Unit 2 IDs Flashcards
incumbent
person who currently holds public office
casework
work for a specific constituent, especially to garner public attention and thus get more votes to seek reelection
pork barrel
govt. funding for projects designed to please voters or legislators to win votes
bicameral legislature
type of U.S. legislature used in Congress to differentiate the two chambers
filibuster
repeated yapping by a senator to stall debate
cloture
a vote to end the filibuster, which needs 3/5 vote of senators (60 currently)
whip
the party’s enforcers, ensuring that the party’s members are voting in accordance to what their party should believe in
Amicus Curiae
A friend of the court
Caucus (as it relates to Congress not elections)
a group of congressmen who have shared values, ideologies, or views form this institution. they come together to pursue shared goals
District Courts
The 91 federal courts of original jurisdiction. They are the only federal courts in which trials are held and in which juries may be impaneled.
House Ways and Means Committee
Standing committee of the House of Representatives that considers all taxing-related legislation
Senate Judiciary Committee
Standing committee of the Senate that oversees the Department of Justice, considers executive and judicial appointments, and review pending legislation
Courts of Appeals
Appellate courts empowered to reviewall final decisions of district courts, except in rare cases.
Seniority Courtesy
An unwritten tradition whereby nominations for state-level federal judicial posts are usually not confirmed if they are opposed by a senator of the president’s party from the state in which
the nominee will serve.
Models of representation: 1) delegate, 2) trustee, 3) politico
1) delegate: rep acting as a ‘delegate’ for the constituents, and voting as it represents their constituents and their constituents’ values and views
2) trustee: rep acting as a trustee for the constituents, and voting as it relates to their own views and values, NOT just what constituents believe in
3) politico: a mix of delegate and trustee
Opinion
A statement of legal reasoning behind
a judicial decision.
Solicitor General
A presidential appointee and the
third-ranking office in the Department
of Justice, and is in
charge of the appellate court litigation
of the federal government.
Baker v. Carr, 1962
landmark SCOTUS case that ruled that redistricting qualifies as a justiciable question
Stare Decisis
“Let the decision stand”
Shaw v. Reno, 1993
landmark SCOTUS case that ruled that gerrymandering with regards to RACE was unconstitutional
Precedent
How similar cases have been decided
in the past.
Rules Commitee
committees that make the rules (for what a law is, debate, and everything else); exist in both House and Senate
Federalist #78
Paper written by Alexander Hamilton that argued for the establishment of federal courts.
Standing committee
A permanent committee of either the House or Senate
Conference committee
A joint conference between the House and the Senate to resolve the differences in a bill
Logrolling
exchanging favors (especially) by the action of reciprocal voting for each other’s proposed legislation
Civil Law
Involving a dispute between two parties (one of whom may be
the government itself ) over a wide range of matters including contracts, property
ownership, divorce, child custody, mergers of multinational companies, and personal and property damage
22nd Amendment
established term limits on the President; no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice (two terms)
Criminal Law
Involving the government charging an individual with violating specific laws, such as those prohibiting robbery.
25th Amendment
describes the formal succession process of the presidency if the president dies or is incapable of holding office (physically or mentally incapable). VP –> Speaker –> Senate pro tempore –> Executive Department –> Secretaries by formation year (earliest first)
Judicial Implementation
How and whether court decisions are
translated into actual policy, thereby
affecting the behavior of others.
Bureaucracy
Body of non-elected governing officials that make policies and advise politicians
Veto & pocket veto
veto: the explicit power of the president to reject a bill passed by the House and Senate
pocket veto: bill fails to become law since president didn’t sign it within 10 days, BUT Congress is not in session and therefore can’t return the bill
presidential coattails
ability of a presidential candidate to bring out supporters who then support their political party in other offices
Patronage
A system in which jobs and promotions are awarded for political reasons
rather than for merit or competence.
Pendleton Service Act
Passed in 1883, an act that created federal civil service so that hiring and promotion would be based on merit rather than patronage.
executive order
implied power of the president that he can issue an order that has the word of law that doesn’t require any congressional approval; check: congress can overturn it or SCOTUS can call it unconstitutional
Civil Service
A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.
Merit Principle
The idea that hiring should be based
on entrance exams and promotion
ratings to produce administration by
people with talent and skill.
Hatch Act
A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics while on duty or for employees in sensitive positions at any time
War Powers Resolution
requires president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces and prohibits armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days
Regulation
The use of governmental authority to control or change some practice in the private sector.
Deregulation
The lifting of government restrictions on business, industry, and professional activities.
Bully pulpit
the idea that the public will listen to the president because of his speaking ability and charisma
nomination & confirmation power
president nominates federal judges, Cabinet secretaries, etc.; senate confirms with simple majority
expenditures
federal government spending of money (revenues); most for mandatory spending
Deficit versus national debt
deficit is when expenditures > revenues, while national debt is the accumulation of deficit over time; more than $33T+
revenue
money the government gets, mainly from taxing individuals and corporations
entitlements
government programs that provide benefits to people who require support and meet certain qualifications. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid are examples
House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee
the principal committees that have jurisdiction on all tax-related legislation in the House and Senate
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
federal agency of the legislative branch that provides budget/economic information to Congress
Budget resolution
a bill setting limits on expenditures based on revenue projections, agreed to by both houses of Congress in April each year
authorization bill
an act of Congress that establishes, changes, or continues a discretionary government program
appropriations bill
bill passed annually to fund an authorized program
continuing resolutions
resolution that extends payments to the past fiscal year if Congress overspends or needs to meet certain constraints
