Poli201 Bridgmon Exam #2 FLASHCARDS

Representation

How elected officials act on behalf of the people they represent

Delegate

Representative follows the will of the people closely

Trustee

Representative uses their own judgment to make decisions

Politico

Combination of delegate and trustee depending on situation

Descriptive Representation

Representative shares characteristics with constituents (race, gender, background)

Substantive Representation

Representative advocates for policies that benefit constituents

Incumbency Advantage

Current officeholders have an advantage in elections

Name Recognition

Voters prefer familiar candidates

Fundraising Ability

Money helps candidates campaign effectively

Casework

Helping constituents solve problems with government agencies

Franking

Free mailing privileges for members of Congress

Gerrymandering

Drawing district lines to benefit a political party

Unified Government

Same party controls presidency and Congress

Divided Government

Different parties control branches

Majority Party

Party with most seats that controls agenda

Minority Party

Party with fewer seats and less power

Standing Committees

Permanent committees that handle most legislation

Select Committees

Temporary committees for specific issues

Joint Committees

Committees with members from House and Senate

Conference Committees

Resolve differences between House and Senate bills

Speaker of the House

Most powerful leader in the House

House Majority Leader

Manages legislation in the House

House Minority Leader

Leads opposition in the House

Vice President

Presides over Senate and breaks ties

President Pro Tempore

Senior member of majority party in Senate

Senate Majority Leader

Most powerful role in Senate

Senate Minority Leader

Leads opposition in Senate

House of Representatives

More formal rules, faster process, smaller districts

Senate

Fewer rules, slower process, more debate

Filibuster

Senate tactic to delay or block legislation

Cloture

Vote to end a filibuster (60 votes required)

Chief Executive

President enforces laws

Commander in Chief

President leads military

Chief Diplomat

President manages foreign policy

Chief Legislator

President proposes laws

Head of State

President acts as symbolic leader

War Powers Resolution

Limits president's ability to deploy troops without Congress

Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF)

Allows military action without formal declaration of war

Executive Agreement

Agreement with foreign country without Senate approval

Executive Privilege

President can keep certain communications private

Veto

President rejects a bill

Pocket Veto

Bill dies if president takes no action and Congress adjourns

Institutional Presidency

Staff and agencies that support the president

Bureaucracy

Government agencies that implement and enforce laws

Efficiency

Goal of completing tasks quickly and effectively

Expertise

Specialized knowledge in policy areas

Consistency

Applying rules uniformly

Bill Introduction

Bill is proposed

Committee Stage

Bill is reviewed and revised

Chamber Vote

Bill is debated and voted on

Second Chamber

Other chamber repeats process

Conference Committee

Resolves differences between versions

Presidential Action

President signs, vetoes, or ignores bill

Criminal Law

Deals with crimes

Civil Law

Deals with disputes between individuals

Constitutional Law

Deals with interpretation of Constitution

Precedent

Past court decisions guide future rulings

Judicial Review

Power to declare laws unconstitutional

Original Jurisdiction

Case starts in that court

Appellate Jurisdiction

Court reviews lower court decisions

District Courts

Trial courts

Courts of Appeals

Review decisions of lower courts

Supreme Court

Highest court in the US

Writ of Certiorari

Request for Supreme Court to hear a case

Rule of Four

Four justices must agree to hear a case

Majority Opinion

Official decision of the Court

Concurring Opinion

Agrees with outcome but different reasoning

Dissenting Opinion

Disagrees with the Court's decision