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Congress
The bicameral legislature for writing laws
House of Representatives
A 435-member house with members apportioned by each state’s population
Senate
A 100-member house with 2 members per state
Census
A survey taken every 10 years to count population and determine the number of congressional districts each state has
Redistricting
The redrawing of district boundaries to ensure each district has an equal population, done by state legislature
Gerrymandering
Drawing district boundaries to give the majority party a future advantage
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Charles Baker sued Tennessee for not redrawing its state legislative districts because his county’s population had grown but not gained representation, violated 14th Amendment
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
White voters living in North Carolina’s 12th district sued the state for gerrymandering to isolate African Americans into the 12th district, violated equal protection clause because the state was using racial bias in redistricting
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Encouraged state to increase minority representation Congress
Hijacking
Redrawing two districts in a way that forces two incumbents to face each other in a single district
Kidnapping
Moving an incumbent’s home into another area after redistricting
Taxing and spending clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause I)
Gives Congress much control over budgetary spending
Power of the purse
Gives Congress power to influence others by preventing access to funds or adding conditions
House of Ways and Means Committee
Oversees spending laws and taxing
Delegate model (representational view)
Congress members consider themselves delegates who mirror the views of their districts
Trustee model (attitudinal view)
Congress members consider themselves trustees who should think about constituents’ views but use their judgement when making decisions
Bill sponsor
A Congress Member who proposes a bill
Rules Committee (House)
Determines how long a bill will be debated and whether open or closed rules are used for amending
Open rules
Allow amendments; decided by Rules Committee
Closed rules
Forbid amendments; decided by Rules Committee
Filibuster
Used to delay bill’s vote and tie up Senate’s work, usually by a senator making a very long speech
Cloture
The vote which is the only way to end a filibuster, required votes of 60 Senate members
Riders
Amendments that are not relevant to a bill
Pork barrels
Riders created to get money to a home state
Earmark
Provisions in legislation that allot money to a project, not allowed by House
Conference committee
Temporary committees made up of members from committees of both houses who wrote a bill, try to create compromise bills and submit to both houses
Pocket veto
A veto which occurs if president doesn’t sign a bill into law and congressional session ends during 10 days
Line-item veto
The ability of a president to veto certain parts of a bill, struck down by Supreme Court
Committee chair
A member of the majority party and oldest/most experienced member of majority party
Markup sessions
A meeting in which committees amend and rewrite parts of bills after investigations
Pigeonholed
A bill stuck in committee
Discharge petition
The way to force a bill out of committee for a floor vote
Standing committee
Permanent, specialized committee
Joint committee
A committee made of members of both houses, normally used for investigations or communicating with the public
Select committee
Temporary committee created in each house for a special reason, usually carry out investigations to write special bills
Speaker
The leader of the house, chosen by majority party in an election; directs floor debate, has influence over committee assignment and Rules Committee
Majority leader
The member of the majority party who is in charge of party members and determines party policy and agenda
Minority leader
The member of the minority party who is in charge of party members and determines party policy and agenda
Whips
Help leaders keep members loyal to agenda, coordinate members, and get support for legislation
President of the Senate
Vice president, only votes to break a tie
President pro tempore
Temporary Senate president when the vice president is absent; mostly honorary position given to most senior member of majority party
Logrolling
Congress members agreeing to help each other by voting for each other’s bills
Jawboning
President trying to influence voting on a bill
Divided government
When the president and majorities in houses are not from the same political party
Unified government
When the house majorities and the president are from the same political party
Bully pulpit
Authority given to the president that lets them speak with the American people and pressure Congress
Literalist doctrine
The idea that the president only has the powers listed in Article II of the Constitution and should not use power that is not granted
Stewardship doctrine
The idea that the president has the ability to use power in multiple ways and arenas; free to use any power not denied to them by the Constitution; increases power of president
Unitary executive theory
The idea that gives executive branch nearly unlimited power to develop any policy that is necessary
Chief of staff
Top aid to the president; very trustworthy and known for a long time; considered extremely powerful, manages Executive Office, controls access to president (+ information received by president)
National Security Counsel (NSC)
Headed by national security advisor, direct access to president in situations related to the military or foreign policy; involved during national emergencies, free from congressional oversight, favored by president
Domestic Policy Counsel
Helps the president create policies related to agriculture, education, energy, natural resources, drug abuse, crime, health, the economy, and welfare
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Prepares US budget and used to control/manage executive agencies; very powerful because it is able to fund cabinet departments and control the department’s effectiveness
Council of Economic Advisors
Helps the president make economic policy; made of economists to advise president
US trade representative
Negotiates trade and tariff agreements with help from the White House
Cabinet secretary
The head of one of 15 cabinet departments appointed by president and approved by Senate; can be dismissed by president, runs department and carries out policies
Impeachment
Gives Congress the ability to remove president for crimes; House brings charges/impeaches by majority vote, Senate holds trial if impeachment passes with 2/3 vote to remove president
Substantive due process
Whether laws are fair
Procedural due process
Whether laws are applied fairly
Grand jury
24-48 jurors who decide whether or not a trial should begin
Petit juries
12 jurors who decide if the accused is guilty/innocent (verdict)
Supreme Court
Hears appeals of cases dealing with the constitution from Circuit Courts and suits between states or cases involving foreign ministers
Federal District Court
Inferior to Supreme Court, civil and criminal cases in original jurisdiction
Circuit Court of Appeals
Hear cases on appeal from Federal District Courts or state Supreme Court; someone must claim that a federal constitutional right has been violated; decide issues of law and not fact
Justiciable cases
Cases that involve an actual legal dispute
Brief
Summary of an argument
Amicus curiae briefs
Efforts from interest groups to sway justices, can be very influential
Soliciter general
Second-ranking member of the justice department who often makes appearances before high court and argues on the government’s behalf
Unanimous opinion
All justices agree, carries the most force in future legal cases
Majority opinion
The opinion with the most votes, decides the case
Concurring opinion
Justices may vote with majority but take issue with legal reasoning
Dissenting opinion
Written by justices in the minority questioning the winning side
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The group of uniformed chiefs of staff of each military service who work together to carry out defense policy and report directly to the president and secretary of defense
Independent agencies
Generally normal bureaucracies with presidential oversight
Regulatory agencies/independent regulatory commissions
More independence, agencies which act as watchdogs over federal government without Congressional/presidential interference
Quasi-legislative agencies
Independent agencies who fill in gaps and write rules
Quasi-judicial agencies
Non-judicial agencies which interpret law, enforce rules, and punish violators
Board of Commissioners
Panels of administrators who run regulatory agencies appointed by president with Senate approval whose terms overlap presidential term
Iron triangle
Informal alliance made of three groups: particular industry + lobbyists, congressional committee dealing with that industry, and the agency that is affected
Alliance/issue network
A close working relationship formed when issues affect many groups by pro/con coalitions of interest groups, Congress members, and bureaucrats
Deregulation
Removing government restrictions and regulations
Civil service system
Office of Personnel Management is bureaucracy’s employment agency, administers civil service examination, publishes job opening lists, and hires based on merit
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