unit 4 all vocab

enumerated powers

Powers that are explicitly granted to each of the branches of government. Most of these powers are granted in Article I of the constitution.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Found within Article I of the Constitution Grants congress the power to do anything as long as it connects back to their enumerated powers, or is something needed to carry out their enumerated powers. 

bicameralism

A legislature that is split into two chambers

President of the Senate

The VP is the President of the Senate. They have the power to break ties in the event of a 50/50 vote.

Filibuster

When a senator continues to talk non-stop in order to prevent a bill from moving forwards.

Holds

Allows one or more senators to prevent a motion from going forwards/reaching the senate floor for a vote

committee of the whole

• every member of the assembly is included

• informal discussion

• focus on specific manners

• no pressure to vote at the end

Unanimous Consent

when 100% of the legislature agrees on a given issue

Confirmation Role of the Senate

The senate confirms members of the President’s cabinet, department heads, ambassadors, and federal judges

mandatory spending

Money that must be spent for specific purposes by law eg. medicaid, medicare, social security, net interest

logrolling

where two members of legislature agree to support the other’s bill/initiative in order to gain a vote

gridlock

time when no progress can be made because the two opposite sides can not reach an agreement

divided government

time period where control of the executive branch and the legislative branch is split between tow different political parties

delegate

a person who is elected for the purpose of representing their constituents

“lame duck” appointment

Time period where the new person has been elected and the old person hasn’t left office and the person currently in office makes an appointment to a position like federal judge

executive order

Orders made by the POTUS that are enforced throughout the nation

nomination and confirmation

Judges, department heads, cabinet are appointed by the President and approved by Senate.

ratification

the process through which a bill becomes a law

• how something becomes legal

22nd amendment

limits President to two terms

persuasion power of the president

Use platform to persuade the public and government agencies towards their agenda

state of the union

speech given by the president to congress to update legislative branch on the state of foreign affairs and the executive branch

President

• in charge of executive branch

• Commander in Chief

Judicial review

determine if law/executive order is constitutional

judicial activism

interpret and go beyond constitution to create a new precedent/aw

Restrictions on the Supreme Court

Supreme court can’t rule on political issues

bureaucracy

a complex organization that has hierarchies, a distinct division of labor specialization, and highly tailored rules

patronage

Patronage is the practice of giving government jobs, contracts, or other benefits to individuals as a reward for their political loyalty, financial support, or campaign assistance, rather than based on their objective qualifications or merit.

iron triangle/issue network

interaction between bureaucracy, congress, and special interest groups to achieve a common goal

department of homeland security

protects US from foreign and domestic threats

department of veteran affairs

provides care and benefits to military members past/present and their families

environmental protection agency

Goal is to protect human health and the environmen

Securities and Exchange commission

responsible for protecting investors, maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitating capital formation.

Article I

Powers and structure of legislative branch

Article III

Judicial branch and lower courts

Fed. 78

Proposed structure and function of the judicial branch

Shaw v. Reno

Districts can not be drawn solely based on race

Implied powers

not written explicitly, but powers needed to carry out other duties

checks and balances

ways each branch of government can keep other branches from gaining too much power

Speaker of the House

• from the majority side

• 3rd for presidency

• in charge of house of reps

senate majority leader

elected leader of the party that holds the most seats in the U.S. Senate. This position is considered the most powerful office in the Senate and is the main spokesperson and strategist for the majority party.

cloture motion

only formal parliamentary procedure used in the U.S. Senate to end a filibuster or other debate and force a final vote on a bill, resolution, or presidential nomination.

rules committee

• in house of reps

• determines rules and what bills will come to the house floor

discharge petitions

• house of reps

• majority vote can bypass committees or house leadership to bring a bill to the floor

treaty ratification by senate

• President or Secretary of state signs treaty

• senate votes to approve the treaty or not

discretionary spending

Discretionary spending is the portion of the federal budget that is optional and must be approved by the U.S. Congress and the President through annual appropriations bills.

pork barrel legislation

government appropriation, bill, or policy that supplies federal funds for local projects and interests, often without serving a broad national public purpose.

partisanship

bias/divide between the political parties

gerrymandering

drawing disproportionate district lines that misrepresent the population

trustee

representative act based on their own informed judgement

pocket veto

• president doesn’t sign or veto legislature

• left alone for 10 days

commander in chief

• POTUS = in charge of military

signing statements

how President signs a bill into a law

Bully pulpit

how president bypasses congress and communicates directly with the people

executive agreements

POTUS makes agreements with other leaders without senate approval

Social Media + Prez

• direct and informal means of communication between POTUS and american ppl

precedent/stare decisis

courts make decisions based on previous interpretations

judicial restraint

defer from themselves and send it to congress to make a decision

civil service

civilian workforce within US depts. and agencies

congressional oversight

power of Congress to review, monitor, and supervise the activities of the Executive Branch agencies, programs, and policy implementation.

Dept. of transportation

plans federal transportation projects and setting safety regulation

dept. education

• equal access to education

• loans/grants

federal elections committee

responsible for enforcing campaign finance laws in federal elections.

oversight methods

how executive branch is overseen by congress

article II

executive branch

Fed 70

defends executive branch function and purpose

baker v carr

• redistricting is not a political question

marbury v madison

established judicial review