Unit 2A Vocab Flashcards
General term for any power that is specifically granted in the Const.
Formal powers
General term for any power that is developed through political practice, tradition, or legislation
Informal powers
Two chambers/house of Congress
Bicamercal/bicameralism
A list of items found in Article 1, Section 8 of the US Const. that set forth the powers of Congress
Enumerated powers
Powers specifically listed in the Consitution
Expressed powers
Unwritten powers of Congress that derive from the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution
Implied powers
Political parties become more ideologically pure; Liberal Democrats, Conservative Republicans, and a few moderates
Polarization
Assumption that members of Congress base their votes on their own beliefs
Trustee Model
Assumption that members of Congress base their votes on the wishes of the majority of their constituents
Delegate Model
Assumption that members of Congree alternate between the Trustee and Delegate Model depending on the issue and whether or not their constituents care about the issue
Politico Model
A procedural tactic in the US Senate to defeat or delay action on bill
Filibuster
A motion in the US Senate to call an end to a filibuster; requires 60/100 senators to pass
Cloture
A subgroup of legislators with specialized knowledge in the House or Senate that meets regularly to consider bills, hold hearings, and investigate matters within a certain policy area; most of the work of Congree in done here
Committee
The leader of a committee with substantial power to schedule hearings or kill a bill
Committee Chair
The process of revising and/or making changes to a bill in a committee
Mark-Up
A small committee within a standing committee that is created for a specific purpose/topic
Subcommittee
Members of Congree (and staff) become experts on certain topics over time (usually related to their committee assignment)
Specialization
Political party that has more than half of the seats in either the House or Senate; dominates all committees
Majority party
(not minor party)- Political party that has less than half of the seats in either the House or Senate
Minority Party
Nickname for a conservative Democrat, usually from the South
Blue Dog Democrat
Leader of the House of Representatives; assigns bills to committee; dominates the rules committee
Speaker of the House
Informal leader of the Senate; sets the agenda for what gets voted on
Senate Majority Leader
Leadership position in the House or Senate; counts votes and gathers support for a bill
Whip
A meeting or session of a House or Senate committee to obtain information and opinions on proposed legislation, conduct an investigation, or evaluate/oversee the activities of a government department or the implementation of a Federal law
Committee hearings
Members of Congress (or their staff) help citizens when they have a need or a problem with a government agency
Casework/Constituent Services
Members of congress review, monitor, and supervise federal agencies, programs, and policy implementation; each standing committee is responsible for certain departments/agencies
Legislative oversight
The Constitution allows the Senate to approve, or not approve of, the president’s nominations to federal courts, agencies, ambassadors, etc.; the Senate also ratifies treaties agreed to by the president
Advice and consent power
Formal approval of an amendment, treaty, etc.
Ratify
Congress has the “power of the purse,” meaning that they can block actions of the president or agencies by denying funding
Budgetary power
To bring formal charges against the president or any government official (even if they aren’t removed)
Impeach
Called for the direct election of senators (no longer chosen by state legislatures)
Seventeenth Amendment
Free mail for members of Congress; official purposes only
Franking
Cancelling out part, but not all of a law, typically wasteful spending; allowed for some state governors, but not for the president
Line-item veto
A bill that has an effect on taxes, tariffs or anything else that brings money into the government; must start in the House of Representatives
Revenue bill
Official government spending
Appropriations
Committees with jurisdiction over certain areas write bills to create/continue an agency or program and recommend how much money should be spent; it does not actually appropriate the money
Authorization of spending
Optional expenditures implemented by Congress through annual appropriations bills
Discretionary Spending
Mandatory expenditures on programs that people have a right to benefit from, such as Social Security or Medicare; Congress does not vote on this annually
Entitlement spending
Attempt by Congress to gain power over the president by requiring that any spending appropriated by Congress must actually be spent by the executive branch; the president may not refuse to spend the money
Budget and Impoundment Control Act
When the president deliberately refuses to spend money that has been appropriated by Congress (Congress passed a law against this)
Impoundment
Appropriations made by a legislature for projects that are not essential but are sought because they pump money, jobs, and resources into the local districts of the legislators; often times wasteful
Pork Barrel legislation
Technique where two or more members of Congress support each other in their efforts to include earmarks, riders, or pork into the legislative process
Logrolling
A federal agency within the legislative branch that provides economic/financial information to Congress; officially predicts how much proposed legislation might cost
Congressional Budget Office (C.B.O.)
Indirect way for the president to stop a bill from becoming a law by letting it “lay on his desk” for 10 days when Congress IS NOT in session
Pocket Veto
A policy-making alliance among specific congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups
Iron triangle
The chamber where ALL of the members of the legislative body meet to debate and vote on a bill
Floor (of the House and Senate)
The right to see a judge to be informed of the charges or reason for imprisonment
Writ of habeas corpus
a system where more power or privileges go to members of Congress who have been serving longer
Seniority
