Studied by 4 peopleHouse
based on population, 2 year terms, ~435 members
Senate
2 senators per state, 6 year terms, more constitutional responsibilities
coalitions
form between senators
senatorial powers
enumerated: funding, foreign policy, money, raise armies/declare war. implied are from necessary and proper clause
congressional leadership
most powerful is speaker of the house and senate majority leader. also senate pro tempore
federal budget
mandatory spending which is required by law or entitlements, ,and discretionary funding for other things
filibuster
the action that a senator can take to stall a discussion by talking
cloture
the 60 votes required to stop a filibuster
holds
senators can stop unanimous consent for debate
committees
small groups that debate/draft legislation
standing committees
permanent congressional committees
joint committees
congressional committees with members from both the house and senate
house rule committee
committee that determines the rules of debate and what bills make it to the floor
committee of the whole
includes everyone for the purpose of an easier debate
porkbarreling/earmarks
when a congressperson adds an amendment to the bill that will fund a local project
logrolling
congressional back-scratching
divided government/gridlock
when the legislature is one party, while the executive is of another
truste
the model where legislators vote based on belief
partisan
vote based on party
delegate
vote based on constituents
political
combination of trustee, partisan, and delegate voting habits
policy agenda
the areas that a legislator promises to focus on
lame duck
the time period after an election when an incumbent is not re-elected
redistricting
redrawing maps to assign representatives
reapportionment
doling out representative seats
gerrymandering
drawing districts to favor one group over another
veto
the preseident can stop a bill from becoming laws (overridden by 2/3)
pocket veto
veto by not signing it if congress is out by the 10th day
executive aggreement
agreement between world leaders
formal presidential powers
commander in chief, appointments, vetoes
informal presidential powers
bully pulpit, bargaining and persuasion
commander-in-chief
president's role of leading the military
executive order
a legally binding piece of legislation that the president can sign. Has the power of force but not the power of law
signing statement
informs the public about how the executive intends to execute a law he sings
cabinet
appointed heads of executive offices that advice the president
White house staff/office
those that work closely with the president, attending to things like his schedule, policy, and daily life
advice and consent
The power of the Senate to consult and approve the presidents treaties and appointments.
federal judicial nominations
the president nominates federal judges
22nd amendment
Limits the president to two terms.
bully pulpit
the president is able to speak to the people
state of the union
A speech the president traditionally gives annually to members of Congress and other important officials about his policy directives
bureaucratic agencies
organizational units within executive branch responsible for implementing public policies or services
commissions
regulatory groups that are someqhat separate from the president, usually created for a specific purpose
government corporations
A government agency that operates like a business corporation, created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.
committee hearings
sessions where a committee listens to the testimonies of people who are interested in the bill
patrionage v. merit system
the president would used to appoint people that helped him out to positions of power
Pendelton Act
A law enacted in 1883 that established a bipartisan civil service commission to make appointments to government jobs by means of the merit system.
judicial review
Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws
stare decisis
respecting precedent
judicial activism
A judicial philosophy in which judges make bold policy decisions, even charting new constitutional ground.
judicial restraint
A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures
dual court system
combination of federal land state courts
district courts
the lowest federal courts; federal trials can be held only here
open rule
an order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor
closed rule
An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor
senatorial courtesy
the president will ask for the senator's of the state for which he is appointing a district judge
seniority rule
A legislative practice that assigns the chair of the committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.
rider
A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage or defeat.
presidential ticket
The joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the Twelfth Amendment.
take care clause
The constitutional requirement that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed, even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws.
impoundment
Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress authorized and appropriated.
line item veto
the power of a president, governor, or other elected executive to reject individual provisions of a bill.
independant agency
federal board or commission that is not part of any cabinet department
independent regulatory committee
Formed and accorded by Congress to regulate a specific industry
senior executive service
An elite cadre of about 9,000 federal government managers at the top of the civil service system.
hatch act
A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics.
entitlement programs
Government benefits that certain qualified individuals are entitled to by law, regardless of need.
writ of habeas corpus
A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.
writ of ceriorari
An order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for its review.
amicus curaie
literally translated as "friend of the court", that refers to someone, not a party to a case, who volunteers to offer information on a point of law or some other aspect of the case to assist the court in deciding a matter before it.
delegated discretionary authority
The extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by laws.
iron triangle
A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group
Note
Flashcard