Gov Chapter 6-7 Reading Terms

Warren Court

Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren (1953

Burger Court

Supreme Court under Chief Justice Warren Burger (1969

Rehnquist Court

Supreme Court under Chief Justice William Rehnquist (1986

Eleventh Amendment

Limits citizens’ ability to sue states in federal court; response to Chisholm v. Georgia (1793).Fourteenth Amendment

Sixteenth Amendment

Allows Congress to collect a federal income tax.

Implementation

The process of enforcing or carrying out a court decision, typically by the executive branch or other agencies.

Judicial Legitimacy

Public confidence that the courts act fairly and according to the Constitution.Separation of Powers

Checks and Balances

System that allows each branch to limit the powers of the others.

Advice and Consent

The Senate’s power to review and approve presidential appointments, including judges.

Blue Slip

A Senate tradition giving home-state senators the ability to approve or block judicial nominees from their state.

Interest Groups

Organized groups that try to influence public policy, including judicial nominations and rulings.

American Bar Association (ABA)

Professional organization that rates judicial nominees as “qualified” or “not qualified.”

“To Bork” / Getting “Borked”

To defeat a judicial nominee through a strong, public campaign against their ideology or character.

Originalism

The judicial philosophy that interprets the Constitution based on the framers’ original intent.

Nuclear Option

Senate rule change allowing a simple majority vote to end filibusters on judicial nominees.

Filibuster

A tactic in the Senate used to delay or block action on a bill or nomination by extending debate.

Impeachment (of Judges)

The process by which Congress removes federal judges for criminal or unethical behavior.

Congressional Oversight

Congress’s authority to monitor and influence the actions of the judiciary and executive branch.

Standing

The legal right to bring a case to court; the plaintiff must show actual harm or injury.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

The executive department responsible for enforcing federal law and representing the U.S. in court.

Attorney General

Head of the Department of Justice and chief law enforcement officer of the U.S.

Court-Stripping (Jurisdiction Stripping)

When Congress limits federal courts’ power to hear certain cases

Civil Service Reform Act (1978)

Modernized the federal civil service system, created new agencies like the OPM and MSPB, and emphasized merit-based hiring.

Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)

An independent agency that protects federal employees from unfair personnel practices and ensures merit system rules are followed.

Hatch Act (1939)

Limits political activity by federal employees to prevent them from engaging in partisan politics while on duty.

Federal Bureaucracy

The departments, agencies, and commissions that make up the executive branch and carry out federal laws and policies.

Cabinet Departments

The 15 major executive departments that advise the president and manage broad areas of government policy (e.g., State, Defense, Treasury).

Independent Executive Agencies

Federal agencies that operate separately from the cabinet departments and perform specialized functions (e.g., NASA, EPA).

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Agencies created by Congress to regulate specific economic or social interests; designed to be free from political pressure (e.g., FCC, SEC).

Government Corporations

Government-run businesses that provide services typically offered by the private sector (e.g., USPS, Amtrak).

Bureaucratic Rule-Making

The process by which federal agencies create regulations to implement laws passed by Congress.

Regulations

Detailed rules or instructions issued by federal agencies that have the force of law.

Implementation

The process by which bureaucratic agencies put laws and policies into action.

Administrative Law

The body of law created by executive agencies through rules, regulations, and administrative decisions.

Red Tape

Excessive bureaucracy or rigid procedures that make government processes slow and inefficient.

Duplication

When multiple government agencies perform similar or overlapping functions.

Waste

Inefficient or unnecessary government spending, often cited as a flaw in bureaucratic management.

Deregulation

The reduction or elimination of government rules and restrictions on business or industry.

Sunset Laws

Laws that automatically expire after a set period unless renewed by Congress, designed to limit bureaucratic growth.

Privatization

The process of transferring a government function or service to the private sector.

Quasi-Legislative Authority

The power of bureaucratic agencies to make regulations that have the effect of law.

Quasi-Judicial Authority

The power of agencies to enforce rules and resolve disputes, similar to a court’s function.

Discretionary Authority

The power given to bureaucrats to decide how to implement laws and regulations within broad policy guidelines.

Executive Orders

Directives issued by the president that manage operations of the federal government and guide agency actions.

Compliance Monitoring

The process by which agencies ensure that businesses, states, or individuals follow federal regulations.

Inspector General (IG)

An independent official within an agency who investigates waste, fraud, or abuse.

Sunshine Act (1976)

Requires that most government meetings be open to the public to promote transparency.

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (1966)

Gives the public the right to request access to federal government records.

Executive Oversight

The president’s ability to control and direct the bureaucracy through appointments, budgets, and executive orders.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Executive agency that helps the president prepare the federal budget and oversees agency spending.

Federal Register

The official journal where new federal regulations and legal notices are published.

Clientele Agencies

Federal agencies that promote and serve the interests of a specific group or sector (e.g., Department of Agriculture for farmers).

Street-Level Bureaucrats

Government employees who directly interact with the public and implement policies on the ground (e.g., teachers, police officers).

Accountability

The principle that government officials, including bureaucrats, must be responsible for their actions and decisions.

Rule Implementation Process

The step-by-step procedure agencies follow to turn new laws into regulations, including public comment and finalization.

Regulatory Capture

When a regulatory agency becomes dominated by the industries or interests it is supposed to regulate.

Iron Law of Bureaucracy

The idea that bureaucracies tend to prioritize their own survival and growth over their original mission.