Unit 2

17th Amendment - 1913, people of each state directly elect their senators.

advice and consent - SCOTUS appointments are more likely to be scrutinized (checked) by the senate

Baker v. Carr - Charles W. Baker and other Tennessee citizens alleged that a 1901 law designed to apportion the seats for the state's General Assembly was virtually ignored.

bicameral - Two house legislature to represent the states in the federal government

bipartisan - Party line is much more common now with the two parties.

cloture - (Rule 22) a 3/5th supermajority vote can stop debate on a bill (ending a filibuster)

conference committee - To work out differences and make a single form of the bill that both houses can agree on.

delegate model - Reflecting the will of their constituents (the people who voted for them)

divided government - When the president is from one party and the house and/or senate is dominated by the other.

filibuster - Speaking so long that the deadline to approve a bill or appointment expires.

gerrymandering - Illogical district lines drawn to give one party the advantage

how a bill becomes a law

joint committees - Standing committee in Congress that resolves conflicts between the House and Senate about the bill before the bill goes through the house and senate

logrolling - Trading votes to gain support on a bill.

omnibus bill - A bill where multiple riders have been added, making the bill look completely different than its origin.

partisan - A lack of political cooperation between opposing parties.

politico model - Blending of a “delegate” and “trustee” process

pork-belly spending - A last minute rider added on by an influential legislator where federal funds only their district (“Bring Home The Bacon”)

president of the senate - The Vice-President of the US; they break the tie of votes.

president pro temp - Steps in IF the Vice-President is unavailable.

reapportionment - The process by which new congressional districts are made and seats in the house are moved around among the states.

redistricting - Each state determines how to divide electoral district seats by setting new boundaries for congressional seats.

revenue bills - A suggested law that would bring in money for the government mostly through taxes (like fees and income taxes).

select committee - Select committees are brief committees set up by Congress to look into certain topics, hold meetings, and report back to the whole house on what they found.

senate majority leader - Chief Legislature; wields more power than the Vice-President and they set the calendar.

Shaw v. Reno - Gerrymandering cannot occur if race is the only determinant in gerrymandering, cannot violate the equal protection clause.

size, terms, and requirements of house and senate - The most “representative” of the people. 435 members, 2-year terms. The more “experienced” group, 100 members, 6- year terms. To serve in the U.S. Congress, Representatives must be at least 25, a U.S. citizen for 7 years, and an inhabitant of their state

standing committee - Permanent committees established under the rules of each chamber, responsible for specific areas of legislation, such as finance or foreign relations.

trustee model - They are entrusted to use their best judgement.

war powers act - Limited the presidents military powers; congress can vote to approve.

“Lame Duck” President - A president who has not won re-election, or is ending their second term.

22nd Amendment - Allows the president to serve no more than two terms, which is eight years.

appointment power of president - To choose government officials like Cabinet secretaries, Supreme Court justices, ambassadors, and top agency staff. Most high-level jobs need to be confirmed by the Senate.

Article II - Establishes the roles, powers, and functions of the executive branch of government.

bully pulpit - The president has a prominent stage where they can speak with the public

cabinet - An advisory group for the president that is made up of the heads of the executive departments, the attorney general, and other people picked by the president.

constitutional powers - There are different types of constitutional power, such as stated, implied, concurrent, and restricted.

executive agreement - A deal between two or more countries that the President made under his or her constitutional or legal power, without the Senate's advice or approval.

executive orders - A directive that allows the president to carry out executive authority without congressional approval.

executive privilege - The presidents right to withhold information from another branch.

impeachment process - A constitutional procedure through which federal officials, including the President, can be removed from office for committing 'high crimes and misdemeanors.'

inherent powers - Those that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are necessary for the government to function and uphold its responsibilities.

joints chiefs of staff - The commanding officers of the armed services who advise the president on military policy

pocket veto - When the president just lets a bill die by not signing or vetoing it after Congress adjourns within ten days of submitting it to him.

senate confirmation - The process where the U.S. Senate approves or rejects the president’s choices for important government jobs.

senatorial courtesy - An informal tradition where the Senate allows senators from a nominee’s home state to approve or block presidential appointments to local federal offices.

State of the Union Address - Reporting on the economic, military, and social state of the union. Since Woodrow Wilson, this has became an annual address to the nation.

term and requirements of the president - The president serves a four-year term, may only serve two terms under the 22nd Amendment, and must be 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and a 14-year U.S. resident.

Veto - The president’s power to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law.

White House Staff - The president’s closest advisers and assistants who help manage the executive branch and carry out presidential duties.

agencies - Sub-units in each departments

appropriations - Laws passed by Congress that authorize government spending for specific purposes.

bureaucracy - The vast Hierarchical network of executive branch employees that carry out the business of the federal government.

cabinet secretaries - Experienced “heads” of the 15 Cabinet departments.

commissions - An independent body of 5-7 members - serve terms; a president cannot replace them.

compliance monitoring - The executive branch checks to make sure that laws passed by Congress are being followed and properly enforced.

congressional oversight - The power of Congress to review, monitor, and investigate the actions of the executive branch and federal agencies.

delegated discretionary authority - The power to interpret legislation & create rules.

department - 15 total departments

government corporations - Government agencies that operate like businesses to provide services to the public.

independent regulatory agencies - Regulatory agencies have board members that keep a term despite a change in the presidency.

iron triangles/ issue networks - The Bureaucracy is critical in advancing the goals of special interest groups and PACs and congressional committee’s fund those goals.

legislative veto - Congress tries to overturn or block an action of the executive branch without passing a new law.

merit system - Method of hiring and promoting government employees based on ability, qualifications, and performance, rather than political connections.

Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs - Replaced the civil services commission; stronger merit based requirements.

patronage - Rewarding party loyalists with jobs.

Pendleton Service Act - An attempt to make federal appointments MERIT-based, not Patronage based. (Garfield’s Assassination)

power of the purse - Congress’s constitutional authority to control government spending.

role of the bureaucracy - The system of federal agencies and departments that implement and enforce laws passed by Congress.

rule-making process - Federal agencies create detailed regulations that explain how laws passed by Congress will be carried out.

spoils system - Appointing government jobs through patronage and expecting loyalty and support in return.

Whistle Blower Protection Act - Protects federal employees who report government wrongdoing from retaliation

amicus curia brief - A document filed by someone who is not a party to case but wants to offer information, expertise, or arguments to influence the Court’s decision.

appellate jurisdiction - The authority of a court to hear a case on appeal from a lower court, rather then hearing it first.

attorney general - The head of the U.S. Department of Justice and the chief lawyer of the federal government.

binding precedent - District courts ruling the same as a similarity decided cases from an upper court.

borked - To prevent confirmation by attacking a nominee’s past beliefs.

certiorari - The Supreme Court’s formal decision to review a lower’s court’s case.

concurring opinion - A written statement of agreement but with a discrepancy.

dissenting opinion - A justice explaining why they disagree with the majority opinion.

judicial activism - Acting in a decision to make the law.

judicial restraint - Only acting if there is a clear injury or violation of the constitution.

judicial review - Appointments by the president, and confirmations by senate.

liberal constructionists - Interprets the constitution as a living document that adopts to changing times.

majority opinion - The written summary of a case, the court’s decision, and rationate.

Marbury vs. Madison - The Supreme Court case that established judicial review, giving the Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional.

nuclear option - Delaying confirmation through a filibuster.

original jurisdiction - The authority of a court to hear a case first, before any other court, rather than on appeal.

persuasive precedent - Considering past decisions by distant districts courts as a guiding basic for a decision.

precedent - A firmly established legal position

rule of four - Supreme Court practice that allows four of the nine justices to agree to hear a case before the court.

senatorial courtesy - Appointing a lower judge based on that state’s senator’s opinion

standing - Congress determines requirements for a case to go to the court.

stare decisis - They let the decision stand

strict constructionists - Interprets the constitution in its original context.