AP GOV Unit 2 KVS

standing committee

A permanent committee in Congress with a defined legislative jurisdiction

joint committee

A bicameral committee composed of members of both chambers of Congress

conference committee

A bicameral, bipartisan committee composed of legislators whose job is to reconcile two versions of a bill

select committee

A congressional committee created to consider specific policy issues or address a specific concern

Speaker of the House

The leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by the majority party

President of the Senate

It is automatically the vice-president. The main job is to break a tie.

president pro tempore

The chair of the Senate in the vice-president's absence. The chair is the senator of the majority party having the longest record of continuous service.

majority leader

The elected leader of the party controlling the most seats in the House or Senate; is second in authority to the Speaker and in the Senate is regarded as its most powerful member; helps the Speaker schedule proposed legislation for debate on the House floor

majority whip

Acts as a go-between with the leadership and the majority party members; key member who keeps close contact with all members of his or her party and takes nose counts on key votes, prepares summaries of bills, and in general acts as a communications link within a party

minority leader

The elected leader of the party with the second highest number of elected representatives in the House or the Senate

minority whip

Acts as a go-between with the leadership and the minority party members; key member who keeps close contact with all members of his or her party and takes nose counts on key votes, prepares summaries of bills, and in general acts as a communications link within a party

filibuster

A procedural move by a member of the Senate to attempt to halt passage of a bill, during which the senator can speak for an unlimited time on the Senate floor

cloture

A procedural move in which a supermajority of 60 senators agrees to end a filibuster

holds

A procedure which allows one or more Senators to prevent a motion from reaching a vote on the Senate floor.

unanimous consent

A senator may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings. If no Senator objects, the Senate permits the action, but if any one senator objects, the request is rejected.

Rules Committee

One of the most committees in the House, which decides the length of debate and scope of amendments that will be allowed on a bill

Committee of the Whole

A parliamentary procedure whereby the House dissolves into a smaller body for the purposes of expediting legislation and debate. The committee can then debate and amend legislation with a quorum of only 100 Members. House Rules permit Delegates and the Resident Commissioner to participate in debate and vote in the committee as long as their vote does not directly affect the legislation. The committee dissolves itself back into the full body of the House for final votes on legislation.

discharge petition

A rarely used legislative procedure in the House to force a bill to the floor when stalled in committee for more than 30 days. A motion with the signatures of 218 Members is necessary to dislodge a measure from committee, making it possible for the bill to reach the floor.

treaty ratification

The Senate must give its approval, by a 2/3 vote of the members present, before a treaty made by the president can become effective.

Confirmation

The authority given by the U.S. Constitution to the Senate to ratify treaties and confirm presidential cabinet, ambassadorial, and judicial appointments. That can be found in Article 2 Section 2 of the Constitution.

Discretionary spending

Spending set by the govt through appropriations bills, including operation expenses &salaries of govt employees (defense, environment, education, space exploration); federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

Mandatory spending

Required by law to spend the money on entitlements such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security veterans pensions etc; expenditures required by previous commitments

Entitlements

Mandatory government spending like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps.; benefits to which every eligible person has a legal right and that the government cannot deny. ex: social security

Pork barrel

The appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents

logrolling

An arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to support each other's bills.

gridlock

When opposing parties and interests often block each other's proposals, creating a political stalemate or inaction between the executive and legislative branches of government

gerrymandering

Drawing of congressional districts by the state legislators to favor one political party/group over another

redistricting

The redrawing of congressional district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population. Redistricting is done by the state legislators

Baker v. Carr (1961)

"One man, one vote." Ordered state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in population; Warren Court's judicial activism.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries

divided government

One party controls the executive and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress

partisan votes

Voting based on party affiliation

lame-duck

A politician who is still in office after having lost a reelection bid

trustee

Role played by elected representatives who listen to constituents' opinions and then use their best judgment to make final decisions.

delegate

Role played by elected representatives who vote the way their constituents would want them to, regardless of their own opinions

politico

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

veto

Formal constitutional authority of the president to reject bills passed by both houses of the legislative body thus preventing the bill from becoming law without further congressional activity.

pocket veto

If Congress adjourns during the ten days the president has to consider a bill passed by both houses of Congress, the bill is considered vetoed without the president's signature.

executive agreement

Agreement with another head of state not requiring approval form the Senate

power to persuade

A president's ability to convince congress, other political actors, and the public to cooperate with the administration's agenda

executive orders

Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the Federal bureaucracy; does not need congressional approval

signing statements

A written declaration that a president may make when signing a bill into law. Usually, such statements point out sections of the law that the president deems unconstitutional.

Cabinet

The secretaries, or chief administrators, of the major departments of the federal government. Cabinet secretaries are appointed by the president and approved by the Senate.

Ambassadors

The highest ranking diplomat appointed to represent the United States in a foreign country.

White House Staff

Personnel who run the White House and advise the President. Includes the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary; do not need Senate approval.

Twenty-Second Amendment

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

bully pulpit

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

Marbury v. Madison

The 1803 case in which Chief Justice John Marshall and his associates first asserted the right of the Supreme Court to determine the meaning of the U.S. Constitution. The decision established the Court's power of judicial review over acts of Congress or the president.

precedent

A decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court that is binding on all other federal courts.

stare decisis

In court rulings, a reliance on past decisions or precedents to formulate decisions in new cases.

judicial activism

The philosophy that the supreme court should play an active role in shaping national policies by addressing social and political issues

judicial restraint

Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say.

Issue networks

An alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite in order to promote a single issue in government policy

iron triangles

A term used by political scientists to describe the policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups. Iron triangles are not indestructible, they face the challenge of issue networks.

political patronage

One of the key inducements used by political machines. A patronage job, promotion, or contract is one of that is given for political reasons rather than for merit or competence alone.

civil service

System created by the Pendleton Civil Service Act that hired bureaucrats through a merit based personnel system

merit system

A system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage.

oversight

Congresses ability to oversee, investigate and exert power over agencies in the bureaucracy

committee hearings

Congressional committee sessions in which members listen to witnesses who provide information and opinions on matters of interest to the committee.

power of the purse

Congressional exclusive power to authorize expenditures by all avenues of the federal government.