Interactions Among Branches of Government

Flashcards based on lecture notes about interactions among branches of government.

The Constitution reflects that the Senate is designed to represent states equally, while the House is designed to represent __________.

population.

Reapportionment occurs every __________ years.

ten.

Redistricting is the process of __________ districts to reflect population changes.

redrawing.

Gerrymandering is defined as __________ for political advantage.

manipulating district boundaries.

Gerrymandering impacts elections by __________ the representation of certain groups.

distorting.

The chamber size for the House is __________ members.

435.

The chamber size for the Senate is __________ members.

100.

Differences in chamber sizes and constituencies influence debate formality in the House and Senate by creating __________ in the House.

more structured debates.

Members of the House serve __________ year terms.

two.

Members of the Senate serve __________ year terms.

six.

Coalitions in Congress are affected by term length differences, as longer terms in the Senate allow for __________ relationships.

more stable.

The House is known for its __________ powers, particularly regarding revenue and taxation.

exclusive.

The Senate is known for its __________ powers, particularly in treaty negotiation.

advisory.

Three enumerated powers of Congress that significantly increase their power include the power to __________.

tax, regulate interstate commerce, and declare war.

The Necessary and Proper clause allows Congress to __________ its powers.

expand.

The policymaking process in Congress includes stages such as __________.

drafting, debate, and voting on legislation.

Differences in the House and Senate impact the policymaking process by creating __________ processes in each chamber.

differing.

Committees serve in Congress to __________ legislation and manage specific areas of policy.

review.

The main role of a standing committee is to __________ legislation at a specific stage.

evaluate.

An example of a powerful standing committee in the House is the __________ Committee.

Appropriations.

An example of a powerful standing committee in the Senate is the __________ Committee.

Judiciary.

The function of a select committee is to __________ specific issues and report findings.

investigate.

A conference committee is responsible for __________ between House and Senate versions of a bill.

reconciling.

The Speaker of the House is specific to the __________ and has significant influence on policy.

House.

The President of the Senate is a role primarily held by the __________, affecting legislative proceedings.

Vice President.

Committee leadership impacts policy by determining __________ for debates and agenda.

the priorities.

A filibuster is a tactic used in the __________ to delay or prevent a vote on legislation.

Senate.

Cloture is a procedure used to __________ a filibuster.

end.

A hold is a Senate procedure that allows a member to __________ a vote on a bill.

prevent.

Unanimous consent is a way to expedite __________ in both chambers.

procedural actions.

The Rules Committee is specific to the __________ and regulates the flow of legislation.

House.

The Committee of the Whole includes all members of the __________ for certain discussions.

House.

A discharge petition is a mechanism to bring a __________ matter to the floor for a vote.

stalled.

Congress plays a role in the federal budget creation by __________ and approving funding.

authorizing.

Discretionary spending includes __________, which varies each year.

expenses determined by annual budget decisions.

Mandatory spending includes __________ that is required by existing law.

programs like Social Security.

The biggest part of America’s discretionary spending is __________.

defense.

A budget deficit occurs when expenditures exceed __________.

revenues.

Cutting taxes may lead to a __________ in a budget deficit.

widening.

Ideological divisions within Congress can cause __________ in legislative decision-making.

gridlock.

Divided government refers to the situation where the __________ are controlled by different parties.

House, Senate and presidency.

Lame duck sessions occur when Congress is in session __________ elections.

after.

A trustee votes based on their own __________ and judgment.

conscience.

A delegate votes based on the __________ of their constituents.

preferences.

A politico votes as a __________ of both constituents' wishes and their judgment.

hybrid.

Baker v. Carr (1961) established the principle of __________ in congressional districting.

one person, one vote.

The precedent set in Baker v. Carr (1961) is that federal courts can review __________ among states.

redistricting.

Shaw v. Reno (1993) addressed the issue of __________ in districting.

racial gerrymandering.

The precedent set in Shaw v. Reno (1993) is that race cannot be the __________ factor in drawing districts.

dominant.

A veto is a formal power that allows the president to __________ legislation.

reject.

A pocket veto occurs when the president does not sign a bill within __________ days while Congress is adjourned.

ten.

Treaty negotiation is a formal power requiring __________ approval from the Senate.

two-thirds.

Executive agreements, unlike treaties, do not require __________ approval.

Senate.

As Commander in Chief, the president oversees the __________ of armed forces.

deployment.

Executive orders are directives that manage __________ operations.

government.

Signing statements are used by the president to provide context or __________ on legislation.

interpretation.

A pardon is a formal release from __________ or consequences of a crime.

punishment.

The appointment power allows the president to select judges, ambassadors, and __________.

other officials.

Unified government can lead to more streamlined __________ appointments compared to divided government.

judicial.

Federalist 70 advocates for a strong and __________ executive.

decisive.

Hamilton argued that a strong executive is essential for maintaining __________ and effective government.

order.

The 22nd Amendment restricts the president to __________ terms in office.

two.

Franklin D. Roosevelt greatly expanded the power of the __________.

executive.

The bully pulpit is a term used to describe the president's capacity to influence __________ through speech.

public opinion.

The POTUS can use the bully pulpit to advance policy by __________ public support for initiatives.

mobilizing.

The State of the Union is a required address that outlines the president's ______________ for the upcoming year.

legislative agenda.

The judicial branch's power comes from the ability to __________ laws and interpret the Constitution.

review.

The power of the judicial branch originated from the __________ of the Constitution.

authority granted.

The holding in Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the principle of __________.

judicial review.

Judicial review is the power to declare laws or actions __________ if they violate the Constitution.

unconstitutional.

Federalist 78 states that judicial review is necessary to protect against __________.

government overreach.

Life tenure for justices is necessary to ensure __________ from political pressures.

independence.

Judges get on the Court through __________ by the President and confirmation by the Senate.

nominations.

Stare decisis is the legal principle of __________ established decisions are upheld in future cases.

maintaining.

Stare decisis impacts judicial decision-making by promoting __________ and predictability in law.

consistency.

The ideology of the Court can change __________ and affect decisions over time.

with new justices.

The Court is insulated from public opinion by its __________ and life tenure.

independence.

Controversial rulings may challenge the Court's legitimacy by causing __________ among the public.

distrust.

Judicial activism is the view that judges should actively __________ the Constitution to address social issues.

interpret.

Judicial restraint suggests that judges should limit __________ and avoid overreach.

their power.

Judicial activism generally gives the Court more power as it allows for __________ interpretations of law.

broader.

Congress can respond to judicial rulings through __________ legislative changes.

enacting.

The POTUS can respond to judicial rulings through __________ decisions and nominations.

policy.

States can challenge judicial rulings through __________ to alter laws or public policy frameworks.

legislative actions.

Federal court jurisdiction, aside from SCOTUS, is determined by __________ legislation.

Congressional.

Bureaucracy is defined as a system of __________ with specific regulations and procedures.

government administration.

The Cabinet is composed of __________ who advise the president on specific policy areas.

department heads.

Bureaucratic agencies provide specialized services and are responsible for __________ regulations.

implementing.

Regulatory commissions enforce specific __________ laws and regulations.

federal.

A government corporation operates like a __________ but is owned by the government.

business.

An iron triangle refers to the stable relationship among __________, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups.

Congress.

Patronage involves giving jobs and benefits based on __________ rather than merit.

political loyalty.

The civil service system differs from patronage by hiring based on __________ and qualifications.

merit.

The shift from patronage to merit has occurred due to calls for __________ and efficiency in government.

accountability.

Bureaucratic discretion allows agencies to make decisions within the framework of __________.

established laws.

Congress defers to bureaucrats to create rules because of their __________ and expertise in specific areas.

specialization.

Oversight is Congress's power to __________ how laws are implemented and executed by the bureaucracy.

monitor.

An example of Congress exercising oversight is __________ through hearings and investigations.

conducting evaluations.

To ensure laws are implemented as intended, Congress can provide __________ and funding guidelines.

clear directives.

Congress can control the bureaucracy through __________ and appropriations processes.

budgeting.