Ap Gopo Institutions Vocabulary

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judging a judicial candidate based on their position on one issue

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"litmus test”

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"friend of the court", someone not a party to the case offers information to the court

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amicus curiae

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power of a court to review decisions

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appellate jurisdiction

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unofficial advisory council to the president

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cabinet

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group of members of Congress that meets to pursue common legislative objectives

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caucus

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numerical count of the population every ten years to determine congressional representation

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census

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highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President and a senior aide

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chief of staff

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Body of employees in any government agency, except the military

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civil service

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Senate vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill and thereby overcome a filibuster

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cloture

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written opinion by judges of a court which agrees with the majority of the court

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concurring opinion

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committee appointed by both houses to resolve disagreements on a particular bill

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conference committee

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provides Congress with analyses needed for economic and budget decisions

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Congressional Budget Office

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an electoral constituency that elects a single member of a congress

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congressional district

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review of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation

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congressional oversight

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means of bringing a bill out of committee without a report from a committee

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discharge petition

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opinion of one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion

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dissenting opinion

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when one party controls the White House and the other controls at least one house of Congress

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divided government

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the 538 Electors who meet every four years to cast the electoral votes for President

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electoral college

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agreement between the executive branch and a foreign government without congressional ratification

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executive agreement

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"talking out a bill", attempt to infinitely extend debate to prevent a vote

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filibuster

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allow members of Congress to send official mail using a signature instead of a stamp

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franking privilege

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is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of Congress

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General Accounting Office

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redrawing district or constituency boundaries to gain an electoral advantage

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gerrymander

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1964 resolution of Congress giving the President authorization to use military force without a formal declaration of war

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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

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first of two stages in a specific process for a legislative body to remove a government official

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impeachment

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executive refusal to spend money authorized by Congress

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impoundment of funds

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policy-making relationship between the legislature, the bureaucracy, and interest groups

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iron triangle

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committee consisting of Members of both Houses and having jurisdiction over matters of joint interest

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joint committee

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misuse of judicial power for obtaining a judgment based on the political convictions of the judges

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judicial activism

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theory of judicial interpretation that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power

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judicial restraint

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power of a court to review the actions of public sector bodies in terms of their legality or constitutionality

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judicial review

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Supreme Court decision establishing judicial review

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Marbury v. Madison

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Supreme Court decision confirming national supremacy

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McCulloch v. Maryland

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Cabinet-level office by which the White House oversees the activities of federal agencies

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Office of Management and Budget

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power of a court to hear a case for the first time as opposed to appellate jurisdiction

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original jurisdiction

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presidents appointing their followers or fellow party members to positions in exchange for their support

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patronage

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legislation establishing the modern civil-service system of permanent federal employment based on merit

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Pendleton Act

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when the President fails to sign a bill within the 10 days while Congress is in adjournment

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pocket veto

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political metaphor for government spending that primarily benefits particular constituents

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pork barrel

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presiding officer in the Senate when the Vice President is not in attendance

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president pro tempore

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order of succession to the office of President in the event neither a President nor Vice President is able

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presidential succession

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allocation of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives that changes each decade following the census

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reapportionment

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term for excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules

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red tape

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ad hoc committee that deals with a specific issue or bill

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select committee

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custom in the Senate of refusing to confirm a presidential appointment to office opposed by both senators from the state of the appointee

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senatorial courtesy

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System based upon length of service for political rank

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seniority system

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body established in a permanent fashion to aid the parent assembly in accomplishing its duties

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standing committee

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the notion that prior court decisions must be recognized as precedent

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stare decisis

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judicial restraint and fidelity to the original meaning (or originally intended meaning) of constitutions and laws

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strict construction

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allows the President to use military forces for 60 days without a formal declaration of war

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War Powers Act

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document an appellate court issues to a lower court in order to review its judgment for legal error and review

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writ of certiorari