RAHHHHHUnit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government

The bicameral legislature for writing laws

A 435-member house with members apportioned by each state’s population

A 100-member house with 2 members per state

A survey taken every 10 years to count population and determine the number of congressional districts each state has

The redrawing of district boundaries to ensure each district has an equal population, done by state legislature

Drawing district boundaries to give the majority party a future advantage

Charles Baker sued Tennessee for not redrawing its state legislative districts because his county’s population had grown but not gained representation, violated 14th Amendment

White voters living in North Carolina’s 12th district sued the state for gerrymandering to isolate African Americans into the 12th district, violated equal protection clause because the state was using racial bias in redistricting

Encouraged state to increase minority representation Congress

Gives Congress much control over budgetary spending

Gives Congress power to influence others by preventing access to funds or adding conditions

Congress members consider themselves delegates who mirror the views of their districts

Congress members consider themselves trustees who should think about constituents’ views but use their judgement when making decisions

Determines how long a bill will be debated and whether open or closed rules are used for amending

Allow amendments; decided by Rules Committee

Forbid amendments; decided by Rules Committee

Used to delay bill’s vote and tie up Senate’s work, usually by a senator making a very long speech

The vote which is the only way to end a filibuster, required votes of 60 Senate members

Riders created to get money to a home state

Provisions in legislation that allot money to a project, not allowed by House

A veto which occurs if president doesn’t sign a bill into law and congressional session ends during 10 days

The ability of a president to veto certain parts of a bill, struck down by Supreme Court

A member of the majority party and oldest/most experienced member of majority party

A meeting in which committees amend and rewrite parts of bills after investigations

A bill stuck in committee

The way to force a bill out of committee for a floor vote

The leader of the house, chosen by majority party in an election; directs floor debate

The member of the majority party who is in charge of party members and determines party policy and agenda

The member of the minority party who is in charge of party members and determines party policy and agenda

Help leaders keep members loyal to agenda, coordinate members, and get support for legislation

Vice president, only votes to break a tie

Temporary Senate president when the vice president is absent; mostly honorary position given to most senior member of majority party

Congress members agreeing to help each other by voting for each other’s bills

When the president and majorities in houses are not from the same political party

When the house majorities and the president are from the same political party

Authority given to the president that lets them speak with the American people and pressure Congress

Headed by national security advisor, direct access to president in situations related to the military or foreign policy; involved during national emergencies, free from congressional oversight, favored by president

Helps the president create policies related to agriculture, education, energy, natural resources, drug abuse, crime, health, the economy, and welfare

Prepares US budget and used to control/manage executive agencies; very powerful because it is able to fund cabinet departments and control the department’s effectiveness

Helps the president make economic policy; made of economists to advise president

Negotiates trade and tariff agreements with help from the White House

The head of one of 15 cabinet departments appointed by president and approved by Senate; can be dismissed by president, runs department and carries out policies

Gives Congress the ability to remove president for crimes; House brings charges/impeaches by majority vote, Senate holds trial if impeachment passes with 2/3 vote to remove president

Whether laws are fair

Whether laws are applied fairly

24-48 jurors who decide whether or not a trial should begin

12 jurors who decide if the accused is guilty/innocent (verdict)

Hears appeals of cases dealing with the constitution from Circuit Courts and suits between states or cases involving foreign ministers

Inferior to Supreme Court, civil and criminal cases in original jurisdiction

Hear cases on appeal from Federal District Courts or state Supreme Court; someone must claim that a federal constitutional right has been violated; decide issues of law and not fact

Cases that involve an actual legal dispute

Summary of an argument

Efforts from interest groups to sway justices, can be very influential

Second-ranking member of the justice department who often makes appearances before high court and argues on the government’s behalf

All justices agree, carries the most force in future legal cases

The opinion with the most votes, decides the case

Justices may vote with majority but take issue with legal reasoning

Written by justices in the minority questioning the winning side

The group of uniformed chiefs of staff of each military service who work together to carry out defense policy and report directly to the president and secretary of defense

Generally normal bureaucracies with presidential oversight

More independence, agencies which act as watchdogs over federal government without Congressional/presidential interference

Independent agencies who fill in gaps and write rules

Non-judicial agencies which interpret law, enforce rules, and punish violators

Panels of administrators who run regulatory agencies appointed by president with Senate approval whose terms overlap presidential term

Informal alliance made of three groups: particular industry + lobbyists, congressional committee dealing with that industry, and the agency that is affected

A close working relationship formed when issues affect many groups by pro/con coalitions of interest groups, Congress members, and bureaucrats

Removing government restrictions and regulations

Office of Personnel Management is bureaucracy’s employment agency, administers civil service examination, publishes job opening lists, and hires based on merit

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