Unit 3 APGOV

Amicus Curiae Brief

A legal document filed by interest groups or parties to provide the court with additional information about arguments and potential outcomes.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of courts to hear appeals from lower courts, reviewing only legal issues to determine if a new trial is warranted.

Brief

A summary of case arguments provided to judges before a hearing, outlining the legal reasoning based on law and past judicial decisions.

Bureaucracy

A hierarchical structure characterized by task specialization, merit-based operation, and impersonality.

Bureaucrats

Government employees working in the executive branch within executive departments and independent federal agencies.

Civil Service

A merit-based employment system in the federal bureaucracy established by the Pendleton Act.

Concurrent opinion

A document by justices who agree with the majority but have different beliefs about its meaning.

Continuing resolution

An action that allows government funding to continue temporarily if Congress fails to pass the budget by the deadline.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

A congressional agency that reviews the President's budget proposals.

Doctrine of Original Intent

Judicial philosophy aiming to interpret the Constitution based on the intentions of its founders.

Discretionary spending

Federal programs that Congress can choose to fund or not fund.

Discretionary funding

Funding that can change based on congressional decisions.

Executive Department

A segment of government responsible for broad governmental operations, led by secretaries.

Government corporations

Bureaucratic agencies that function like private businesses, providing services that could be offered by the private sector.

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Agencies composed of a board that regulates specific economic activities, serving fixed terms for independence.

Iron Triangle

A stable relationship among a congressional committee, an interest group, and a bureaucratic agency focused on a specific policy area.

Judicial review

The authority of the Supreme Court to assess the constitutionality of laws and judicial decisions.

Judicial Activism

A judicial philosophy where judges make bold decisions to advance justice, equality, and liberties.

Judicial Restraint

A philosophy where judges limit their role in policy-making.

Judiciary Committee

The Senate committee responsible for reviewing presidential court appointments.

Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear cases within designated legal areas or regions.

Litigation

The process of bringing a lawsuit before a court.

Litmus test

A decisive issue used to gauge political support from voters.

Mandatory spending

Budget expenditures that Congress must fund, prominently including Social Security.

Majority opinion

The official decision of the majority of justices on the Supreme Court outlining the reasons for a ruling.

Minority opinion

The reasoning provided by justices who disagree with the majority opinion.

Markup

The process of revising or correcting a bill.

Original jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear the first trial and facts of a case.

Patronage (the 'spoils system')

The practice of rewarding political supporters with government jobs.

Per curiam decisions

Supreme Court rulings issued without a detailed explanation or majority opinion.

Red tape

The bureaucratic procedures and regulations that can complicate government processes.

Rule of Four

The principle stating that four justices must agree to hear a case before the Supreme Court will consider it.

Senatorial courtesy

The tradition whereby the President will not appoint a federal judge if there is opposition from the senator of that district.

Stare Decisis

The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.

Street level bureaucrats

The lowest tier of bureaucrats who interact directly with the public.