Terms

Veto

President rejects bill

Senatorial Courtesy

custom that allowed US Senator from same state as a federal judicial nominee would have opportunity to block nomination

stare decisis

let the decision stand

caucuses

groups of people within Congress who share particular belief

discharge petition

Brining a bill back from subcommittee that had probably been pigeonholed or killed

whips

keep the tally of votes among their party members which helps them know the optimal time for voting

spoils system

supporters of the winners of elections, will receive government jobs

riders

additional points that ride onto an often unrelated law, to benefit specific Congressional members and their agendas

hatch act

law that distanced federal &state employees (paid from federal funds) from politics by prohibiting involvement in political campaigns

pocket veto

executive branch can hold legislation until Congressional session ends; kills the bill

majority leader

true leader of the Senate; presides and assigns committee membership

Executive Privilege

access to confidential information that is not available to Congress;can keep it confidential if President requests

amicus curiae brief

friend of the Court; encourage Supreme Court to hear a case

Red Tape

vast amounts of paperwork, procedures, forms and formal steps citizens must take to accomplish a government mandated task

Dissenting opinion

having a differing view than the majority of justices

Executive Order

empowers President to carry out law; directive issued as executive branch head

Signing statements

President explains interpretation of a particular piece of legislation

Electors

those individuals who actually cast the votes for President

President Pro Tempore

senior most member of the majority party in the Senate; third in line to Presidency

Iron Triangle

alliances among an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee

Writ of Cert

order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review by providing the full transcript

Franking Privilege

ability of Members of Congress to use the mails for free for government business

Appellate Jurisdiction

allows Courts to review previous cases

Earmarks

funds are to be directed for a specific purpose; associated with pork

Merit System

hiring federal employees on the basis of qualifications rather than loyalty

Trustee Model

Members of Congress use their best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people.

Representative Model

cast votes that reflect the preferences of the majority of their constituents

Impeachment

power of the House of Representatives to formally accuse of a crime

Joint committees

committees made up of both members of the House and the Senate

Government corporations

provide a service that could be provided by the private sector

Standing Committees

permanent bodies that continue from one Congress to next

Solicitor General

responsible for handling all appeals on behalf of the US government to the Supreme Court

House Ways and Means

determines tax policy (in House)

Executive Agreement

contract between two heads of state; doesn't require Senate approval

Rule of 4

how justices decide if the Supreme Court hears a case

Concurring Opinion

other justices who agree with the majority conclusion, but w/ different reasoning

Judicial Restraint

Tendency not to overturn laws unless they clearly violate Constitution

House Rules Committee

Creates a rule for each bill being considered on House floor

Filibuster

to talk a bill to death; only allowed in the Senate

Original Jurisdiction

hearing a case first

War Powers’ Act

requires the President to notify Congress w/in 48 hours of deploying troops

Cloture

can stop filibusters with the votes of 60 Senators; cuts off debate

Incumbency

single most important factor on who wins a congressional race; current office holder has massive advantage

Majority Opinion

opinion of the court

Pardon

Presidential power to take away punishment for crimes committed

Judicial activism

view that judges should discover the general principles underlying the Constitution and apply them to real cases

Line item veto

President can strike down parts of a bill without consulting Congress; declared unconstitutional

Conference Committee

formed to resolve differences between House & Senate versions of a bill

Pendleton Civil Service Act

created the federal civil service and stated that workers should be selected for civil service jobs according to merit

Conference Committee

formed to resolve differences between House & Senate versions of a bill

Delegate Model

elected officials are seen as acting as direct representatives of their constituents, meaning they are expected to vote and act according to the will of those they represent

Politco Model

describes a hybrid approach where representatives balance acting as both delegates and trustees. They are influenced by their constituents' opinions and priorities, but also exercise their own judgment and experience to make decisions

Civil Liberties

Protections from gov’t

Civil Rights

Protections by the gov’t

Necessary & Proper clause

allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out enumerated powers.

Enumerated Powers / Delegated Powers

Taxing and spending, Declaring war, Regulating interstate and foreign commerce, Coining money, Raising armies and navies, Establishing post offices

Participatory Democracy

citizens have the power to make policy decisions directly or closely influence them

Pluralist Democracy

political power is distributed among many competing interest groups

Elitist Democracy

small group of people, usually the wealthy or well-educated elite, hold the most power

Seperation of Powers

Division among legislative, executive, judicial branches

Checks and Balances

Each branch can limit the powers of the others

Federalism

Division/Sharing of power between national and state governments

Popular Sovereignty

Power comes from the people

Limited Government

Government is restricted by the rule of law

Republicanism

Citizens elect representatives to make decisions

Due Process

prohibits the states from depriving “any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

Establishment Clause

prohibits the government from establishing an official religion, favoring one religion over another, or preferring religion over non-religion

Free Excercise Clause

prohibits the government from interfering with an individual's practice of their religion.

Supremacy Clause

establishes that the Constitution, federal laws made pursuant to it, and treaties are the "supreme Law of the Land

Federalism

sharing of power between state and national government

Elite

politican funded by an interest group during an election

Pluralist

a politician is influenced by an interest group

hyper pluralist

government has too many interest groups influencing congress and nothing can get accomplished