civics unit iii test

incumbents

those already holding office

advantages of incumbents

advertising, credit claiming, portray themselves as hard working

casework

specifically helping constituents get what they think they have a right to

pork barrel

federal projects, grants, etc. made available in a congressional district or state (not necessary to everyone)

weak opponents

inexperienced in politics, unorganized, underfunded, and less news coverage

campaign spending

challengers need to raise large sums to defeat an incumbent and political action committees (PACs) give most of their money to incumbents

bicameral legislature

legislature made up of two houses

term

the length of time someone spends in an office

session

period of time where Congress assembles and conducts business

convene

begin

adjourn

suspends until next session

recess

temporarily suspend business

prologue

end/discontinue

special session

meeting to deal with an emergency situation

the house of representatives

435 members and 2 year terms of office + limited debates

the senate

100 members and 6 year terms of office + more influential on foreign affairs + unlimited debates

filibuster

person talks legislation to death

congressional leadership of the house of representatives

led by the speaker of the house and assisted by majority leader and whips

whips

keep people in line

congressional leadership of the senate

vice president can vote during ties and led by majority leader and assisted by whips

standing committee

permanent, subject area committees that handle bills and matters of public interest in different policy areas

joint committee

4 subject area committees with membership drawn from the house and the senate (pricing, taxation, library economic)

conference committees

resolve differences in house and senate bills

select committee

created for a specific purpose (ex. 9/11 investigation)

sub committee

smaller version of standing committee / break down work even more specifically

during lesiglation

congress holds hearings and ‘mark up’ meetings

legislative oversight

monitoring of the bureaucracy (government) and its administration of policy

committee chair

the most important influencer of the congressional agenda

seniority system

members who have served in the committee the longest and whose party controls Congress usually become chairs

personal staff

work for the member, mainly providing constituent services, but help with legislation too

committee staff

organize hearings, research and write legislation; target of lobbyists

congressional support agencies

LOC, CRS, GAO, CBO that provides specific information to Congress

LOC

Library of Congress

CRS

Congressional Research Service

GAO

General Accountability Office

CBO

Congressional Budget Office

expressed powers

explicitly stated / in specific wording

implied powers

decided from reasonable deduction by the expressed powers

inherent powers

by creating a national government for the U.S. (belongs to all nations)

commerce powers

the power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade

tax

charge levied by government on persons or property to raise money to meet public needs

public debt

all of the money borrowed by the federal government over the years and not yet repaid, plus the accumulated interest on that money

deficit financing

regularly spending more than it takes each year and then borrows to make up the difference

bankruptcy

legal proceeding in which the bankrupts assets (however much or little they may be) are distributed among those to whom a debt is owed

legal tender

any kind of money that a creditor must by law accept in payment for debts

constitutents

people that politicians have been elected to represent (people back home)

bill

a proposed law

prime determinant of voting in parties stems from...

ideaology

salient

important

lobbyists

can provide important information, try to influence congress members, and can be ignored

there are ____ registered lobbyists

35,000

constitutional requirements to become president

must be 35 years old, must be a natural born citizen, and must have resided in the u.s. 14 years prior to taking office

most common previous occupation before presidency

lawyer

most practical previous job experience before presidency

governor

presidential standard term

4 years

22nd amendment

limited the number of terms of 2

chief of state

ceremonial head of the government of the united states

chief executive

holds the executive power of the united states with both domestic and foreign affairs

chief administrator

director of the executive branch of the federal gov.

chief diplomat

main architect of the American foreign policy and the nation's chief spokesperson to the world

commander in chief

has direct and immediate control over the nation's armed forces

chief legislator

principal author of public policies and sets shape of the congressional agenda

chief of party

acknowledged leader of the political party that controls the executive

chief citizen

the representative of all the people and win public's interest

succession of the president

vice president

25th amendment

clarifies what happens if the president becomes disabled

line of succession

vice president, speaker of the house, president pro tempore of the senate, secretary of state, cabinet department heads in order of the department’s establishment

impeachment

a majority vote in the house to indict the president or other officials for treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanors

3 presidents that have been impeached

andrew johnson, bill clinton, and donald trump (twice)

cabinet

vice president and 15 executive department heads attorney general

national security council

created in 1947 to coordinate the president's foreign and military policy advisers to better serve the president

council of economic advisers

3 member body appointed by the president to advice on economic policy

office of management and budget

performs both managerial and budget proposals

the white house staff

chief aides and staff for the president

veto

the president can send a bill back to congress with reasons for rejecting

presidential coattails

when voters cast ballots for congressional candidates of the president's party because they support the president (riding the coattails)

public approval

gives the president leverage over congress

mandates

perception that the voters strongly support the president's policies

bargaining

concessions for votes

war powers resolution

intended to limit the president's use of the military

press secretary

main contact person

press conferences

best known direct interaction of president and media