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political science

Terms

undefined, object
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inherent powers
powers that grow out of the very existence of government
docket
the list of potential cases that reach the supreme court
seniority rule
a legislative practice that assigns the chair of a committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longes continuous service on the committe
reapportionment
the assigning by congess of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts.
senatorial courtesy
presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work
regulations
the formal instructions that government issues for implemnting laws.
impeachment
formal accusation against the president or other public official, the first step in removal from office
closed rule
a procedural rule in the house of representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may olffer amendments
administrative discretion
authority given by congress to the federal bureaucracy to use resonable judgment in implementing the laws
office of management and budget (OMB)
presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies
judicial review
the power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or government regulation that in the opinion of the judges conflicts with the U.S. Constitution or, in a state court, he state constitution
discharge petition
petition that if signed by a majority of the house of representatives members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration
stare decisis
the rule of precedent, whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented
whip
party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature
hold
a procedural practice in the senae whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of a bill or nomintation
justiciable law
a dispute growing out of an actual case or controversy and that is capable of settlement by legal methods
cloture
a procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the senate
public defender system
arrangement whereby public officials are hired to provide legal assistance to people accused of crimes who are unable to hire their own attorneys
executive orders
formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the federal bureaucracy
party caucus
a meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. called a conference by the republicans
mandate
a presidents claim of broad public support
department
usually the largest organization in government with the largest mission , also the highest rank in federal hierarchy
redistricting
the redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districs as equal as possible in population.
independent regulatory commission
a government agency or commission with regulatory power whose independence is protected by congress
enumerated powers
the powers explicitly given to congress n teh constitution
defendant
in a criminal action, the person or party accused of an offense
safe seat
an elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted.
criminal justice
a law that defines crimes against the public order
cycle of decreasing influience
the tendency of presidents to lose support over time
incumbent
the current holder of elected office
constituents
the residents of a congressional district or state
amicus curiae brief
literally, a "friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addiction to those presented by the immediate partiees to a case
write of certiorari
a formal writ used to bring a case before the supreme court
entitlement program
programs such as unemployment insurance disaster relief, or disability payments taht provide benefits to all eligible citizens
bureaucrat
a career government employee
independent agency
a government entity that is independent of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
civil law
a law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights
gerrmandering
the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incombent.
senatorial courtesy
presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointes are to work
delegate
an official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even personally holding different views. one interpretation of the role of the legislator
office of personnel management (OPM)
agency that adminsters civil service laws, rules and regulations
opinion of the court
an explanation of a decision of the supreme court or any other appellate court
hatch act
federal statute barring federal employees from active participation in certain kinds of politics and protecting them from being fired on partisan grounds
court of appeals
a court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appeals from the decisions of lower courts
precedent
a decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the supreme court that is binding on all other federal courts
bureaucracy
a form of organization that operates through impersonal, uniform rules and procedures
bicameralism
the principle of a two-house legislature
merit system
a system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage
standing committee
a permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area.
earmarks
special spending projectgs that are set aside on behalf of individual members of congress for their constituents
speaker
the presiding officer in the house of representatives, formally elected by the house but actually selected by the majority party
majority leader
the legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line.
attentive public
those citizens who follow public affairs closely
rule-making process
The formal process for making regulations
trustee
an official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances, on interpretation of the role of the legislator
president pro tempore
officer of the senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president
state of the union address
the presidents annual statement to congress and the nation
uncontrollable spending
the portion of the federal budget that is spent on programs, such as socia security, that the president and congress are unwilling to cut.
take care clause
the constitutional requirement( in article ll, section 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed, even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws
chief of staff
the head of the white house staff
government corporation
a government agency that operates like a business coprotation created to secure greater freedom of action adn gelcibility for particular program
executive office of the president
the cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. currently the office includes the office of management and budget, the council of economic advisors and several other units
cabinet
advisory council for the president , consisting of the heads of executive departments, the vice president and a few other officials selected by the president
implementation
the process of putting a law into practive through bureaucratic rules of spending
oversight
legislative or executive review of a particular government program or organization. can be in response to crisis of some kind or part of routine review
concurring opionion
an opinion that agrees with the majority in a supreme court ruling but differs on the reasoning
write of habeas corpus
a court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is being held in custody
appellate jurisdiction
the authority of a court to reciew decisions made by lower courts
impoundment
a decision by the president not to spend money appropriated by congress, now prohibited under federal law
special or select committee
a congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation
dissenting opinion
an opinion disagreeing with the majority in a supreme court ruling
congressional -executive agreement
a formal agreement between the u.s. president and the leaders of other nations that requires approval by both hourses of congress
filibuster
a procedural practive in the senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue
rider
a provision attached to a bill to which it may or may not be related in order to secure its passage or defeat.
rally point
a rise in public approval of the president that follows a crisis as americans rally round the flaf, and the chief executive
cycly of increasing effectiveness
the tendency of presidents to learn more about doing their jobs over time
judicial restraint
philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the constitution to reflect current conditions and values
pocket veto
a formal decision to reject a bill passed by congress after it adjourns-if congress adjourns during the ten days that the president is allowed in order to sign or veto a law, the president can reject the law by taking no action at all
spoils system
a system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends
conference committee
committee appointed by the presideing officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particlular bill passed by each in different form
central clearance
review of all executive branch testimony, reports, and draft legislation by the office of management and budget to ensure that each communication to congress is in accordance with the president's program
presidential ticket
the joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the twelfth amendment
minority leader
the legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition
treaty
a formal, public agreement between the united states and one or more nations that must be approved by two-thirds of the senate.
executive privilege
the right to keep executive communications confidential especially if they relate to national security
executive agreement
a formal agreement between the u.s. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require senate approval
parliamentary system
a system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president
line item veto
presidential power to strike , or remove, specific items from a spending bill withour vetoing the entire package, declared unconstitutional by the supreme court.
veto
a formal decision to reject a bill passed by congress
original jurdisdiction
the authority of a court to hear a case "in the first instance."
open rule
a procedural rule in the house of representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill
plea bargain
agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant that the defendant will plead guilty to a lesser offense to avoid having to stand trial for a more serious offense
logrolling
mutual aid and vote trading among legislators
pocket veto
a veto exercised by the president after congress has adjourned, if the president takes no action for ten days the bill does not become law and is not returned to congress for possible override
indexing
providing automatic increases to compensate the inflation
adversary system
a judicial system in which the court of law is a newtral arena where two parties argue their differences
senior executive service
established by congress in 1978 as a flexible, mobile corps of senior career executives who work closely with presidential appointees to manage government
joint committee
a committee composed of members of both the hours of representatives and the senate, such committees oversee the library of congress and conduct investigations
override
an action taken by congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two thirds majority in each chamber

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