AP Gov. Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government

Adjournment

A formal close of proceedings of a Congressional session

Recess

An informal close of proceedings that prevents the president from making recess appointments during a Congressional break.

Requirements to be a Senator

at least 30 years old, citizen of representative state, at least 9 years of citizenship

Requirements to be a Representative

at least 25 years old, citizen of representative state, at least 7 years of citizenship

Leader of House

Speaker of House

Majority Leader

The head of the majority party in the House of Representatives, responsible for coordinating party strategy and managing legislative priorities.

Minority Leader

The head of the minority party in the House of Representatives or Senate, tasked with representing their party's interests and coordinating opposition to the majority party's agenda.

Majority/Minority Whips

Members of Congress who assist the party leaders by ensuring party discipline and securing votes on legislation.

Senate Majority Leader

The elected leader of the majority party in the Senate, responsible for scheduling legislation and guiding party strategy in the upper chamber of Congress.

President Pro Tempore

The senator who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President, typically the longest-serving member of the majority party (position is mostly ceremonial)

The vice president

The President of the Senate who casts tie-breaking votes

Denied Power: Bills of Attainder

Laws that declare a person or group guilty of a crime without a trial, prohibited by the Constitution (article 1, section 9 for Congress)

Denied Power: Passing Ex Post Facto Laws

Laws that make an act illegal retroactively, prohibited by the Constitution (article 1, section 9 for Congress).

Denied Power: Habeus Corpus

The right to challenge unlawful detention, which cannot be suspended except in cases of rebellion or invasion, as stated in the Constitution (article 1, section 9 for Congress).

Conference Committee

A temporary panel formed to reconcile differences in legislation passed by the House and Senate before it is sent to the President for approval.

Standing Committees

Permanent committees in Congress that handle specific areas of legislation, conducting hearings and making recommendations on bills.

Joint Committees

Bipartisan committees composed of members from both the House and Senate, formed to address specific issues or conduct investigations.

Select/Special Committees

Temporary committees established for a specific purpose, often to investigate particular issues or oversee specific functions of government.

House Rules Committee

A powerful standing committee that establishes rules for debate and the scheduling of legislation, determining how and when bills will be considered on the floor. Also called the “Speaker’s Committee”

House Ways and Means Committee

A permanent committee responsible for taxation and revenue generation, overseeing tax policy and entitlement programs.

House Appropriations Committee

A permanent committee that appropriating federal funds to various government agencies and programs, authorizing spending priorities and budgets.

Senate Finance Committee

A permanent Senate committee responsible for taxation, revenue generation, and overseeing federal revenue policies, including Medicare and Social Security.

Senate Judiciary Committee

A permanent Senate committee responsible for overseeing the administration of justice, reviewing judicial nominations, and considering legislation related to the judiciary.

Senate Foreign Treaties Committee

A permanent Senate committee responsible for reviewing and approving treaties and conducting foreign relations oversight.

Pigeonhold

To indefinitely postpone a bill in Congress

Senate Filibuster

An action designed to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill; can be ended by a 3/5 (60) vote

Senate Unanimous Consent Agreement

A procedural agreement in the Senate that allows for the expedited consideration of a bill or nomination, typically requiring the consent of all senators.

Committee of the Whole (100)

Occurs when the entire House becomes a Congressional committee to speed up the legislative process

Presidential Actions on a bill

The ability to sign, veto or ignore a bill. If vetoed, Congress can override with 2/3 vote in both chambers. If ignored, in 10 days the bill becomes law.

Ideological Gridlock

A divided Congress and/or government that slows the legislative process down due to differing opinions

Trustee

A representative role type that describes a rep. who makes decisions based on their individual merit and judgement

Delegate

A representative role type who serves as an extension of the people who voted for them and vote based on constituents

Partisan

A representative role type who votes in allegiance with their political party

Politico

A representative role type who combines types of serving to attempt balancing the legislative system

Influences on Congress

Constituent convictions, party loyalty, media, personal convictions, campaign contributors, congressional staff, other party members, iron-triangles, and congressional caucuses and coalitions

Iron-Triangles

The policy making relationship between congressional committees and their respective interest parties and related federal agencies

Apportionment/Reapportionment

Article 1, section 2, states that the House of Representatives will be based on population from the decennial census

Redistricting

When a state changes the number of seats in House so they redraw their district lines accordingly

Gerrymandering

New district boundaries that intentionally favor the party in power of the state legislative for political power gain

Baker v Carr (1962)

A Supreme Court case between Charles Baker (et al.) and Tennessee residents against Tennessee Secretary of State. The Court Opinion decided that legislative apportionment is judiciable (Article 3 & amendment 14) led to the idea of “One person, one vote”

Shaw v Reno (1993)

A Supreme Court case between a Group of North Carolinian voters against the Department of Justice who rejected their reapportionment that only included two black-majority districts. The Court Opinion found that under the 14th amendment (Equal Protections) race cannot be a determining factor of redistricting

Minority-Majority Districts

Districts where the majority of voters are minority populations

Fiscal Policy

Federal government use of taxation and spending policies to affect business activity

Monetary Policy

Changes in the amount of circulating money to alter credit markets, employment, and inflation (usually operated by the Fed)

Keynesian Economics

The economic practice of favoring an active federal government policymaking to stabilize economy fluctuations

Laissez-Faire Economics

An economic practice that favors limited government interaction in economic policymaking

The Federal Reserve System

An independent department withing the government that manages the monetary policy

Article 1, Section 7

Where in the Constitution that states bills for raising revenue must originate in the House

The Office of Management and Budget

The Executive branch’s office that proposes a budget after federal agencies submit requests and have to be approved by Congress

The Power of the Purse

Congress’ unique ability to control the money in and outflow within the government

Fed. no.51

In this Federalist paper, Madison's key point is that the members of each department should have as little dependence as possible on the members of the other departments, and to stay independent, their own department must not encroach on the others. Established the idea of a checks and balances system

Fed.no.70

This Federalist paper argues in favor of the unitary executive created by Article II of the United States Constitution. According to Hamilton, a unitary executive is necessary to: ensure accountability in government & enable the president to defend against legislative encroachments on his power.

Fed.no.78

This Federalist paper indicates that the federal judiciary has the power to determine whether statutes are constitutional and to find them invalid if in conflict with the Constitution. Also highlighted the importance of the judicial branch remaining independent of the other branches.

Marbury v Madison (1803)

A Supreme Court case between a supposed-to-be Supreme Justice who didn’t receive his judicial appointment and the Secretary of State where, for the first time, struck down an act of Congress as unconstitutional. This decision created the doctrine of judicial review and set up the Supreme Court of the United States as chief interpreter of the Constitution.

Chief Citizen

Presidential role that represents the wishes of the general public & preserves order in times of national emergency

Chief Legislator

Presidential role to initiate possible legislation & works with Congress to achieve policy goals

Commander-in-Chief

Presidential role to run/give orders to all of the military branches

Leader of the Free World

Presidential role to act as a spokesperson for the non-authoritarian nations of the world

Chief Executive

Presidential role to oversee the operation of government agencies; appoints cabinet members, agency heads and other officials; and sees that laws are properly enforced

Head of State

Presidential role to serve as the ceremonial leader of the whole US government at public functions

Chief of Party

Presidential role to represent the leadership of chosen presidential party

Chief Economic Leader

Presidential role who engineers economic measures to maintain a stable economy

Chief Diplomat

Presidential role to represent the country in foreign affairs

Chief Jurist

Presidential role to appoint all judges of the federal court system, has clemency powers, and enforces court decisions as needed

War Powers Act of 1973

The Congressional act that allows the president to send troops overseas without Congressional approval for 60 days maximum

Impoundment

The refusal of the president to spend money that has been appropriated by Congress (regulated by Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974)

Rule of Propinquity

The idea that the closer someone is to a central power, the more power they themselves have (“in the room where it happens”)

Executive Office of the President

Consists of the Office of Management and Budget, National Security Council, and National Economic Council

Discretionary Authority

The power of bureaucratic agencies to make judgements and decisions based on expertise and merit as opposed to Congressional permission

The Cabinet

What is described in Article 2, section 2 of the Constitution

Judicial Review

The Constitutional right of the Supreme Court to interpret statutes based on the Constitution

Stare Decisis

The common practice of the Supreme Court to use precedents as examples in current rulings (can be overturned)

District Courts

Tier 1 of the federal court system that uses grand juries and original jurisdiction

Court of Appeals

Tier 2 of the federal court system that reviews district court decisions and uses appellate jurisdiction

The Supreme Court

Tier 3 of the federal court system that is regarded as the last resort and uses original and appellate jurisdiction

Restraint

A judicial philosophy that interprets the Constitution from an “originalist” standpoint

Activism

A judicial philosophy that interprets the Constitution from a “living” standpoint.

Amicus Curiae

"friend of the court" in Latin, refers to a person or organization not directly involved in a case who provides the court with information or arguments to aid in its decision-making

Certiorari

a writ or order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court.