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