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Administrative Procedures Act (1946)
A law that governs the way federal administrative agencies propose and establish regulations.
advice and consent
The Senate's authority to approve or reject the President's appointments and treaties.
ambassadors
Diplomatic representatives of a country sent to another country.
appellate jurisdiction
The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.
appropriations
The legal authority to spend government funds.
Attorney General
The head of the Department of Justice and the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government.
authorization of spending
The legislative approval to allocate funds for specific purposes.
Baker v. Carr (1962)
A landmark Supreme Court case that addressed redistricting and the principle of 'one person, one vote.'
bargaining and persuasion
Strategies used by politicians to negotiate and influence decisions.
bicameral
A legislative body that has two chambers or houses.
binding precedent
A legal principle that must be followed by lower courts in future cases.
Bork, Robert
A legal scholar and judicial nominee known for his controversial views on judicial philosophy.
bully pulpit
The President's use of their platform to advocate for policies and influence public opinion.
bureaucracy
The administrative system governing any large institution, often characterized by hierarchical structure.
Cabinet
A group of the President's top advisors, typically the heads of executive departments.
caucuses
Meetings of members of a political party to discuss policy and select candidates.
certiorari
A writ issued by a higher court to review the decision of a lower court.
chief of staff
The head of the White House staff, responsible for managing the President's schedule and staff.
Civil Service Commission
A government agency that oversees the civil service and ensures fair hiring practices.
Civil Service Reform Act (1978)
An act that aimed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the federal civil service.
cloture rule
A procedure used to end a filibuster in the Senate, requiring a vote of 60 senators.
coalitions
Alliances formed between different political parties or groups to achieve a common goal.
Code of Federal Regulations
The codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies.
Commander in Chief
The role of the President as the head of the armed forces.
Committee of the Whole
A committee that includes all members of the House of Representatives, used for the consideration of certain types of legislation.
compliance monitoring
The process of ensuring that organizations adhere to regulatory standards.
concurring opinion
An opinion written by a judge or justice who agrees with the majority decision but for different reasons.
conference committees
Temporary committees formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
congressional oversight
The review and supervision of federal agencies, programs, and policy implementation by Congress.
deficit
The amount by which government spending exceeds revenue in a given period.
delegate model
A model of representation where legislators act according to the wishes of their constituents.
delegated discretionary authority
The power given to agencies to make decisions within the framework of the law.
Department of Education
The federal department responsible for education policy and federal funding for education.
Department of Homeland Security
The federal department responsible for protecting the United States from terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
Department of Transportation
The federal department responsible for overseeing the nation's transportation systems.
Department of Veterans Affairs
The federal department responsible for providing services to military veterans.
discharge petitions
A means by which members of the House can force a bill out of committee for consideration.
discretionary spending
Government spending that is not required by existing law and can be adjusted through the annual budget process.
dissenting opinion
An opinion written by a judge or justice who disagrees with the majority decision.
enumerated powers
Powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution.
Environmental Protection Agency
The federal agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment.
executive agreement
An agreement between the President and a foreign government that does not require Senate approval.
executive order
A directive issued by the President to manage the operations of the federal government.
executive privilege
The right of the President to withhold information from Congress or the courts.
Federal Election Commission
The agency that regulates campaign finance legislation in the United States.
Federal Register
The official journal of the federal government that contains government agency rules, proposed rules, and public notices.
Federalist No. 70
An essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing for a strong executive leader.
Federalist No. 78
An essay by Alexander Hamilton discussing the judiciary's role in government.
filibuster
A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislation by extending debate.
formal powers
Powers explicitly granted to the President by the Constitution.
Garland, Merrick
A federal judge and current Attorney General of the United States.
germane
Relevant and appropriate to the subject matter at hand, especially in legislative discussions.
gerrymandering
The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.
gridlock
A situation in which there is difficulty passing laws due to evenly divided votes.
House of Representatives
The lower chamber of Congress, consisting of representatives based on state population.
imperial presidency
A term used to describe a President who acts without consulting Congress or acts in secrecy.
implied powers
Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but necessary to implement the enumerated powers.
independent regulatory agencies
Agencies that exist outside the federal executive departments and are responsible for enforcing laws and regulations.
informal powers
Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but exercised by the President.
inherent powers
Powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are necessary for the government to function.
iron triangle
The stable, mutually beneficial relationship between a government agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.
issue networks
A loose grouping of individuals and organizations that come together to advocate for a specific policy issue.
Jackson, Andrew
The seventh President of the United States, known for his populist policies.
Joint Chiefs of Staff
A group of senior military leaders who advise the President on military matters.
joint committees
Committees that include members from both the House and Senate.
judicial activism
The practice of judges making rulings based on personal or political considerations rather than existing law.
judicial restraint
The practice of judges limiting their own power by avoiding the overturning of laws.
judicial review
The power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional.
"lame duck" president
A president in the final period of office after the election of a successor.
legislative veto
The ability of Congress to reject an executive action by passing a resolution.
liberal constructionist
An interpretation of the Constitution that allows for a broader understanding of its provisions.
Lincoln, Abraham
The sixteenth President of the United States, known for leading the country during the Civil War.
line-item veto
The power of an executive to veto specific provisions of a bill without rejecting the entire bill.
logrolling
The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics, by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation.
majority opinion
The official statement of the court's decision, reflecting the views of the majority of justices.
mandatory spending
Government spending that is required by law, such as Social Security and Medicare.
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
A landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review.
merit system
A system of hiring and promoting government employees based on their qualifications and performance.
National Performance Review
An initiative aimed at reforming the federal government to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
necessary and proper clause
A clause in the Constitution granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its duties.
notice-and-comment opportunity
A process that allows the public to comment on proposed regulations before they are finalized.
"nuclear option"
A parliamentary procedure that allows the Senate to override a rule or precedent by a simple majority.
Office of Personnel Management
The agency responsible for managing the federal government's civilian workforce.
omnibus bill
A single document that packages together several related measures into one or a single bill.
"one person-one vote" principle
The principle that each person's vote should carry the same weight in elections.
original jurisdiction
The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time.
patronage
The practice of giving government jobs to political supporters.
Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)
An act that established the principle of hiring government employees based on merit rather than political affiliation.
persuasive precedent
A legal principle that a court may consider but is not obligated to follow.
petition for certiorari
A request for the Supreme Court to review a lower court's decision.
pocket veto
The President's power to indirectly veto a bill by taking no action on it for ten days.
policy agenda
The set of issues that are prioritized by government officials and policymakers.
politico model
A model of representation where legislators act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue.
pork-barrel spending
Government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative's district.
power of the purse
The ability of Congress to control government spending and taxation.
precedent
A legal decision that serves as an example or rule for future cases.
President of the Senate
The Vice President of the United States, who presides over Senate sessions.
president pro tempore
A senior member of the Senate who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President.
racial gerrymandering
The practice of drawing district boundaries to disadvantage a particular racial group.
rider
An additional provision added to a bill that may not be related to the bill's main topic.
