oxford guide to us gov
act of congress - bill passed through both houses, signed by president or 2/3 veto of both houses over veto
adjournment - congress goes out of session, ends legislative day
administration of federal courts - supreme court administrates federal judicial system
judicial conference of the us - chief justice presides over this board of trustees for the federal courts, oversee practices of federal courts
administrative offices of us courts - budgeting + administrative services
federal judicial center - research + training to improve operations of federal courts
advice & consent - presidential nominations and negotiations of treaties must become official through senate giving “advice and consent”
advisory opinion - legal opinion given before a case is tried, but precedent against advisory opinions established in 1793 (letter b/w washington + john jay)
alien and sedition acts (1798) - alien act allowed president to deport noncitizens “dangerous to the peace and safety of the us”, sedition act made it a crime to publish anything false or malicious ab congress (due to conflict bw federalist and democratic-republican parties surrounding us/france shipping)
amendments, legislative - after introduction of a bill, lobbyists can offer amendments, must be voted on by the full senate and house. opponents use amendments to weaken purpose and can technically amend words or punctuation to filibuster
american bar association - organization of lawyers, established a standing committee on federal judiciary to advice selection of supreme court justices and judges
american civil liberties union - legal services for civil liberties
amicus curiae - document regarding a case presented by someone who is not a direct party to the legal controversy (aclu in mapp v ohio)
amnesty - president has the power to grant pardons for offences
appeal - case is taken to a higher court for review and possible reversal of lower court’s decision (federal constitutional issues always open to appeal by losing party to supreme court or cases of great constitutional or national significance)
appropriations - congress holds the “power of the purse”
article of confederation - union against uk, national legislature