Ap GoPo Unit 2

16th Amendment

Allows the federal government to collect income tax

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

25th Amendment

Presidential Succession; Vice Presidential Vacancy; Presidential Inability

Amicus curiae brief

Literally, a "friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.

apellate jurisdiction

the authority of a court to hear a case appealed to a lower court

authorization bill

provides authority for a program or agency to exist and determine its policy

Bicameralism

The principle of a two-house legislature.

bill

a proposed law

budget resolution

an agreement between the house and the senate on a budget plan

Bureaucracy

a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Cabinet

A group of advisers to the president.

Casework

Consists of a problem involving a federal program, rule, regulation, or administration decision

Caucuses congressional

association of members of Congress based on party, interest, or social group, such as gender or race

Civil law

an area of law that defines the rights and responsibilities of individuals, groups and organisations in society and regulates private disputes

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate. 60 votes 3/5ths

Committee Chairs

The most important influences of the congressional agenda. They play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house.

Conference Committee

A special joint committee appointed to reconcile differences when bills pass the two chambers of Congress in different forms.

Congressional Budget Office

Advises Congress on the probable consequences of its decisions, forecasts revenues, and is a counterweight to the president's Office of Management and Budget.

Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)

Advises the president on economic policy

Dissenting Opinion

An opinion disagreeing with a majority in a Supreme Court ruling.

District Courts

the lowest federal courts; federal trials can be held only here

Entitlement programs

Programs such as unemployment insurance, disability relief, or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens.

Executive agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

Executive Privilege

An implied presidential power that allows the president to refuse to disclose information regarding confidential conversations or national security to Congress or the judiciary.

Filibuster

A tactic for delaying or obstructing legislation by making long speeches

Floor Leaders

the majority leader or minority leader in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.

Franking Privileges

the privilege of sending mail without payment of postage. Congress gets this privilege

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Government Corporation

a business owned and operated by the federal government. EX- post office

Hatch act

A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics.

House Ways and Means Committee

House committee that handles tax bills

Impeachment

Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives

Incumbent

An officeholder who is seeking reelection.

Independent Executive Agency

Created by congress to address concerns that go beyond the scope of ordinary legislation

Independent regulatory Commission

Federal Agencies created by an act of congress to monitor and regulate economic sectors

Joint Committee

A committee whose members are from both the house and the senate

judicail activism

an exercise of power where the courts go beyond the applicable law

judicial restraint

A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures

Judicial Review

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws

Justifiable Dispute

A dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy and that is capable of settlement in court

Legislative Veto

ability of congress to override a presidential decision

line-item veto

an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

Majority Leader

The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line.

Mandate

an official order or commission to do something given by authority

Minority leader

the head of the minority party in a legislative body, especially the US Senate or House of Representatives.

National Security Council

An agency in the Executive Office of the President that advises the president on national security

Office of Management and Budget

Executive office responsible for helping the President write the federal budget and monitoring federal spending.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

Passed in 1883, an Act that created a federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on skill rather than money

Pocket Veto

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

Pork Barrel legislation

Legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary of unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a memeber's chance of reelection

Precedent

an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances.

President Pro Tempore

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

Reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

Regulation

a rule or directive made and maintained by an authority.

Roe v. Wade

(1973) legalized abortion on the basis of a woman's right to privacy

Safe Seat

an office that is extremely likely to be won by a particular candidate or political party

Select Committee

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

Senate Finance Committee

The Senate committee that writes the tax codes, subject to the approval of Congress as a whole

Senatorial Courtesy

a tacit agreement among senators not to vote for any presidential nominee who is opposed by the senators from the nominee's home state.

Seniority System

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

Solicitor General

Justice Department officer who argues the government's cases before the Supreme Court

Speaker of the House

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Standing Committee

a permanent committee that meets regularly.

Standing to Sue

the requirement that plaintiffs have a serious interest in a case

Stare Decisis

Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases

Uncontrollable Expenditure

Expenditures that are determined by how many eligible beneficiaries there are for a program or by previous obligations of the government and that Congress therefore cannot easily control.

Veto

a constitutional right to reject a decision

War Powers Resolution

A law passed in 1973 spelling out the conditions under which the president can commit troops without congressional approval.

Whip

an assistant to the party floor leader in the legislature responsible for monitoring and mashaling votes

Writ of Habeas Corpus

A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.