Unit 2 Vocab Part 1

Article 1 of the Constitution

Legislative branch. Congress. House and the Senate

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

Constituency

the people and interests that an elected official represents

Coalition-building

the banding together of several interest groups for the purpose of lobbying

Revenue

An increase in owner's equity resulting from the operation of a business

Congressional Committee

a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty

Standing Committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

Select Committee

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

Conference Committee

Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

Joint Committee

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

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.

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

Quorum

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress

Hold

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.

Unanimous Consent

an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation

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.

Committee of the Whole

consists of all members of the House and meets in the House chamber but is governed by different rules, making it easier to consider complex and controversial legislation

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.

Treaty Ratification

The power of the U.S. Senate to approve or disapprove formal treaties negotiated by the president on behalf of the nation.

Discretionary Spending

Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

Mandatory Spending

Federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress.

Entitlements

Policies for which Congress has obligated itself to pay X level of benefits to Y number of recipients. Social Security benefits are an example. (nOt SuRe)

Social Security

federal program of disability and retirement benefits that covers most working people

Medicare

A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older

Medicaid

A federal and state assistance program that pays for health care services for people who cannot afford them.

Budget Deficit

a situation in which the government spends more than it takes in

Pork Barrel Legislation

legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

Earmarks

Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.

Riders

Amendments to bills, often in the form of appropriations, that sometimes have nothing to do with the intent of the bill itself and many times are considered to be pork barrel legislation

Omnibus Bill

One very large bill that encompasses many separate bills.

Logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills (scratch each other's back)

Franking Privilege

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

Partisanship

loyalty to a political cause or party

Divided Government

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

Trustee Role

the idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgement

Delegate Role

the idea that the main duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituents' wishes

Politico Role

representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties in making decisions

Convenes

to begin a new session of Congress

Adjourns

suspends until the next session

Recess

the time during which people go out to take a break

Special Session

an extraordinary session of a legislative body, called to deal with an emergency situation

Midterm Elections

congressional elections that do not coincide with a presidential election; also called off-year elections

Floor Leaders

the chief officers of the majority and minority parties in each house

Majority Leader

the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate

Minority Leader

The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate.

Whip

a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking

Committee Chair

leader of a congressional committee who has authority over the committee's agenda

Speaker of the House

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

President of the Senate

Vice President

President Pro Temp

Who is the substitute for the President of the Senate when he is not present?

Department of State

Chief executive-branch department responsible for formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy.

Department of Treasury

Collects, borrows, spends, and prints money

Department of Defense

Cabinet-level agency in charge of the armed forces and military policy. HQ = The Pentagon. (Secretary Panetta)

Department of Justice

Federal department responsible for enforcing federal laws (includes FBI, Civil Rights Division, Antitrust Division, Drug Enforcement Administration...)

Department of Homeland Security

US federal agency created in 2002 to coordinate national efforts against terrorism

Department of Transportation

Manages the nations highways, railroads, airlines, and sea traffic

Department of Veterans Affairs

Directs services for armed forces veterans

Department of Education

This Department promotes national education and works to keep America competitive and to make sure that education is available to everyone

Securities and Exchange Commission

monitors the stock market and enforces laws regulating the sale of stocks and bonds

National Security Council

An office created in 1947 to coordinate the president's foreign and military policy advisers. Its formal members are the president, vice president, secretary of state, and secretary of defense, and it is managed by the president's national security assistant.

Office of Management and Budget

An office that prepares the president's budget and also advises presidents on proposals from departments and agencies and helps review their proposed regulations.

Congressional Budget Office

Advises Congress on the probable consequences of its decisions, forecasts revenues, and is a counterweight to the president's Office of Management and Budget.

White House Chief of Staff

the president's most trusted adviser and the overseer of the work and operations of the White House and the Executive Office of the President (EOP)

White House Press Secretary

Member of White House staff that controls flow of information from president, holds daily press briefings, tries to spin/control media

Gridlock

the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

Ideological Division

a body of ideas that reflects the beliefs and interests of a nation, political system, etc and underlies political action

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Packing

concentrating partisan voters in a single district in order to maximize the number of representatives that can be elected by the opposition in other districts

Cracking

spreading voters of one type over many districts where they will comprise minorities that are unable to influence elections

Reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

Census

the official count of a population

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.

Safe Seat

An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted.

Marginal Seat

A seat in the House of Representatives that is not considered to be safe for the incumbent in the next election (swing seat).

Racial Gerrymandering

The drawing of election districts so as to ensure that members of a certain race are a minority in the district; ruled unconstitutional in Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960).

Lame Duck

A person still in office after he or she has lost a bid for reelection

Chief of State

term for the President as the ceremonial head of the United States, the symbol of all the people of the nation

Chief Executive

Term for the President as vested with the executive power of the United States

Chief Administrative

Term for the President as head of the administration of the Federal Government

Chief Diplomat

Term for the President as the main architect of foreign policy and spokesperson to other countries

Commander in Chief

term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces

Chief Economist

term for the President as monitor of the nation's economic condition

Chief of the Party

term for the president as the leader of his or her political party

Chief Citizen

Term for the President as the representative of the people, working for the public interest

Balance the Ticket

When a presidential candidate chooses a running mate who can strengthen his chance of being elected by virtue of certain ideological, geographic, racial, ethnic, gender, or other characteristics

Executive Order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

Executive Agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

Executive Privileges

the principle that the executive branch may withhold information from congress and the courts to preserve national security

Signing Statements

occasional written comments attached to a bill signed by the president

Advice and Power

i don't know man

State of the Union Address

The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation.

Honeymoon Period

the time following an election when a president's popularity is high and congressional relations are likely to be productive

Lame Duck Period

The time during which a president who has lost an election or has ended a second term is still in office before the new president serves

Bully Pulpit

the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public

Informal Powers

powers not laid out in the Constitution but used to carry out presidential duties

Formal Powers

specific grants of authority defined in the Constitution or in law

Veto

a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

Pocket Veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional