PS Final Definitions

●

Reapportionment is the process of reallocating the number of Representatives per state based on state population after every census1.

●

Gerrymandering is the manipulation of the shape of a legislative district to achieve a specific goal, such as partisan or racial gerrymandering2. Gerrymandering can result in unrepresentative results, making politicians unresponsive and potentially contributing to polarization34.

●

Hearings are committee meetings where the primary purpose is to gather information5.

●

Mark-up is the process of amending and voting on a bill in committee5.

●

Filibuster is a tactic in the Senate where senators block action on a bill due to having unlimited time to speak6.

●

Cloture is a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote, requiring 60 votes in the Senate to end a filibuster6.

●

Earmarks are funding for specific projects in a representative's district or state7.

●

Logrolling is the practice of exchanging votes so that each member gets what they care about, often used to pass bills with earmarks7.

●

Standing committees are permanent committees assigned to a given policy area5.

●

Conference committees are temporary committees appointed by leaders of both chambers to make a compromise bill when similar but different bills are passed by the House and Senate8.

●

Casework involves helping constituents with problems relating to federal agencies, such as social security checks, immigration issues, or service academies9.

●

Polarization is the growing divide of political views and attitudes4. Polarization is influenced by various factors, including partisan sorting and media consumption1011. Social media's role in polarization is debated12.

●

Centralization in the context of the presidency refers to the movement of policy functions from federal agencies into the Executive Office of the President13. Centralization aims to increase presidential control over the bureaucracy14.

●

Politicization refers to the use of political appointees to influence policymaking in federal agencies15. Politicization can enhance responsiveness to the president's agenda but may decrease agency competence15.

●

Signing statements are statements presidents attach to bills when they sign them, which are not legally binding but can shape interpretation16.

●

The civil service system comprises career bureaucrats with job security hired and promoted based on merit17. The Pendleton Act of 1883 created the civil service system in response to corruption under the spoils system17.

●

Red tape refers to excessively complex or redundant rules that slow down government action18. Red tape can stem from various factors, such as accountability measures, protection against corruption, and upholding equal treatment18.

●

The principal-agent problem arises when a principal (boss) delegates tasks to an agent (employee), leading to challenges such as hidden actions, hidden information, and conflicts of interest19. This problem is prevalent in the relationship between Congress/the President and the bureaucracy19.

●

Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the principle of judicial review, which is the power of the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of laws and executive branch actions20.

●

The Rule of 4 refers to the practice that at least four of the nine Supreme Court justices must agree to hear a case before it is granted a writ of certiorari [source missing].

●

Jurisdiction is the authority to hear a case21. Original jurisdiction refers to the court's authority to hear a case for the first time, while appellate jurisdiction refers to the court's authority to review a lower court's decision21.

●

Stare decisis is the legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent

●

Originalism and living constitutionalism are contrasting approaches to constitutional interpretation. Originalism emphasizes the original meaning of the Constitution, while living constitutionalism argues that the Constitution should be interpreted in light of contemporary values and circumstances

●

Amicus curiae briefs are legal documents filed by individuals or groups who are not parties to a lawsuit but have a strong interest in the outcome, providing additional information or arguments to the court