Chapter 4 AP Gov, Legislative Branch

Hatch Act (1939)

Limits political activities of civil service employees

Freedom of Information Act (1966)

Provides a system for the public to obtain government records, as long as they do not invade individuals' privacy, reveal trade secrets, or endanger military security.

Air Quality Act (1967)

Established emission standards for cars and factories

Federal Election Campaign Acts 1971, 1974

Created FEC, Required disclosure of contributions and expenditures, provided limitations on contributions and presidential election expenditures. Provided subsidies for presidential candidates

War Powers Act

1973. A resolution of Congress that stated the President can only send troops into action abroad by authorization of Congress or if America is already under attack or serious threat.

Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

Enacted to help Congress regain powers previously lost to the executive branch.
Created the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to evaluate the president's budget.
Established a budget process that includes setting overall levels of revenues and expenditures.

Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Bill, 1985

Set gradual budget reduction targets to lead to a balanced budget.
Across-the-board budget cuts (sequestering of funds) to kick in if targets not met.
Loopholes -> abandonment in late 80s.

Espionage Act of 1917

Law which punished people for aiding the enemy or refusing military duty during WW1

Immigration Act 1924

Also known as the Johnson-Reed Act. Federal law limiting the number of immigrants that could be admitted from any country to 2% of the amount of people from that country who were already living in the U.S. as of the census of 1890.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

a law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African-American suffrage

Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967

Bans age discrimination for jobs unless age is related to job performance

Civil Rights Act of Fair Housing Act

Title II banned discrimination in public places on the basis of race, color, national origin, or religion. title VII prohibited employment discrimination based on gender.

Title IX of Education Act of 1972

Prohibited gender discrimination in federally subsidized education programs

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

A law passed in 1990 that requires employers and public facilities to make "reasonable accommodations" for people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against these individuals in employment.

National Voter Registration Act of 1993

this act passed in 1993 and frequently called the "Motor Vehicle Act" is a piece of legislation that includes a provision that makes it possible to register to vote when applying for or renewing your drivers license.

Patriot Act (2001)

Law responding to 9/11. Expands anti-terrorist powers (wiretapping, surveillance); 4th Amendment concern for civil liberties.

New Deal Legislation

Policies set forth during FDR terms. Included the National Labor Relations Act (Wagner Act), Works Progress Administration, National Youth Administration, Social Security Act, and the United States Housing Authority.

Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 1996

eliminates AFDC's open-ended entitlement and creates a block grant for states to provide time-limited cash assistance for needy families, with work requirements for most recipients.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

banned soft money contributions to national political parties from corporations and unions; independent expenditures by corporations, labor unions, trade associations, and nonprofit organizations are sharply restricted

advice and consent

Terms in the Constitution describing the U.S. Senate's power to review and approve treaties and presidential appointments.

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

Caucuses

meetings where political parties chose their candidates

Coalitions and alliances

an interaction in which two or more animals jointly initiate aggression against, or respond to aggression from, one or more other animals

enumerated powers

Powers given to the national government alone

implied powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution

Necessary and Proper Clause

Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government

Power of the Purse

Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money

Senate

A council of representatives- 100 members- 2 from each state

Seventeenth Amendment

1913 constitutional amendment allowing American voters to directly elect US senators

cloture rule

a rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate

Committee of the Whole

A committee that consists of an entire legislative body; used for a procedure in which a legislative body expedites its business by resolving itself into a committee of itself.

conference committee

Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

deficit

An excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues.

discharge petition

Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.

discretionary spending

Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

Filibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

germane

(adj.) relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting

hold

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

joint committee

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

Logrolling

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

mandatory spending

Required govt spending by permanent laws

Omnibus Bill

One very large bill that encompasses many separate bills.

pork barrel spending

A provision in a bill that benefits a specific congressional constituency

President Pro Tempore

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president

Rider

A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage or defeat.

Rules Committee

A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house.

select committee

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

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

sponsor

A person or group who provides resources and support for the project, program, or portfolio and is accountable for enabling success.

unanimous consent

an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation

Ways and Means Committee

House committee that handles tax bills

whip

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

Delegate Model

The view that an elected represent should represent the opinions of his or her constituents.

Gerrymandering

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

Gridlock

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

Lame Duck President

Time after a new president is elected, but has not been inaugurated yet. (Today it would be from Nov. - Jan. 20)

One person, one vote principle

the principle that all districts should have roughly equal populations

Politico Model

Members of Congress act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue

racial gerrymandering

The drawing of election districts so as to ensure that members of a certain race are a minority in the district; ruled unconstitutional in Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960).

swing district

a district where no single candidate or party has overwhelming support

trustee model

a model of representation in which a member of the House or Senate follows his or her own conscience when deciding issue positions