apgov unit 2 vocab

apportionment

the process of determining the number of representatives for each state using census data

speaker of the house

the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, head of the majority party

house majority leader

the person who is the second in command of the House of Representatives. scheduling legislation, acts like a spokesperson, getting party support, leaders during debates.

minority leader

the legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or the Senate

majority whip

They keep a tally of the majority party members' voting intentions and try to maintain party discipline.

minority whip

They keep a tally of the minority party members' voting intentions and try to maintain party discipline.

president pro tempore

A ceremonial position held in the senate by the most senior member of the majority party

senate majority leader

Chief legislator in charge of choosing which bills reach the floor, guides discussions, and are the spokesperson for their party.

filibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

cloture

Required a three-fifths supermajority to stop debate on a bill, thus, stopping a filibuster and allowing for a vote.

pork barrel spending

Funds set aside for specific purposes in a legislatures district.

logrolling

vote trading; voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of future support

office of management and budget

The largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States and is responsible for implementing the president's agenda across the executive branch.

mandatory spending

Something you are required by law to pay for

budget deficit

When the federal government is spending money while being in debt.

discretionary spending

The portion of the federal budget that congress controls and funds through annual appropriation bills

national debt

The total amount of money a country's government owes to its creditors

delegate model

Elected officials act as representatives for the people by making policy-making decisions based solely on their constituents' preferences.

trustee model

Representatives are trusted by the people to use their best judgement regardless of how the people view the issue

politico model

blend the delegate and trustee models. Lawmakers consider a variety of factors and decide their action or vote for whatever political calculations make the most sense to them.

redistricting

the reshaping of congressional districts based on shifts in population

gerrymandering (partisan and racial)

illogical district lines drawn to give the advantage to one party

executive branch

the branch of government that carries out laws, led by the president

formal or enumerated power

powers defined in Article II

informal power

political powers interpreted to be inherent in the office, to achieve policy goals

veto

has a chance to reject congressional bills

pocket veto

if a president receives a bill in the final ten days of a congressional session and does nothing

treaty

a formal agreement between two or more sovereign nations

executive order

empowers the president to carry out the law or to administer the government.

signing statement

explain their interpretation of a bill, their understanding of what is expected of them to carry it out, or just a commentary on the law.

executive privilege

the right to withhold information or their decision-making process from another branch.

executive office of the president

coordinates several independent agencies that carry out presidential duties and handle the budget, the economy, and staffing across the bureaucracy.

impeachment

An action by the House of Representatives to accuse the president, vice president, or other civil officers of the United States of committing Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

bully pulpit

a prominent stage from where he could pitch ideas to the American people

original jurisdiction

the authority to hear a case for the first time

appellate jurisdiction

to review and reverse or modify decisions made by a lower court

federalist no.78

written by Alexander Hamilton explains the need for an independent judiciary and protect the Constitution by using judicial review to strike down laws that conflict with it

federal district courts

the lowest level of the federal judiciary; these courts usually have original jurisdiction in cases that start at the federal level

federal courts of appeals

the middle level of the federal judiciary; these courts review and hear appeals from the federal district courts

supreme court

the highest federal court in the United States, consists of nine judges and has original jurisdiction in unique cases.

marbury v madison

the power of judicial review, to check the other branches.

judicial review

to examine acts of legislatures to see if they comport with the proposed Constitution.

precedent

a ruling that firmly establishes a legal principle

stare decisis

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

majority opinion

decision that reflects the view of more than half of the members of the court or group.

concurring opinion

Some may agree with the majority and join that vote but have reservations about the majority's legal reasoning.

dissenting opinion

has no force of law and no immediate legal bearing but allows a justice to explain his or her disagreements to send a message to the legal community or to influence later cases.

judicial restraint

judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures

judicial activism

When judges strike down laws or reverses public policy

federal bureaucracy

hierarchical organization of executive branch employees that take care of the federal government's business.

administrative adjudication

the process by which agencies resolve disputes over the implementation of their administrative rules

bureaucrat

government official

iron triangle

The relationship among an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

issue network

include committee staffers, academics, advocates, leaders of think tanks, interest groups, and/or the media to collaborate on and create specific policy on one issue.

delegated discretionary authority

the power to interpret legislation and create rules

congressional oversight

a check and balance on the agencies themselves and competes with the president for influence over them.