Unit 4 - Institutions Flashcards
Appropriation
money that Congress has allocated to be spent
Appropriations Committee
congressional committee that deals with federal spending
Appellate jurisdiction
authority of a court to hear an appeal from a lower court
Bureaucracy
departments, agencies, bureaus, and commissions in the executive branch of government
Casework
personal work done by a member of Congress for his constituents
Civil law
concerns noncriminal disputes between private parties
Class action lawsuit
lawsuit brought on behalf of a class of people against a defendant, e.g., lawsuits brought by those who have suffered from smoking against tobacco companies
Closed rule
Rules Committee rule that bans amendments to a bill
Cloture
Senate motion to end a filibuster that requires a 3/5 vote
Concurring opinion
written by a Supreme Court Justice who voted with the majority, but for different reasons
Conference committee
works out a compromise between differing House-Senate versions of a bill
Constituents
the people who are represented by elected officials
Discharge petition
a motion to force a bill to the House floor that has been bottled up in committee
Dissenting opinion
written by a Supreme Court Justice (or Justices) who express a minority viewpoint in a case
Executive agreement
an agreement between the President and another head of state that, unlike a treaty, does not require Senate consent
Executive order
presidential rule or regulation that has the force of law
Executive privilege
the privilege of a President and his staff to withhold their “privileged” conversations from Congress or the courts
Filibuster
nonstop Senate debate that prevents a bill from coming to a vote
Finance Committee
Senate committee that handles tax bills
Franking privilege
allows members of Congress to send mail postage free
Gerrymandering
redrawing district lines to favor one party at the expense of the other
Hold
Senate maneuver that allows a Senator to stop or delay consideration of a bill or presidential appointment
Impeachment
House action that formally charges an official with wrongdoing. Conviction requires 2/3 vote from the Senate
Impoundment
refusal of a President to spend money that has been appropriated by Congress
Injunction
court order that forbids a party from performing a certain action
Judicial activism
philosophy that the courts should take an active role in solving problems
Judicial restraint
philosophy that the courts should defer to elected lawmakers in setting policy, and should instead focus on interpreting law rather than making law
Judicial review
power of the courts to review the constitutionality of laws or government actions
Legislative oversight
ongoing process of congressional monitoring of the executive branch to ensure that the latter complies with the law
Legislative veto
process in which Congress overturned rules and regulations proposed by executive branch agencies. Struck down in 1983
Line item veto
power of most governors (and President Clinton for only a few years) to delete or reduce funding in a bill on a line by line basis
Logrolling
when two members of Congress agree to vote for each other’s bill
Majority opinion
written to express the majority viewpoint in a Supreme Court case
Mark up
committee action to amend a proposed bill
Merit system
system of hiring federal workers based upon competitive exams
Open rule
House Rules Committee rule that allows amendments to a bill
Original jurisdiction
authority of a court to first hear a case
Patronage
power to appoint loyal party members to federal positions
Pocket veto
presidential killing of a bill by inaction after Congress adjourns
Political appointees
those who have received presidential appointments to office. Contrast with Civil Service employees, who receive federal jobs by competitive exams
Pork barrel
wasteful congressional spending, e.g. funding for a Lawrence Welk museum in North Dakota
Quorum
minimum number of members needed for the House or Senate to meet
Reapportionment
reallocation of House seats to the states on the basis of changes in state populations, as determined by the census
Redistricting
redrawing of congressional district boundaries by the party in power of the state legislature
Red tape
complex rules and procedures required by bureaucratic agencies
Remand
the Supreme Court’s sending of a case back to the original court in which it was heard
Rider
amendment to a bill that has little to do with that bill. Also known as a nongermane amendment
Rule of four
the Supreme Court will hear a case if four Justices agree to do so
Rules Committee
the “traffic cop” of the House that sets the legislative calendar and issues rules for debate on a bill
Senatorial courtesy
tradition in which the President consults with the senators within a state in which an appointment is to be made
Seniority system
tradition in which the Senator from the majority party with the most years of service on a committee becomes the chairman of that committee
Spoils system
see patronage above
Standing committees
the permanent congressional committees that handle legislation
Stare decisis
Latin for “let the decision stand.” Supreme Court policy of following precedent in deciding cases
Sunset laws
laws that automatically expire after a given time
Ways and Means Committee
House committee that handles tax bills
Whistleblower
an employee who exposes unethical or illegal conduct within the federal government or one of its contractors
Writ of certiorari
issued by the Supreme Court to a lower court to send up the records of a case so that it can be reviewed by the high court
Writ of habeas corpus
court order that the authorities show cause for why they are holding a prisoner in custody. Deters unlawful imprisonment
Writ of mandamus
court order directing a party to perform a certain action
