Gov Unit 2

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.

Man 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.

Removed barriers to black enfranchisement in the South, banning poll taxes, literacy tests, and other measures that effectively prevented African Americans from voting.

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.

Financing localized projects that bring money into a representative’s district to please constituents and boost the representative’s chances of winning reelection.

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.

Leader of a congressional committee who has authority over the committee’s agenda, usually the oldest/most experienced member of the 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

Generally works behind the scenes to solve problems, mediate disputes, and deal with issues before they are brought to the chief executive.

Permanent committee that deals with issues that are present from one congress to the next, controlled by the majority party.

Temporary committee that stay on one specific issue and report their findings to the Senate or House

A committee in which members from both houses participate Ex. taxes

A temporary committee that is set up when the House and the Senate have passed different version of the same bill.

Votes rarely consistently as just a delegate or just a trustee when representing their constituents.

Votes in party line.

Powers of the executive not listed in U.S. Constitution. Ex. Executive agreements, Bargaining and persuasion, Executive orders, Signing statements.

Period at the end of a presidential term when congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees.

A legal decision that establishes a rule for similar cases going forward.

If a previous court has ruled on the same or a closely related issue, then the court will make its decision in alignment with the prior court's decision.

Justices view their role as strict interpreters of precedent and the Constitution, and deferring decisions that impact policymaking to the other, elected branches of government

Justices view that the courts can and should go beyond the applicable law to consider broader societal implications of its decisions.

An agency’s ability to decide whether or not to take certain courses of action when implementing existing laws.