Poli Sci 201 Test 3

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Bicameral Legislature

Back 1

-The division of government into two legislative houses.
- part of the result of the Connecticut Compromise
-enable the legislative body and its members to perform certain functions for the political system.

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Functions of congress

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-lawmaking
-service to constituents
-representation
-oversight
-public education
-conflict resolution

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Lawmaking

Back 3

-the process of establishing the legal rules that govern society
-most bills originate from the executive branch

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logrolling

Back 4

-an arrangement in which two or more members of congress agree in advance to support each other's bills.
-used in function of lawmaking

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representation

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-the function of members of congress as elected official representing the views of their constituents
-is often at variance with the lawmaking function for individual lawmakers and congress as a whole
-several ways to fulfill this function: the trustee view and the instructed-delegate view

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Trustee view of representation

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-a legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interest of the entire society

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Instructed-delegate view of representation

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-a legislator who is an agent of the voters who elected him or her and who votes according to the views of the constituents regardless of personal beliefs.

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service to constituents

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-members of congress are to act as brokers between private citizens and the government
- casework
-they want the constituents to know they are doing something about the problem

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casework

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-personal work for constituents by members of congress

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oversight

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-the process by which congress follows up on laws it has enacted to ensure that they are being enforced and administered in the way congress intended
-this is done by holding a committee hearing and investigations
-senators and representatives see their function important pat of the legislative activity

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public education

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-congress holds public hearings over concerns of problems
-they present a range of viewpoints
-congress decides what issues will come up for discussion and decision
-agenda setting is important in this function

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Conflict resolution

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-solving problems

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enumerated powers

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-a power specifically granted to the national government by the constitution.
-also known as the expressed powers
-has the right to impost taxes and import tariffs

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Ombudsperson

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a person who hears and investigates complaints by private individuals against public officials or agencies

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necessary and Proper clause

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-Article 1, Section 8
- make all laws be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers and all other powers vested by this constitution in the government of the United states
-provided the basis for the national government

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House Vs. Senate

Back 16

house:
-local districts
- 2 year term
-elected by voters
-can impeach federal officials
-435 members
-more formal rules
-debate limited
-less notice
-more partisan
-originates bills for raising revenues

senate:
-members chosen from entire state
- 6 year term
-elected by state legislatures
-can convict federal officials of impeachable offenses
-100 members
-fewer rules and restrictions
-extended debate
-more media attention
-individualistic
-advise the president on and to consent to , presidential appointments and treaties

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Rules Committee

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-a standing committee of the house of representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house
-this Committee proposes a rule for debate
-the house debates and approves the rule

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enumerated powers

Back 18

-a power specifically granted to the national government by the constitution.
-also known as the expressed powers
-has the right to impost taxes and import tariffs

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Ombudsperson

Back 19

a person who hears and investigates complaints by private individuals against public officials or agencies

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necessary and Proper clause

Back 20

-Article 1, Section 8
- make all laws be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers and all other powers vested by this constitution in the government of the United states
-provided the basis for the national government

Front 21

House Vs. Senate

Back 21

house:
-local districts
- 2 year term
-elected by voters
-can impeach federal officials
-435 members
-more formal rules
-debate limited
-less notice
-more partisan
-originates bills for raising revenues

senate:
-members chosen from entire state
- 6 year term
-elected by state legislatures
-can convict federal officials of impeachable offenses
-100 members
-fewer rules and restrictions
-extended debate
-more media attention
-individualistic
-advise the president on and to consent to , presidential appointments and treaties

Front 22

Rules Committee

Back 22

-a standing committee of the house of representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house
-this Committee proposes a rule for debate
-the house debates and approves the rule

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rule

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-the proposal by the rules committee of the house that states the conditions for debate for one piece of legislation

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Unanimous consent agreement

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- an agreement on the rules of debate for proposed legislation in the senate that is approved by all the members

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filibuster

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-the use of the Senate's tradition of unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block a bill

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direct primary

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-an intraparty election in which the voters select the candidates who will run on a party's ticket in the subsequent general election

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party identifier

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-a person who identifies with a political party

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reapportionment

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-the allocation of seats in the house of representatives to each state after each census

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redistricting

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-the redrawing of the boundaries of the congressional districts within each state
-usually made by a small group of political leaders within a state legistlature
-main goal is to shape voting districts in such a way as to maximize their party's chances of winning

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Justiciable question

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-a question that may be raised and reviewed in court

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gerrymandering

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-the drawing of legislative district boundary lines to obtain partisan or factional advantage.
- a district is said to be this when its shpae is manupulated by the dominant party in the state legislature to maximize electoral strength at the expense of the minority party

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discharge petition

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-a procedure by which a bil in the house of presentatives may be forced out of a committee that has refused to report it for consideration by the house.
- this must be signed by 218 representatives and is used only on rare occasions

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standing committee

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a permanent committee in the house or senate that considers bills within a certain subject area

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select committee

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-a temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose

-on intelligence, ethics

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joint committee

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-a legislative committee composed of members from both chambers of congress

-on taxation
-economic

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conference committee

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-a special joint committee appointed to reconcile difference when bills pass the two chambers of congress in different forms

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seniority system

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-a custom followed in both chambers of congress specifying that the member of the majority party with the lingest term of continuous service will be given preference when a committee chairperson is selected

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safe seat

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-a district that returns a legislator with 55% of the vote or more

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Speaker of the house

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-the presiding officer in the house of representatives.
-is always a member of the majority party and is the most powerful and influential momber of the house
-presides over meetings
-decides points of order
-refers bills to the right committee
-schedules legislation for floor action

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Majority leader of the house

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-a legislative position held by an important party member in the house of representatives
-is selected by the majority party in caucus or conference to foster cohesion among party members and to act as spokesperson for the majority party in the house

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Minority leader of the house

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the party leader elected by the minority party in the house

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Whip

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-a member in congress who aids the majority or minority leader of the house or the senate

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President Pro Tempore

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-The temporary presiding officer of the senate in the absence of the nice president

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Senate majority leader

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-the chief spokesperson of the majority party in the senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy

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senate minority leader

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the party officer in the senate who commands the minority party's opposition to the policies of the majority party and directs the legislative program and strategy of his or her party

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conservative coalition

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an alliance of republicans and southern democrats that can form in the house or the senate to oppose liberal legislation and support conservative legislation

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blue dog democrats

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members of congress from more moderate states or districts who sometimes "cross over" to vote with republicans on legislation

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executive budget

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-the budget prepared and submitted by the president to congress

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fiscal year

Back 49

-a 12 month period that is used for bookkeeping, or accounting purposes.
-usually doesn't coincide with the calendar year

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fall review

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-the annual process in which the office of management and budget, after receiving formal federal agency request for funding for the next fiscal year, reviews the requests, makes changes, and submits its recommendations to the president.

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12th Amendment

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-an amendment to the constitution adopted in 1804 that specifies that separate election of the president and vice president by the electoral college

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executive agreement

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an international agreement made by the president, without senatorial ratification with the head of a foreign state

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Pocket veto

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-a special veto exercised by the chief executive after a legislative body has adjourned.
-bills not signed by the chief executive die after a certain period of time
-if congress wished to reconsider such a bill, it must be reintroduced in the following session on congress

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executive order

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- a rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect of law.
-they can implement and giver administrative effect to provisions in the constitution, to treaties, and to statutes

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impeachment

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-an action by the HOR to accuse the president, VP or other civil officers of the US of committing "treason, bribery, or other high crimes"

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cabinet

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-an advisory group selected by the president to aid in making decsions.
-includes heads of 15 executive departments and others name by the president

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Bureaucracy

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-a large organization that is structured hierarchically to carry out specific functions

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Acquisitive Model

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-a model of bureaucracy that views top level bureaucrat as seeking to expand the size of their budgets and staffs to gain greater power

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Weberian Model

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-a model of bureaucracy developed by Max Weber
-he viewed bureaucracies as rational, hierarchical organizations in which decisions are based on logical reasoning

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Monopolistic Model

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-a model of bureaucracy that compares bureaucracies to monopolistic business firms
-lack of competition in either circumstance leads to inefficient and costly operations

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cabinet department

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-one of the 15 departments of the executive branch
-major organizations of the federal government
-they were created by congress

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independent executive agencies

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-a federal agency that is not part of a cabinet department but reports directly to the president

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independent regulatory Agency

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-an agency outside the major executive departments charged with making and implementing rules and regulations

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capture

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-the act by which an industry being regulated by a government agency gains direct or indirect control over agency personnel and decision makers

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government corporations

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-an agency of government that administers a guasi business enterprise.
-these corporations are used when activities are primarily commercial

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spoils system

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-the awarding of government jobs to political supporters and friends

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merit system

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-the selection, retention, and promotion of government employees on the basis of competitive examinations

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Civil service Commission

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-the initial central personnel agency of the national government, created in 1883

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sunset legislation

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-laws requiring that existing programs be reviewed regularly for their effectiveness and be terminated unless specifically extended as a result of these reviews.

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privatization

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the replacement of government services with services provided by private firms.

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whistleblowers

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-someone who brings to public attention gross governmental inefficiency or an illegal action

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Pendleton Act

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-an act that established the principle of employment on the basis of merit and created the civil service commission to administer the personnel service

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Iron Triangle

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-the 3 way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests

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issue networks

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-a group of individuals or organizations which may consist or legislators and legislative staff members, interest group leaders, bureaucrats, the media, scholars, and other experts- that supports a particular policy position on a given issue

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common law

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-judge made law that originated in england from decisions shaped according to prevailing custom.
-decisions were applied to similar situations and gradually became common to the nation

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precedent

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-a court rule bearing on subsequent legal decisions in similar cases.
-judges rely on them in deciding cases

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stare decisis

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-to stand on decided case
-the judicial policy of following precedents established by past decisions

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Juridiction

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-the authority of a court to decide certain cases
-not all courts have the authority to decide all cases

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writ of certiorari

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-an order issued by a higher court to a lower court to send up the record of a case for review

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rule of four

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- a united states supreme court procedure by which 4 justices must vote to grant a petition for review if a case is to come before the full court

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concurring opinion

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-a separate opinion prepared by a judge who supports the decision of the majority of the court bu who wants to make or clarify a particular point or to voice disapproval of the grounds on which the decision was made.

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dissenting opinion

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-a separate opinion in which a judge disagrees with the conclusion reached by the majority on the court and expounds his or her own views about the case.

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Senatorial Courtesy

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-in federal district court judgeship nominations, a tradition allowing a senator to veto a judicial appointment in his or her state.

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judicial Activism

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-a doctrine holding that the supreme court should take an active role by using its powers to check the activities of governmental bodies when those bodies exceed their authority

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judicial restraint

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-a doctrine holding that the supreme court should defer to the decisions made by the elected representatives of the people in the legislative and executive branches

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yellow journalism

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-a term for sensationalistic, irresponsible journalism.

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managed news

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-informations generated and distributed by the government in sich a way as to give government interests priority over candor

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sound bite

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-a brief, memorable comment that can easily be fit into news broadcasts

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spin

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-an interpretations of campaign events or election results that is favorable to the candidate's campaign strategy

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Spring Review

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- the annual process in which the office of management and budget requires federal agencies to review their programs, activities, and goals and submit their request for funding for the next fiscal year.

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cloture

Back 91

3/5 vote (or 60 votes) to end the debate on a bill