pogo unit 2 test

bicameral legislature

bicameral legislature

two house legislature

a result of the great compromise

incumbent

an individual with a set of responsibilities within a government office

cloture

⅔ vote in the Senate to end a filibuster

filibuster

A delay tactic used in Senate debates where one person will speak for as long as possible to delay the vote or kill the bill

gerrymandering

District lines are drawn in a way to favor one interest group over another (14th Amendment, Voting Rights Act of 1965)

redistricting

People move around from place to place within a state, changing the district lines

packing & cracking

diluting the voting power of the opposing party's supporters across many districts

or

concentrating the opposing party's voting power in one district to reduce their voting power in other districts

reapportionment

The redistribution of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives based on changes in population

conference committee

Temporary committees that are set up when the House and Senate have passed different versions of a bill

joint committee

Made up of both members from the House and Senate

standing committee

Permanent groups that oversee bills that deal with certain kinds of issues

congressional oversight

Congress monitors executive branch agencies to ensure they are conducting policies/plans according to congressional rules

president pro tempore

Fills the role of the Senate President (VPOTUS) when they are absent

pork barrel

A product of Legislative Add- Ons - Gov. spending for certain projects intended to bring revenue to a representatives district

riders [christmas lights]

Legislative Add-Ons to a bill that are made my legislators in exchange for their vote

electoral college

A body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president - 12th Amendment

pocket veto

When the POTUS receives a bill in the final 10 days of the Congressional session and does nothing, the bill dies

war powers act

Passed by Congress to limit the authority of the president regarding war - Congress must be notified/Troops must be sent home after 60 days

executive order

Presidential declaration with the force of law, that issues instructions to Exec. Branch w/o any requirement for congressional action or approval.

executive privilege

POTUS right to withhold any information they received

executive pardon

POTUS right to grant immunity to criminal charges for all offenses except Impeachment

bureaucracy

A hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization operates on the merit principle and behaves impersonally

hatch act

Prevents federal workers from being directly involved in political campaigns - Interfered with 1st Amendment

pendleton act

Passed by Congress in (1883)  changed bureaucratic hiring to be based on Merit, not political connections (patronage)

Candidates had to take a Civil Service Exam &  Promotion based on evaluations

civil service reform act

Provided an appeal option for those who suffered reprisal for disclosing information

iron triangle network

A mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees

independent regulatory agencies

• Responsible for some sectors of the economy

• Watched by interest groups, media, and citizens

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

amicus curiae

“Friends of the Court” - Filed by outside parties

original jurisdiction

Court is the first one to hear a case - US District Courts and SCOTUS

appellate jurisdiction

Court can only hear a case on appeal - Court of Appeals and SCOTUS

stare decisis

When cases are decided based off previous court decisions

writ of certiorari [rule of 4]

Court’s acceptance of a case - Requires agreement of 4 SCOTUS judges to hear the case

judicial activism

When judges strike down laws/reverse public policy

judicial restraint

When judges hesitate to strike down laws unless they are clearly unconstitutional

judicial review

Judiciary’s ability to interpret the Constitution

marbury v. madison

judicial review - unanimous for madison

originalist

View the Constitution as it was originally written - Strictly adhere to it

revisionist

View the Constitution as a living document that can change with the times

majority opinion

The opinion from the bench of the SCOTUS agreed on by more than 50% of the bench

concurring opinion

Written by a justice who votes with the majority but disagrees with their reasoning as to why

dissenting opinion

Written or signed by any justice that disagrees with the majority

senatorial courtesy

Presidential appointments are confirmed only if there is no objection to them by the senators from the appointee's state, especially from the senior senator of the president's party from that state

borked

To attack a nominee or candidate for public office unfairly through an organized campaign of harsh public criticism