SS202 WPR 2
Logrolling
The practice of lawmakers exchanging favors, such as voting for each other’s bills.Earmarks
Specific funds provided by Congress for particular projects, often benefiting a legislator’s district.Seniority
The status given to members of Congress based on the length of their service, often influencing leadership and committee positions.Speaker of the House
The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, and the most powerful leader in the chamber.Majority Leader
The head of the majority party in a legislative chamber, responsible for managing the party’s agenda.Whip System
Party leaders who work to gather votes and ensure party discipline among members.Minority Leader
The head of the minority party in a legislative chamber, representing the opposition and coordinating the party’s strategy.Committee System
A system in Congress where legislation is reviewed and shaped by smaller groups specializing in specific areas.Distributive Theory
The idea that Congress tends to distribute resources to meet the needs of individual members’ districts.Informational Theory
The concept that committees are used to gather expertise and make more informed legislative decisions.Veto
The president’s constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress.Omnibus Legislation
Large bills that combine many measures into one package, often to secure enough votes for passage.Filibuster
A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislation by extending debate.Reconciliation
A legislative process that allows certain budget-related bills to pass with a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing a filibuster.Positive Agenda-Setting Powers
The ability of party leaders to bring issues or bills to the legislative agenda for discussion or voting.Negative Agenda-Setting Powers
The power to block or prevent certain issues or bills from reaching the legislative floor.● Bill: Proposed legislation introduced in Congress.
● Legislation: Laws passed by Congress and signed by the President.
● Markup: Committee process of amending and revising a bill.
● Veto: President's rejection of a bill.
● Executive Orders: Directives issued by the President to implement policy.
● Bureaucracy: Executive branch agencies that enforce laws and regulations.
● Civil Servants: Permanent government employees.
● Political Appointees: Presidential appointees to senior government positions.
● Regulation: Rules issued by agencies to enforce laws.
● Notice-and-Comment Procedure: Public feedback process before finalizing regulations.
● Judicial Review: Supreme Court’s power to declare laws unconstitutional.
● Constitutional Interpretation: Determining a law’s alignment with the Constitution.
Statutory Interpretation: Clarifying ambiguous statutory language.
● Bicameralism: Two-chambered legislature (House and Senate).
● Permanent Campaign: Ongoing reelection efforts due to short election cycles.
● Descriptive & Substantive Representation: Reflecting constituents' demographics vs. advocating their interests.
● Trustee: Voting based on personal judgment and national interest.
● Delegate: Voting strictly according to constituents’ preferences.
● Electoral Connection: The idea that reelection drives legislative behavior.
● Advertising, Credit Claiming, Position Taking: Strategies to maintain visibility and support.
● Incumbency Advantage: Benefits incumbents enjoy, leading to high reelection rates.
● Constituency Service: Assisting constituents with federal agencies or programs.
● Redistricting: Redrawing district boundaries after the Census.
● Gerrymandering: Manipulating district boundaries for political advantage.
● Gridlock: Legislative inaction due to partisan conflict.
● Constitutional Authority: Powers directly granted by the Constitution (e.g., veto, commander in chief).
● Statutory Authority: Powers granted by Congress through legislation.
● Vesting Clause: Grants executive power to the president (Article II, Section 1).
● War Powers Resolution: Limits presidential war-making powers without Congressional approval.
● Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF): Congressional authorization for military action without a formal declaration of war.
● State of the Union: Presidential address recommending legislative priorities.
● Executive Privilege: The president’s right to withhold information from Congress or the courts.
● Persuasion: Neustadt’s theory that presidential power is largely the power to persuade.
● Separated Institutions Sharing Powers: Concept that each branch of government has separate powers but must work together.
Unilateral Action
When a president takes action without the approval or cooperation of Congress (e.g., executive orders).Unitary Executive Theory
A theory that argues the president has broad and centralized control over the entire executive branch, with limited checks from Congress or the courts.Executive Orders
Official directives from the president that have the force of law, used to manage operations within the federal government.Executive Agreement
An international agreement made by the president without Senate approval, often used in place of a formal treaty.Going Public
A strategy where the president appeals directly to the public to gain support for policies, hoping to pressure Congress into action.Civil Servants
Government employees hired based on merit, not political affiliation, who perform the day-to-day work of the bureaucracy.Political Appointees
Individuals appointed by the president (often with Senate confirmation) to top-level government positions, usually serving at the president’s discretion.Regulation
Rules or directives made and enforced by government agencies to control or guide behavior in specific areas (e.g., environment, economy).State Capacity
The ability of a government to administer its territory effectively, enforce laws, and implement policies.Principal-Agent Game
A model describing how elected officials (principals) delegate tasks to bureaucrats (agents), who may have different goals, creating a need for oversight.Regulatory Capture
A situation where regulatory agencies are dominated by the industries they are supposed to regulate, leading to biased decision-making.Federal Civil Service
The permanent, professional branches of government administration, where employees are hired based on merit through exams and qualifications.Independent Agencies
Government bodies that exist outside of the executive departments and have more autonomy, often to limit political influence (e.g., the Federal Reserve).Bureaucratic Drift
When bureaucratic agencies implement policy in a way that deviates from the original intent of lawmakers or executives.Police Patrol Oversight
A proactive, routine form of congressional monitoring of bureaucratic agencies to ensure compliance with the law.Fire Alarm Oversight
A reactive form of oversight where Congress responds to complaints or problems raised by citizens or interest groups, rather than actively monitoring.Executive Office of the President (EOP)
A group of agencies and offices that support the president’s policy agenda and administrative duties (e.g., Office of Management and Budget).Original Jurisdiction: Authority to hear cases for the first time.
Judiciary Act of 1789: Established the structure of the federal court system.
Marbury v. Madison (1803): Established judicial review.
Judicial Review: Power to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional.
Supremacy Clause: Establishes the Constitution as the supreme law of the land.
Precedent (Stare Decisis): Legal principle of following previous court decisions.
Writ of Certiorari: Request for the Supreme Court to review a lower court decision.
Amicus Curiae Briefs: “Friend of the court” briefs offering additional perspectives.
Selective Incorporation: The process by which the Supreme Court has applied the Bill of Rights to the states through the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause.
Original Intent: An interpretive philosophy focusing on the intentions of the Constitution's framers.
Living Constitution: An interpretive philosophy suggesting that the Constitution evolves with societal changes.
Judicial Restraint: A philosophy advocating minimal judicial interference with the legislative and executive branches.
Judicial Activism: A philosophy encouraging judges to broadly interpret the Constitution to address societal issues.
Substantive Due Process Doctrine: A principle allowing the Court to protect fundamental rights not explicitly stated in the Constitution.
Strategy on the Court: Justices' strategic considerations, including political backlash and compliance with rulings.
Types of Court Decisions:
○ Majority Opinion: Reflects the views of the majority of justices.
○ Concurring Opinion: Agrees with the outcome but differs on reasoning.
○ Dissenting Opinion: Disagrees with the majority's decision
Key Terms & Definitions
Selective Incorporation
The process by which parts of the Bill of Rights are applied to the states through the 14th Amendment’s Due Process Clause, case by case.Original Intent
A judicial philosophy that interprets the Constitution based on what the framers originally intended or understood at the time it was written.Living Constitution
The idea that the Constitution has a dynamic meaning and should be interpreted in light of current social, political, and cultural contexts.Judicial Restraint
A philosophy where judges defer to elected branches of government and avoid overturning laws unless clearly unconstitutional.Judicial Activism
A philosophy where judges are more willing to strike down laws or interpret the Constitution in new ways, often to protect rights or promote justice.Substantive Due Process Doctrine
A principle that allows courts to protect certain fundamental rights from government interference, even if those rights are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.