Studied by 17 people
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
Note 
Flashcard (93)