Am Gov exam 2

committees and types

committees are groups or members is a legislative party for specific tasks. Standing committee permanent, select not permanent, joint both chambers, conference is bipartisan and bichamber to resolve differences between the chamber's versions of bills 

casework

the activity taken on by members of congress and their staffs to solve constituents problems with government agencies 

cloture

a parliamentary procedure used to close debate. Cloture is used in the senate to cut off filibusters. Under the current senate rules, three-fifths of senators must vote for cloture to halt a filibuster except on presidential nominations to offices other than supreme court justice 

agenda control

the capacity to set the choices available to others. Deciding wha bills come to floor,etc. Majority leader has this. 

filibuster

a tactic used in the senate to halt action on a bill. It involves making long speeches until the majority retreats. Senators, once holding the floor, have unlimited time to speak unless a cloture vote is passed by three-fifths of the members

gerrymandering

drawing legislative districts in such a way as to give one political party a disproportionately large share of seats for the share of votes its candidates win 

party leaders and whips

leader is spokesperson, strategists, and face of party, they lead campaigns, push legislative agenda. Whips help leader keep party members in line. 

-whip system: threatening party members to stick with ideals of party, you support our bills and we support yours, you dont and we make sure youre not reelected 

committee referral

when congress refers a bill to a committee with jurisdiction over the topic for review, amendment, evaluation. Important step because legislators who are experts in the topic can review it before it is presented to the whole chamber. 

open rule

a provision governing debate of a pending bill and permitting any relavent amendment to be offered on the floor of the house 

closed rule

an order from the House Rules Committee limiting floor debate on a particular bill and disallowing or limiting amendment 

restricted rule

amendments for a bill on the house floor are specified and limited

pork barrel legislation

legislation that provides members of congress with federal projects and programs for their individual distrcits (related to earmarks) 

earmarks

money set aside by congress in the federal budget to pay for projects in the home district of the a memberof congress (related to pork barrel) 

unanimous consent agreement

a unanimous resolution in the senate restricting debate and limiting amendments to the bills on the senate floor 

2 stage electoral system

primary and general election. Is supposed to help against partisanship. 

constituency and types

a constituency is an body of voters represented by elected official. Geographic is from where the official is from, electoral groups of individuals allowed to vote, primary group of individuals who can vote in primary 

divided government

a term used to describe government when one political party controls the executive branch and other political party controls one or both houses of the legislature 

unified government

same political party controls both executive and legislative branches

omnibus legislation

a single document that is passed with a single vote but contains many bills, sometimes unrelated. Used to pass legislation quickly, often used for budgets 

logrolling

the result of legislative trading. Ex urban legislatures voting for an agricultural bill provided that rural legislators vote for a mass transit bill 

executive office of the president

a collection of agencies that help the president oversee department and agency activities, formulate budgets and monitor spending, craft legislation, and lobby congress. The major components of the EOP establsihed in 1939 by president roosevelt, include the white house office, office of management and budget, national security council, and council of economic advisers, among others 

expressed powers of the presidency

explicitly states in the constitution that president can do this 

-Sign or veto legislation 

-convene or adjourn congress (rare bc they can reconvene or adjourn themselves) 

-command armed forces 

-enter into treaties with senate approval 

-nominate exective and judicial appoitnments with senate approval 

-”execute” laws (or not) 

-consult cabinet 

-grant pardons 

-recieve ambassadors 

• CANNOT declare war, can in emergency send troops

implied powers of the presidency

inferred powers from expressed powers 

-serve as ceremonial head of state 

-executive agreements- like a treaty without consent of senate 

- issue executive orders 

-(re)organize the bureaucracy 

-exercise the executive privilege 

executive orders

a presidential directive to an executive agency establishing new policies or indicating how an existing policy is to be carried out 

going public

presidents go public when they engage in intensive public relations to promote their policies to the voters and thereby induce cooperation from other elected officeholders in washington 

presidential memorandum

a presidential directive to an agency directing it to alter its administration of policies along lines prescribed in the memorandum. When a presidential memorandum is published in thefederal register, it assumes the same legal standing of an executive order 

signing statement

a statement issued by the president that is intended to modify implementation or ignore altogether provision of a new law. President says how he will interpret and enforce bill, sometimes bringing up constitutionality

state of the union address

a message to congress under the constitutional directive that the president shall from time to time give congress information of the state of the union and recommend their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient 

war powers act

law that requires the president to inform congress within forty eight hours of committing troops abroad in a military action 

the cabinet

the formal group of presidential advisers who head the major departments and agencies of the federal government. Cabinet members are chosen by president and approved by the senate

electoral college

a body of electors in each state, chosen by voters , who formally elect the president and vice president of the united state. Each states number of electoral votes equals its representation in congress. An absolute vote is required to elect a president and vice president. 

The electoral college 

selective enforcement

when officials apply laws inconsistently, often targeting groups or inidvidals 

prosecutorial discretion

authority of prosecutor to make decisions about what charges to bring, allows for flexibility based on available resources in the interest of justice 

original jurisdiction

supreme court has jurisdiction over any case involving a state as a party, states suing each other, foreign ambassadors 

appellate jurisdiction

the power of the supreme court to review, amend, or reverse decisions made by a lower court 

dissenting opinion

a written opinion of one or more supreme court justices who disagree with the ruling of the courts majority. The opinion outlines the rationale for their disagreement 

concurring opinion

a written opinion by a supreme court justice who agrees with the decision of the court but disagrees with the rationale for reaching that decision 

court of appeals

the second tier in the federal judicial system. One court of appeals serves each of the eleven regions or circuits, plus one for DOC 

federal district court

only have original jurisdiction, first level where federal cases begin, cases involve civil and criminal cases violating federal laws, constitution, people from different states 

court packing

an attempt by Roosevelt to remodel the federal judiciary. Its purpose ostensibly was to alleviate the overcrowding of the federal court dockets by allowing the president to appoint an additionaljustice for every sitting justice over the age of seventy. The legislation passed the house but failed in the senate.  

judicial review

the authority of a court to declare legislative and executive acts unconstitutional and therefore invalid 

activism

when judges deliberately shape judicial doctrine to conform to their personal view of the constitution and social policy 

restraint

the judicial action of deferring to the policies coming from the elected branches in the absence of a clear violation of the constitution or established doctrine 

rule of four

a rule used by the supreme court stating that when four justices support hearing a case the certiorari petition is granted

writ of certiorari

formal request to the supreme to review lower court decision, supreme uses this to find cases for review 

writ of mandamus

court order mandating public official or agency to do something required by law 

stare decisis

legal principle meaning to stand by things decided. Courts using previous judicial deciosns to make current decisions.

amicus curiae

“friend of the court”. A brief filed in a lawsuit by an individual or group that is not party to the lawsuit but that has an interest in the outcome