AP Government Unit 6

Appropriations

A legislative motion (bill) which authorizes the government to spend money.

Authorization bill

A proposed public law that permits the federal government to carry out various functions and programs.

Bill

A proposed law, drafted in legal language, that can only be formally submitted by members of Congress.

Casework

Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals, such as cutting through bureaucratic red tape.

Caucus (congressional)

A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristics, often composed of members from both parties.

Christmas-tree bill

A bill with many riders or earmarks.

Closed rule

A rule that sets strict time limits on debates and forbids amendments from the floor on a bill.

Committee chairs

The most important influencers of the congressional agenda, responsible for scheduling hearings, hiring staff, and managing committee bills.

Committee of the Whole

A Committee of 100 members of the House that reviews all revenue bills.

Concurrent resolution

A resolution that comes from both houses and often settles housekeeping and procedural matters that affect both houses, not having the force of law.

Conference committees

Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Advises Congress on the possible economic effects of various spending programs and policies.

Constituency

The body of voters or residents of a district represented by an elected legislator or official.

Discharge petition

A petition that must be signed by 218 members of the House to bring a bill to the floor without committee recommendation.

Earmarks

Provisions in Congressional legislation that allocate a specified amount of money for a specific project, program, or organization.

Filibuster

A strategy unique to the Senate where opponents of legislation try to talk it to death based on unlimited debate.

Franking privilege

The privilege allowing members of Congress to send mail for free.

General Accounting Office (GAO)

Investigates agencies and policies to ensure legislative intent of laws is being followed.

Germane

Amendments that are relevant to the topic of the bill.

House Rules Committee

An institution unique to the House of Representatives that reviews all bills coming from a House Committee.

Incumbents

Those who are already holding office.

Instructed delegates

Representatives who vote according to the instructions of their constituents.

Joint committees

Congressional committees that consist of members from both houses on a few subject-matter areas.

Joint resolution

A resolution that requires approval from both houses and the signature of the president.

Legislative oversight

Congress’s monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy.

Logrolling

When a member of Congress supports another member's project in exchange for support of their own.

Majority leader

The principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House, responsible for scheduling bills.

Marked up

When a bill is changed or rewritten.

Minority leader

The principal leader of the minority party in the House or Senate.

Multiple referral

When a bill is considered by several committees at once.

Partisan delegates

Representatives who vote according to party lines.

Party polarization

A growing distance between policy views of the average members of each party.

Pigeonholed

To set aside and ignore; often bills are shelved and do not make it out of committee.

Politicos

Representatives who vote based on constituents, party, and their own decisions.

Pork

Government funds, jobs, or favors distributed by politicians to gain support.

Pork barrel

The list of federal projects and grants available to localities.

President of the Senate

The vice-president of the U.S., who presides over the Senate and can only vote in case of a tie.

President pro-tempore

The most senior member who is the official chair of the Senate.

Revenue bills

Tax bills that must begin in the House of Representatives.

Select committees

Committees appointed for a specific purpose.

Seniority system

A rule for picking committee chairs based on length of service.

Sequential referral

When a bill is sent to another committee after one has completed its work.

Simple resolution

A resolution passed by either house to establish rules that do not have the force of law.

Speaker of the House

The elected leader of the House, mandated by the Constitution.

Standing committees

Separate subject-matter committees in each house handling bills in different areas.

Trustee delegates

Representatives who vote based on their own judgment.

Whips

Party leaders who count votes and ensure party discipline.

Advice and consent

The Senate's power to approve presidential appointments and treaties.

Budget Reform and Impoundment Act of 1974

Required the president to spend all appropriated funds unless Congress approved impoundment.

Cabinet

A group of presidential advisers not mentioned in the Constitution.

Clinton v City of New York (1998)

Court ruled that a line-item veto is not permitted without a constitutional amendment.

Clinton v Jones (1997)

Executive privilege does not cover civil suits against a chief executive.

Council of Economic Advisers

A body appointed by the president to advise on economic policy.

Diplomatic recognition

The power to recognize foreign governments.

Executive agreements

Informal agreements between the President and foreign leaders without Senate consent.

Executive orders

Administrative rules with the force of law.

Executive privilege

The right of the president to withhold information.

Impeachment

A political indictment by the House for 'treason, bribery, or other high Crimes and misdemeanors'.

Legislative veto

The ability of Congress to override a presidential decision.

Line-item veto

Permits executives to veto specific sections of a bill.

National Security Council

Advises the President on military affairs and foreign policy.

Office of Management and Budget

Prepares the national budget that the president proposes to Congress.

Pocket veto

A veto that occurs when Congress adjourns and the president neither signs nor vetoes a bill.

Presidential coattails

Voters casting ballots for congressional candidates of the president’s party.

Presidential Succession Act of 1947

Sets the line of succession after the vice-president.

Twenty-second amendment

Limits presidents to two terms of office.

Twenty-fifth Amendment

Allows the vice president to become acting president if the president is disabled.

U.S. v Nixon (1974)

The Supreme Court ruling regarding executive privilege.

Veto

The constitutional power of the president to send a bill back to Congress.

War Powers Resolution

Requires presidents to consult Congress before using military force.

Watergate

A scandal involving a break-in and subsequent cover-up that led to Nixon's resignation.

Administrative Discretion

The exercise of professional judgment in making decisions contrary to strict rules.

Bureaucracy

Administration of government through departments staffed with nonelected officials.

Civil service

A system of hiring based on merit.

Command-and-control policy

Specific guidelines on compliance with mandatory requirements.

Deregulation

Lifting restrictions on business and professional activities.

Executive orders (admin.)

Regulations from the executive branch controlling agencies.

Government Corporation

A government entity that provides a service typically offered by the private sector.

GS (General Schedule) rating

A system for federal employees salaries based on experience and rating.

Hatch Act

A federal law prohibiting government employees from partisan politics.

Incentive system

Market-like strategies used to manage public policy.

Independent Executive Agency

Part of the government outside the cabinet, like NASA.

Independent regulatory commission

Agency responsible for a sector of the economy.

Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act (2004)

The most significant overhaul of intelligence-gathering in decades.

Iron triangles

Mutually dependent relationships between agencies, interest groups, and committees.

Issue networks

Alliances of interest groups promoting a single issue.

Merit principle

Hiring based on exams and performance ratings.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

In charge of hiring for most federal agencies.

Patronage

Jobs given for political reasons rather than merit.

Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)

Created a merit-based federal civil service.

Plum book

A list of top federal jobs available for presidential appointment.

Policy implementation

Translating goals of laws into ongoing programs.

Red tape

The complex rules and regulations overwhelming to citizens.

Regulation

Using government authority to control practices in the private sector.

Senior Executive Service

An elite cadre of federal managers established by the Civil Service Reform Act.

Standard operating conditions (SOPs)

Procedures used to ensure uniformity in bureaucratic organizations.

Street-level bureaucrats

Bureaucrats in contact with the public who have administrative discretion.

Adversarial system

A neutral arena for opposing parties to present their case.

Amicus curiae briefs

Legal briefs from 'friends of the court' presenting additional points of view.

Appellate jurisdiction

Jurisdiction of courts hearing cases on appeal from lower courts.