go pro or go noob unit 2

Bicameral

legislative structure that consists of 2 separate chambers; Senate and House

Senatorial courtesy

tradition where the president consults senators from their party before nominating judges in those senators’ states.

Constituency/Constituents

residents of a congressional district or state.

Congressional committees

Groups that review, draft, and oversee legislation

Select committee

temporary group formed to handle a specific task or investigate a specific issue not within the jurisdiction of existing groups.

Conference committee

joint group formed to resolve bill differences btwn. chambers of Congress

Speaker of the House

presiding officer that sets the agenda and runs debates

President of the Senate

Role held by the VP; casts tie-breaking votes

President Pro Tempore

Senior senator who leads in the vice president’s absence.

Majority Leader

Head of the party with the most seats; sets the legislative agenda

Minority Leader

Head of the party with fewer seats; opposes the Majority and influences debates.

Majority Whip

Tracks votes and ensures party members support leadership’s agenda

Filibuster

long speech used to delay or block a vote in the Senate

Cloture

vote to end a filibuster and move forward

Quorum

min. # of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action

Rules Committee

person who decides on the length of debate and the scope of amendments that will be allowed on a bill

Discharge petition

procedure that allows members to bring a bill out of committee and force a floor vote

Treaty ratification

Senate approval of agreements made by the president, requires 2/3rds vote

Discretionary spending

Funds Congress chooses to allocate yearly

Mandatory spending

Required funding by law, usually for specific programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

Entitlements

govt programs that available to individuals that meet certain eligibility criteria

(Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, financial aid, food stamps, etc)

Social Security

Retirement and disability payments for eligible workers.

Medicare

Health insurance for seniors

Medicaid

Health coverage for low-income individuals

Budget deficit

When government spends more than it earns

Pork barrel legislation

Government funding for local projects to gain support of constituents or lawmakers

Earmarks

Money set aside in bills for specific local projects

Omnibus bill

single piece of legislation that combines multiple, often unrelated, measures into one larger

“all for one” - not actual description but for fun

Logrolling

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

Franking privilege

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

Free mail

Incumbency advantage

Benefits current officeholders have in reelection campaigns

Partisanship

Strong loyalty to a political party

Reapportionment

Redistribution of House seats based on population

Census

national population count every 10 years

Redistricting

Redrawing of congressional area boundaries

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district lines to favor one party

Congressional oversight

power of Congress to monitor, review, and supervise federal agencies, programs, and policies.

Power of the Purse

ability given to Congress to raise and spend money

Formal Presidential Powers

abilities granted to commander in chief by the Constitution

Veto

Rejection of a bill by the president.

Pocket veto

Indirect rejection by ignoring a bill until Congress adjourns.

Used when the president doesn’t want to officially sign or reject a bill.

Commander-in-Chief

President’s role as leader of the military

Executive Order

Presidential directive with the force of law; can be overturned by Congress

The Cabinet

Presidential advisors who lead executive departments; required Senates to confirm their appointment

“Advice and Consent” Power

Senate’s authority to approve presidential appointments and treaties.

20th Amendment

Moved presidential inauguration to January; lowered lame-duck period

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to 2 elected terms.

25th Amendment

Sets presidential succession and disability process

If pres dies, vp is next

State of the Union Address

Annual speech where the president outlines legislative goals

Honeymoon Period

Early phase of high support for a new president; good time to pass major policies

Bully Pulpit

Using the presidency to influence public opinion; leveraging media for policy goals

position of authority that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter.

War Powers Act (1973)

Limits the president’s ability to send troops without congressional approval

Imperial Presidency

unchecked executive power

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Executive agency that helps prepare and oversees how funds are allocated.

White House Press Secretary

Official who communicates the president’s message to the media

Federal Bureaucracy

Government agencies and departments that implement laws

Regulations

Rules issued by government offices of how laws are applied

Iron Triangles

Relationship between agencies, congressional committees (CC), and interest groups (IG).

Patronage

Giving government jobs to political supporters in exchange for their loyalty, often disregarding merit-based hiring.

Political Machine

structured group that maintains influence by exchanging jobs or services for votes.

Merit System

hiring process based on experience and skill rather than connections

Spoils System

Awarding jobs based on political loyalty.

Hatch Act (1939)

Law that limits political activity of federal employees; keeps the bureaucracy nonpartisan

Red Tape

rules and procedures that bureaucrats follow, often inefficient and frustrating

Department of State

Agency that handles matters involving relations with foreign governments; leads diplomacy

Department of Homeland Security

Agency that coordinates protection against terrorism and emergencies

Department of Veterans Affairs

Agency that provides services and benefits to soldiers, including healthcare, education, and housing support.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Agency that enforces laws to protect air, water, and land; regulating pollution

Federal Elections Commission (FEC)

Agency that oversees rules about how money is used in national campaigns; romotes transparency in political funding.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Agency that monitors financial markets to prevent dishonest practices and maintains fair trading.

NASA

Agency responsible for space exploration and research

Judicial Review

Court power to declare laws or actions unconstitutional; checks legislative and exec branches.

Precedent / Stare Decisis

Using past rulings to decide new cases.

Judicial Activism

practice of judges making rulings based on their policy views rather than their honest interpretation of the current law

Loose Constructionism

Philsophy avocating for broad interpretation of the Constitutionto allow for changes in society and governmental needs.

Original Jurisdiction

authority of a court to hear a case for the first time

Appellate Jurisdiction

authority of a court to review and make decisions on appeals from lower courts

Writ of Certiorari

Supreme Court order to review a lower court case.