Unit Four Flashcards
Two-house legislature
Bicameral
dividing a state into odd-shapes districts for strictly political reasons
Gerrymandering
the right to send job-related mail without paying postage
Franking Privelege
Legal protection
Immunity
how Congress carries out its work in two regular time periods
Session
the majority party’s floor leader
Majority leader
The minority’s party floor leader
Minority leader
person who assists each floor leader
Keeping others in check
Party Whip
the leader of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
the president “for the time being” / the person that handles the day to day leadership of the Senate
President Pro Tempore
a permanent committee that specializes in a particular topic
Standing Committee
temporary committees that deal with issues that need specialized attention
Selection Committee
committee that includes both members of houses
Joint Committee
special joint committee that helps the House and Senate agree on details of a proposed law
Conference Committee
the most desirable committee assignments are given to the congressman who have served the longest
Seniority System
powers listed specifically in Article I
Expressed Powers
accusing a government officials of wrongdoing, put them on trial, and if necessary remove them from office
Impeach
involving money
Appropriations
set aside a bill without even considering it
Pigeonhole
killing a bill by talking until the bill’s sponsor withdraws it
Filibuster
limits a senator to one hour of debate with a filibuster
Cloture
when those who support the bill say yay, and those who opposed say nay
Voice Vote
when members who support a bill are asked to stand and be counted
Standing Vote
when each members name is individually called and he or she is asked for their vote
Roll-call Vote
when the president does not sign a bill in 10 days and Congress is not in session
Pocket Veto
a group made up of the heads of the executive departments, the Vice President, and other officials
Cabinet
large network of agencies and individuals that oversee the execution of laws
Bureaucracy
rule or command the President issues that has the force of law
Executive Order
an official representative of a country’s government
Ambassador
a formal agreement between two or more countries
Treaty
an agreement between the President and the leader of another country
Executive Agreement
a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment
Pardon
an order to delay a person’s punishment
Reprieve
similar to pardon except it applies to a group rather than an individual
Amnesty
matters affecting only the US
Domestic
a plan for dealing with other nations
Foreign Policy
A foreign nation’s office
Embassy
offices to help Americans in various countries
Consulate
an official that heads a consulate
Consul
an official document that identifies a traveler as an American citizen
Passport
a permit allowing a person to remain here for a certain amount of time
Visa
How long is a Senator’s term?
Six years
What are some qualifications for being a Senator?
Must be at least 30
US citizen for 9 years
Resident of your state
How long are House of Representative’s terms?
2 years
What are some qualifications for being a representative?
Must be 25
Must be a US citizen for 7 years
Must live in the state you represent
What are some benefits/privileges of being in Congress?
Free office space, parking, transportation, assistants, office staff, supplies, and discounts on medical care and haircuts
Congressmen also have a franking privilege and immunity
What are some expressed powers?
MAJOR ONES, Collect taxes, Borrow money
Regulate foreign and interstate commerce, Set up a postal system, Maintain armed service, Declare war
Regulate immigration and naturalization
Name some Non-legislative powers
The power to propose amendments to the Constitution
The power to investigate
The power to impeach
When two version of the same bill are passed, the conflicting bills are sent to
Conference Committees
If the president vetoes a bill, congress may override the veto. How much of the Senate have to vote in favor?
2/3s
What are the three requirements to be president?
Native born (not naturalized) citizen of the US
At least 35 years old
Have lived in the US for at least 14 years
Similar characteristic of presidents
Most have been white males All but one have been Protestants Many have been of British ancestry Most have attended college Many gain their careers as lawyers
What are three main roles of the President?
Chief Diplomat, Chief Executive, and Commander and Chief
The Senate has to approve treaties by a _____ vote.
2/3
As Commander in Chief, the President is the leader of the ____.
Armed forces
This Act requires the President to notify Congress immediately when troops are sent into battle
The War Powers Act of 1973
Troops must be brought home after _____ days unless Congress gives it approval
60
How long is a Supreme Court Justice’s term?
For life
What are the people of the Executive Office of the President responsible for?
Providing advice and helping the president
What is the most important Office of the EOP?
The White House Office
What does the White House Office do?
Assists the president in running the nation
Who “really runs the White House”? They are also the most powerful in the WHO.
The chief of staff
What does the Press Secretary do?
provides reporters with news about, and statements from, the president
Who prepares the federal budget and gathers stats about the nation’s economy?
The Office of Management and Budget
Who is the head of the OMB?
The budget director
What are the leaders of each department called? What is the leader of the Justice Department called?
Secretaries, attorney general
What Department manages US relations with foreign countries?
The Department of State
Who handles the nation’s money?
The Department of the Treasury
Oversees the army, navy, marines, and the air force
Department of Defense
Who handles a wide range of law enforcement activities?
The Department of Justice
Manages the land of the US, responsible for the management of And conservation of the nation’s lands and natural resources
Department of the Interior
What is the best known Department inside the Department of the Interior?
The National Parks Service
Helps both farmers and the consumers of farm products
USDA
division of the department of Ag, helps maintain the quality and safety of meat and poultry
The Food Safety and Inspection Service
Encourages the growth of American business
Supervises international trade
Promotes tourism and business
Collects information about the country’s economic well being
The Department of Commerce
Department within the Labor division that sets health and safety standards that employers must meet to protect their workers from physical harm
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Collects info about the market and working conditions
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Works for the Health and well-being of Americans
Concerned with the welfare of Americans
Manages Social Secuirty
Provides finnacial support for people who might otherwise be in poverty
The Department of Health and Human Services
Operates programs that distribute federal grants to state and local governments
Helps pay for such projects as rebuilding slums, improving neighborhoods, and building lower-income housing
The Department of Housing and Urban Developement
Manages the nation’s highways, railways, airlines, and sea traffic
DOT
Regulates the development and use of US oil and gas resources
Conduct research into ways to use these fuels more efficiently and to develop other sources of energy
Department of Energy
Provides free education
Offers advice and assistance to state and local governments in regards to education
Federal money helps to fund special education programs
Department of Education
Provides military vets with helpful benefits
Healthcare
Finnacial Aid for eduction
Department of Veteran Affairs
An executive agency that gathers political and military information on foreign nations
CIA
What is an example of a government corporation?
The postal service
Who started the spoils system?
President Andrew Jackson in 1829
What Act turned the spoils system into the merit system?
The Pendleton Act of 1883
inefficiently caused by too many rules and regulations
Red Tape
giving jobs as a reward for party loyalty
Spoils system
giving jobs to those most qualified
Merit system
workers whose primary duty is to serve the government and its citizens
Civil servant
an independent agency responsible for dealing with certain specialized areas of government
Executive agencies
independent agencies that protect the public by controlling certain types of businesses and industries
Regulatory commission
is similar to a private corporation, except that the government rather than individuals owns and operates it
Government Corporation
cases in which juries decide whether people have committed crimes
Criminal case
cases in which two sides disagree over some issue
Civil case
the authority to hear and decide a case
Jurisdiction
which means that only the federal courts may hear a decide cases
Exclusive Jurisdiction
when the state and federal courts are said to share Jurisdiction
Concurrent Jurisdiction
the federal courts where trials are held and lawsuits are begun
District court
the authority to hear cases for the first time
Original Jurisdiction
someone who issues court orders and hears the preliminary evidence in a case to determine whether the case should be brought to trial
Magistrate
arrests suspects, delivers defendants to court, and serves people with subpoena
Marshal
a court order requiring someone to appear in court
Subpoen
the courts above the district courts
Court of Appeals
hearing only cases that have come to them on appeal from the lower district courts or from federal regulatory agencies
Appellant Jurisdiction
a particular geographical area pertaining to jurisdiction
Circuit
Return
Remand
a trial before a panel of military officers
Court-marshal
the Court can review any federal or state law to see if it is in agreement with the Constitution
Judicial review
in conflict with the Constitution
Unconstitutional
Written arguments
Briefs
Calendar
Docket
Opposing sides
Adversaries
“to make more certain” directs a lower court to send its records on a case to the Supreme Court for review
Writ of Certiorari
a statement explaining the majority view in a case in which justices are divided
Majority opinion
a statement that a Justice who agrees with the majority opinion decision but for different reasons writes
Concurring Opinion
a statement that a Justice who opposes the majority decision writes
Dissenting Opinion
District courts handle about ______ criminal and civil cases a year
300,000
Name some special federal courts
US tax Court
US Court of Federal Claims
US Court of Military Appeals
US Court of International Trade
