Fed Govt. Final Review

Grand Jury

A jury that decides if there is enough evidence in a case to go to trial

Appeal

When a group of judges review a case to make sure it was fair (NOT a new trial)

Prosecutor

A government lawyer that tries to convict defendants in a criminal case

Indictment

A formal decision by a grand jury to send a case to trial

25th Amendment

Outlines the process for handling presidential disability

Attorney General

Head of the Department of Justice and chief law enforcement officer for the United States

Chief of Staff

Head of the White House Staff and first advisor to the president

White House Press Secretary

Spokesperson for the president

Judicial Restraint

When the courts avoid raising constitutional issues during cases, or refuse to bring constitutional cases

Judicial Activism

When the courts broadly interpret the constitution to add provisions not previously recognized → usually to correct a perceived social injustice

Legislative Veto

2/3 of both houses may overturn a presidential veto

Cloture

60 votes may end a filibuster in the Senate

Descriptive representation

When representatives in an elected institution resemble the demographic population they represent

Substantive representation

When elected officials actually attempt to enact their campaign promises

Delegate representation

When elected officials mirror their constituent demands as much as possible

Trustee representation

When elected officials use their own judgement in deciding what's best for their constituents

Amicus Briefs

When an interested third party wants to petition the court in a case

District Courts

Courts of original jurisdiction for federal cases

Subcommittees

Committees within committees that specialize in some aspect of the committee's issue area

Executive office of the president

A group of "think tanks" and policy research offices that assist the president with policy making

Majority opinion

The official decision of the Supreme Court in a case, and the legal reasoning used to arrive at that decision

Council of economic advisors

3 member panel of economists that assist the president in making economic policy

Legislative veto

2/3 of both houses of Congress may overturn a presidential veto

National Security Council

White House security office → assists the president with national security policy

Select Committee

Committees that hold investigations and perform congressional oversight

Office of Management and Budget

White House budget office assists the president when making the budget

Filibuster

When members of the Senate use unlimited speaking time to prevent a vote on a bill

Casework

When members of Congress assist constituents with government problems to get them what they think they deserve

Seniority

The practice of having the longest serving member of the majority party on a committee act as the chair

Executive Cabinet

15 Heads of the major executive departments plus the VP and others selected for cabinet rank

Joint Committees

Committees comprised of members of both houses of congress that are formed to speed up and simplify complicated legislative tasks

Incumbent

An elected official seeking re-election

Grand jury

A jury that decides if there is enough evidence in a case to go to trial

12th Amendment

Separate ballots for president and vice president

22nd Amendment

President may only run for two terms

Prosecutor

A government lawyer that tries to convict defendants in a criminal case