Exam 3 Flashcards
Appropriations
acts that give federal agencies the authority to spend the money allocated to them.
Authorizations
acts that enable agencies and departments to operate, either by creating them or authorizing their continuance.
Cloture
a rule in the Senate that allows debate to be cut off by 3/5 of those present and voting.
Conference Committee
a committee set up to resolve the differences in a bill passed by different chambers.
Constituency
a term used to refer to both the area and residents that make up the district of a member of congress.
Divided Government
when one party controls the White House and ANOTHER party controls one or both houses of Congress.
Earmark
a method of inconspicuously attaching a request for money for a specific project in a bill.
Filibuster
a continuous speech made by one of more member of the Senate to prevent a piece of legislation from being brought to the floor for a vote. (Parks and Recs- Patton Oswalt talking about his Star Wars fiction to stall voting.)
Majority Leader
2nd in command to the Speaker of the House and the one officially in charge of the party’s legislative agenda. Also working with the Speaker, the Majority Leader schedules votes on bills.
Oversight
Congress’ responsibility to make sure that the bureaucracy is administering federal programs as Congress intended.
Pay-as-you-go (paygo) rule
it requires all new spending to be offset by a revenue source or spending cuts elsewhere. (only spending money you have)
Pork-barrel Projects
funds obtained by members of Congress for special projects, new programs, buildings, or other public works that bring jobs, benefits, and business to their districts or states.
Reapportionment
When 435 seats in Congress are allocated among the states based on the latest US Census.
Redistricting
redrawing district lines to account for a change in the number of seats or population shifts. (A portion of Chicago district- Illinois 4th district- hugely democrat, only a street wide in some places)
Speaker of the House
the presiding officer of the House of Rep.
Standing Committees
permanent committees in Congress- each having a number of subcommittees.
Unified Government
when one party controls the White House AND both houses of Congress.
Whips
members who have the responsibility to maintain contact with other members in their party, determine which way they are leaning votes and attempt to gain their support (they are intimidating people- House of Card’s Kevin Spacey)
Chief Executive
the president’s role as leader of the executive branch.
Commander in Chief
the president’s role as the leader of the military.
Executive Orders
directives or proclamations issued by the president that carry the force of the law. A form of legislative power for the executive branch.
Executive Privilege
the right to refuse to make public some internal documents and private conversation. Cannot be invoked to withhold evidence material to an investigation of criminal wrongdoing.
Pardon Power
the president’s power to erase the guilt and restore the rights of anyone convicted of a federal crime, excecpt an impeached president. (NIxon- Watergate). The president can also grant clemency by commuting a felon’s sentence without erasing the conviction (GWB and his brother’s DWIs)
Pocket Veto
if Congress adjourns within 10 working days after sending legislation to the president, and the president takes no action, the bill dies.
Signing Statements
comments attached to a bill when signed by the president when they believe it contains vague language that will hamper implementation or constitutionally ambiguous provisions that may later be contested.
Veto Power
When the president doesn’t agree with a bill so they send it back to Congress unsigned with their objections. Vetoes can be overturned by 2/3 vote from both houses of Congress.
War Powers Resolution
a resolution passed by Congress to limit the president’s ability to commit troops to combat. Without Congressional approval, the president must withdraw troops within 60 days….90 if he needs more time to protect them.
Who can be president?
- Natural born citizen
- Thirty-five years or older
- Resident of the US for 14+ years
- -Experience
- -Pay and Perks
- $400,000
- Actually less than George Washington, despite bigger -job
- Camp David
- Health care
- Cars and aircraft
- Pension ($186,000 in 2009)
- Money for travel, office, staff
- 10 years of secret service
Impeachment of president
- Hearings in House to determine if there is enough evidence to impeach
- House brings formal charges
- Trial held in Senate with Chief Justice of SCOTUS presiding
Roles of President
-Head of State Ceremonial -Chief Executive Head of the Executive Branch Signing Statements -Commander in Chief Head of the Armed Forces -Chief Diplomat Proposes treaties, recognizes foreign governments -Chief Legislator Sets legislative (Congressional) agenda Proposes, vetoes, and signs legislation -Other Presidential Powers Statutory, Expressed, and Inherent Powers (“take care” clause)
Office of VP
- Has own budget for office and staff
- An official airplane
- Has own white mansion
- Has few formal duties
- Preside over the Senate (which they rarely do)
- Cast tie-breaking votes (which rarely needs to be done)
- Succeed to the Presidency
- Usually chosen to balance the ticket
- Attack dog during campaign
- Sometimes involved in the president’s legislative strategy
War-making
- War Powers Resolution (passed in 1973)
- Limits president’s ability to commit troops to combat
- The president may use troops abroad under three conditions:
1. When Congress has declared war
2. When Congress has given the president specific authority to do so
3. When an attack on the United States or its military creates a national crisis - Supposed to consult with Congress beforehand, if possible
- Notify Congress within 48 hours
- Must withdraw troops within 60 days (90 in some cases)
