AMSCO AP Gov Unit 2

bicameral

The division of a legislature into two separate assemblies (or houses)

pork barrel spending

The use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes

gerrymandering

Manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party

marginal seats

Political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically with less than 55 percent of the vote.

Seventeenth Amendment

Established the popular election of United States senators by the people of the states. Prior to its passage senators were elected by state legislatures

standing committees

Permanent committees that meet regularly and are assigned work on an ongoing basis

conference committees

Committees of Congress appointed by the House of Representatives and Senate to resolve disagreements on a particular bill

caucuses

Groups of members of the United States Congress that meet to pursue common legislative objectives.

filibuster

An attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action on the bill

cloture rule

Procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate in the Senate

implied powers

Powers inferred by the expressed powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions (powers not expressly stated in the constitution but are reasonably suggested)

omnibus bill

Packages together several measures into one or combines diverse subjects into a single bill.

ex. reconciliation bills, combined appropriations bills, and private relief and claims bills.

redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population

Baker v. Carr (1962)

A court case that ordered state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in population; Warren Court's judicial activism.

"One man, one vote."

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

A court case that decided that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause while bodies doing redistricting must be conscious of race to the extent that they must ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act

President Pro Tempore

The constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer

riders

Amendments attached to a bill, usually unrelated to the subject of the underlying bill

Rules Committee

House committee that determines which bills come to the floor and sets rules and procedures for how they will be debated and amended

joint committees

Refers to a committee consisting of members of the House of Representatives and the Senate

Committee of the Whole

A device in which the House of Representatives is considered one large committee. This is usually done for the purposes of discussion and debate of the details of bills and other main motions

safe seats

House districts in which the winning incumbent of the general election carries more than 55 percent of the vote

select committees

Formed for a specific purpose and usually for a limited period of time. They rarely get legislative power. Instead they conduct investigations and studies. They are found in both the House and Senate.

whip

Officials in a Congress who enforce other members in the party to vote in accordance with the party's policies

advice and consent

In the United States this is a power of the United States Senate to be consulted on and approve treaties signed and appointments made by the President of the United States to public positions, including Cabinet secretaries, federal judges, United States Attorneys, and ambassadors.

Committee on Committees (Republican)

Republican group that recommends committee assignments

conference chair

Leadership position in each party below the rank of Whip that handles party matters

congressional oversight

Congress using its powers to ensure that executive agencies are carrying out their legislative intent

discharge petition

A way to bring a bill to the floor without it having to pass through committee...very rare and considered a strong rebuke to majority party leadership

earmark

Funds allocated to a political project often as a favor to a legislator's home district and without proper review

expressed powers

Congressional powers explicitly stated in the Constitution

floor leaders

Serve as the chief leaders and spokespeople for each party in Congress

House Judiciary Committee

Committee in charge of overseeing the federal judicial system, conducting hearings on judicial nominees, and initiating impeachment charges

Ways and Means Committee

The chief taxation committee of the U.S. House of Representatives

markup session

The process by which a U.S. congressional committee or state legislative session debates, amends, and rewrites proposed legislation.

multiple referral

When a bill is sent to multiple committees that can address it simultaneously

non-germane amendments

Something that is attempted to be added to a bill that is not relevant to the subject matter of the bill that is being debated

reapportionment

The process by which congressional districts are redrawn and seats are redistributed among states in the House of Representatives

sequential referral

When a bill is sent to one committee and then to a second committee after the first committee finishes with it

sponsor

A lawmaker in Congress who introduces a bill

trustee model

A form of congressional representation in which members of Congress are entrusted with the responsibility to act on the best interests of their districts while using their own independent judgment

Steering and Policy Committee (Democrats)

Committee used by Democrats to assign committee members

deficit

Government practice of spending more than it takes in from taxes

delegate model

The philosophy that legislators should adhere to the will of their constituents

politico model

Role played by elected representatives who act as trustees or as delegates, depending on the issue.

germane

relevant

gridlock

The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

hold

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.

Impeach

To formally charge a public official with misconduct in office

interest

A sum paid or charged for the use of money or for borrowing money

mandatory spending

Federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress.

President of the Senate

Vice President

Senate Majority Leader

The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy.

Speaker of the House

The leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

swing districts

Districts where no single candidate or party has overwhelming support

unanimous consent

A Senate requirement, applied to most of that body's business, that all senators agree before an action can proceed.

ambassadors

Highest ranking US representatives in foreign countries

bully pulpit

The president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public

Cabinet

Group of officials who head government departments and advise the President

Chief of Staff

The person who is named to direct the White House Office and advise the president.

Commander in Chief

The role of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service

executive agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Ten organizations that advise the President. Includes the Office of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisors, and National Security Council. Top positions must be confirmed by Senate.

executive order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

executive privilege

An implied presidential power that allows the president to refuse to disclose information regarding confidential conversations or national security to Congress or the judiciary.

honeymoon period

The short time (days or months) following an election when a president's popularity and ability to influence Congress is at its highest.

imperial presidency

Term used to describe a president as an "emperor" who acts without consulting Congress or acts in secrecy to evade or deceive congress

inherent powers

Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community

lame duck period

The time during which a president who has lost an election or has ended a second term is still in office before the new president serves

line-item veto

Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

National Security Council

An office created in 1947 to coordinate the president's foreign and military policy advisers. Its formal members are the president, vice president, secretary of state, and secretary of defense, and it is managed by the president's national security assistant.

pocket veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

recess appointments

Presidential action to temporarily fill executive branch positions without the consent of the Senate; done when Congress is adjourned.

signing statements

Formal documents that explain why a president is signing a particular bill into law. These statements may contain objections to the bill and promises not to implement key sections.

State of the Union

An annual speech in which the president addresses Congress to report on the condition of the country and recommend policies.

stewardship theory

Argues for a strong, assertive presidential role, with presidential authority limited only at points specifically prohibited by law.

Twelfth Amendment

Adopted in 1804, that specifies the separate election of the president and vice president by the electoral college.

Twentieth Amendment

Moves up inauguration of the President from March to January in order to lessen the "lame duck" period

Twenty-Second Amendment

Passed in 1951, limits presidents to two terms of office.

Twenty-Third Amendment

Permits residents of Washington, D.C., to vote in presidential elections.

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Passed in 1964, it declared poll taxes void in federal elections.

veto

A constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

White House staff

Analysts and advisers to the president, each of whom is often given the title "special assistant"

appropriations

Funding that must be authorized by Congress for any federal spending

authorization of spending

A formal declaration by a legislative committee that a certain amount of funding may be available to an agency. Some terminate in a year; others are renewable automatically without further congressional action.

Civil Service Commission

The initial central personnel agency of the national government, created in 1883.

competitive service

Appointment of officials based on selection criteria devised by the employing agency and Office of Personnel Management

compliance monitoring

Activities undertaken to establish whether a process or procedure is carried out in conformance with relevant external requirements, whether set through legislation, regulations, or directions

discretionary authority

The ability of a bureaucracy to choose courses of action and make policies not spelled out in advance by laws.

excepted service

Appointment of officials not based on the criteria specified by OPM

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The arm of the US Justice Department that investigates violations of federal law, seeks to protect America from terrorist attacks, gathers crime statistics, runs a comprehensive crime laboratory, and helps train local law enforcement officers.

Federal Election Commission

A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of campaign finance information and public funding of presidential elections, and enforcing contribution limits.

iron triangle

The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests.

issue networks

Complex systems of relationships among groups that influence policy, including elected leaders, interest groups, specialists, consultants, and research institutes

legislative veto

The ability of Congress to override a presidential decision. Although the War Powers Resolution asserts this authority, there is reason to believe that, if challenged, the Supreme Court would find the legislative veto in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.

merit system

A system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty

Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process.

patronage

Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

red tape

complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done

Senior Executive Service

An elite cadre of about 9,000 federal government managers at the top of the civil service system.

spoils system

A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.