POLS Exam 2 Textbook Flashcards

advice and consent

the constitutional obligation that the senate approve certain executive appointments

allocative representation

congressional work to secure projects, services, and funds for the represented district

bicameral legislative

a legislature with two chambers

casework

legislative work on behalf of individual constituents to solve their problems with government agencies and programs

cloture

a vote to end a senate filibuster; requires a 3/5 majority, or sixty votes

coattail effect

the added votes received by congressional candidates of a winning presidential party

conference committees

temporary committees formed to reconcile differences in house and senate versions of a bill

constituency

the voters in a state or district

filibuster

a practice of unlimited debate in the senate in order to prevent or delay a vote on a bill

gerrymandering

redistricting to benefit a particular group

house rules committee

the committee that determines how and when debate on a bill will take place

hyperpartisanship

a commitment to party so strong that it can transcend other commitments

incumbency advantage

the electoral edge afforded to those already in office

joint committees

combines house-senate committees formed to coordinate activities and expedite legislation in a certain area

legislative agenda

the slate of proposals and issues that representatives think it worthwhile to consider and act on

majority party

the party with the most seats in a house of congress

midterm loss

the tendency for the presidential party to lose congressional seats in off-year elections

national lawmaking

the creation of policy to address the problems and needs of the entire nation

nuclear option

a controversial senate maneuver why which a simple majority can decide to allow a majority to bypass the filibuster for certain kinds of votes

omnibus legislation

a large bill that contains so many important elements that members can’t afford to defeat it and the president can’t afford to veto it, even if the bill contains elements they dislike

partisan gerrymandering

redistricting controlled by the majority party in a state’s legislature, to increase the number of districts that party can expect to carry

partisanship

loyalty to a party that helps shape how members see the world, define problems, and identify appropriate solutions

party polarization

greater ideological (liberal versus conservative) differences between the parties and increased ideological consensus within the parties

pocket veto

presidential authority to kill a bill submitted within ten days of the end of a legislative session by not signing it

policy entrepeneurship

the practice of legislators becoming experts and taking leadership roles in specific policy areas

policy representation

congressional work to advance the issues and ideological preferences of constituents

pork barrel

public works projects and grants for specific districts paid for by general revenues

racial gerrymandering

redistricting to enhance or reduce the chances that a racial or ethnic group will elect members to the legislature

reapportionment

a reallocation of congressional seats among the states every ten years, following the census

redistricting

the process of dividing states into legislative districts

representation

the efforts of elected officials to look out for the interests of those who elect them

roll call votes

publicly recorded votes in bills and amendments on the floor of the house or the senate

select committee

a committee appointed to deal with an issue or a problem not suited to a standing committee

seniority system

the accumulation of power and authority in conjunction with the length of time spent in office

speaker of the house

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the house of representatives

standing committee

permanent committees responsible for legislation in particular policy areas

strategic politicians

office-seekers who base the decision to run on a rational calculation that they will be successful

symbolic representation

efforts of members of congress to stand for american ideals or identify with common constituency values

veto override

reversal of a presidential veto by a 2/3 vote in both houses of congress

cabinet

a presidential advisory group selected by the president, made up of the VP, the heads of the federal executive departments, and other high officials to whom the president elects to give cabinet status

chief administrator

the president’s executive role as the head of federal agencies an the person responsible for the implementation of national policy

chief foreign policy maker

the president’s executive role as the primary shaper of relations with other nations

chief of staff

the person who oversees the operations of all white house staff and is traditionally expected to control access to the president

commander-in-chief

the president’s role as the top officer of the country’s military establishment

council of economic advisors

the organization within the executive office of the president that advises the president on economic matters

cycle effect

the predictable rise and fall of a president’s popularity at different stages of a term in office

divided government

the situation that exists when political rule is split between two parties, in which one controls the white house and the other controls one or both houses of congress

executive agreement

a presidential arrangement with another country that creates foreign policy without the need for senate approval

executive office of the president

the collection of organizations that help the president with policy and political objectives

executive orders

clarifications of congressional policy issued by the president and having the full force of law

expectations gap

the gap between popular expectations of what modern presidents can and should do, and their constitutional powers to get things done

going public

a president’s strategy of appealing to the public on an issue, expecting that public pressure will be brought to bear on other political actors

head of government

the political role of the president as leader of a political party and chief arbiter of who gets what resources

head of state

apolitical, unifying role of the president as symbolic representative of the whole country

honeymoon period

the time following an election when a president’s popularity is high nd congressional relations are likely to be productive

impeachment

the process used to charge, try, and remove public officials for misconduct while in office

inherent powers

presidential powers implied but not stated explicitly in the constitution

legislative liason

executive personnel who work with members of congress to secure their support in getting a president’s legislation passed

modern presidency

the ongoing trend toward a higher degree of executive power since the 1930s

national security council (NSC)

the organization within the executive office of the president that provides foreign policy advice to the president

office of management and budget

the organization within the executive office of the president that oversees the budgets of departments and agencies

pardoning power

a president’s authority to release or excuse a person from the legal penalties of a crime

power to persuade

a president’s ability to convince congress, other political actors, and the public to cooperate with the administration’s agenda

presidential style

the image that presidents project that represents how they would like to be perceived at home and abroad

presidential veto

a president’s authority to reject a bill passed by congress; may be overridden only to be a 2/3 majority in each house

senatorial courtesy

the tradition of granting senior senators of the president’s party considerable power over federal judicial appointments in their home states

solicitor general

the justice department officer who argues the government’s cases before the supreme court

state of the union address

a speech given annually by the president to a joint session of congress and to the nation announcing the president’s agenda

traditional presidency

the founders’ vision of limited executive power

treaties

formal agreements with other countries; negotiated by the president and requiring approval by 2/3 of the senate

weak presidency

a tern that refers to presidents who do not excel at managing their executive offices

white house office

the more than 400 employees within the executive office of the president who work most closely and directly with the president

accountability

the principle that bureaucratic employees should be answerable for their performance to supervisors, all the way up the chain of command

agency capture

a process whereby regulatory agencies come to be protective of an influenced by the industries they were established to regulate

bureaucracy

an organization characterized by hierarchical structure, worker specialization, explicit rules, and advancement by merit

bureaucratic culture

the accepted values and procedures of an organization

bureaucratic discretion

bureaucrats’ use of their own judgement in interpreting and carrying out the laws of congress

citizen advisory councils

citizen groups that consider the policy decisions of an agency; a way to make the bureaucracy responsive to the general public

civil service

nonmilitary employees of the government who are appointed through the merit system

clientele groups

groups of citizens whose interests are affected by an agency or department and who work to influence its policies

congressional oversight

efforts by congress, especially through committees, to monitor agency rule making, enforcement, and implementation of congressional policies

departments

one of the major subdivisions of the federal government, represented in the president’s cabinet

federal register

the publication containing all federal regulations and notifications of regulatory agency hearings

freedom of information act (FOIA)

the 1966 law that allows citizens to obtain copies of most public records

government corporations

companies created by Congress to provide to the public a good or service that private enterprise cannot or will not profitably provide

hatch act

the 1939 law that limited the political involvement of civil servants in order to protect them from political pressure and keep politics out of the bureaucracy

independent agencies

government organizations independent of the departments but with a narrower policy focus

independent regulatory boards and commissions

government organizations that regulate various businesses, industries, or economic sectors

iron triangle

the phenomenon of a clientele group, a congressional committee, and a bureaucratic agency cooperating to make mutually beneficial policy

issue networks

complex systems of relationships among groups that influence policy, including elected leaders, interest groups, specialists, consultants, and research institutes

neutral competence

the principle that bureaucracy should be depoliticized by making it more professional

patronage

the system in which successful party candidates reward supporters with jobs or favors

pendleton act

the 1883 civil service reform that required the hiring and promoting of civil servants to be based on merit, not patronage

privacy act of 1974

a law that gives citizens access to the government’s files on them

red tape

the complex procedures and regulations surrounding bureaucratic activity

regulations

limitations or restrictions on teh activities of a business or an individual

spoils system

the 19th century practice of rewarding political supporters with public office

sunshine laws

legislation opening the process of bureaucratic policymaking to the public

whistleblowers

individuals who publicize instances of fraud, corruption, or other wrongdoing in the bureaucracy

administrative laws

laws established by the bureaucracy, on behalf of congress