Unit 2 Ultimate Review

Bicameral legislature

A lawmaking body with two chambers (House + Senate).

Bill

A proposed law.

Casework

Help that members of Congress give to constituents.

Caucus

A group of members with shared interests or goals.

Christmas tree bill

A bill with many unrelated amendments (riders).

Closed rule

Limits debate and forbids amendments in the House.

Cloture

Senate vote (60) to end a filibuster.

Committee chairs

Leaders of committees who control hearings and bills.

Concurrent resolution

A statement by both chambers not requiring law.

Conference committee

Committee that reconciles House and Senate bills.

Conservative coalition

Republicans + conservative Democrats voting together.

Delegate

A representative who votes based on constituent wishes.

Discharge petition

House action forcing a bill out of committee.

Divided government

Different parties control Congress and the Presidency.

Division vote

A counted standing vote in Congress.

Filibuster

Unlimited Senate debate to block a vote.

Franking privilege

Free mailing for members of Congress.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing districts to benefit a party.

House Rules Committee

Sets debate rules and amendment limits for bills.

Incumbents

Current officeholders running for reelection.

Joint committee

Committee with members of both chambers.

Joint resolution

A formal expression of Congress, often becoming law.

Legislative oversight

Congress monitors agencies' implementation of laws.

Line-item veto

Strike specific parts of a bill (unconstitutional).

Logrolling

Trading votes for mutual benefit.

Majority leader

Leader of the majority party in House/Senate.

Marginal districts

Districts with close elections.

Minority leader

Leader of the minority party.

Name recognition

Advantage incumbents have because voters know them.

Open rule

Allows amendments and longer debate.

Override

Congress overturns a veto with 2/3 vote.

Oversight

Monitoring agencies to ensure compliance.

Party polarization

Party divisions become stronger and more extreme.

Pocket veto

President ignores bill at end of session → dies.

Pork barrel

Funding for local district projects.

Private bill

A bill affecting a specific individual or group.

Public bill

A bill affecting the general population.

Restrictive rule

Some amendments allowed, others not.

Rider

Unrelated amendment added to a bill.

Roll call vote

Recorded vote by each member.

Safe districts

Districts where one party always wins.

Select committees

Temporary committees for specific purposes.

Senatorial courtesy

Senators can block home-state judicial nominees.

Seniority rule

Committee chairs go to longest-serving majority member.

Seniority system

Gives positions based on years of service.

Simple resolution

House or Senate position not requiring law.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer in the House of Representatives formally elected by the house, but actually selected by the majority party.

Standing committee

Permanent committee on specific policy areas.

Teller vote

Members pass between tellers for counted vote.

Trustee

Representative voting based on personal judgment.

War Powers Act

Limits presidential use of troops without Congress.

Whips

Party leaders who gather votes and enforce discipline.

20th amendment

Sets presidential start date (Jan 20).

22nd amendment

Limits presidents to two terms.

25th amendment

Presidential disability + succession rules.

Cabinet

Heads of executive departments advising the President.

Chief of Staff

Top White House manager and gatekeeper.

Council of Economic Advisors

Advises president on economy.

Crisis

Unexpected event requiring rapid presidential action.

Delegate model

Reps vote as constituents want.

Divided government (exec)

President and Congress differ in party control.

Executive agreement

International agreement without Senate approval.

Executive Office of the President

Key advisers like OMB, NSC, CEA.

Executive orders

Presidential rules with force of law.

Executive privilege

Right to keep communications confidential.

Impeachment

Charges against president approved by House.

Impoundment

President refuses to spend allocated funds.

Lame duck

an official still in power after losing an election or before leaving office.

Line item veto

Rejecting parts of bills (unconstitutional).

Mandate

Belief the public strongly supports the president’s agenda.

National Security Council

Advises on military and foreign policy.

Office of Management and Budget

Prepares budget, evaluates agencies.

Pardon

Forgive a federal crime.

Spoils system

Giving jobs to supporters

Pocket veto

Bill dies if unsigned at session end.

Presidential coattails

President helps party members win elections.

Rally point

Surge in presidential approval during crisis.

Representative democracy

Citizens elect officials to govern.

Signing statement

President's interpretation of a bill when signing.

State of the Union address

Annual speech outlining priorities.

Stewardship theory

Presidents can act unless Constitution forbids.

Trustee approach

Representatives use best judgment.

Unified government

Same party controls presidency + Congress.

U.S. v. Nixon (1974)

Limited executive privilege.

Veto

President rejects bill.

Veto message

Written explanation of veto.

War Powers Resolution

Limits troop deployment without Congress.

Watergate

Scandal limiting presidential power.

Activist approach

Judges interpret Constitution broadly.

Adversary system

Courts as neutral arenas for disputes.

Amicus curiae briefs

Arguments filed by non-parties for influence.

Appellate jurisdiction

Authority to review lower court cases.

Briefs

Written legal arguments.

Civil law

Disputes between individuals.

Concurring opinion

Agree with ruling but different reasoning.

Constitutional court

Federal courts created under Article III.

Courts of appeal

Review decisions of district courts.

Criminal law

Government prosecutes lawbreakers.

Dissenting opinion

Disagrees with majority decision.

District courts

Federal trial courts.