Studied by 2 peopleBicameral
A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses
Constituency
the residents in the area from which an official is elected
coalition building
a means of expanding an interest group's influence that involves working with other groups
Congressional committee
committee deals w/ specific topic, work of congress goes through committees
Standing committee
A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area
Select committee
Groups of appointed for a limited purpose and limited duration
Conference committee
Special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate
Joint committee
Committee made up of members of both house of Congress-housekeeping issues decided
Speaker of the house
The presiding officer of the House of Representatives
President of the Senate
Vice President; casts tie breaking vote
President pro tempore
Serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the VP; chosen by the majority party
Majority leader
The elected leader of the party with the most seat in the House of Representatives/Senate
Minority leader
the legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.
Majority whip
the majority leader's assistant
Minority whip
the minority leader's assistant
Filibuster
A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate
Cloture
A Senate procedure through which a supermajority of 60 senators can vote to limit the amount of time spent debating a bill and cut off a filibuster.
Hold
a political tactic meant to slow down the legislative process in the Senate. Senator can delay bill before it gets to the floor; also used as a threat of a filibuster
Rules committee
Responsible for scheduling and managing the flow of legislation on the floor to make the process more efficient and manageable. It can also make it easier or more difficult for a bill to pass depending on the rules they create.
Committee of the Whole
A committee of the House on which all representatives serve in order to consider the details of a proposal.
Discharge petition
A petition signed by members of the House of Representatives to bring a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote.
Treaty ratification
The presidential has the power, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties provided 2/3 of the senators present, concur
Discretionary spending
Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process
mandatory spending
Federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress.
Entitlements
Entitlement programs are government-sponsored programs providing required benefits to those meeting eligibility requirements.
Social Security
any government system that provides monetary assistance to people with an inadequate or no income.
Medicare
A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older
Medicaid
A health care payment program sponsored by federal & state governments. Health insurance to those close to poverty.
Budget deficit
a financial situation that occurs when a government spends more than it takes in.
Pork barrel legislation
The use of federal funding to finance localized projects, typically bringing money into a representative's district in order to please constituents and boost the representative's chances of winning reelection.
Earmarks
Federal funds appropriated by Congress for use on local projects
Riders
And additional provision added to a bill or other measure under the consideration by the legislature, having little connectivity with the subject of the matter of the bill.
Omnibus bill
One very large bill that encompasses many separate bills.
Logrolling
An arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to support each other's bills
Franking privilege
Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free
Partisanship
Strong allegiance to one's own political party often leading to unwillingness to compromise with members of the opposing party
White House Staff
The analysts and advisers to the president, often given the title "special assistant"
divided government
When one party controls one or more houses in the legislative branch while the other party controls the executive branch.
Gridlock
When the government is unable to reach compromises or make policy decisions.
Gerrymandering
The act of changing the boundaries of an electoral district to favor one party over another.
Packing
drawing the lines so they include as many of the opposing party's voters as possible
Cracking
spreading voters of one type over many districts where they will comprise minorities that are unable to influence elections
Reapportionment
the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census
Census
A periodic and official count of a country's population.
Redistricting
The process of adjusting electoral districts in the United States.
safe seat
an office that is extremely likely to be won by a particular candidate or political party
marginal seat
a Congressional seat held by a very small majority of votes
one person, one vote
a concept holding that each person's vote should be counted equally; Applied to state legislative districts in Baker v. Carr
racial gerrymandering
drawing of legislative boundaries to give electoral advantages to a particular racial group; Ruled unconstitutional in Shaw v. Reno
Lame Duck
An elected official who continues to hold political office during the period between the election and the inauguration of their successor.
Trustee Role
A member of Congress who takes into account the views of their constituents and use their own judgment to decide how to vote.
Delegate Role
A member of Congress who always follows their constituents' voting preferences.
Politico Role
A member of Congress who acts as a delegate on issues that their constituents care about, and as a trustee on issues that their constituents don't care about.
Policy agenda
The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time.
Formal presidential powers
Commander-in-chief of armed forces; pardon power (except for impeachment); treaty power; appointment power; veto power
Informal Presidential Powers
The power to go public, power of persuasion, make executive agreements, issue executive orders, issue signing statements, create & use bureaucracy, personality and leadership, and make legislative proposals.
Veto
Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature
Pocket veto
president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days
Congressional Override
The power of Congress to pass legislation over a president's veto
Commander in Chief
term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces
executive agreement
an agreement between the president and the leader of another country
executive order
A rule issued by the president that has the force of law
executive privilege
the power that allows a president to refuse to release information to Congress or a court
signing statements
A released letter explaining how the president's administration plans to interpret the law
The Cabinet
the leaders of the executive departments, who also act as advisers to the president
Ambassadors
Highest-ranking officials representing a government in a foreign country.
Chief of staff
the person who oversees the operations of all White House staff and controls access to the president
press secretary
one of the president's top assistants who is in charge of media relations
advice and consent power
The power of the Senate to consult and approve the presidents treaties and appointments.
Lame duck period
A period of time between the election and the oath of office
State of the Union Address
The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation. Ex of bully pulpit intended to exert pressure on Congress & the American public
honeymoon period
The first 100 days of a President's first term when his/her popularity is at its highest point.
Bully Pulpit
a platform used to publicize and seek support for important issues
federal bureaucracy
the collective agencies and employees of the executive branch
Executive Departments
often called the cabinet departments, they are the traditional units of federal administration
Department of State
Cabinet-level agency in charge of foreign policy & international affairs.
Department of treasury
collects federal taxes through IRS, prints money and stamps, makes coins, deals w/nation's finances
Department of Defense
Manages the armed forces
Department of Justice
responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice,
Department of Homeland Security
Cabinet department created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to coordinate domestic security efforts
Department of Transportation
Manages the nations highways, railroads, airlines, and sea traffic
Department of Veterans Affairs
Directs services for veterans
Department of Education
Provides advice and funding for schools
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Created after the Russian Revolution to prevent radicals from taking over. Headed by J Edgar Hoover.
Environmental Protection Agency
An agency created in 1970 to administer all environmental legislation.
Regulatory Commissions
agencies responsible for some sector of the economy, making/enforcing rules to protect the public interest.
Federal Election Commission
a six-member bipartisan agency that enforces and administers campaign finance laws
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
monitors the stock market and enforces laws regulating the sale of stocks and bonds
government corporation
a business owned and operated by the federal government
AMTRAK
Government Corporation
Federally owned passenger rail service. National Railroad.
U.S postal service
an independent federal agency that provides mail processing and delivery service for individuals and businesses in the United States (second for the most federal employees)
regulations
The formal instructions that government issues for implementing laws.
Iron Triangles
Congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that form mutually-beneficial relationships are known as iron triangles.
Issue networks
A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.
Patronage
the power to control appointments to office or the right to privileges.
Spoils System
A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.
civil service system
practice of government employment based on competitive examinations and merit
merit system
a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty
discretionary authority
The ability of executive agencies to make decisions about how to enforce laws and implement policy
rule making
the administrative process that results in the issuance of regulations by government agencies
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