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Filibuster

A process designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate

Power of impeachment

A role reserved exclusively for the House of Representative

Confirmation of Presidential Appointments

A role reserved exclusively for the Senate

Commander in chief

A role reserved exclusively for the president as the top military official

Power to declare war

A role reserved exclusively for Congress

divided government

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

Cloture

A procedure for terminating filibusters in the Senate (60 votes).

Congressional Caucus

An association or members of Congress based on party, interest, or social group such as gender or race.

Congressional Committees

a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty

closed rule

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.

conference committee

special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

earmark

Funds that an appropriations bill designates for a particular purpose within a state or congressional district

majority leader

the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate

whip

Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature.

marginal districts

political districts in which candidates elected to the house of representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55 percent of the vote

President Pro Tempore

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

Quorom

The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action

Speaker of the House

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

House of Representatives

Legislative body that works with formal rules on debate and voting

Senate

Legislative body that prides itself on unfiltered and extensive debate

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

pocket veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

Bully Pulpit

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

Cabinet

Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.

Gridlock

An inability to enact legislation because of partisan conflict within Congress or between Congress and the president.

unified government

the same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress

line-item veto

an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

Power of the Purse

The constitutional power of Congress to raise and spend money.

War Powers Act

Passed by Congress in 1973; the president is limited in the deployment of troops overseas to a sixty-day period in peacetime (which can be extended for an extra thirty days to permit withdrawal) unless Congress explicitly gives its approval for a longer period.

organizational view

members vote based on cues from colleagues

representational view

Members vote to please their constituents to secure reelection

oversight

the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

bill markup

The process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation.

State of the Union

A yearly report by the president to Congress describing the nation's condition and recommending programs and policies

honeymoon period

the time following an election when a president's popularity is high and congressional relations are likely to be productive

cottail effect

The tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election.

Pardon

power granted to the President by the Constitution to forgive people for federal crimes

executive order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

executive agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

executive privilege

The power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

20th Amendment

Reduced the "Lame-duck" period

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms or 10 years.

25th Amendment

Presidential Succession; Vice Presidential Vacancy; Presidential Inability

White House Chief of Staff

Closest presidential advisor; does not require senate confirmation

Sokovia Accords

a piece of legislation that required all enhanced individuals to reveal their secret identities and disclose their powers for regulation.

U.S. v. Nixon (1974)

Supreme Court ruling on power of the president, holding that there are limitations to executive privilege

signing statement

a presidential document that reveals what the president thinks of a new law and how it ought to be enforced

Clinton v. New York City (1998)

The Supreme Court ruled that the line-item veto was unconstitutional because it gave unchecked lawmaking powers to the president and violated separation of powers

Ways and Means Committee

House committee that handles tax bills

House Rules Committee

the committee that determines how and when debate on a bill will take place

oversight

the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies and private companies

Federalist 70

Federalist paper by Alexander Hamilton supporting the idea of the presidency as a branch united in one individual (unitary theory of the presidency) so that the presidency can execute the law quickly and without hesitation while remaining constrained by their sole responsibility for action to the people through elections. The president's energy is essential to good governance, as a multiplicity of executives is inherently weak.

Delegate view of representation

a legislator should take his voting instructions directly from his constituents.

Trustee View of Representation

legislators votes for what they deem is best for the people even if its not necessarily popular

Trump v. United States (2024)

The Court ruled that a former U.S. President has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within their conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority, at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all their official acts, and no immunity for unofficial acts.