unit 2 Flashcards
signing statement
presidential statement upon signing a bill into law explaining how potus’s admin intends to interpret the law
pocket veto
an indirect veto by doing nothing about a bill passed by congress <10 days before it ajourns
bully pulpit
public office or position of authority that gives opportunity to speak out- platform to advocate agendaa
war powers act
checked and limited the power of potus by requiring congress’s approval to put troops into combat
state of the union address
every jan, an address delivered by potus to congress w/ view of the state of the nation and plans for legislation
executive orders
(informal) presidential order to the executive branch that carries the force of law. scotus can rule them unconstitutional. not actual law
executive agreements
(implied) international agreement between potus and another country, does not require consent of senate, not formal treaty
executive privilege
(implied) allows pres to refuse to disclose confidential info
lame duck
period of time where not much gets done for potus- election nov, sworn in jan 20
bureaucracy
implement and administer federal programs
iron triangle
triangle is congress, interest group, bureaucracy. long, stable relationship designed to influence public
merit system
non political govt employees are hired and promoted based on ability, not connections
patronage/spoils system
political party wins and gives govt jobs to supporters, friends, and family
compliance monitering
Activities undertaken by bureaus to establish whether a process or procedure is carried out by corporations in conformance with relevant external requirements, whether set through legislation, regulations, or directions
discretionary authority
agency’s ability to make rules that affect how programs operate and to force states and corporations to obey these rules as if they were laws
rule making authority
agency’s ability to make rules that affect how programs operate and to force states an corporations to obey these rules as if they were laws
eligibility to become potus
- natural born citizen
- resident >= 14 years
- 4 year term , 2 term limit
order of potus succession
- vp
- speaker of the house
- pres po tempore
- secretary of state
- secretary of treasury
formal powers of potus
veto, commander in chief of armed forces, make pardons, make treaties w senate’s approval
informal powers of potus
bargaining/persuasion, exec orders, signing statements, negotiating exec agreements
executive branch structure
- potus and vp, exec office
- state, treasury, defense, justice, labor, homeland security
- independent agencies/govt corps –> nasa, post office, etc
- white house office
- independent regulatory agencies –> epa, fda, ect
what do bureaucratic agencies do/what are they
- agencies and departments that implement and admin federal programs/legislation
- congress and pres can’t handle everything –> delegate authority
congressional oversight
oversight by the United States Congress over the Executive Branch, including the numerous U.S. federal agencies. Congressional oversight includes the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation.
potus and congress interactions
- senate must approve foreign treaties
- once a bill is passed in congress, potus must sign it into law, or veto
- potus is commander in chief of army but congress declares war
- potus appointments sometimes need senate approval, sometimes rejected- tension
- potus appoints justices to federal courts –> ex justices
bicameral legislation
two houses of congress- from great compromise
gerrymandering
manipulating district boundary lines to gain political adv
pork barrel legislation
legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return
enumerated vs implied powers
enumerated: expressly granted to congress by const.
implied: powers granted to govt that are not stated
delegate model of representation
the view that elected reps should rep the opinions of their constituents -> goal of reelection
trustee model of representation
member of house or senate follows their own conscience for decisions -> moral outlook
politico model of representation
representatives can alternately fulfill the role of trustee or delegate depending on the issue. more moderate
logrolling
i’ll vote for your bill if you vote for mine
filibuster
attempt to stall or kill a bill by talking for a long time. in senate
cloture
move to end a filibuster w a 3/5 vote
committee of the whole
all 435 house of reps- committee on which every member serves
house rules committee
a standing (permanent) committee of the house that has rules for bills to be debated, attended, and considered. decides which bills make it to the floor for debate
discharge petition
a petition signed by house of reps members; used to force a bill out of committee for debate and voting and ultimately consideration
pigeonhole
not assign or hear debate on the bill, thus killing it
conference committee
A conference committee is a type of temporary joint committee that is set up when the House and Senate have each passed different versions of the same law. The conference committee works out a compromise bill that both houses will accept.
riders (omnibus bill)
An omnibus bill is a single document that is accepted in a single vote by a legislature but packages together several measures into one or combines diverse subjects. riders are things added onto bills to get them passed
house of reps roles
- power to choose pres if tie or no electoral college majority
- revenue bills start in the house
- brings impeachment
- charges to any govt official
house of reps structure
- centralized, hierarchical
- rules committee (majority controls agenda)
- limited debate time
- powerful speaker of the house
- revenue spending
-germane
germane vs non germane
Germane means directly relevant to the bill; non-germane amendments are only possible in the Senate, where amendments can be added on the floor.
senate roles
- jury in any impeachment trial
- must ratify any treaty w a foreign country
- must approve or reject appts made by pres for high-level govt jobs
senate structure
- less centralized
- committees have less authority
- looser debate -> unlimited (filibuster)
- foreign policy focused
- majority leader powerful
- non germane
congressional powers
- enumerated powers
- power of the purse
- regulating commerce
- foreign and military affairs
- implied powers- necessary and proper clause
