US Government and Politics Key Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering congressional procedures, executive powers, bureaucracy, and judicial functions based on lecture notes.

Standing committee

Always present to deal with consistent issues.

Joint committee

Involves reps and senators.

House rules committee

Decides bills voted on.

Discharge petition

Vote to force a bill onto the floor for a vote.

Filibuster

Bill cannot be voted on as long as someone is speaking.

Cloture rule

$\frac{3}{5}$ vote ends filibuster.

Non germane riders

Add ons that are off subject of a bill.

Porkbarrel spending

Funds for specific reps distinct.

Logrolling

Reps/senators agree to vote for each other's bills.

Gerrymandering

Party redistricting to favour one party.

Executive order

Order to executive branch.

Signing statement

Presidential interpretation of a law.

Executive agreement

Informal treaty with another nation.

22nd amendment

Limit 2 terms for pres.

Veto

Deny laws from congress.

Presidential cabinet

Leaders form the president chief advisors.

Agencies

Smaller groups within the department that handle specific tasks.

Independent regulatory committees

Handle specific types of regulation.

Iron triangles

Interaction with congress and interest groups.

Issue networks

Special interest groups that break iron triangles.

Pendleton civil service reform act

Enforced merit-based system.

Committee hearings

Congressional check on executive power.

Power of the purse

Determines their budget.

Original jurisdiction

Hears case for the first time.

Appellate jurisdiction

Reviewed decisions of lower courts.

Judicial review

Power to determine constitutionality of laws.

Precedent

Previous court decisions guide future ones.

Stare decisis

Let the decisions stand.

Judicial activism

Work to influence policy.

Judicial restraint

Only strike down laws that violate constitution.