gov

federalism

the sharing of power between the national government and the states

checks and balances

a design of government in which each branch has powers that can prevent the other branches from making policy

separation of powers

a design of government that distributes powers across institutions in order to avoid making one branch too powerful on its own

nullification

The doctrine that a state can declare null and void a federal law that, in the state's opinion, violates the Constitution.

implied powers

authority of the federal government that goes beyond its expressed powers; powers not granted specifically to the national government but considered necessary to carry out the enumerated powers

expressed powers

powers directly stated in the constitution

reserved powers

powers not given to the national government, which are retained by the states and the people

concurrent powers

powers granted to both the state and the federal government in the constitution

federal system

a system where the power is divided between the national and state government

unitary government

A centralized government in which all government powers belong to a single, central agency.

confederate system

a system where the subnational governments have the most power

articles of confederation

A weak constitution that governed America during the Revolutionary War.

Virgina Plan

Supported by larger states and wanted seats based on population of states

New Jersey plan

A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress

the great compromise

an agreement for a plan of government that drew upon the VP and the NJP; it settles issues of state representation by calling for a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives apportioned proportionately and a Senate apportioned equally

article 1

Legislative Branch

section 8: To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.

article 2

Executive Branch

article 3

Judicial Branch

article 4

relations among states

article 5

provisions for amendments

article 6

Public Debts; Supremacy of National Law; Oath

article 8

ratification of the constitution

full faith and credit clause

constitutional clause requiring states to recognize the public acts, records, and civil court proceedings from another state

Shay's rebellion

Rebellion led by Daniel Shays of farmers in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787, protesting mortgage foreclosures. It highlighted the need for a strong national government just as the call for the Constitutional Convention went out.

dual federalism

a form of American federalism in which the states and the nation operate independently in their own areas of public policy

cooperative federalism

a form of American federalism in which the states and the national government work together to shape public policy

new federalism

system in which the national government restores greater authority back to the states

categorical grants

grants in aid provided to states with specific provisions on their use

block grants

grants in aid that gives state officials more authority in the disbursements of federal funds

unfunded mandates

federal requirement the states must follow without being provided with funding

programmatic requests

funds used to provide money for special progress in a community, like for a certain organization

16th amendment

Allows the federal government to collect income tax

17th amendment

Direct election of senators

political ideology/spectrum

A way to display the different beliefs and system of functions in both the right and left side of the government.

ex post facto law

a law punishing people for acts that were not crimes at the time they were committed

bill of attainder

when the legislature declares someone guilty without a trial

writs of habeas corpus

the right of people detained by the government to know the charges against them

equal protection clause

a clause of the 14th amendment that requires the states to treat all citizens alike with regard to application of the laws

partisanship

supporting your party in all matters (i.e. how the Republicans refuse to work with the democrats)

budget process

1. the president submits a budget request to Congress

2. the house and the senate pass budget resolutions

3. house and senate appropriations subcommittees "markup" appropriations bills

4. the house and senate vote on appropriations bills and reconcile differences

5. the president signs each appropriations bills and the budget becomes law

cloture

a procedure through which senators can end debate on a bill and proceed to action, provided three-fifths of senators agree to it

gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

how a bill becomes a law

1. citizens talk to their congressman about a problem that they feel should become a law

2. representatives bill in the "hopper"

3. bill is read to the HOR and assigned a number

4. speaker of the house sends the bill to committee

5. the bill is discussed or amended in committe. if it is passed it is sent to committee of the whole congress

6. bill is sent out of committee and is placed on the legislative calender for debate

7. the bill is debated on the floor of HOR

8. the house votes in it

9. the bill is passed by the HOR and sent to Senate

10. sent to senate committee

11. the bill is discussed, killed or amended in the senate committee. if it is passed, it is sent to the floor to discuss.

12. difference between senate and house, it goes back to the other house for a new vote

13. bill is passed by both houses

14. sent to prez

15. signs the bill, veto's

conference committee

a temporary, ad hoc panel composed of House and Senate conferees formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers

constituencies

a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.

delegate

A person who acts as the voter's representative at a convention to select the party's nominee

trustee

A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society.

politico

Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

joint committee

• composed of members from both houses

• deal with issues of interest of both houses rather than consider legislation

• limited jurisdiction

logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills

majority leader

head of the party with most seats is congress, voted on by the party's members

minority leaders

opposite of majority leader

Malapportionment

the uneven distribution of the population between legislative districts

markup

a process during which a bill is revised prior to a final vote in congress

oversight

efforts by congress to ensure that executive branch agencies, bureaus, and cabinet departments, as well as their officials are acting legally and in accordance with congressional goals

political action committees

an organization that raises money for candidates and campaigns

president pro tempore

the temporary presiding officer over the senate when the VP is absent

standing committee

consider bills and issues and recommend measures for consideration by the house

war powers resolution

restricts the power of the president to maintain troops in combat for more than 60 days without congressional authorization

whip

a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking

congressional budget act of 1974

act that established the congressional budgetary process by laying out a plan for congressional action on the annual budget resolution, appropriations, reconciliation, and any other revenue bills

casework

Assistance given to constituents by congressional members, answering questions or doing favors.

earmark

an addition to a piece of legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

pork barrel spending

legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

bureaucracy

a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

bureaucratic adjudication

when the federal bureaucracy settles disputes between parties that arise over the implementation of federal laws or determine which individuals or groups are covered under a regulation or program

executive office of the president

The EOP has responsibility for tasks ranging from communicating the President's message to the American people to promoting our trade interests abroad. Overseen by the White House Chief of Staff, the EOP has traditionally been home to many of the President's closest advisors.

executive privilege

a right claimed by presidents to keep certain conversations, records, and transcripts hush hush

executive orders

Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the federal bureaucracy.

types of vetos

1. Veto

2. Pocket Veto (an informal veto causes when the president choses not to sign a bill within ten days, during a time when Congress as adjourned at the end of a session)

3. Line Item Veto (is a special form of veto power that authorizes a chief executive to reject particular provisions of a bill enacted by a legislature without vetoing the entire bill)

25th amendment

(1) Succession of VP if president dies or become incapable to do his job.(2) if there is no VP, president must appoint one, and congress must approve

22nd amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

signing statements

president's interpretation of the law

government corporations

a government organization that provides a service that could not be provided by the private sector (postal service)

independent executive agencies

agency otherwise similar to cabinet departments existing outside of the cabinet structure and usually having a narrower focus of mission

hatch act

A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics.