Competency 3.2 - identify the functions of US political institutions, including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches Flashcards
unicameral congress
a congress made of one body
bicameral congress
a congress split into two bodies that balance and check each other
elastic clause
grants implied power to implement the delegated powers
impeachment
a formal accusation of wrong-doing and removal from office
amendments
changes or additions to the current constitution
ratification
formal approval from the states
right of habeus corpus
a party under arrest to be brought before the court where authorities must show cause for detainment
conference committees
irons out differences between the House and Senate version of a bill before it is sent for presidential approval
rules committee
unique to the House of Representatives, this committee acts as a clearing house to weed out bills unworthy of consideration by the full House
ways and means committee
a committee that scrutinizes revenue-raising bills before being evaluated by the entire House
ex post facto laws
laws that make past actions punishable that were legal when they first occurred
filibuster
a delaying tactic that can postpone ant action indefinitely; only allowed in the senate
veto
presidential rejection of a proposed bill
pocket veto
when the president neither signs nor rejects a bill, and the congress adjourns within ten days of the president’s reciept of the legislation
judicial review
power to determine the constitutionality of laws and actions of the legislative and executive branches
concurring opinion
an opinion of a justice that agrees with the final ruling, but for a different reason
dissenting opinion
an opinion of a justice that disagrees with a final ruling
US tax court
handles conflicts between citizens and the internal revenue service (IRS)
court of claims
hears cases in which citizens bring suit against the US government
interstate commerce commission
monitors surface transportation and some pipelines
federal reserve board
supervises the banking system, sets interest rates, and controls the money supply
federal trade commission
protects consumers by looking into false advertising and antitrust violations
federal communications commission
polices the airwaves by licensing radio and television stations ans regulating cable and telephone companies
securities and exchange commission
protects investors by monitoring the sale of stocks and bonds
national labor relations board
oversees labor and management practices
consumer product safety commission
sets standards of safety for manufactured products
nuclear regulatory commission
licenses and inspects nuclear power plants
independent executive agencies
another category of the “fourth branch” of government created by congresss with resemblance to the cabinet departments; these powerful entities have top executives appointed by the president (with senate approval)
government corporations
commercial enterprises created by congress to perform a variety of necessary services; the United States Postal Service is the largest and most recognized of these
spoils system
starting back with Andrew Jackson’s administration, this is the practice of handing out government jobs in return for political favors
the civil service act / pendleton act
this act was passed in 1883 in an attempt to reform the spoils system as federal workers were to be recruited on the basis of merit determined by a competitive examination
affirmative action
a program to help groups discriminated against in the job market find employment
