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AP Gov. @ PHS- unit vocab.

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term
definition
safe seat   an elected office that is predictably won by the same party  
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reapportionment   number of seats per state adjusted by congress after a census  
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redistricting   the redrawing of congressional districts to keep district popuation relatively equal  
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gerrymandering   drawing election district boundaries to benefit a party or incumbent  
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speaker   presiding officer of House of Rep. elected by the majority party in the House  
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majority leader   legislative leader selected by majority party; plans party strategy, keeps party members in line  
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minority leader   leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition in the House; often steps into the Speakership once his/her party gains a majority  
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whip   party leader who is the liaison between leadership and rank and file  
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closed rule   only in House of Rep.; prohibits amendments to a bill, or only the committee reporting the bill can suggest amendments  
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open rule   only in the House; a bill can have amendments made to it  
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refusal of a rule   House rules committee can delay consideration of a bill by refusing to assign a rule (either open or closed)  
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hold   practice in the senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of a bill or nomination  
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president pro tempore   officer of the senate selected by the majority pary to act as chair in the absence of the vice president  
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filibuster   senate, whereby a senator holds the floor and therby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue  
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cloture   in the senatet: terminates debate, especially filibuster  
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senatorial courtesy   president's custom of submitting prospective appointees for approval to senators  
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delegate   view that legislators should represent the views of their constituents despite their own views  
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trustee   view that legislators should vote independently based on own judgement of facts  
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log rolling   vote trading among legislators  
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standing committee   permanent committee; focused on a policy area  
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rider   irrelevant provision added to a bill to secure its passage  
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pocket veto   president waits 10 days w/out signing bill and congress has adjourned  
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override   2/3 vote in each senate and house that approves a bill after president has vetoed  
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joint committee   committee composed of members from both senate and house  
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select/special committee   committee created for a specific purpose  
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discharge position   petition that, if signed by by a majority of House, will force a bill out of committee and bring it to the floor for consideration  
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seniority rule   practice that assigns the chair of a committee or subcommittee to a member of the majority party whom has had the longest continous service on the committee  
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conference committee   committee appointed by presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different forms  
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pork barrel legistlation   government benefits or programs that may help the economy of a member of congress's district  
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appropriations bills   has to be signed by congress and then the president to approve funds  
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franking privilege   perk incumbents have to help gain reelection: free mailing to constituents  
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executive privilege   the right for a president to withhold or protect information related to national security under certain conditions  
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Executive Order   order issued by a president of governor that has the force of law.  
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Item Veto   Power of an executive to veto parts of legislation; unconstitutional for a president to use, but okay for many governors  
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Impoundment   not spending funds for purposes congress has authorized  
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Continuing Resolutions   extending the authority for government spending for a few days or months  
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Judicial Review   power to authoritatively interpret the constitution  
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Class Action Lawsuit   Lawsuit brought by an individual or a group of people on behalf of all those similarily situated  
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Stare Decisis   the rule of precedent  
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appellate Jurisdiction   the authority to review appeals of the decisions made by lower courts  
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Court of Appeals   Court with appellate jurisdiction that hears appelas from the decisions of lower courts  
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Petit Jury   jury of 6-12 people who determine guilt or innocence in a civil or criminal action  
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Habeas Corpus   court order requiring explanation to a judge why a prisoner is held in custody  
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judicial restraint   judicial philosophy proposing proposing that judges should interpret the constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say.  
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Judicial Activism   judicial philosophy proposingthat judges should interpret the constitution to reflect current conditions and values  
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Amicus Curiae   Literally "friend of the court"; individuals/groups who present additional information to a case  
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bureaucrat   career government employee  
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bureaucracy   professional corporation of official organized in a pyramidal hierarchy and functioning under impersonal, uniform rules and procedures  
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Spoils system   system of public employment based on rewardignpary loyalists and friends  
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Merit System   system in which selection and employment depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage  
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Office of Personnel Management (OPM)   Agency that administers civil service laws, rules, and regulations.  
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Bureau   largest subunit of a government department or agency  
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Government Corporation   cross between a business corp. and gov. agency; created to secure greater freeedom of action and flexibility for a particular program  
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Independent Agency   government entity that is independent of the legilsative, executive, and judicial branch  
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Independent Regulatory Board   independent agency or commission with regulatory powers whose independence is protected by congress  
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Office of Management and Budget   Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearing house for budgetary requests and managemnet improvements  
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Hatch Act   prohibits federal employees from active participation in certain kinds of politics and protects them from being fired on partisan grounds  
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Iron Triangle   mutually supported relationship among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and governmental agencies that share a common policy concern  
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