Section 2 Flashcards
The Structure of the US Government
What is implied power?
Not described in the Constitution but permitted through Congress. Loose interpretation of the Necessary and Proper Clause.
What are inherent powers?
Powers of the President or Congress assumed to exist as a direct result of the country’s existence.
What is oversight?
Review and monitor other bodies of government.
What are committees?
Taked with considering, researching, introducing, and investigating policy areas.
What is appropriation?
Provision of money by Congress for items requested in presidential budget.
What is deficit spending?
Spending more money than earned in fiscal year.
What is discretionary spending?
Spending what can be changed year to year. Veterans, researching, and housing assistance.
what is a budget resolution?
A set of budget priorities and spending limits, and a plan to receive so much in revenue.
What is pork-barrel spending?
Spending on unnecessary things that benefit a specific member of Congress.
What is a line-item veto?
Ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Only rejecting specific portions of legislation.
What was the Interstate Commerce Clause?
One of the expressed powers Congress to regulate commerce.
What is advice and consent?
A Constitutional power, and foreign treaties become official only when Senate approves of two-thirds vote.
What is Supermajority?
A specific number greater than 50%.
What is Filibuster?
Led by the legislator to delay or prevent debate of proposal. To break this, it must be three-fifths of Senators vote.
What are administrative agencies?
Created by Congress to enforce laws, organized by the president in the executive branch.
What is a majority party?
Most seats in the House of Representees or Senate.
What is a minority party?
Leat number of seats.
What is the Speaker of the House?
Control agenda and voting and elected leader of the majority party.
what is a majority leader?
second-in-command to the Speaker of the House.
What is a minority leader?
Elected leader of the minority party, elected by the party members of the house.
what is a majority whip?
Job is to help coordinate strategy.
what is a minority whip?
Help coordinate strategy and maintain discipline.
what is a president pro tempore?
Given to longest serving senator of the majority party if vice president is absent.
what is a standing committee?
A permanent committee that exists session to session for the purpose of research and policy area.
what is a select committee?
Temporary to investigate an issue or policy area.
what is a joint committee?
House of Representative and Senate that work together on specific issues.
what is a conference committee?
Joint committee and to form one single bill of different versions of the same bill.
What is a rules committee?
A powerful committee in the House that decides rules for debate and amendments.
what is cloture?
60 members of the Senate vote to end filibuster.
what is gerrymandering?
Process of creating political advantage.
What is the Census?
Required every 10 years by the US and the first step of congressional re-appointment.
what is redistricting?
re-drawing of electoral districts to accommodate changes by last census.
What is reapportionment?
once per decade process of assigning 435 seats in the 50 states according to population.
what is commander in chief?
giving authority to the president over all parts of the US military.
what is bipartisan?
meaning two factions, agreeing on certain political actions.
what is articles of impeachment?
Officially accuses an executive of constitutional abuse.
what is Monroe doctrine?
US policy created by James Monroe.
what is recess appointment?
federal officials at a time Senate are not in session and cannot confirm appointment.
what is a loophole?
Allows someone to avoid having to follow a rule.
what are civil cases?
court cases based on civil law, includes disagreements with people and companies.
what is an appeal?
asking someone to overturn decision.
what is a party?
in law cases, someone working directly with the case.
what is a circuit court?
courts that hear cases in several counties and heard by three rotating judges.
what is a judicial review?
established with Marbury v Madison, power to overturn if laws conflict the Constitution.
what is precedent?
a decision made in one court case.
what is stare decisis?
Let the decision stand.
what is judicial activism?
US courts should defend individual rights, liberties, and stop actions if other governments violate those rights.
what is a strict constructionist?
Strict approach that can only do things mentioned in the constitution.
what is loose constructionist?
Judges can reinterpret constitutional language.
what is judicial restraint?
Judges should be reluctant to overturn the acts of Congress, the president, or the states.
What is defer?
agree to follow someone else’s opinion.
what is common law?
Based on court decision in England, rather than on legislative decree.
what is federalism?
divides constructional power and authority between national and state government.
what is the Elastic Clause?
Clause in the constitution that can be stretched to allow congress to make laws and policies.
what is concurrent power?
state and federal government share including tac, borrow money, and establish courts.
