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Government Vocab 2
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Bicameral | Two house legislative branch |
| Fillbuster | Senate tradition of unlimited debate |
| Cloture | End of debate, a check on a fillbuster |
| Pork Barrel Spending | Funds earmarked for a specific purpose in a legislator's district |
| Logrolling | Trading votes |
| Divided Government | Branches are controlled by opposing political parties |
| Reapportionment | After each census, the 435 seats in the House of Representatives are reapportioned to the state based on population changes |
| Redistricting | Re-drawing the boundary lines of Congressional (or state legislative) districts in a state |
| Gerrymandering | Drawing the boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives one political party an advantage |
| Baker v Carr (1962) | Rural and urban gerrymandering in Tennessee, One Man One Vote |
| Shaw v Reno (1993) | Racial gerrymandering can be challenged as potential violations of the equal protection (14th Amendment) |
| Joint Committee | Composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate |
| Lame Duck | When a politician has lost reelection, decided to retire, abandoned office, or has exhausted his or her term limit and has little power |
| Politico Model | Consider the will of the people but act in ways that they believe are best for the long-term interest of the nation |
| Delegate Model | Presentative should represent the opinions of his or her constituents |
| Trustee Model | Rely on their own judgment when making decisions |
| Bully Pulpit | Informal presidential power to speak directly to the people and communicate his/her agenda |
| Executive Order | Mandatory requirements from the president that has the effect of law but can be revoked by a different president, and does not require Senate approval |
| Executive Agreement | A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval |
| Signing Statement | A written comment issued by a President at the time of signing legislation |
| Pocket veto | President can reject a bill by taking no action at all |
| Veto | A formal decision to reject the bill passed by Congress |
| Cabinet | A group of presidential advisers, including the heads of the executive departments, the attorney general, and other officials chosen by the president |
| Federalist 70 | Advocate for a single strong executive leader who is paid |
| 22nd Amendment | Limits presidential term to two terms or a total of ten years |
| State of Union Address | President giving update speech to Congress every January |
| Pardon | Formal power of the president to forgive someone of a crime |
| Judicial Review | The power of the Supreme Court to judge laws are actions unconstitutional |
| Federalist 78 | Argues for an independent judiciary and establishes the principle of judicial review |
| Marbury v Madison | Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review |
| US District Courts | General trial court in the federal judiciary where most federal cases begin |
| US Circuit Courts of Appeals | Intermediate appellate courts that review decisions from U.S. district courts |
| Original Jurisdiction | The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time |
| Appellate Jurisdiction | The power of a court to review and revise a lower court's decision |
| Precedent | A legal decision from an earlier court case that is used as a rule or principle to guide judges in future, similar cases |
| Stare Decisis | A legal doctrine that requires courts to follow precedents |
| Warren Court | Landmark, progressive rulings that expanded civil rights and liberties through judicial |
| Petition for Certiorari | A formal request to a higher court to review a lower court's decision |
| Majority Opinion | The written statement of the court, agreed to by more than half of the justices, that explains the rationale and outcome of a case |
| Concurring opinion | Agrees with the majority's decision in a case but disagrees with the majority's legal reasoning |
| Judicial Restraint | A judicial philosophy that encourages judges to limit their own power by deferring to the decisions of the legislative and executive branches and by sticking to precedent |
| Judicial Activism | The practice of judges making decisions that can create new legal precedents or overturn existing ones to address social issues |
| Bureaucracy | The complex system of government officials and the agencies they work for that implement and enforce federal laws and policies |
| Cabinet Secretaries | High-ranking officials who head the 15 executive departments and serve as key advisors to the President |
| Executive Departments | Major federal units within the executive branch that are headed by a secretary and report directly to the President |
| Federal Agencies | A government body within the executive branch created by Congress or a presidential order to implement and enforce specific laws and regulations |
| Commission | A formal body established to investigate, recommend, and carry out specific governmental functions, such as regulating industries or advising on policy |
| Government Corporations | A government agency that provides a service for a fee, much like a private business, to fulfill a public purpose that is not adequately met by the private sector |
| Iron Triangle | Relationship between a congressional committee, a government agency, and an interest group |
| Spoils System | A practice where a political party rewards its supporters with government jobs and benefits after winning an election, often prioritizing loyalty over qualifications |
| Pendleton Civil Service Act | Established a merit-based system for federal employment, replacing the "spoils system" |
| Merit System | The principle of hiring and promoting government employees based on their abilities, skills, and performance, rather than on political patronage or connections |
| Office of Personnel Management | Responsible for managing the federal civil service by setting policies, overseeing merit-based hiring, and administering employee benefits |
| Whistleblower Protection Act | A federal law that protects most federal employees from retaliation when they report waste, fraud, abuse, or other wrongdoing |
Created by:
Kellan Foster