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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 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.
Note 
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