front 1 Precendent | back 1 the principles or guidelines established by courts in earlier cases that frame the ongoing operation of the courts, steering the direction of the entire system |
front 2 Stare Decisis | back 2 the doctrine that courts will adhere to precedent in making their decisions. This means “to stand by things decided” in Latin. |
front 3 Judicial Activism | back 3 a judicial philosophy in which a justice is more likely to overturn decisions or rule actions by the other branches unconstitutional, especially in an attempt to broaden individual rights and liberties |
front 4 Judicial Review | back 4 the power of the courts to review actions taken by the other branches of government and the states and to rule on whether those actions are constitutional |
front 5 Judicial Restraint | back 5 a judicial philosophy in which a justice is more likely to let stand the decisions or actions of the other branches of government |
front 6 Merit System | back 6 a system of filling civil service positions by using competitive examinations to value experience and competence over political loyalties |
front 7 Power of the Purse | back 7 The constitutional power of Congress to raise and spend money. Congress can use this as a negative or checking power over the other branches by freezing or cutting their funding. |
front 8 Cabinet | back 8 a group of advisors to the president, consisting of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch who head the fifteen executive departments |
front 9 Signing Statement | back 9 A written declaration that a president may make when signing a bill into law. Usually, such statements point out sections of the law that the president deems unconstitutional |
front 10 bureaucracy | back 10 an administrative group of nonelected officials charged with carrying out functions connected to a series of policies and programs |
front 11 Department | back 11 A sector that deals with a particular area of interest. Housed in the Executive Branch and headed by a Cabinet Secretary |
front 12 Executive Office | back 12 Staff that directly supports the work of the President and serve at their pleasure. |
front 13 Independent Agency | back 13 Created by Congress and independent of the executive. Intended to enforce regulations free of political influence |
front 14 Regulation | back 14 A rule, or mechanism that limits, steers, or otherwise controls social behavior. Often enacted by an administrative agency. |
front 15 Political Patronage | back 15 Filling of administrative positions as a reward for support, rather than merit. |
front 16 Iron Triangle | back 16 Coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals |
front 17 Implementation | back 17 the bureaucracy's role in putting into action the laws that Congress has passed |
front 18 Red Tape | back 18 complex rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done. |
front 19 Oversight | back 19 The idea is that members of Congress sometimes use their judgment and sometimes follow the wishes of their constituents in making policy |
front 20 Coalitions | back 20 A combination of groups of people who work together to achieve a political goal |
front 21 Constituencies | back 21 An elected official represents the individuals who live within the geographical area |
front 22 Civil Service | back 22 A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create nonpartisan government service |
front 23 Gerrymandering | back 23 When a congressional committee holds a hearing to determine how well an agency is doing its job |
front 24 Redistricting | back 24 A presidential statement that has the force of law and does not require congressional approval |
front 25 Incumbent | back 25 The current holder of the elected office |
front 26 Pork Barrel | back 26 Gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return |
front 27 Trustee | back 27 Spending on programs not already required by law |
front 28 Delegate | back 28 The role of an elected representative is to vote in a manner consistent with the views of his and her constituents |
front 29 Ambassadors | back 29 Responsible for representing the United States in foreign countries and for managing diplomatic relations |
front 30 Politico | back 30 The role played by elected representatives who act as trustees or as delegates, depending on the issue |
front 31 Speaker of the House | back 31 The official leader of the majority party in the House |
front 32 Senate Majority Leader | back 32 The floor leader for the majority party |
front 33 Whips | back 33 Assistant of the floor leader in the House and Senate, responsible for monitoring and marshaling vote |
front 34 Budget Reconciliation | back 34 A resolution binding Congress to a total expenditure level, supposedly the bottom line of all federal spending for all programs |
front 35 Partisan | back 35 An adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, especially a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance |
front 36 President pro tempore | back 36 Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president |
front 37 Filibuster | back 37 The practice of using the senate rule allowing continuous debate to delay legislative action |
front 38 Cloture | back 38 A senate rule that can be used to end a filibuster with a supermajority of 60 votes |
front 39 Unanimous Consent | back 39 A procedure allowing a rule to be bypassed at the request of a senator with the approval of all 100 senators |
front 40 Committee System | back 40 Members of Congress are assigned to committees to investigate the merits and problems with suggested bills |
front 41 Rules Committee | back 41 Important standing committee in the House of Representatives responsible for putting bills on the calendar, setting limits for the amount of time to debate, and deciding if amendments can be added |
front 42 Discretionary Spending | back 42 Redrawing congressional district boundaries based on new census |
front 43 Mandatory Spending | back 43 A president who is at the end of their second term or who has lost an election or decided not to run for a second term |
front 44 Entitlement | back 44 Mandatory spending on government programs that provide benefits to qualified individuals |
front 45 Budget Deficit | back 45 The result of when the government in one year spends more money than it takes in from taxes |
front 46 Log Rolling | back 46 A method of compromise in which members of Congress agree to support bills they would normally oppose in exchange for support from other members on bills that are of importance to them |
front 47 Executive Order | back 47 A declaration by the preset that impacts policy and has the force of law without congressional approval |
front 48 Electoral College | back 48 Which decides who will be elected president and vice president of the United States |
front 49 Lame Duck | back 49 Spending that is required under the law, such as medicare and the interest on national dept |
front 50 Bully Pulpit | back 50 A conspicuous position that provides an opportunity to speak out and be listened to |
front 51 Veto | back 51 A formal decision to reject the bill passed by Congress |
front 52 Pocket Veto | back 52 A formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress after it adjourns |
front 53 Foreign Policy | back 53 The general plan is followed by a nation in defending and advancing its national interests, especially its security against foreign threats. |