Unit 2 Vocab

Apportionment

The process of assigned congressional seats after each census

Speaker of the House

Atop the power pyramid in the House of Representatives, the Speaker leads the House sessions, manages legislative processes, and represents the House to the President and the Senate.

House/Senate Majority Leader

The leader of the majority party in either the House of Representatives or the Senate responsible for scheduling legislation and guiding party strategy.

Minority Leader

The leader of the minority party in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, responsible for coordinating opposition to the majority party's agenda.

Majority/Minority Whip

An elected party official in both the House of Representatives and the Senate who helps manage party discipline, ensures member attendance, and counts votes on key legislation.

President pro tempore

The presiding officer of the Senate in the absence of the Vice President, typically the longest-serving member of the majority party.

Filibuster

A prolonged speech or debate in the Senate intended to delay or obstruct legislation.

Cloture

A procedure used in the Senate to end a filibuster or bring a debate to a close, requiring a supermajority of votes to invoke.

Pork Barrel Spending

The allocation of government funds for local projects that are primarily intended to benefit a particular constituency, often used to gain favor with voters.

Logrolling

The practice of trading favors, typically in the form of votes, among legislators to achieve mutual benefits in legislation. Ex. You vote for my bill, I vote for yours.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

A US government office that prepares the federal budget, monitors agency performance, and oversees the implementation of budgetary policies.

Mandatory Spending

Government expenditures required by law, such as Social Security and Medicare.

Budget Deficit

Occurs when a government’s spending exceeds its revenue for a specific period.

Discretionary Spending

Government spending not required by law, allocated through the annual appropriations process.

National Debt

The total amount of money that a government owes to creditors, resulting from cumulative budget deficits over time.

Delegate Model

In the delegate model of representation, elected officials act in accordance with the expressed preferences of their constituents, prioritizing their wishes over personal beliefs.

Trustee Model

A model of representation where elected officials act on their own judgment to make decisions for their constituents rather than strictly following the wishes of the voters.

Politico Model

Mix of Delegate Model and Trustee Model

Redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries to reflect population changes and ensure fair representation in government.

Gerrymandering (Partisan & Racial)

The practice of manipulating district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group, often resulting in unequal representation based on partisan or racial demographics.

Executive Branch

The branch of government responsible for enforcing laws and administering public policy, typically headed by the President.

Veto

The power of a president to reject a bill passed by the legislature, preventing it from becoming law.

Pocket Veto

A type of veto that occurs when the President does not sign a bill into law within ten days while Congress is adjourned, effectively preventing its enactment.

Treaty

A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states, typically negotiated and ratified by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Executive Order

A directive issued by the president to manage the operations of the federal government.

Signing Statement

A written declaration made by the President when signing a bill into law, often outlining how the President interprets the legislation or intends to enforce it.

Executive Privilege

The right of the President and other members of the executive branch to refuse to disclose information to Congress or the courts, often related to national security and the confidential advice given to the President.

Executive Office of the President

The group of federal agencies and staff members that support the work of the President of the United States, helping to implement policies and manage the executive branch.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body formally charges a government official, such as the President, with misconduct, potentially leading to removal from office.

Bully Pulpit

The president's use of their prestige and visibility to influence public opinion and advocate for policies.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The power of a higher court to review and revise the decision of a lower court.

Federal District Courts

The trial courts of the federal court system that have original jurisdiction over most cases involving federal law.

Federal Courts of Appeals

The court system that hears appeals from federal district courts and has the authority to review and overturn lower court decisions.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the United States, which has both appellate and original jurisdiction and primarily hears cases of significant constitutional or federal importance.

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to examine laws and executive actions to determine their constitutionality, ensuring no law or action contradicts the Constitution. Established in Marbury v. Madison

Precedent

A legal principle established in previous court cases that guides judges in future cases. Precedents ensure consistency and stability in the law.

Stare Decisis

The legal principle that obligates courts to follow previous rulings (precedents) when making decisions in similar cases, promoting consistency in the judicial system.

Majority Opinion

The official statement of the court's decision, outlining the rationale behind the ruling and explaining the reasoning that led to the outcome. It represents the views of the majority of justices in a case.

Concurring Opinion

A legal opinion written by one or more justices who agree with the majority decision but for different reasons, allowing them to express their own views on the case.

Dissenting Opinion

A statement written by justices who disagree with the majority opinion, expressing their differing views and reasons for dissent.

Judicial Restraint

Judges limit their power, deferring to the legislative and executive branches, and avoiding broad interpretations of the laws.

Judicial Activism

Judges interpret the Constitution and laws in a way that advocates for social change, often taking an active role in addressing social issues through their rulings.