AP gov: unit 2 vocab

Appellate jurisdiction

Authority of a court to hear an appeal from a lower court.

Civil law

Concerns noncriminal disputes between private parties.

Class action lawsuit

Lawsuit brought on behalf of a class of people against a defendant.

Concurring opinion

Written by a Supreme Court Justice who voted with the majority for different reasons.

Dissenting opinion

Written by a Supreme Court Justice expressing a minority viewpoint in a case.

Injunction

Court order that forbids a party from performing a certain action.

Judicial activism

Philosophy that the courts should take an active role in solving problems.

Judicial restraint

Philosophy that the courts should defer to elected lawmakers in setting policy.

Judicial review

Power of the courts to review the constitutionality of laws or government actions.

Majority opinion

Written to express the majority viewpoint in a Supreme Court case.

Original jurisdiction

Authority of a court to first hear a case.

Remand

The Supreme Court’s sending of a case back to the original court.

Rule of four

The Supreme Court will hear a case if four Justices agree to do so.

Stare decisis

Latin for 'let the decision stand'; Supreme Court policy of following precedent.

Writ of certiorari

Issued by the Supreme Court to a lower court to send up case records.

Writ of habeas corpus

Court order for authorities to show cause for holding a prisoner.

Writ of mandamus

Court order directing a party to perform a certain action.

Budget deficit

Results when federal expenditures exceed revenues for one year.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Non-partisan agency analyzing presidential budget recommendations.

Deficit spending

The federal government’s practice of spending more than it takes in.

Deregulation

Elimination of federal regulations on private companies.

Discretionary Spending

Spending that must receive annual Congressional authorization.

Entitlements

Federal benefit payments to which recipients have a legal right.

Excise tax

Consumer tax on a specific kind of merchandise.

Federal Reserve System

System created by Congress to regulate banking practices.

Fiscal policy

Government policy managing the economy through taxing and spending.

Mandatory Spending

Spending authorized by law that does not require annual Congressional approval.

Means testing

Requiring that federal benefit recipients show a need based on income.

Monetary policy

Federal Reserve Board’s regulation of the money supply and interest rates.

National debt

Total debt owed by the federal government due to past borrowing.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Presidential staff agency coordinating budget requests.

Regulation

Efforts by government to alter free market operations for social goals.

Progressive tax

A tax that takes a larger fraction from higher incomes.

Sequestration

Automatic spending cuts applied if Congressional spending exceeds appropriations.

Bureaucracy

Departments and agencies in the executive branch of government.

Cabinet

Highest-ranking appointed officers in the executive branch.

Discretionary Authority/Administrative Discretion

Power to choose various courses of action in agencies.

Government corporation

A company owned by the government operating privately.

Independent Executive Agency

Agency outside of the Executive Office of the President.

Independent Regulatory Commission

Commission with independence from the President and regulatory authority.

Merit system

System of hiring federal workers based on competitive exams.

Political appointees

Individuals receiving presidential appointments that need Senate confirmation.

Red tape

Complex rules and procedures required by bureaucratic agencies.

Whistleblower

Employee exposing unethical or illegal conduct in government.

Appropriation

Money that Congress has allocated to be spent.

Appropriations Committee

Congressional committee dealing with federal spending.

Casework

Personal work done by a member of Congress for constituents.

Closed rule

Rule that bans amendments to a bill in the House.

Cloture

Senate motion to end a filibuster requiring a 3/5 vote.

Conference committee

Committee composed of both House and Senate to reconcile bills.

Discharge petition

Motion to force a bill to the House floor.

Filibuster

Nonstop Senate debate preventing a bill from coming to a vote.

Finance Committee

Senate committee that handles tax bills.

Franking privilege

Allows members of Congress to send mail postage free.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing of congressional district lines to favor one party.

Hold

Senate maneuver stopping or delaying consideration of a bill.

Legislative oversight

Ongoing process of monitoring the executive branch.

Logrolling

Agreement between members to vote for each other’s bills.

Mark up

Committee action to amend a proposed bill.

Open rule

House rule allowing amendments to a bill.

Pork barrel

Appropriations for local district interests rather than the larger population.

Quorum

Minimum number of members needed for Congress to conduct business.

Reapportionment

Redistribution of House seats based on changes in population.

Redistricting

Redrawing congressional district boundaries after the census.

Rider

Amendment to a bill that has little to do with it.

Rules Committee

House committee setting the legislative calendar.

Seniority system

Tradition where longest-serving senator chairs the committee.

Standing committees

Permanent congressional committees with legislative, oversight authority.

Ways and Means Committee

House committee that handles tax bills.