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221 Terms
1
ad hoc committee
Appointed for a limited time and design and report a specific piece of legislation
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conference committee
Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.
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select committee
A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.
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4
special committee
a temporary committee organized around a specific purpose. Lacks the authority to review legislation.
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5
Rules Committee
A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house.
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6
Common Law
A legal system based on custom and court rulings
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7
Civil Law
A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.
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8
Statutory Law
Law passed by the U.S. Congress or state legislatures
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Constitutional Law
law that involves the interpretation and application of the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions
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10
Administrative Law
The body of law created by administrative agencies (in the form of rules, regulations, orders, and decisions) in order to carry out their duties and responsibilities.
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11
Case Law
Judicial interpretations of common law principles and doctrines, as well as interpretations of constitutional law, statutory law, and administrative law.
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12
case work
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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13
Closed Rule (House)
amendments to the bill cannot be offered
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14
Open Rule (House)
Any member may offer an amendment that complies with standing rules of the House. Amend as it is being debated.
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15
Filibuster
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.
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16
cloture vote
Ends a filibuster, with a 60% of the votes to get it to end. (Senate)
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17
conditional party government
The theory that lawmakers from the same party will cooperate to develop policy proposals. Majority party will have full control of what comes to the floor.
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18
Continuing Resolution
a measure which allows agencies to continue working based on the previous year's budget.
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19
discharge petition
Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.
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20
Earmarks
Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.
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21
Entitlements
Benefits to which every eligible person has a legal right and that the government cannot deny.
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22
Term length for Senate
six years
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23
Term length for House of Representatives
two years
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24
Reapportionment
the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census. Number of House representatives for each state.
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25
Redistricting
The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.
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26
Gerrymandering
manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class.
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27
majority leader
the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate
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28
Multiple Referral of a Bill
Sending a bill to be considered by more than one committee in the same chamber.
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29
pork-barrel legislation
Legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a member's chance of reelection
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30
President Pro Tempore
Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president (McConnel)
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31
proportional representation
An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote. (The House)
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32
Quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress. 51 Senate. 218 House.
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33
restricted rule
Between open and closed rule. certain things are available for amending.
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roll-call vote
a vote in which each legislator's yes or no vote is recorded as the clerk calls the names of the members alphabetically. Determines if a quorum is present.
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35
Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi
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36
Brad Wilson (Utah)
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37
status quo bias
tendency to do nothing when faced with making a decision
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38
unanimous consent agreement
Rules under which the Senate debates, offers amendments, and votes on a given bill. All members of the chamber must agree to them, so any senator can object and halt progress on a bill.
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39
General Session
meeting to discuss legislation. No bill shall pass that has more than one topic. (Omnibus)
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40
Omnibus Bill
One very large bill that encompasses many separate bills.
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41
Caucus
A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform.
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42
party caucus
a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house
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43
Leadership.
Presiding officer, majority and minority leader, majority and minority whip, assisted whip and conference chair.
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Staff
21,362 in congress
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45
professionalized legislature
Citizen legislatures are made of people who have other, full-time jobs.
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46
When do the "best" candidates run?
When there isn't a lot of opposition. Same party as the president.
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47
Electoral advantage
Name recognition
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48
Familiarity.
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49
The won before for a reason.
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50
Will have more money.
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51
Expertise.
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strategic entry
Planned distribution, creates red/blue waves.
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53
amateur candidate
one who does not have election or government experience
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professional candidate
Experience in elections and positions.
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wave election
an election where one political party wins, resulting in a change of control in the presidency and Congress, increased control the Congress, or change of control in one or both house of Congress
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incumbent
the current officeholder
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incumbancy advantage
The electoral benefit of holding office, in particular as it relates to the very high rates at which Congressional legislators win reelection
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58
reelection incentive
advertising, credit claiming, position taking
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Geographic Constituency
Everyone- determine relative homogeneity of constituents
The people within a Congress member's House district who can be counted on for support.
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personal constituency
A small number of intimate friends, advisors, and confidants who support a member of Congress.
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issue representation
focus on high policy content.
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64
Service Representation
Casework
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allocation representation
directing money back to constituents.
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66
descriptive representation
the idea that an elected body should mirror demographically the population it represents
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67
Delegate style of representation
the representative tries to mirror perfectly the views of his or her constituents.
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68
Trustee style of representation
A Public Official who votes independent of the voters, interest groups, or primary employers based on one's perceived interest of the nation is higher than the state or congressional district.
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soft money
Campaign contributions unregulated by federal or state law, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.
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70
How a Bill passes through Congress?
In the house, from drafting to introduction to referral to committee to committee hearing (where the action happens) to committee vote to rules committee to floor debate and floor vote
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71
In the Senate, the same without a rules committee.
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Senate philosophy
Protect the individual at the expense of the majority.
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73
House philosophy
Protect the majority at the expense of the individual.
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direct initiative
a process in which voters can place a proposal on a ballot and enact it into law without involving the legislature or the governor
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indirect initiative
a process in which the legislature places a proposal on a ballot and allows voters to enact it into law, without involving the governor or further action by the legislature
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legislative referendum
Ballot measure aimed at securing voter approval for some legislative acts, such as changes to a state's constitution.
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77
popular referendum
A device that allows citizens to approve or repeal measures already acted on by legislative bodies.
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78
Filling the Amendment Tree (Senate)
The Senate Majority Leader proposes a series of unimportant amendments to prevent unwanted amendments from coming to the floor.
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79
Initiative
the ability to assess and initiate things independently.
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80
Recall
procedure whereby voters can remove an elected official from office
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81
How do our expectations of presidents compare with their formal authority?
Protection, prosperity, policy
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82
Personal comes into play occasionally.
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No formal legislative power.
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Needs public pressure.
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Enacts legislation.
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Veto
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Make treaties
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Judicial Appointees.
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90
Chief Clerk Era
Main job was staffing cabinet.
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91
stewardship theory of the presidency
A theory that argues for a strong, assertive presidential role, with presidential authority limited only at points specifically prohibited by law.
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Depression and WWII
Increase in executive power
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OMB
Office of Management and Budget
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94
Veto
Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature
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95
Appointment Power
The authority vested in the president to fill a government office or position.
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bully pulpit/going public
President sells his programs directly to the American public.
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President's office is a "bully pulpit"
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(a position to inspire Congress & the nation to follow his political agenda)
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99
Stewardship Theory
Calls for assertive presidency that is confined only at specific points defined by law.
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negotiation
One way for presidents to expand their power, persuading congress, cabinet from behind the scenes.