Government 2nd Semester Vocab: Ch. 10-14, 18, & 19

deficit financing

regularly spends more than it takes in each year and then borrows to make up the difference

public debt

all of the money borrowed by the Federal Government over the years and not yet repaid, plus the accumulated interest on that money

legal tender

any kind of money that a creditor must by law accept in payment for debts

copyright

the exclusive right of an author to reproduce, publish, and sell his or her creative work

patent

grants a person the sole right to manufacture, use, or sell "any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof"

eminent domain

the inherent power to take private property for public use

naturalization

citizens of one country become citizens of another through this process

consensus

general agreement

impeach

to accuse, bring charges

acquit

to find not guilty

perjury

lying under oath

censure

a formal condemnation of one's behavior

subpoena

legal order directing one to appear and to produce certain evidence

incumbent

the person who currently holds the office

constituency

the people and interests that an elected official represents

oversight function

the process by which Congress, through its committees, checks to see that the executive branch agencies are carrying out the policies that Congress has set by law

bicameral

legislature made up of two houses

adjourn

to suspend a meeting until its next session

reapportion

redistribute, as in seats in a legislative body

off-year elections

congressional elections that occur in nonpresidential years

single-member district

voters in each area elect one representative

gerrymander

drawing a district to the advantage of a certain political party

at-large

elected to represent an entire state

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, chosen by and from the majority party in the House.

President of the Senate

The presiding officer of a senate; in Congress, the Vice President of the United States; in a State's legislature, either the lieutenant governor or a senator.

President pro tempore

The member of the United States Senate, or of the upper house of a State's legislature, chosen to preside in the absence of the president of the Senate.

Party caucus

A closed meeting of a party's House or Senate members; also called a party conference.

Floor leaders

Members of the House and Senate picked by their parties to carry out party decisions and steer legislative action to meet party goals.

Whips

Assistants to the floor leaders in the House and Senate, responsible for monitoring and marshalling votes.

Committee Chairman

Member who heads a standing committee in a legislative body.

Standing committee

Permanent committee in a legislative body to which the bills in a specified subject-matter area are referred.

Select committee

Legislative committee created for a limited time and for some specific purpose; also known as a special committee.

Joint committee

Legislative committee composed of members of both houses.

Conference committee

Temporary joint committee created to reconcile any differences between the two houses' version of a bill.

Bill

A proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration.

Resolution

A measure relating to the business of either house, or expressing an opinion; does not have the force of law and does not require the President's signature.

Rider

Unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so that it will "ride" through the legislative process.

Subcommittee

Division of existing committee that is formed to address specific issues.

Quorum

Least number of members that must be present for a legislative body to conduct business; majority.

Filibuster

Various tactics (usually long speeches) aimed at defeating a bill in a legislative body by preventing a final vote; associated with the U.S. Senate.

Cloture

Procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate in a legislative body.

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature.

Pocket veto

A type of veto a chief executive may use after a legislature has been adjourned; when the chief executive does not sign or reject a bill within the time allowed to do so.

Chief of State

The ceremonial head of the government of the United States

Chief Executive

The President as the holder of the executive power of the United States

Commander in Chief

The President is in charge of the nation's armed forces.

Presidential Succession

The scheme by which a presidential vacancy is filled.

Balance the ticket

The nominee chooses a running mate who can strengthen his or her chance of being elected by virtue of certain ideological, geographic, racial, ethnic, gender, or other characteristics.

Presidential Elector

a person chosen by the voters to represent them in making a formal selection of the Vice President and President

Electoral Vote

the official vote for president and vice president by electors in each state

Electoral College

The group of people chosen from each State and the District of Columbia to formally select the President and Vice President.

Presidential Primary

An election in which a party's voters express a preference among various contenders for their party's presidential nomination and choose some or all of a State party organization's delegates to their party's national convention.

National Conventions

the meetings at which party delegates select their presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Platform

Its formal statement of basic principles, stands on major policy matters, and objectives for the campaign and beyond.

imperial presidency

term used to describe a President as an "emperor" who acts without consulting Congress or acts in secrecy to evade or deceive Congress

executive order

directive, rule, or regulation issued by the chief executive that has the effect of law

ordinance power

power of the President to issue executive orders

treaty

a formal agreement between two or more sovereign states

executive agreement

a pact made by the President directly with the head of a foreign state

recognition

the exclusive power of the President establish formal diplomatic relations with foreign states

persona non grata

an unwelcome person, especially a recalled diplomatic official

reprieve

an official postponement of the execution of a sentence

pardon

release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime

clemency

mercy or leniency granted to an offender

commutation

the power to reduce the length of a sentence or fine for a crime

amnesty

a blanket pardon offered to a group of law violators

Jurisdiction

the authority of a court to have a case

Plaintiff

in civil law, the party who brings a suit or some other legal action against another in court

Defendant

in civil law, the party against whom a court action is brought by the plaintiff

Original jurisdiction

the power of the court to hear a case, before any other cases

Appellate jurisdiction

the authority of the court to review decisions of inferior courts

Criminal case

a case in which a defendant is tried for committing a crime as defined by the law

Civil case

a case involving a noncriminal matter such as a contract dispute or a claim of patent infringement

Majority opinion

Officially called the Opinion of the court; announces the Court's decision in a case and sets out the reasoning on which it is based

Precedent

Court decision that stands as an example to be followed in future, similar cases

Concurring Opinion

Written explanation of the views of one or more judges who support a decision reached by a majority of the court, but wish to add or emphasize a point that was not made in majority opinion

Dissenting opinion

written explanation of the views of one or more judges who whom disagree with a decision reached by majority of the court

Court-martial

A court composed of military personnel, the trial of those accused of violating military law

brief

written argument presented to an appellate court

Marbury v. Madison

Supreme Court case in which the Court first established the power of judicial review

electorate

All of the people entitled to vote in a given election

mass media

Forms of communication, such as newspapers and radio, that reach millions of people.

Oath of Office

pledge by the President to defend the Constitution

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution

Establishment Clause

First Amendment ban on Congress supporting religious institutions

parochial

relating to a church

Free Exercise Clause

the First Amendment guarantee that citizens may engage in the religious activities of their choice

Libel

a published false statement that is damaging to a person's reputation

Slander

spoken lies or false statement

sedition

rebellion or resistance against the government