Part 3 (Chapters 13-16) Flashcards
bicameral legislature
a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
filibuster
an attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action to the bill
marginal districts
political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55% of the vote
safe districts
political districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55% or more
conservative coalition
an alliance between Republican and conservative Democrats
majority leader
the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House of Representatives
minority leader
the legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of sets in the House or the Senate
whip
a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking
party polarization
a vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a majority of Republican legislators
caucus
an association of Congress members created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic or economic interest
standing committees
permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area
select committees
Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose
joint committees
committees on which both senators and representatives serve
conference committees
a joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill
public bill
a legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern
private bill
a legislative bill that deals only with specific, private, personal or local matters
concurrent resolution
an expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president
simple resolution
an expression of opinion either in the House or Senate to settle procedural matters in either body
joint resolution
a formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president
multiple referral
a congressional process whereby a bill may be referred to several committees
sequential referral
a congressional process by which a Speaker may send a bill to a second committee after the first is finished acting
discharge petition
a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor
closed rule
an order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor
open rule
an order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor
restrictive rule
an order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made into a bill on the floor
quorum
the minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress
quorum call
a roll call in either house of Congress to see whether the minimum number of representatives required to conduct business is present
closure rule
a rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate
double-tracking
a procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster in which the disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the Senate can get on with other business
voice vote
a congressional voting procedure in which members shout “yea” in approval or “nay” in disapproval, permitting members to vote quickly or anonymously on bills
division vote
a congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted
teller vote
a congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers, the “yeas” first and the “nays” second
roll-call vote
a congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering “yea” or “nay” to their names
pork-barrel legislation
legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return
franking privilege
the ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage
divided government
one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress
unified government
the same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress
gridlock
the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government
electoral college
the people chosen to cast each state’s votes in a presidential election. Each state can cast one electoral vote for each senator and representative it has. The District of Columbia has 3 electoral votes, even though it cannot elect a representative or senator.
pyramid structure
a president’s subordinates report to him through a clear chain of command headed by a chief of staff
circular structure
several of the president’s assistants report directly to him
ad hoc structure
several subordinates, cabinet officers, and committees report directly to the president on different matters
cabinet
the heads of the 15 executive branch departments of the federal government
bully pulpit
the president’s use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public
veto message
a message from the president to Congress stating that he will not sign a bill it has passed. Must be produced within 10 days of the bill’s passage
pocket veto
a bill fails to become law because the president did not sign it within 10 days before Congress adjourns
line-item veto
an executive’s ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature
legislative veto
the authority of Congress to block a presidential action after it has taken place. The Supreme Court has held that Congress does not have this power.
impeachment
charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives
lame duck
a person still in office after he or she has lost a bid for reelection
bureaucracy
a large, complex organization composed of appointed officials
laissez-faire
an economic theory that government should not regulate or interfere with commerce
discretionary authority
the extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by laws
competitive service
the government offices to which people are appointed on the basis of merit, as ascertained by a written exam or by applying certain selection criteria
name-request job
a job that is filled by a person whom an agency has already identified
iron triangle
a close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group
issue network
a network of people in D.C.-based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies
authorization legislation
legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency
appropriation
a legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency
trust funds
funds for government programs that are collected and spent outside the regular government budget
committee clearance
the ability of a congressional committee to review and approve certain agency decisions in advance and without passing a law
legislative veto
the authority of Congress to block a presidential action after it has taken place. The Supreme Court has held that Congress does not have this power.
red tape
complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done
judicial review
the power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional
strict-constructionist approach
the view that judges should decide cases strictly on the basis of the language of the laws and the Constitution
activist approach
the view that judges should discern the general principles underlying laws or the Constitution and apply them to modern circumstances
constitutional court
a federal court authorized by Article III of the Constitution that keeps judges in office during good behavior and prevents their salaries from being reduced. They are the Supreme Court and appellate and district courts created by Congress.
district courts
the lowest federal court; federal trials can be held only here
courts of appeals
federal courts that hear appeals from district courts; no trials
legislative courts
courts created by Congress for specialized purposes whose judges do not enjoy the protections of Article III of the Constitution
litmus test
an examination of the political ideology of a nominated judge
federal-question cases
cases concerning the Constitution, federal laws or treaties
diversity cases
cases involving citizens of different states who can bring suit in federal courts
writ of certiorari
an order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review
in forma pauperis
a method whereby a poor person can have his or her case heard in federal court without charge
fee shifting
a rule that allows a plaintiff to recover costs from the defendant if the plaintiff wins
plaintiff
the party that initiates a lawsuit
standing
a legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit
sovereign immunity
the rule that a citizen cannot sue the government without the government’s consent
class-action suit
a case brought by someone to help him or her and all others who are similarly situated
brief
a written statement by an attorney that summarizes a case and the laws and rulings that support it
amicus curias
a brief submitted by a “friend of the court”
per curiam opinion
a brief, unsigned court opinion
opinion of the court
a signed opinion of a majority of the Supreme Court
concurring opinion
a signed opinion in which one or more members agree with the majority view but for different reasons
dissenting opinion
a signed opinion in which one or more justices disagree with the majority view
stare decisis
“let the decision stand,” or allowing prior rulings to control the current case
political question
an issue the Supreme Court will allow the executive and legislative branches decide
remedy
a judicial order enforcing a right or redressing a wrong
