an individual with a set of responsibilities within a government office
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cloture
⅔ vote in the Senate to end a filibuster
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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
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gerrymandering
District lines are drawn in a way to favor one interest group over another (14th Amendment, Voting Rights Act of 1965)
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redistricting
People move around from place to place within a state, changing the district lines
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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
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reapportionment
The redistribution of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives based on changes in population
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conference committee
Temporary committees that are set up when the House and Senate have passed different versions of a bill
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joint committee
Made up of both members from the House and Senate
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standing committee
Permanent groups that oversee bills that deal with certain kinds of issues
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congressional oversight
Congress monitors executive branch agencies to ensure they are conducting policies/plans according to congressional rules
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president pro tempore
Fills the role of the Senate President (VPOTUS) when they are absent
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pork barrel
A product of Legislative Add- Ons - Gov. spending for certain projects intended to bring revenue to a representatives district
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riders \[christmas lights\]
Legislative Add-Ons to a bill that are made my legislators in exchange for their vote
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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
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pocket veto
When the POTUS receives a bill in the final 10 days of the Congressional session and does nothing, the bill dies
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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
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executive order
Presidential declaration with the force of law, that issues instructions to Exec. Branch w/o any requirement for congressional action or approval.
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executive privilege
POTUS right to withhold any information they received
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executive pardon
POTUS right to grant immunity to criminal charges for all offenses except Impeachment
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bureaucracy
A hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization operates on the merit principle and behaves impersonally
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hatch act
Prevents federal workers from being directly involved in political campaigns - Interfered with 1st Amendment
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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
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civil service reform act
Provided an appeal option for those who suffered reprisal for disclosing information
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iron triangle network
A mutually dependent relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees
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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)
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amicus curiae
“Friends of the Court” - Filed by outside parties
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original jurisdiction
Court is the first one to hear a case - US District Courts and SCOTUS
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appellate jurisdiction
Court can only hear a case on appeal - Court of Appeals and SCOTUS
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stare decisis
When cases are decided based off previous court decisions
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writ of certiorari \[rule of 4\]
Court’s acceptance of a case - Requires agreement of 4 SCOTUS judges to hear the case
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judicial activism
When judges strike down laws/reverse public policy
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judicial restraint
When judges hesitate to strike down laws unless they are clearly unconstitutional
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judicial review
Judiciary’s ability to interpret the Constitution
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marbury v. madison
judicial review - unanimous for madison
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originalist
View the Constitution as it was originally written - Strictly adhere to it
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revisionist
View the Constitution as a living document that can change with the times
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majority opinion
The opinion from the bench of the SCOTUS agreed on by more than 50% of the bench
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concurring opinion
Written by a justice who votes with the majority but disagrees with their reasoning as to why
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dissenting opinion
Written or signed by any justice that disagrees with the majority
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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
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borked
To attack a nominee or candidate for public office unfairly through an organized campaign of harsh public criticism