Political Science Final

Front 1

go through legislation line by line and parts of the legislation can be crossed off when signed, crossed lines will not be passed or implemented.

Back 1

line item veto

Front 2

when the president doesn’t act on a given piece of legislation passed during the final 10 days of a legislative session.

Back 2

pocket veto

Front 3

president must make sure the laws of the US are faithfully executed, the country is governed by laws, and that people follow it.

Back 3

take care clause

Front 4

the formal charge by the house of reps that a government official has committed treason bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Back 4

impeachment

Front 5

when a newly elected president takes office the opposing party will not be politically critical of him for about 100 days. The president receives high public approval ratings, too.

Back 5

honeymoon period

Front 6

written pronouncement issued by the president upon signing of a bill to a law.

Back 6

signing statements

Front 7

asserts that the law is constitutionally defective in order to guide executive agencies in limiting its implementation.

Back 7

constitutional signing statement

Front 8

increase the power of the executive to shape the law

Back 8

interpretive signing statement

Front 9

uses the signing of the bill to mobilize political constituencies.

Back 9

rhetorical signing statement

Front 10

the effort by congress, through hearings, investigations and other techniques to exercise control over the activities of the executive agencies.

Back 10

executive oversight

Front 11

favors that members of congress do for constituents-usually in the form of help in dealing with the federal bureaucracy

Back 11

constituent service

Front 12

powers given to the federal government by the Constitution.

Back 12

enumerated powers

Front 13

powers that the government, though not granted directly in writing, can claim because they are hinted at within constitutional law.

Back 13

implied powers

Front 14

the total amount of money that a country’s government has borrowed.

Back 14

national debt

Front 15

the government’s lack/shortage of money

Back 15

national deficit

Front 16

the limit on the total amount of bonds that can be issued.

Back 16

debt ceiling

Front 17

increased debt ceiling to $15.3 trillion.

Back 17

Budget Control Act

Front 18

tactic used by members of the senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down. (Requires the vote of 3/5 of the senate to end a filibuster.)

Back 18

filibuster

Front 19

a rule allowing a majority of 60/100 of the members of a legislative body to set a time limit on debate over a given bill. Breaks a filibuster.

Back 19

cloture

Front 20

a provision by the house of rules committee that permits floor debate and the addition of new amendments to a bill.

Back 20

open rule

Front 21

a provision by the house of rules committee limiting or prohibiting the introduction of amendments during debate.

Back 21

closed rule

Front 22

refers to the fact that congress people never lose when they run for reelection. 90% get reelected.

Back 22

incumbency advantage

Front 23

appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that are often not needed but are created so local reps can win reelection in their home districts.

Back 23

pork barrel legislation

Front 24

free postage that allows those bastards to send junk mail!

Back 24

franking privilege

Front 25

redrawing election districts and redistributing legislative representatives. Happens every 10 years to reflect shifts in population or in response to legal challenges to existing districts.

Back 25

redistricting

Front 26

drawing districts in a way to make sure some people have a higher advantage to win.

Back 26

gerrymandering

Front 27

removes elected reps from process of establishing congressional districts and transfers that authority to a 14-member redistricting commission of Democrats, Republicans, and reps of either party.

Back 27

California prop 20

Front 28

bias toward nothing happening, no change.

Back 28

status quo bias

Front 29

the authority of the court to be the first to hear a case.

Back 29

original jurisdiction

Front 30

A custom whereby presidential appointments are confirmed only if there is no objection to them by the senators from the appointee's state, esp. from the senior senator of the president's party from that state

Back 30

senatorial courtesy

Front 31

court’s authority to examine an executive or legislative act and to invalidate that act if it is contrary to constitutional principles.

Back 31

Judicial review

Front 32

courts should not be constrained by what previous courts decided.

Back 32

judicial activism

Front 33

The theory of judicial behavior that advocates basing decisions on grounds that have been previously defined by judicial precedent rather than on the basis of achieving some public good

opposite of judicial activism

Back 33

judicial restraint

Front 34

gives president power over the armed forces, powers shared with congress. Must defend the Us, its territories, and possessions and armed forces from attack. (declaring war, war powers resolution, funding.)

Back 34

president as commander in chief

Front 35

president can only send armed forces by authorization of congress.

Back 35

war powers resolution

Front 36

issued solely by the president and carries the full weight of the law. President uses this to influence government and policy (ex: emancipation proclamation-ended slavery)

Back 36

executive orders

Front 37

a claim by the president/high official of the executive branch that he need not answer a request for confidential government or personal communications. Keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

Back 37

executive privilege

Front 38

an agreement made between the executive branch of the US government and a foreign government without ratification by the Senate.

Back 38

executive agreement

Front 39

Nixon authorized agents to break into the Democratic National headquarters and was caught!

Back 39

US vs. Nixon

Front 40

The executive agency that advises the president on the federal budget. Administrative review of proposed rules. Clears the president’s proposal legislation.

Back 40

Office management and budget

Front 41

trying to appeal to congress. When president takes proposals to congress and works with t hem to get this policy done. However, this is only effective if everyone in congress agrees to it.

Back 41

going through congress

Front 42

going directly to the people and convincing them that a solution is the correct one. Public will put indirect pressure on congress, and they must respond because the people are the ones that elected them!

Back 42

going above congress/going public

Front 43

the president doesn’t deal with congress. Implement ambiguous laws and bills to his choosing through signing statements and executive orders.

Back 43

going around congress

Front 44

when the president chooses to go under the law and do illegal things.

Back 44

going under congress

Front 45

a permanent committee with the power to propose and write legislation that covers a particular subject.

Back 45

standing committee

Front 46

a (usually) temporary legislative committee set up to highlight or investigate a particular issue or address an issue not within the jurisdiction of existing committees.

Back 46

select committee

Front 47

formed of members of both the house and senate- permanent

Back 47

joint committee

Front 48

joint committee created to work out a compromise on house and senate versions of a piece of legislation

Back 48

conference committee

Front 49

evaluates the president’s budget.

Back 49

Congressional Budget Office

Front 50

sets up federal court system and organized the Supreme Court comprised of a chief justices and 5 associates as well as federal district and circuit courts.

Back 50

Judiciary Act of 1789

Front 51

individuals or groups who are not parties to a lawsuit but who seek to assist the supreme court in reaching a decision by presenting additional beliefs.

Back 51

amicus curiae belief (friend of the court)

Front 52

a previous decision by a court applies as a precedent in similar cases until that decision is overruled.

Back 52

stare decisis (let the decision stand)

Front 53

when the court decides to hear and rule on a case. 4/9 justices need to vote to allow it. Chooses case that raise constitution issues.

Back 53

writ of certiorari