american lit quiz dec 5th

dual federalism

A system of government in which both the states and the national government remain supreme within their own spheres, each responsible for some policies.

grant-in-aid (intergovernmental transfer)

transfer of money from one government to another government that does not need to be paid back

Cooperative Federalism

intergovernmental relations in which the national government supports state governments' efforts to address the domestic matters reserved to them

centralized federalism

intergovernmental relations in which the national government imposes its policy preferences on state and local governments

Fiscal Federalism

the relationship between the national government and state and local governments whereby the national government provides grant money to state and local governments

Categorical-formula grants

a grant-in-aid for a narrowly defined purpose, whose dollar value is based on a formula

matching funds requirement

a grant requirement that obligates the government receiving the grant to spend some of its own money to match a specified percentage of the grant money provided

categorical project grant

a grant-in-aid for a narrowly defined purpose for which governments compete with each other by proposing specific projects

block grant

a grant-in-aid for a broadly defined policy area, whose funding amount is typically based on a formula

mandates

clauses in legislation that direct state and local governments to comply with national legislation and national standards

waivers

exemptions from particular conditions normally attached to grants

preemption

the constitutionally based principle that allows a national law to super-sede state or local laws

Nullification

a legal theory that a state has the right to nullify, or invalidate, any federal law which that state has deemed unconstitutional.

franking

the privilege of free mail service provided to members of Congress

Reapportionment

reallocation of House seats to the states on the basis of changes in state populations, as determined by the census

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.

Baker v. Carr

one person, one vote

Gerrymandering

the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent

shaw v reno

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

majority-minority districts

A legislative district composed of a majority of a given minority community, the intent of which is to make it likely that a member of that minority will be elected to Congress.

trustee model

a model of representation in which a member of the House or Senate follows his or her own conscience when deciding issue positions

instructed delegate model

A model of representation in which legislators, as representatives of their constituents, should vote in keeping with the constituents' views, even if those views contradict the legislator's personal views.

politico

a hybrid model of representation in which legislators vote in keeping with constituents' views on important or high-profile matters but rely on the trustee model for more mundane matters

pork barrel

Legislators' appropriations of funds for special projects located within their congressional districts.

earmark

a designation within a spending bill that provides for a specific expenditure

casework

personal work done by a member of Congress for his constituents

Ombudsperson

a role in which an elected or appointed leader acts as an advocate for citizens by listening to and investigating complaints against a government agency

oversight

The process by which Congress follows up on laws it has enacted to ensure that they are being enforced and administered in the way Congress intended.

agenda setting

The determination by Congress of which public issues the government should consider for legislation.

bill

a proposed law

Hopper

a wooden box that sits on a desk at the front of the House of Representatives, into which House members place bills they want to introduce

joint referral

The practice, abolished in the 104th Congress, by which a bill could be referred to two different committees for consideration.

lead committee

the primary committee considering a bill

seniority system

the system in which the member with the longest continuous tenure on a standing committee is given preference when the committee chooses its chair

standing committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

select committee

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

joint committee

A bicameral committee composed of members of both chambers of Congress.

Subcommittee

a subordinate committee in Congress that typically handles specific areas of a standing committee's jurisdiction

agency review

part of the committee or subcommittee process of considering a bill, in which committee members ask executive agencies that would administer the law for written comments on the measure

Hearings

sessions held by committees or subcommittees to gather information and views from experts

Markup

the process by which members of legislative committees "mark up" a bill with suggested language for changes and amendments

report

a legislative committee's explanation to the full chamber of a bill and its intent

discharge petition

a special tactic used to extract a bill from a committee to have it considered by the entire House

Rules Committee

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

unanimous consent

an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation

Fillibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

Cloture

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

nuclear option

a maneuver exercised by the presiding officer in the Senate that eliminates the possibility of filibusters by subjecting votes on certain matters to a simple majority vote

conference committee

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

pocket veto

a special presidential veto of a bill passed at the conclusion of a legislative session, whereby the president waits 10 days without signing the bill, and the bill dies

Speaker of the House

the leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by an election of its members

House Majority Leader

The leader of the majority party, who helps the Speaker to develop and implement strategy and who works with other members of the House of Representatives.

Majority Whip

a go-between with the majority leadership and party members in the house of representatives

house minority leader

the leader of the minority party, whose job mirrors that of the majority leader but without the power that comes from holding a majority in the House of Representatives

Minority Whip

a go-between with the minority leadership whose job mirrors that of the majority whip but without the power that comes from holding a majority in the House of Representatives

President Pro Tempore

Also called president pro tem; theoretically, the chair of the Senate in the vice president's absence; in reality, an honorary title, with the senator of the majority party having the longest record of continuous service being elected to the position.

Senate Majority Leader

the most powerful position in the Senate; the majority leader manages the legislative process and schedules debate on legislation

senate minority leader

the leader of the minority party in the Senate, who works with the majority leader in negotiating legislation

Logrolling

The practice of members of Congress agreeing to vote for a bill in exchange for their colleague's vote on another bill.

attentive public

the segment of voters who pay careful attention to political issues

American Dream

The belief that in the United States hard work and persistence will reap a financially secure, happy and healthy life, with upward social mobility

tax base

The overall wealth (income and assets of citizens and corporations) that the government can tax to raise revenue.

economy

A system for producing and distributing goods, and services to fulfill people's wants

economic policy

A collection of public policies that affect the health of the economy, which includes taxing and spending policies (fiscal policy), monetary policy, regulatory policy, and trade policy.

pure capitalist economy

An economy in which private individuals and companies own the modes of producing goods and services, and the government does not enact laws aimed at influencing the marketplace transactions that distribute those goods and services.

regulated capitalist economy (mixed economy)

An economy in which private ownership of the modes of production dominate and the government enacts policies to influence the health of the economy.

healthy economy

According to economists, and economy experiencing an increase in its gross domestic product (GDP), low unemployment rate, and low inflation rate.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

the total market value of all final goods and services produced in a country for a given time period

Inflation

A decline in the value of money, accompanied by a rise in the prices of goods and services.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

The most common measure of inflation, it gauges the average change in prices over time of a "market basket" of goods and services including food, clothing, shelter, fuels, transportation costs, and selected medical costs.

Human Development Index (HDI)

A UN-created measure to determine how well a country's economy is providing for a long and healthy life, educational opportunity, and a decent standard of living.

poverty

the condition of being extremely poor

poverty rate

The proportion of the population living below the poverty line as established by the national government.

poverty threshold

The U.S Census Bureau's annually updated set of income measures (adjusted for family size) that defines who is living in poverty

real income

earned income adjusted for inflation

household income

total pretax earnings of all residents over the age of 15 living in a home

median household income

The middle of all household incomes—50 percent of households have incomes less than the median and 50 percent have incomes greater than the median.

income inequality

the gap in the proportion of national income held by the richest compared to that held by the poorest

Laissez-faire

Hands off. No government intervention in business.

balanced budget

a budget in which revenue and spending are equal

deficit spending

government expenditures costing more than is raised in taxes, leading to borrowing and debt

Keynesian economics

The theory that governments should use economic policy, like taxing and spending, to maintain stability in the economy.

Recession

an economic downturn

Depression

a long term and sever recession

economic boom

rapid economic growth

fiscal policy

government spending and taxing and their effect on the economy

supply-side economics

The theory that lower tax rates will stimulate the economy by encouraging people to save, invest, and produce more goods and services.

Deregulation

The reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry.

Monetarism

A theory that government should control the money supply to encourage economic growth and restrain inflation.

monetary policy

the body of federal reserve actions aimed at adjusting the amount of money in the economy to maintain a stable low level of inflation

Fiscal Year (FY)

The 12-month accounting period for revenue raising and spending, which for the national government begins on October 1 and ends on September 30 of the following year.

payroll taxes

taxes em

progressive tax

A tax that takes a larger percentage of income from high-income groups than from low-income groups.

proportional (flat) tax

a tax that takes the same percentage of each taxpayer's income

regressive tax

A tax that takes a greater percentage of the income of lower-income earners than of higher-income earners.

tax expenditures

(Also tax breaks or loopholes), Government financial supports that allow individuals and corporations to pay reduced taxes, to encourage behaviors that foster the public good.

budget authority

The authority provided by law for agencies to obligate government spending.

discretionary spending

Payment on programs for which Congress and the president must approve budget authority each year in appropriation legislation.

mandatory spending

government spending for debt and programs whose budget authority is provided in legislation other than annual appropriation acts; this budget authority is open ended, obligating the government to pay for the program as long as it exists

politically uncontrollable spending

Spending on programs that are so popular that elected officials are not willing to change the laws that authorize the programs for fear of the effect on their reelection prospects.