APGOV Stuff

congressional oversight

oversight by the United States Congress over the executive branch, including the numerous U.S. federal agencies. Congressional oversight includes the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation.

rulemaking authority

An agency's ability to make rules that affect how programs operate, and to force states and corporations to obey these rules as if they were laws.

discretionary authority

An agency’s ability to decide whether or not to take certain courses of action when implementing existing laws.

Trustee Model

A model of representation where elected officials make decisions based on their knowledge and judgment, rather than strictly following the preferences of their constituents.

Delegate Model

A model of representation where elected officials act according to the preferences and interests of their constituents, prioritizing their wishes over personal judgment. They mirror the view of their districts.

Rules Committee

determines how long a bill will be debated and whether open or closed rules for amending bills are allowed

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill, often involving extended speeches.

Cloture

the vote which is the only way to end a filibuster, requires votes of 60 members

Pork barrel spending

Government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative's district. It often involves funding for specific projects that benefit a particular area.

Earmark

Earmarks are specific provisions or funds allocated in a spending bill that are designated for a particular project, usually in a legislator's district or state.

Riders

An additional provision added to a bill or other measure under the consideration by a legislature, having little connection with the subject matter of the bill. Riders are usually created as a tactic to pass a controversial provision that would not pass as its own bill.

Cauceses

Caucuses are meetings of members of a political party to discuss and decide on candidates or policies, often used in the context of selecting delegates for national conventions.

Pigeonholed

When a bill is pigeonholed, it means it has been set aside or ignored in a committee and is not actively being considered.

Discharge Petition

A discharge petition is a tool in the House of Representatives that allows members to force a bill out of committee and bring it directly to the House floor for a vote.

Standing Committees

A type of permanent committee in the House and Senate that focuses on specific areas of legislation, responsible for reviewing, amending, and making recommendations on bills.

Joint Committees

are committees that include members from both the House and Senate, often established to conduct investigations or special studies.

Select Committees

are temporary committees created for specific purposes, such as conducting investigations or studying particular issues, and are disbanded once their task is complete.

Conference Committee

A type of temporary committee formed to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill, ensuring a single final text for passage.

Civil Rights Act or Fair Housing Act (1968)

landmark legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in housing.

Title IX Education Act (1972)

prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities.

Patriot Act (2001)

After 9/11, Congress permitted police authority to federal, state, and local governments to interdict, prosecute, and convict suspected terrorists; known as the USA-PATRIOT (Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism) Act

Divided Government

when the president and majorities in houses are not from the same political party

Unified Government

when the house majorities and the president are from the same political party

Judicial Restraint

a legal philosophy that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power and to uphold laws and precedents established by the legislative and executive branches

Concurring Opinion

justices may vote with majority but take issue with legal reasoning

Dissenting Opinion

a legal opinion written by one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion.

Quasi Judicial Agencies

agencies that have powers similar to those of courts, often adjudicating disputes involving regulatory issues.

Quasi Legislative Agencies

independent agencies who fill in gaps and write rules

Iron Triangle

informal alliance made of three groups: particular industry + lobbyists, congressional committee dealing with that industry, and the agency that is affected

Civil Service System

A system designed to ensure that government jobs are filled based on merit and qualifications, rather than political connections. It aims to promote professionalism and reduce corruption within the public sector.

enumerated powers

The specific powers granted to Congress by the Constitution, primarily outlined in Article I, Section 8. These powers include the ability to levy taxes, regulate commerce, and declare war.

implied powers

Powers not explicitly listed in the Constitution but are necessary for Congress to execute its enumerated powers effectively. These powers arise from the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Concurrent powers

Powers shared by both the federal and state governments, such as the ability to tax, build roads, and create lower courts.

Reserved powers

Powers that are not granted to the federal government by the Constitution and are instead reserved for the states, as outlined in the Tenth Amendment.

Shield laws

Laws designed to protect journalists from being compelled to reveal confidential sources or information in legal proceedings.

freedom of association

The right to form social and political groups without interference by the government, allowing individuals to gather and organize for collective purposes.

Establishment clause

A provision in the First Amendment that prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or favoring one religion over another.

Exclusionary rule

A legal principle that prevents the use of evidence obtained in violation of a defendant's constitutional rights, particularly during unlawful searches and seizures.

Probable cause

The legal standard that law enforcement must meet before making an arrest, conducting a search, or receiving a warrant. It requires a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed or that evidence of a crime is present.

exigent circumstances

situations that justify warrantless searches or arrests due to imminent danger or the risk of evidence destruction.

due process of law

The legal requirement that the state must respect all legal rights owed to a person, ensuring fair treatment through the judicial system.

Eminent domain

The power of the government to take private property for public use, with compensation for the owner. It is often used for infrastructure projects like highways or parks.

Subpoena

A legal document that orders an individual to appear in court or produce evidence. Failure to comply can result in legal penalties.

due process clause

The clause in the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments that guarantees individuals are given fair treatment through the judicial system, including the right to a fair trial.

Poll Taxes

A fee required for voting, often used to restrict access to the ballot box for low-income individuals and minorities.

Conservatives

Less government interference; oppose most federal regulations (laissez-faire economics); social conservatives support government involvement in social issues

Liberal

more government assistance to help social/economic problems; government regulation of economy; separation of church and state

political efficacy

The belief that one's participation in political processes can influence the outcome of decisions and policies.

Retrospective Voting

Voting based on an assessment of a candidate's past performance in office.

Rational Choice

A theory in political science that suggests individuals make decisions by comparing the costs and benefits of their options to maximize personal advantage.

Prospective Voting

Voting based on expectations of a candidate's future performance and policies.

Party-line voting

Voting in alignment with a political party's official positions and candidates.

Partisanship

Relating to or supported by a political party, often showing strong allegiance to party lines and ideologies.

Bipartisan

Involving the cooperation of two major political parties, typically in agreement on specific policies or legislation.

Party platform

A formal set of principles and policies that a political party advocates, outlining their positions on various issues.

Primary elections

Elections held to select a party's candidate for the general election, where party members vote for their preferred candidate.

national conventions

Gatherings of party delegates to officially nominate presidential candidates and set party platforms.

Winner-Take-All

The Winner-Take-All System is an electoral process where the candidate who receives the most votes in a particular state wins all of that state's electoral votes.

Lobbying

The act of attempting to influence decisions made by government officials, typically legislators or members of regulatory agencies, often involving direct interaction with lawmakers.

Government Interest Groups

Organizations that advocate for specific policy goals and interests to influence government decisions and legislation.

Influence Peddling

The practice of using one's connections or influence to obtain favors or benefits from government officials, often for personal gain. It is considered unethical or illegal in many jurisdictions.

incumbent advantage

Refers to the benefits and favorable circumstances that current officeholders have when running for re-election, such as name recognition, fundraising capabilities, and established voter relationships.

Delegate

A person appointed to represent others, especially in a political context, who acts on behalf of a group in decision-making processes.

plurality

A voting system in which the candidate with the most votes wins, regardless of whether they achieve a majority. It often leads to winners who do not secure over 50% of the votes.

Closed Primary

A type of primary election in which only registered party members can vote to choose their party's candidate for the general election.

Open Primary

A type of primary election where all voters, regardless of party affiliation, can participate in selecting a party's candidate for the general election.

Blanket Primary

A primary election in which voters can choose candidates from any party without being restricted to their registered party affiliation.

Gridlock

A situation in which there is difficulty passing laws that satisfy the needs of the electorate, often due to a conflict between political parties or branches of government.

Fiscal Policy

Government policy regarding taxation and spending to influence the economy.

Monetary Policy

Government actions that manage the money supply and interest rates to influence the economy.

Keynesian

economic theory advocating for increased government expenditures and lower taxes to stimulate demand and pull the economy out of recession. This approach argues that during economic downturns, active government intervention is necessary to boost spending and investment.

Monetary policy

refers to the actions taken by a central bank to control the money supply and interest rates to achieve macroeconomic objectives such as controlling inflation, consumption, growth, and liquidity.

Linkage Institution

organizations that connect citizens to the government, such as political parties, interest groups, and the media.

horserace journalism

a type of journalism that focuses on the competitive aspects of political campaigns, emphasizing who is leading or falling behind rather than policy issues.

Investigative Journalism

a form of journalism that seeks to uncover and report on issues of public interest through in-depth research and analysis, often revealing hidden truths or corruption.

Selective Incorporation

the legal doctrine that ensures states cannot enact laws that take away the constitutional rights of citizens, as applied through the Fourteenth Amendment. This process allows most Bill of Rights protections to apply to state governments on a case-by-case basis.

Clear and present danger

a legal doctrine used to determine under what circumstances limits can be placed on First Amendment freedoms, particularly speech, when such speech poses a significant risk or threat.

stare deceis

a legal principle that mandates courts to follow established precedent in making judicial decisions, ensuring consistency and stability in the law.

committee markup

the process by which congressional committees review, amend, and revise proposed legislation before it is presented to the full House or Senate for a vote.

Clear and present danger rule

is a legal standard that permits restrictions on free speech when such speech poses a substantial risk of inciting harm or illegal actions.

Brandenburg Test

a standard to determine when speech can be limited, requiring that the speech incites immediate lawless action and is likely to produce such action.

prior restraint

is a legal doctrine that prohibits the government from prohibiting speech or publication before it occurs, effectively censoring material in advance.

line-item veto

is the power of an executive authority to selectively eliminate certain provisions of a bill without rejecting the entire legislative proposal.

Writ of mandamus

a court order directing a government official to properly fulfill their official duties or to correct an abuse of discretion.

writ of certiorari

is an order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up the records of a case for review. It is often used to review decisions made by lower courts.