Exam Terms and Definitions

Flashcards for exam review.

Filibuster

A parliamentary procedure where debate is extended, allowing one or more members to delay or prevent a vote on a proposal.

Cloture

A procedure for ending debate and taking a vote; used to end a filibuster in the Senate.

Congressional Oversight of Bureaucracy

Review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation.

Pocket Veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of having submitted a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

Discharge Petition

A means of bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee.

Reapportionment

The redistribution of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives based on changes in population.

Gerrymandering

Drawing the boundaries of electoral districts to favor one party or class.

Qualifications for President

Natural born citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the U.S. for 14 years.

Qualifications for Senate

Citizen for 9 years, at least 30 years old, inhabitant of the state represented.

Qualifications for House

Citizen for 7 years, at least 25 years old, inhabitant of the state represented.

Qualifications for Supreme Court Justice

There are no formal qualifications.

Responsibilities of the Vice President

President of the Senate; succeeds the President if they are unable to continue in office.

U.S. v. Nixon

Landmark case that limited the power of executive privilege.

Order of Presidential Succession

Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, etc.

25th Amendment

Deals with presidential disability and succession.

House Ways and Means Committee

The chief tax-writing committee of the House of Representatives.

House Rules Committee

Considers all bills reported from policy and fiscal committees and determines the rules for debate.

Conference Committee

A joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill.

Appropriations Committee

Responsible for setting specific expenditures of money by the government.

Executive Agreements

An international agreement made by the executive branch of the U.S. government without ratification by the Senate.

Executive Orders

A directive issued by the President that manages operations of the federal government.

Committee Chairs

Typically chosen based on seniority within the committee.

Line Item Veto

The power of an executive to nullify or cancel specific provisions of a bill, usually a budget appropriations bill, without vetoing the entire legislative package.

Impeachment

A formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include removal from office as well as criminal or civil punishment.

Pardon

Forgiveness for a crime.

Commutation

Reduction of a criminal sentence.

Reprieve

A temporary suspension of punishment.

Roles of Congressional Leadership: Speaker

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives.

Roles of Congressional Leadership: Majority Leader

The leader of the majority party in either the House or Senate.

Roles of Congressional Leadership: President of Senate

The Vice President of the U.S.

Roles of Congressional Leadership: Pro-Tempore

A high-ranking senator of the majority party who presides over the US Senate in the absence of the vice president.

Roles of Congressional Leadership: Whips

An official of a political party whose task is to ensure party discipline in a legislature.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The business division of the Executive Office of the President of the United States that administers the United States federal budget and oversees the performance of federal agencies.

Delegate (Congressional Voting)

Voting based on how the folks back home would vote.

Politico (Congressional Voting)

Members of Congress act as either a delegate or trustee, depending on the issue.

Partisan (Congressional Voting)

Voting based on party lines.

Trustee (Congressional Voting)

Voting based on their own opinions.

Pendleton Act

Established that positions within the federal government should be awarded on the basis of merit instead of political affiliation.

16th Amendment

Gives Congress the power to levy an income tax.

Sector of Federal Employees

Most federal employees work in the service sector.

Government Corporations

A company that is owned by the government and operates with the same independence as a private business

Iron Triangle

The relationship between Congress (especially Subcommittees), Government agencies (Bureaucracy), and interest groups.

First Two Original Cabinet Positions

Secretary of State and Secretary of Treasury

Executive Office of the President

The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities; includes the OMB, NSC, and CEA, among others.

Fiscal Policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling taxing and spending.

11th Amendment

States cannot be sued in federal court by citizens of another state or country without their consent.

Article I

Deals with the Legislative Branch.

Article II

Deals with the Executive Branch.

Article III

Deals with the Judicial Branch.

Powers the Senate has Exclusively

To approve treaties, and to confirm federal officials and judges.

Powers the House has Exclusively

The power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and elect the President in the case of an electoral college tie.

Roles of the President

Chief of State, Chief Executive, Commander-in-Chief, Chief Diplomat, Chief Legislator, Chief of Party, and Guardian of the Economy.

Clemency

Showing mercy or leniency in the application of justice.

Imperial Presidency

Term used to describe a president as an emperor who acts without consulting Congress or acts in secrecy to evade or deceive congress.

Executive Privilege

The right to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

Congressional Earmarks

A congressional directive that funds should be spent on a specific project.

Pork Barrel Spending

Government spending that benefits a narrow constituency in return for electoral support or other political favors.

How A Bill Becomes a Law

Bill is drafted, introduced in the House or Senate, committee action, rules committee (House), floor action (House and Senate), conference committee, vote on compromise, presidential action.

17th Amendment

Established the direct election of senators by the people of the states.

Term for President

4 years (2 term limit)

Term for Representative

2 years

Term for Senate

6 years

Office of National Security Council (NSC)

The President's principal forum for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and cabinet officials.

Bureaucratic Implementation of Law

The process by which a law or policy is put into operation by the bureaucracy.

Constitution of the United States

The supreme law of the United States of America.

Federalist No. 70

Argues in favor of a unitary executive.

Federalist No. 78

Discusses the power of judicial review.