she votes for a Republican
presidential candidate and for a Democratic
congressional candidate.
Totalitarian Regime A form of government that
controls all aspects of the political, social, and
economic life of a nation.
Tracking Poll A poll that is taken continuously—
sometimes every day—to determine how support for
an issue or candidate changes over time.
Treasuries U.S. Treasury securities—bills, notes,
and bonds; debt issued by the federal government.
Trial Court The court in which most cases begin.
Truman Doctrine The policy adopted by President
Harry Truman in 1947 to halt Communist expansion
in southeastern Europe.
Trustee A legislator who acts according to her or
his conscience and the broad interests of the entire
society.
Twelfth Amendment An amendment to the
Constitution, adopted in 1804, that specifies the
separate election of the president and the vice
president by the Electoral College.Spin An interpretation of political events that is
favorable to a candidate or officeholder.
Spin Doctor A political adviser who tries to
convince journalists of the truth of a particular
interpretation of events.
Splinter Party A new party formed by a dissident
faction within a major political party. Often, splinter
parties have emerged when a particular personality
was at odds with the major party.
Spoils System The awarding of government jobs to
political supporters and friends.
Spring Review The annual process in which the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requires
federal agencies to review their programs, activities,
and goals, and submit their requests for funding for
the next fiscal year.
Standing Committee A permanent committee in the
House or Senate that considers bills within a certain
subject area.
Stare Decisis To stand on decided cases; the judicial
policy of following precedents established by past
decisions.
State A group of people occupying a specific area
and organized under one government. It may be
either a nation or a subunit of a nation.
State Central Committee The principal organized
structure of each political party within each state.
This committee is responsible for carrying out policy
decisions of the party’s state convention.
State of the Union Message An annual message
to Congress in which the president proposes a
legislative program. The message is addressed not
only to Congress but also to the American people
and to the world.
Statutory Power A power created for the president
through laws enacted by Congress.
Straight-Ticket Voting Voting exclusively for the
candidates of one party.
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I) A treaty
between the United States and the Soviet Union to
stabilize the nuclear arms com petition between the
two countries. SALT I talks began in 1969, and the
treaty was signed in 1972.
Strict Scrutiny A judicial standard for assessing
the constitutionality of a law or government action
when the law or action threatens to interfere with a
fundamental right or potentially discriminates on
the basis of race.
Suffrage The right to vote. A vote given in favor of a
proposed measure, candidate, or the like.
Sunset Legislation Laws requiring that existing
programs be reviewed regularly for their
effectiveness and be terminated unless specifically
extended as a result of these reviews.9781285436388_em_glos_371-382.indd 381 10/22/13 7:04 AM
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