Gov Unit 2
Federal Bureaucracy: The administrative system that implements and enforces federal laws, made up of government agencies and departments.
Bureaucrat: A non-elected government official working in the bureaucracy.
Political Patronage: Appointing individuals to government jobs as a reward for political support.
Pendleton Act (1883): Established the merit system, reducing political patronage.
Federal Civil Service: Government employees hired based on merit rather than political affiliation.
Merit System: Hiring and promotion based on ability and qualifications rather than political connections.
Iron Triangle: A relationship between a congressional committee, a bureaucracy, and an interest group that influences policy.
Issue Network: A broader, informal coalition of interest groups, media, and policymakers that influence policy.
Bureaucratic Discretion: The ability of bureaucrats to make policy decisions when implementing laws.
Regulation: Government rules that control business, industries, and activities to enforce laws.
Bureaucratic Adjudication: The process by which federal agencies settle disputes involving their regulations.
Federal Judiciary: The system of federal courts that interpret and apply laws.
SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States): The highest court in the U.S. that has the final say on constitutional matters.
Original Jurisdiction: The power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court.
Appellate Jurisdiction: The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.
Judicial Review: The power of courts to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional (established by Marbury v. Madison).
Criminal Law: Laws dealing with crimes against society, with penalties like fines or imprisonment.
Civil Law: Laws dealing with disputes between individuals or organizations.
Federal District Courts: The lowest level of federal courts where trials are held.
Federal Courts of Appeals: Courts that review cases from district courts; no new trials, only legal review.
Stare Decisis: The principle that courts should follow precedents set in previous cases.
Majority Opinion: The official decision of the Supreme Court, reflecting the views of most justices.
Concurring Opinion: A separate opinion written by a justice who agrees with the majority but for different reasons.
Dissenting Opinion: An opinion written by justices who disagree with the majority ruling.
Judicial Restraint: The idea that courts should defer to elected officials and avoid making policy decisions.
Judicial Activism: The idea that courts should actively interpret laws and the Constitution to shape policy.
Executive Branch: The branch of government responsible for enforcing laws, led by the president.
Enumerated Powers: Powers specifically granted to the president by the Constitution.
Informal Powers: Powers not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution but exercised by the president (e.g., executive orders).
Treaty: A formal agreement between nations that requires Senate approval.
State of the Union Address: The president’s annual speech to Congress outlining legislative priorities.
Veto: The president’s power to reject a bill passed by Congress.
Pocket Veto: When the president indirectly vetoes a bill by not signing it before Congress adjourns.
Presidential Pardon: The president’s power to forgive crimes and eliminate punishments.
Executive Privilege: The president’s right to withhold information from Congress or the courts.
Executive Agreement: An agreement between the president and a foreign leader that does not require Senate approval.
Signing Statement: A written statement by the president when signing a bill, explaining how they interpret it.
Executive Order: A directive issued by the president that has the force of law.
War Powers Resolution (1973): Limits the president’s ability to deploy troops without congressional approval.
Impeachment: The process by which a president or federal official is charged with misconduct by the House and tried in the Senate.
Bully Pulpit: The president’s ability to use the media to influence public opinion and policy.
Pork Barrel Spending: Government spending for localized projects to gain political support.
Logrolling: A practice where legislators trade votes to gain mutual benefits.
Oversight: Congressional review and supervision of the executive branch and its agencies.
Constituency: The voters an elected official represents.
Apportionment: The process of determining the number of representatives each state gets in the House.
Redistricting: Redrawing congressional district boundaries after a census.
Gerrymandering: Drawing district boundaries to benefit a particular political party.
Partisan Gerrymandering: Redrawing districts specifically to favor one political party.
Majority-Minority Districts: Congressional districts drawn to ensure a racial or ethnic minority is the majority.
Malapportionment: Unequal population distribution among districts, violating the principle of equal representation.
Incumbency: The advantage held by current officeholders seeking re-election.
Speaker of the House: The leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by the majority party.
House Majority Leader: The second-ranking member of the House majority party, helps set legislative agenda.
Whip: A party leader responsible for ensuring members vote in line with party positions.
Minority Leader: The leader of the party with fewer seats in either chamber of Congress.
Senate Majority Leader: The leader of the majority party in the Senate, directs legislative strategy.
Committee Chair: The head of a congressional committee, influencing which bills get discussed.
Discharge Petition: A House procedure to force a bill out of committee for a floor vote.
House Rules Committee: Sets the terms for debate and amendments on bills in the House.
Committee of the Whole: A procedure that allows the House to expedite legislation by considering bills with fewer formal rules.
Filibuster: A Senate tactic to delay a vote by speaking for an extended period.
Cloture: A Senate motion requiring 60 votes to end a filibuster and proceed to a vote
Entitlement Program: A government program that provides benefits to those who qualify (e.g., Social Security).
Mandatory Spending: Government spending required by law (e.g., Medicare, Social Security).
Discretionary Spending: Government spending that must be approved by Congress each year.
Budget Surplus: When the government collects more revenue than it spends.
Budget Deficit: When the government spends more than it collects in revenue.
National Debt: The total amount of money the government owes.
Delegate Role: Legislators vote according to their constituents' preferences.
Trustee Role: Legislators vote based on their own judgment of what is best.
Politico Role: Legislators switch between the delegate and trustee roles depending on the issue.
Bipartisanship: Cooperation between political parties.
Gridlock: A situation where government action is stalled due to political conflict.
Divided Government: When one party controls the presidency and the other controls Congress.
Lame Duck Period: The time between an election and when the new official takes office, often leading to reduced influence for the outgoing president or Congress.