unit 2 ap gopo

Bicameral legislature

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

Caucuses

meetings of party leaders to determine party policy or to choose the party's candidates for public office

coalition

an alliance of factions

enumerated powers

Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution

example of enumerated powers

collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war.

implied powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution but implied

Necessary and Proper Clause

constitutional authorization for Congress to make any law required to carry out its powers

advice and consent

The power of the Senate to consult and approve the presidents treaties and appointments.

speaker of the house

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

A "whip" in the House of Representatives is

An official of a political party whose task is to ensure party discipline in a legislature.

President of the Senate

Vice President

President Pro Tempore

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

Senate majority leader

The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy.

standing committees

Committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas.

Joint Committees

legislative committees formed of members of both the House and Senate

select committees

Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose.

conference committee

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

Rules Committee

the "traffic cop" of the House that sets the legislative calendar and issues rules for debate on a bill

committee of the whole

consists of all members of the House and meets in the House chamber but is governed by different rules, making it easier to consider complex and controversial legislation

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

filibuster

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

unanimous consent

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

cloture rule

a rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate

foreign policy functions

while both houses have a foreign affairs committee, the Senate has more foreign relations duties than does the House

pork-barrel legislation

legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

logrolling

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

sources of revenue

sales revenue, service revenue, and interest revenue

gerrymandering

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

racial gerrymandering

redistricting to enhance or reduce the chances that a racial or ethnic group will elect members to the legislature

lame duck president

president with no real power because his or her period in office will soon end

formal powers of the president

powers given to the president that are specifically stated in the constitution

informal powers of the president

powers given to the president that are not specifically stated in the constitution

veto

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

pocket veto

president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days

commander-in-chief

term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces

executive agreement

an agreement between the president and the leader of another country

executive order

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

signing statement

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

executive privilege

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

cabinet

A group of advisers to the president.

bully pulpit

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

original jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case first, usually in a trial. These are the courts that determine the facts about a case.

appelate jurisdiction

the authority of a court to hear a case appealed from a lower court

writ of certiorari

a writ or order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court

precedent

an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action

judicial activism

Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions and values.

judicial restraint

A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures

iron triangle

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

Pendleton civil service reform act

Created the Senior Executive Service and recognized the need for flexibility in recruiting, assigning and salary

oversight powers

a committee's investigation of the executive and of government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends

power of the purse

Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money

Congress

The bicameral legislature that writes the laws for the nation. It is made up of the House of Representatives which has 435 members and the Senate which has 100 members

Senate

The upper chamber of Congress, in which each state has two representatives regardless of population size, with 100 senators total. ______ serve six-year terms, with one-third of them running for reelection every two years.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress, in which the number of representatives per state is determined by the state’s population, with 435 Representatives total. Members serve two-year terms, so they are up for reelection every two years.

Legislative Branch

Made up of the House and Senate, known collectively as the Congress. Among other powers, makes all laws, declares war, regulates interstate and foreign commerce and controls taxing and spending policies.

Apportionment

the process of dividing the 435 memberships, or seats, in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states.

Reapportionment

made when you need to make changes to the previously approved apportionment for the current year

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.

incumbency/incumbency advantage

the tendency of those already holding office to win reelection- tends to be stronger for the house members rather than the senate.

Constituents

a person who lives in the district represented by a member of the legislature.

Rules for debate in the House

Only one bill considered at a time, debate and debate time limited to one hour, all debate released to bill under discussion- germane, only get one bill done each day

Rules for debate in the Senate

Debate three or four bills at a time, unlimited debate time, Debate does not have to be germane- discuss anything if the recognized speaker and "have the floor"

Germane

relevant and appropriate

Rider

Unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so that it will "ride" through the legislative process.

Committee

a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty (rather than the general duties of Congress)

Party leaders

Members of the House and Senate who are chosen by the Democratic or Republican caucus in each chamber to represent the party's interests and who give central direction to the chamber's deliberations.

Hold

An informal procedure permitted by the Standing Rules of the United States Senate which allows one or more Senators to prevent a motion from reaching a vote on the Senate floor. Stops bill until hold is removed

Treaty Ratification

The President the power receives in the Constitution to commit the United States to treaties - but only with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the US Senate, and only if the agreement does not contravene the Constitution.

16th Amendment

Passed by Congress on July 2, 1909, and ratified February 3, 1913, established Congress's right to impose a Federal income tax.

17th Amendment

Passed in 1913, this amendment to the Constitution calls for the direct election of senators by the voters instead of their election by state legislatures.

Budget Making

The president submits a budget request to Congress
The House and Senate pass budget resolutions
House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees "markup" appropriations bills
House and Senate floor vote on appropriations bills
President signs each appropriations bill and budget becomes law

Majority-Minority District

An electoral district, such as a United States congressional district, in which the majority of the constituents in the district are racial or ethnic minorities (as opposed to Non-Hispanic whites in the U.S.). Race is collected through the decennial United States census.

Baker v Carr

The Court held that that redistricting qualifies as a justiciable question, thus enabling federal courts to hear redistricting cases.

Shaw v Reno

The Court ruled that claims of racial redistricting must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny, meaning that any law that results in classification by race must have a compelling government interest, be narrowly tailored to meet that goal, and be the least restrictive means for achieving that interest.

Articles of Impeachment

the documented written statement of charges relied upon as the basis for removing an individual from office.
-Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors

Executive Branch

Carries out and enforces laws. It includes the president, vice president, the Cabinet, executive departments, independent agencies, and other boards, commissions, and committees.

Foreign Policy

The general plan followed by a nation in defending and advancing its national interests, especially its security against foreign threats

Presidential Appointments

The president nominates all federal judges in the judicial branch and specified officers in cabinet-level departments, independent agencies, the military services, the Foreign Service, and uniformed civilian services, as well as U.S. attorneys and U.S. marshals.

Cabinet members

includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 executive departments — the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, State, Transportation, Treasury, and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Attorney General.

Ambassador

the official representative of the US government to another country.

White House Staff

Chief of Staff
-Press Secretary
-Counselor
-Advisor

Federalist no. 70

Alexander Hamilton argues for a strong executive leader, as provided for by the Constitution, as opposed to the weak executive under the Articles of Confederation.

22nd Amendment

Passed in 1951, the amendment that limits presidents to two terms of office.

Supreme Court Appointments

All Justices are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and hold their offices under life tenure.

Life Tenure

Holding a position for life unless resign or impeached

Federalist no 78

Hamilton said that permanency of judicial tenure would provide the judiciary with firmness and independence. describes the process of judicial review, in which the federal courts review statutes to determine whether they are consistent with the Constitution and its statute

Judicial Review

the power of a court to review a statute, treaty or administrative regulation for constitutionality or consistency with a a superior law. It is the power of the judicial branch of government to decide whether or not acts of government are constitutional.

Marbury v Madison

(1803) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that established for the first time that federal courts had the power to overturn an act of Congress on the ground that it violated the U.S. Constitution.

Supreme Court

The highest Federal court, possessing final appellate jurisdiction and exercising supervisory jurisdiction over the lower courts.

Judicial Branch

Branch in charge of deciding the meaning of laws, how to apply them to real situations, and whether a law breaks the rules of the Constitution.

Security and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Federal agency that has responsibility for regulating the various stock exchanges

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

Federal agency that enforces federal campaign finance laws, including monitoring donation prohibitions, and limits and oversees public funding for presidential campaigns.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

independent executive agency responsible for controlling pollution of the air and water, as well as environmental damage from solid waste, pesticides, radiation, and toxic substances.

Department of Education

US federal department
Coordinates federal assistance programs for public and private schools
Programs to help students with limited English proficiency and physical impairments
(1979)

Department of Transportation

US federal department
Regulates policy development and planning for all forms of transportation
Air traffic, railroads, highways, and mass transit
(1966)

Department of Homeland Security

US federal department
Border and Transportation Security
US Customs
Immigration and Naturalization Services/Border Patrol
US Coast Guard
Secret Service
(2002)

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Regulates interstate and international communications through cable, radio, television, satellite and wire. The goal of the Commission is to promote connectivity and ensure a robust and competitive market.

Merit System

A system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage.

Political Patronage

The dispensing of government jobs to persons who belong to the winning political party

Bureaucracy

a complex organization that has multilayered systems and processes. administrative body in the Executive Branch and the backbone of the US Government. It is arranged into departments, agencies, and commissions and consists of 15 cabinet departments, scores of regulatory agencies, and even more independent agencies.