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| money that Congress has allocated to be spent |
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| congressional committee that deals with federal spending |
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| authority of a court to hear an appeal from a lower court |
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| departments, agencies, bureaus, and commissions in the executive branch of government |
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| personal work done by a member of Congress for his/her constituents |
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| concerns noncriminal disputes between private parties |
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lawsuit brought on behalf of a class of people against a defendant,
e.g. lawsuits brought by those who have suffered from smoking against tobacco companies |
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| Rules Committee rule that bans amendments to a bill |
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| Senate motion to end a filibuster that requires a 3/5 vote |
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| written by a Supreme Court Justice who voted with the majority, but for different reasons |
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| works out a compromise between differing House-Senate versions of a bill |
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| the people who are represented by elected officials |
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| a motion to force a bill to the House floor that has been bottled up in committee |
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| written by a Supreme Court Justice (or Justices) who express a minority viewpoint in a case |
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| an agreement between the President and another head of state that, unlike a treaty, does not require Senate consent |
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| presidential rule or regulation that has the force of law |
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| the privilege of a President and his staff to withhold their "privileged" conversations from Congress or the courts |
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| nonstop Senate debate that prevents a bill from coming to a vote |
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| Senate committee that handles tax bills |
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| allows members of Congress to send mail postage free |
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| redrawing district lines to favor one party at the expense of the other |
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| Senate maneuver that allows a Senator to stop or delay consideration of a bill or presidential appointment |
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| House action that formally charges an official with wrongdoing. Conviction requires 2/3 vote from the Senate. |
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| refusal of a President to spend money that has been appropriated by Congress |
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| court order that forbids a party from performing a certain action |
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| philosophy that the courts should take an active role in solving problems |
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| philosophy that the courts should defer to elected lawmakers in setting policy, and should instead focus on interpreting law rather than making law |
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| power of the courts to review the constitutionality of laws or government actions |
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| ongoing process of congressional monitoring of the executive branch to ensure that the latter complies with the law |
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| process in which Congress overturned rules and regulations proposed by executive branch agencies. Struck down in 1983. |
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| power of most governors (and President Clinton for only a few years) to delete or reduce funding in a bill on a line by line basis |
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| when two members of Congress agree to vote for each other's bill |
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| written to express the majority viewpoint in a Supreme Court case |
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| committee action to amend a proposed bill |
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| system of hiring federal workers based upon competitive exams |
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| House Rules Committee rule that allows amendments to a bill |
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| authority of a court to first hear a case |
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| power to appoint loyal party members to federal positions. Also known as the Spoils System. |
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| presidential killing of a bill by inaction after Congress adjourns |
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| those who have received presidential appointments to office. Contrast with Civil Service employees, who receive federal jobs by competitive exams. |
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wasteful congressional spending,
e.g. funding for a Lawrence Welk museum in North Dakota |
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| minimum number of members needed for the House or Senate to meet |
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| reallocation of House seats to the states on the basis of changes in state populations, as determined by the census |
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| redrawing of congressional district boundaries by the party in power of the state legislature |
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| complex rules and procedures required by bureaucratic agencies |
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| the Supreme Court's sending of a case back to the original court in which it was heard |
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| amendment to a bill that has little to do with that bill. Also known as a nongermane amendment. |
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| the Supreme Court will hear a case if four Justices agree to do so |
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| the "traffic cop" of the House that sets the legislative calendar and issues rules for debate on a bill |
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| tradition in which the President consults with the senators within a state in which an appointment is to be made |
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| tradition in which the Senator from the majority party with the most years of service on a committee becomes the chairman of that committee |
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| the permanent congressional committees that handle legislation |
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| Latin for "let the decision stand." Supreme Court policy of following precedent in deciding cases |
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| laws that automatically expire after a given time |
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| House commmittee that handles tax bills |
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| an employee who exposes unethical or illegal conduct within the federal government or one of its contractors |
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| issued by the Supreme Court to a lower court to send up the records of a case so that it can be reviewed by the high court |
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| court order that the authorities show cause for why they are holding a prisoner custody. Deters unlawful punishment. |
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| court order directing a party to perform a certain action |
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| money granted by the federal government to the states for a broad purpose |
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| money granted by the federal government to the states for a narrow purpose |
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| those who favor greater national authority than state authority |
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| those who favor greater state authority than national authority |
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| gives Congress the power to regulate commerce among the states, with foreign nations, and among Indian tribes (Article I, Section 8) |
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system in which sovereign states are only loosely tied to a central government,
e.g. the US under the Articles of Confederation |
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| system in which the people rule themselves |
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| system in which the people are ruled by their representatives. Also known as representative democracy or a republic. |
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states that Congress can exercise those powers that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out the enumerated powers,
e.g. establishment of the first Bank of the United States |
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| constitutional sharing of power between a central government and state governments |
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| system in which the national government and state governments are coequal, with each being dominant within its respective sphere |
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| system in which both federal government and state governments cooperate in solving problems |
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| group of 85 essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay for the purpose of persuading the people of New York to adopt the Constitution |
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| a change in the actual wording of the Constitution. Proposed by Congress or national convention, and ratified by the states. |
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a change in the meaning, but not the wording, of the Constitution,
e.g. through a court decision such as Brown v. Board |
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those held by both Congress and the states,
e.g. establishing law enforcement agencies |
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those that are specifically granted to Congress in Article 1, Section 8,
e.g. the power to tax.
Also known as expressed powers. |
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| those that are "necessary and proper" to carry out Congress' enumerated powers, and are granted to Congress through the Elastic Clause |
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| foreign policy powers (e.g. acquiring territory) held by the national government by virtue of its being a national government |
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| powers held by the states through the 10th Amendment. Any power not granted to the US government is "reserved" for the states. |
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| powers of the states to protect the public health, safety, morals, and welfare of the public |
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| power of the courts to rule on the constitutionality of laws and government actions. Established by Marbury v. Madison, 1803. |
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| requirements imposed by the national government upon the states. |
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| Imposed by the national government, but lack funding |
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| 1819, established the principle of national supremacy and validity of implied powers |
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| principle in which ultimate political authority rests with the people |
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| principle in which the powers of government are separated among three branches: legislative, executive, judicial |
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| 1786, revolt by Massachusetts farmers seeking relief from debt and foreclosure. A factor in the calling of the Constitutional Convention. |
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a majority greater than a simple majority of one over half,
e.g. 3/5 or 2/3 |
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