AP Gov. Unit 2 - Interactions between the branches of government

filibuster

an attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action on the bill

majority-minority district

A congressional district created to include a majority of minority voters; ruled constitutional so long as race is not the main factor in redistricting.

whip

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

speaker

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the leader of his or her party in the House.

caucus

an association of congressional members created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest

select committees

Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose.

standing committees

permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area

joint committees

committees on which both senators and representatives serve

conference committee

A joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the senate and house versions of the same bill

joint resolution

a legislative measure that requires approval by the Senate and the House and is presented to the President for his approval or disapproval.

discharge petition

a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor

riders

Amendments on matters unrelated to a bill that are added to an important bill so that they will "ride" to passage through the Congress.

cloture rule

a rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate

pork-barrel legislation

legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

franking privilege

the ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage

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.

appropriations committee

regulate expenditures of money by the government of the United States.

ways and means committee

a permanent committee of the United States House of Representatives that makes recommendations to the House on all bills that would raise revenue

Baker v. Carr

court case that est. one man one vote. this decision created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state

Shaw v. Reno

court case: NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts.

Marbury v. Madison

court case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

politico

Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

Logrolling

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

Trustee

a representative that will vote on issues based on their own knowledge and judgement

delegate

a representative acting as a ____ sees themselves as an agent of those who elected them and will vote on issues based on the interests of their constituents

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.

stare decisis

Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases

signing statement

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

divided government

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

Gerrymandering

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

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

Federalist 70

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.

22 Amendment

Limits presidents to two terms in office

"Bully Pulpit"

a public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue.

Federalist 78

discusses the power of judicial review. It argues that the federal courts have the duty to determine whether acts of Congress are constitutional and to follow the Constitution when there is inconsistency. Explains why judges have lifetime appointments

precedent

How similar cases have been decided in the past.

gridlock

a situation in which no congressional action on legislation can be taken due to a lack of consensus

polarization

when political attitudes move toward idological extremes