U.S. Government: Congress, Presidency, Judiciary, and Economics

Comprehensive flashcards covering the U.S. Congress, the Presidency, the Judicial Branch, and U.S. Economic Policy based on lecture notes.

Bicameral compromise

Also called the Great Compromise, it created a two-house Congress consisting of the House of Representatives (based on population) and the Senate (equal representation for each state).

17th Amendment

The amendment that changed the process of selecting senators from being chosen by state legislatures to being elected by direct popular vote.

Standing committee

A permanent committee in Congress that specializes in certain policy areas and conducts the majority of congressional work, including hearings and bill markups.

Conference committee

A temporary committee made of members from both the House and Senate tasked with working out differences between different versions of a bill.

Oversight

A function of Congress to keep an eye on other branches, ensuring laws are enforced and spending is accounted for through committee investigations and hearings.

Casework

Personal help provided by members of Congress and their staff to constituents back home who are having problems involving the government.

Delegate Theory

A theory of representation where members of Congress take actions based upon the perceived wishes of their district rather than personal judgment.

Trustee Theory

A theory of representation where members of Congress use their own personal judgment and experience to make policy decisions.

Speaker of the House

The leader of the House of Representatives chosen by the majority party who refers bills to committees, controls the agenda, and is 2nd in line to the Presidency.

Whips

Party assistants who gather votes, enforce party discipline, and act as bridges between members and party leadership.

President pro tempore

A ceremonial leader in the Senate, usually the most senior member of the majority party, who presides in the absence of the Vice President.

Gerrymandering

The practice of drawing voting district boundaries to give specific groups or political parties an advantage in representation.

Filibuster

A Senate tactic used to delay or block action on a bill by talking for an extended period or refusing to end debate.

Logrolling

A form of deal-making where lawmakers trade votes or favors to help each other pass their respective bills.

Pork-barrel politics

Wasteful government spending on local projects intended to help a politician win political favor and support back home.

Bully-Pulpit

A term popularized by Theodore Roosevelt referring to the president's ability to use the prestige of the office to persuade public opinion and gain support for policies.

War Powers Act (1973)

A congressional attempt to regain power over war-making that requires the president to notify Congress of troop deployments and remove them after 60 days without approval.

Executive orders

Official rules or instructions issued by the president to executive agencies that have the force of law and direct how laws are carried out.

Executive privilege

The president's claimed right to withhold information from Congress, the courts, or the public, usually to protect confidential discussions.

22nd Amendment

The constitutional amendment that limits the president to serving only two elected terms.

Judicial review

The power of the courts to declare laws or government actions unconstitutional, established by the case Marbury v. Madison.

Federal Question

A legal issue that involves the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, or treaties, providing a basis for federal court jurisdiction.

U.S. Attorneys

Federal prosecutors who represent the federal government in the 94 trial courts known as U.S. District Courts.

Judicial restraint

A judicial philosophy where judges interpret laws strictly and literally, deferring policy-making to the elected legislative branch.

Judicial activism

A judicial philosophy where judges interpret laws broadly, focusing on the intent of the law to actively protect fundamental rights.

Monetary Policy

Efforts by the government to control the money supply and influence interest rates, managed by the Federal Reserve.

Fiscal Policy

Government policy involving taxing, spending, and borrowing to influence the national economy.

Federal deficit

The annual difference between the amount of money the government collects in revenue and the amount it spends.

National debt

The total accumulation of all past federal deficits minus any surpluses.

Pay as you go

The structure of Social Security where taxes from current workers are used to pay for the benefits of current retirees.