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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
the president submits a budget request to Congress
the house and the senate pass budget resolutions
house and senate appropriations subcommittees "markup" appropriations bills
the house and senate vote on appropriations bills and reconcile differences
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
citizens talk to their congressman about a problem that they feel should become a law
representatives bill in the "hopper"
bill is read to the HOR and assigned a number
speaker of the house sends the bill to committee
the bill is discussed or amended in committe. if it is passed it is sent to committee of the whole congress
bill is sent out of committee and is placed on the legislative calender for debate
the bill is debated on the floor of HOR
the house votes in it
the bill is passed by the HOR and sent to Senate
sent to senate committee
the bill is discussed, killed or amended in the senate committee. if it is passed, it is sent to the floor to discuss.
difference between senate and house, it goes back to the other house for a new vote
bill is passed by both houses
sent to prez
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
Veto
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)
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.
Note
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