New Vocabulary

Bicameral

Refers to a legislative body with two chambers.

Advice & Consent

The Senate's authority to approve or reject presidential appointments.

Caucus

A group of members of a political party in a legislative assembly.

Power of the Purse

The ability of Congress to control government spending.

Amendment 17

Allows for the direct election of U.S. Senators.

Germane

Relevance to the subject matter at hand; used in the context of amendments.

Cloture Rule

A procedure to end a filibuster and bring a bill to vote.

Filibuster

A tactic used to delay or prevent a vote on a bill.

Standing Committees

Permanent committees that handle specific areas of legislation.

Pork-Barrel Spending

Government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative's district.

Rider

An additional provision added to a bill, often unrelated to the bill's main subject.

Majority Leader

The head of the majority party in a legislative body.

Minority Leader

The head of the minority party in a legislative body.

Whip

A party leader responsible for scheduling legislation and promoting party unity.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives.

Delegate voting model

A voting approach where representatives vote according to the preferences of their constituents.

Trustee Voting Model

A voting approach where representatives use their own judgment to make decisions.

Politico voting model

A voting approach that combines delegate and trustee models depending on the issue.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political advantage.

Gridlock

A situation where progress is halted due to disagreement between parties.

Lame Duck president

A president in the final period of office after the election of a successor.

Executive Order

A directive issued by the president that has the power of law.

Executive Privilege

The president's right to keep certain communications private.

Commander in Chief

The role of the president as the head of the armed forces.

Veto

The right of a president to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Cabinet

A group of advisors to the president, typically heads of executive departments.

Inherent Powers

Powers held by the president that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution.

Chief of Staff

The head of the White House staff, serving as a primary advisor.

Joint Chiefs of Staff

A body of senior military leaders advising the president on military matters.

War Powers Act

Legislation that restricts the president's ability to engage U.S. forces without Congressional approval.

Amendment 22

Limits the president to two terms in office.

Bully Pulpit

The president's platform to advocate for their agenda.

State of the Union Address

An annual address delivered by the president to Congress outlining the nation's status.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear appeals from lower courts.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time.

Certiorari

A writ by which a higher court reviews a case decided by a lower court.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the Constitution.

Precedent

A legal decision serving as an example for future cases.

Binding Precedent

Precedents that must be followed by courts of lower rank.

Persuasive Precedent

Precedents that courts may consider but are not obliged to follow.

Majority Opinion

A judicial opinion agreed to by more than half of the members of a court.

Concurring Opinion

An opinion written by a judge who agrees with the majority but for different reasons.

Dissenting Opinion

An opinion written by a judge who disagrees with the majority opinion.

Strict Constructionist

A judicial philosophy that interprets the Constitution based strictly on its text.

Liberal Constructionist

A judicial philosophy that interprets the Constitution in a broader context.

Judicial Activism

The philosophy that judges should actively interpret the Constitution to address social issues.

Judicial Restraint

The philosophy that judges should avoid making laws and adhere closely to precedent.

Nuclear Option

A controversial parliamentary procedure to change Senate rules regarding filibusters.

Senatorial Courtesy

The practice of letting senators block nominations from their own state.

Standing

The legal right to initiate a lawsuit.

Bureaucracy

The administrative system governing any large institution, characterized by hierarchical structure.

Compliance Monitoring

The process of ensuring adherence to laws, regulations, and policies.

Iron Triangles

The stable relationships between government agencies, interest groups, and legislative committees.

Patronage

The practice of giving government jobs to supporters and friends.

Spoils System

A practice in which a political party gives public office to its supporters.

Merit System

An employment system where hiring and promotions are based on qualifications and performance.

Delegated Discretionary Authority

The power given to agencies to make decisions based on their judgement.

Independent Regulatory Agencies

Agencies that exist outside of the federal executive departments.

Administrative Procedures Act

A law that governs the process by which federal agencies develop and issue regulations.

Code of Federal Regulations

A compilation of the general and permanent rules published in the federal register.

Appropriations

Funds allocated by Congress for specific government expenditures.

Congressional Oversight

The power of Congress to oversee executive branch activities.

Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs

An office of the U.S. government responsible for reviewing agency regulations.

Legislative Veto

A provision that allows Congress to nullify an action taken by the executive.

Whistleblower Protection Act

A law designed to protect whistleblowers from retaliation.