Unit 3 Gov

Senate

100 members, 2 members for each state. Members are elected every 6 years. The Vice President is the head of this body.

Speaker of the House

the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, chosen by and from the majority party in the House

Ranking Member

The senior committee member from the minority party.

Standing Committee

permanent committee which bills in a specified area are referred

conference committee

temporary joint committee created to reconcile any differences between the two houses' versions of a bill

power of the purse

congress has the control of money

rules committee

the "traffic cop" of the House that sets the legislative calendar, decides what committee the bills goes to, and issues rules for debate on a bill

house of representative

Lower House of Congress, state population determines representation

president pro tempore

The member of the Senate chosen to preside in the absence of the President of the Senate.

majority leader

the floor leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in each house of Congress

sub committee

Division of existing committee that is formed to address specific issues

pork barrel

the use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes.

franking privilege

benefit allows members of senate and house to mail letters and other materials postage free by substituting their facsimile signature for postage

power of the sword

belongs to the president as commander-in chief and chief executive

ways and means committee

House committee that handles tax bills

presiding officer

the person chosen by congress to be their chair person of president.

committee system

Members of Congress are assigned to committees to investigate the merits and problems with suggested bills, sometimes holding public hearings to learn more before sending it to the full House or Senate for debate and a vote.

minority leader

the floor leader of the party that holds the minority of seats in each house of Congress

select committee

special committee set up for a limited time

name recognition

Incumbents have an advantage over challengers in election campaigns because voters are more familiar with them, and incumbents are more recognizable

constituency

the people and interests that an elected official represents

revenue bills

Tax bills (must originate in the House) to raise money for the government

Bicameralism

legislature with two chambers (upper and lower )

committee chair

member who heads a standing committee in a legislative body

whip

assistants to majority and minority leaders

Filibuster

a stalling tactic in which senators monopolize the Senate floor with talk and other delays so a bill cannot be brought to a vote

joint committee

committee composed of members of both houses

Log Rolling

trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation

ex: voting for a local project in turn for a local project like street reconstruction

cloture

A procedure used in the Senate to limit debate on a bill

casework/ers

help navigate bureaucracy

lobbying

attempting to influence policy makers with pressure

staffers

any policy-making officer in the executive branch must register with the clerk of the house and the secretary of senate

amicus curiae

friend of the court

democrat

member of the Democratic Party

PAC's

Political Action Committees, political arms of special-interest groups and other organization with a stake in electoral college

reapportionment

Redistribution of representation in a legislative body

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

republican

a person advocating or supporting republican government.

special interests

set of groups seeking a particular benefit for themselves in the policy process

quorum

a majority of the full membership of the House or Senate who must be present to conduct business

delegate model

The view that an elected represent should represent the opinions of his or her constituents.

upper/ lower house

upper=senate (refines, farther from the people)

lower=house (reflects, closer to the people)

gerrymandering

drawn 2 advantage of political party that controls states legislature

third party

a party that challenges the two major parties

majority party

the party that holds the majority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate

minority party

the party that holds a minority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate

incumbents

those already holding office

head of state

The role of the president as ceremonial head of the government.

chief jurist

influence president has on judiciary

crisis manager

role of the President in which he addresses sudden needs in response to disasters.

cabinet

A group of advisers to the president.

cabinet function

1= serve as advisory board

2= administrative

what are the 4 departments of the og cabinet?

state, treasury, war, justice

executive agencies

Units of government under the president, within the executive branch, that are not part of a cabinet department.

iron triangles (subgovernments)

relationship between key members of congress, bureaucratic agencies, and client groups

-same goal, work together

pardon

release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime by the president in federal case or a governor in state case

executive orders

Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the federal bureaucracy.

veto

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

pendeleton act

Idea that government jobs should be awarded on the basis of merit. Made it illegal to fire or denote government employees for political reasons.

Plumbook

List of presidential appointments

National Convention

The meeting of party delegates every four years to choose a presidential ticket and write the party's platform.

POTUS

President of the United States

CEO

execute the power of US

chief diplomat

the main architect of American foreign policy and the nation's chief spokesman to the rest of the world

leader of the free world

The role of the president as leader of all of the world's democratic states and to negotiate on more than just the behalf of the United States. President must try to lead America's allies on matters of both economics and defense.

executive office of the presidency (EOP)

an organization of several agencies staffed by the President's closest advisors

regulatory agencies

Independent agencies governed by an appointed and confirmed commission.

Examples of regulatory agencies

SEC, EPA, FDA

reprieve

an official postponement of the execution of a sentence

executive agreements

Agreements with other countries that do not need senate approval

hatch act

those in the bureaucracy are not allowed to engage in partisan politics and cannot be fired because of your political position

partisan politics

political actions or decisions that benefit a particular party

open primary

A primary election in which voters may choose in which party to vote as they enter the polling place

VPOTUS

Vice President of the United States

chief legislator

architect of public policy and the one who sets the agenda for congress

chief economic planner

The President is responsible for planning the economic policies of the government, which includes submitting a federal budget.

government corporation

corporations within the executive branch subject to the president's direction and control, set up by congress to carry out certain business-like activities

bully pulpit

all the attention the president receives/has

amnesty

a blanket pardon offered to a group of law violators

signing statements

occasional written comments attached to a bill signed by the president

spoils system

the practice of giving offices and other favors of government to political supporters and friends

war powers resolution 1974

chief executive can commit american military forces to combat abroad ONLY IF

-congress has declared war

-congress has authorized military action

-attack on US or armed forces occured

closed primary

A primary in which only registered members of a particular political party can vote

FLOTUS

First Lady of the United States

commander and chief

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

party leader

In this role, the president is the head of his political party

Bureaucracy

3 to 5 million people that work in the Executive Branch and help president faithfully execute the laws

president

Head of the Executive Branch

inauguration

A ceremony in which the president takes the oath of office

electoral college

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

state of the union

An annual speech in which the president addresses Congress to report on the condition of the country and recommend policies.

treaties

Formal agreements with 2 or more sovereign states

caucus

a closed meeting of members of a political party or faction