Term
|
Definition
1. Gatekeeper
2. Scorekeeper
3. Watchdog |
|
|
Term
| Trend of Youth and Political New |
|
Definition
| Youth have become less interested in political news over the past 50 years |
|
|
Term
| Public perception of accuracy in the media... |
|
Definition
| becoming more and more inaccurate for the last 30 years |
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Term
| Congress in respect to other branches of national government |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Congress approval ratings are generally lower or higher than presidents... |
|
Definition
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Stimulus Package and Health Care |
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|
Term
| House's vote on health care |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Senate Control of the 112th Congress |
|
Definition
51 Democrats
46 Republicans
3 Independants |
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|
Term
| Control of the house in the 112th Congress |
|
Definition
187 Democrats
240 Republicans |
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Term
| Framer's intent for Congress |
|
Definition
1. To oppose the concentration of power in a single institution
2. To balance large and small states (Bicameralism) |
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|
Term
| Framer's Expectation of Congress |
|
Definition
| to be the dominant institution |
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Term
| House is ___ and the senate moves ____ |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Historically ____ has occurred in the house |
|
Definition
| power struggles between members and leadership |
|
|
Term
| Since 1994, committee chairs hold positions for how long? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Speaker of the House, who, where from. |
|
Definition
| Nancy Pelosi, San Fransisco, 8th District |
|
|
Term
| Major struggles in the senate were about ______ |
|
Definition
| how its members should be chosen, 17th Ammendment |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| restricted by Rule 22, it takes 60 votes to stop a filibuster |
|
|
Term
| Current President of the Senate |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Current Senate President Pro Tempore |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Current Senate Majority Leader, and Party |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Current Senate Minority Leader, and Party |
|
Definition
| Mitch McConnell, Republican |
|
|
Term
| Predicted 112th Speaker of the House, and Party |
|
Definition
|
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Term
|
Definition
| white male, middle aged, affluent, protestant lawyer |
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Term
|
Definition
| FCC rule that requires broadcasters to sell equal time to opposing candidates |
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Term
|
Definition
| Paying attention to only those news stories that you already agree with |
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Term
|
Definition
| tendency of national media to be suspicious of officials and eager to reveal unflattering stories about them |
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Term
|
Definition
| a public officials statement to a reporter taht is given on the condition the official not be named |
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Term
|
Definition
| lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts |
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Term
|
Definition
| an attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, preventing actions |
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Term
|
Definition
| political house of reps districts, tight elections |
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Term
|
Definition
| an alliance between republican and conservative democrats |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed what party members are thinking |
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Term
|
Definition
| happens when majority of democrats oppose majority of republicans |
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Term
|
Definition
| association of Congress created to advance the ideology or interests of group |
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Term
|
Definition
| permanently established legislative committees that are responsible for legislations within a certain subject area |
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Term
|
Definition
| Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose |
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Term
|
Definition
| committee in which both reps and senators serve on |
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Term
|
Definition
| joint committee appointed to resolve differences between Senate and House versions of the same bill |
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Term
|
Definition
| expression of opinion either in the house or the senate to settle procedural matters in either body |
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Term
|
Definition
| expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the President |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of congress and by the President |
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Term
|
Definition
| when a bill is assigned to a number of different committees |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| when a bill is sent to a second committee after the first is finished acting |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| device by which any member of the house, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor |
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Term
|
Definition
| House rule limiting debate time |
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Term
|
Definition
| allows bills to be amended on the floor |
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Term
|
Definition
| permits only a certain kind of bill to be made into a bill on the floor |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| senate rule to end or limit debate |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| procedure to keep Senate in business while filibuster, current bill is shelved |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in hope of winning their votes in return |
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Term
|
Definition
| free mailing from legislators to constituents by use of their signature |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| different party controls the white house than the legislature |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government |
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Term
|
Definition
| heads of fifteen executive branch departments of the federal government |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the presidents use of his prestige and visibility to guide American public |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| authority of congress to block a presidential action after it ahs taken place, supreme court held that congress does not have this power |
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Term
|
Definition
| large organization composed of appointed officials |
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Term
|
Definition
| Washington paying state and local governments to staff and administer federal programs |
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Term
|
Definition
| an economic theory that gov should not regulate or interfere with commerce |
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Term
|
Definition
| extent to which bureaucrats can choose course of action that are not spelled out by laws |
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Term
|
Definition
| gov offices to which people are appointed on the basis or merit (exam or criteria) |
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Term
|
Definition
| job that is filled by a person whom an agency has already identified |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| close relationship between an agency, comittee and interest group |
|
|
Term
| Authorization Legislation |
|
Definition
| legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| legislative grant to finance gov program or agency |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| funds for gov programs that are collected and spent outside the regular government budget |
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Term
|
Definition
| ability of congressional committee to review and approve agency decisions without passing law |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| complex bureaucratic rule that must be followed to get something done |
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Term
|
Definition
| power of courts to declare laws unconstitutional |
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Term
|
Definition
| view that judges should decide cases strictly on the basis of the language and laws and the constitution |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| view that judges should discern the general principles underlying laws or the constitution and apply them to modern circumstances |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| federal court (article 3) that keeps judges in office during good behavior and prevents their salaries from being reduced |
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Term
|
Definition
| lowest federal courts in which federal trials can be held (only federal trials) |
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Term
|
Definition
| federal courts that hear appeals from district courts |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| courts created by congress for specialized purposes |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| exam of the political ideology of a nominated judge |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| case concerning the Constitution, federal laws of treaties |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| cases involving citizens of different states who can bring suit in federal court |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| order by a higher court directing lower court to send up case for review |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| method whereby a poor person can have his or her case heard in federal court without charge |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| rule that allows a plaintiff to recover costs from the defendant if the plaintiff wins |
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Term
|
Definition
| rule that a citizen cannot sue the gov without the govs consent |
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Term
|
Definition
| brief submitted by a "friend of the court" |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| a brief, unsigned court opinion |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| signed opinion of a majority of the Supreme Court |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| "let the decision stand" or allowing prior rulings to control the current case |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| issues that people believe require government action |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| policy in which almost everyone benefits and almost everybody wins |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| policy in which one small group benefits and another small group pays |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| policy in which one small group benefits and almost everyone pays |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of his or hers |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| policy in which almost everybody benefits and a small group pays the cost |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Rules governing commercial activities designed to improve conditions |
|
|
Term
| During the Constitutional Convention, _______ proposed _______ regarding legislative salaries |
|
Definition
| elected officials not be paid for their service |
|
|
Term
| Congressional Salaries 1789-1855 |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Congressional Salaries 1815-1817 |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How much does it cost to run congress |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Current Rank-and-File Member salary |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Senate Majority Leader Salary |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Speaker of the House Salary |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| House Majority Leader Salary |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 3 Parts of Incumbency Advantage |
|
Definition
1. Higher Media Coverage
2. Franking
3. Secure Policies and Programs for Voters |
|
|
Term
| Cost of House and Senate Campaigns |
|
Definition
House-$2 Million
Senate-$5 Million |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| members vote to please their constituents, in order to secure re-election |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| where constituency interests are not at stake, members respond to cues from colleagues |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| members ideology determines their vote |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| schedules Senate business, prioritizes bills |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
1. Introduced by Member of Congress
2. Referred to Committee
3. Hearings and Mark Ups
4. Placed on Calendar
5. Debated on House Floor
6. Vote
7. President |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| If a president vetoes a bill... |
|
Definition
| sent back to legislature, both houses can vote 2/3's to override a bill |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| 9-11 Commission recommended Congress make fundamental changes in thier intelligence gathering and counter terrorism |
|
|
Term
| Changes in the Presidency since Commission's Recommendations |
|
Definition
| Neither President Obama or Former President Bush have followed any reccomendations |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Prime Ministers are always... |
|
Definition
| insiders, chosen by members of the majority party in parliment |
|
|
Term
| Difference Between Presidents and Prime Minister Majorities |
|
Definition
| Presidents have no guaranteed majority, Prime Minister always has majority |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| indirect way to elect the president, 538 votes, 270 to win |
|
|
Term
| If no presidential Candidate gets 270 votes the... |
|
Definition
| House of Reps Decides the President |
|
|
Term
| Electoral college worked differently than the Framers planned because |
|
Definition
| they did not anticipate the role of political parties |
|
|
Term
| Presidential Candidate must be... |
|
Definition
| at least 35 years, US Citizen for at lieast 14 years |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| President may serve no more than two terms and no more than a total of 10 years |
|
|
Term
| Relations with Congress during the first Presidencies |
|
Definition
| reserved, few vetoes, and no advice from Congress to the Pres |
|
|
Term
| Minimal Activism of Early Government did what... |
|
Definition
| Lessened the fear of the Presidency |
|
|
Term
| Greatest Source of Power lies in...how... |
|
Definition
| Politics, ability to control agenda and public opinion |
|
|
Term
| Potential for Power Found where |
|
Definition
| ambiguous clauses of the Constitution |
|
|
Term
| The Presidential Power to Persuade |
|
Definition
1. Try to transform popularity into congressional support
2. Coattails have had declining effect |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| power is held by people who are in the room when a decision is made |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| most assistants report through hierarchy to chief of staff, who then report to the pres |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| cabinet secretaries and assistants report directly to the president |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| task forces, committees and informal groups deal directly with pres |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| not mentioned in constitution |
|
|
Term
| Presidential Kennedy Character |
|
Definition
| bold, articulate, amusing, improvisor, bypasses traditional lines of authority |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| expertise in foreign policy, disliked confrontation, centralized power in White House |
|
|
Term
| President Reagan Character |
|
Definition
| set priorities, then gave staff wide latitude, leader of public opinion |
|
|
Term
| President Clinton Character |
|
Definition
| good communicator, pursued liberal and centrist policies |
|
|
Term
| President George W. Bush Character |
|
Definition
| tightly run White House, agenda became dominated by foreign affairs following 9-11 |
|
|
Term
| President Obama Character |
|
Definition
| not known at this time, most likely will be tightly run white house, most likely will focus on centrist policy |
|
|
Term
| Resources Presidents have in developing programs |
|
Definition
| interest groups, aides, campaign advisers, federal departments, and agencies |
|
|
Term
| How many presidents have served two full terms |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How many VP's have taken over upon Presidents Death |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Allows VP to serve as acting president in president disabled. Must be confirmed by majority vote of both houses |
|
|
Term
| Illness of President decided by |
|
Definition
| President, VP, Cabinet OR by 2/3 votes of Congress |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Indictment by the House, Conviction by the Senate |
|
|
Term
| Presidents that have been impeached |
|
Definition
| Johnson, Nixon, Clinton (Johnson nor Clinton were convicted by Senate |
|
|
Term
| 3 Constraints on President and Congress |
|
Definition
1. Complexity of Issues
2. Scrutiny of the Media
3. Greater # and Power of Interest Groups |
|
|
Term
| Political Authority over the Bureaucracy |
|
Definition
| shared by Pres and Congress |
|
|
Term
| The Bureaucratic State was created... |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
1. New Cabinet Agency (Dept of Homeland Security) was created
2. Intelligence-gathering activities were considered under National Intelligence Director |
|
|
Term
| How many Bureaucrats are Federally Employed today? |
|
Definition
| 3 Million, increase, private contractors, state and local authorities |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| bureaucrats compete for jobs through Office of Personnel Management |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Bureaucrats appointed by agencies, in nonpartisan fashion |
|
|
Term
| Bureaucrats carrying out policy |
|
Definition
| most try to carry out policy, even those they disagree with |
|
|
Term
| Constraints are greater on ____ than on ______ |
|
Definition
| Government Agencies, Private Bureaucracies |
|
|
Term
| Agencies often seek alliances with |
|
Definition
| cogressional committees and interest groups |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| groups that regularly debate gov policy on issues |
|
|
Term
| Congress _____ Agencies, and authorizes ________. |
|
Definition
| Creates, Funds for Programs |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| tendency of agencies to grow irrespective of programs' benefits and costs |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| National Partnership for Reinventing Government |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| designed to reinvent government calling for less centralized management, more employee initiatives, fewer rules, and more customer satisfication |
|
|
Term
| Most rules and Red Tape are due to _____ |
|
Definition
| struggles between the president and Congress |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a memorandums written not to inform the reader but to protect the reader |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| when in doubt, mumble. When in trouble, delegate. When in charge, ponder. |
|
|
Term
| Chapmans Rules of Committees |
|
Definition
1. Never Arrive on Time
2. Dont Say anything until the meeting is half over
3. Be as vague as possilbe
4. When in doubt, suggest a subcommittee be appointed |
|
|
Term
| Parkinson's Rule of Committees |
|
Definition
| a committee will spend as much time as necessary to perpetuate itself |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| if anything can go wrong, it will |
|
|
Term
| O'Toole's Corollary to Murphy's Law |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| there is never time to do something right, but there is always time to do it over |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| work expands to till the amount of time available |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Expenditures rise to meet income |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| in every hierarchy, each individual rises to his or her own level of incompetence, and remains there. Every position is filled with incompetent person |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Never Do anything for the first time |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the more directives you issue to solve a problem, the worse it gets |
|
|
Term
| Chief Weapon in the checks and balance system |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The supreme court could declare a congressional act unconstitutional |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the power granted to federal gov should be construed broadly and fed law is supreme over state law |
|
|
Term
| Chief Justice of Supreme Court |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| members share a similar ideaology |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| members share an interest in an issue |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| established to represent groups, regions or both |
|
|
Term
| 3 Functions of a Committee |
|
Definition
1. Consider Bills or LEgislative proposals
2. Maintain oversight of executive agencies
3. Conduct investigations |
|
|
Term
| 1865-1936 Supreme Court's stance on private property |
|
Definition
| Supportive of private property, but could not develop a principle distinguish between reasonable and and unreasonable regulation of business |
|
|
Term
| Courts interpretation of the 14th and 15th Amendment |
|
Definition
| narrowly as applied to blacks-it upheld segregation, excluded blacks from voting in many states |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| maximize powers of presidency, vetoed a lot and challenged congress |
|
|
Term
| Other than ______, Lincoln was the only other president that ______ |
|
Definition
| Jackson, expanded presidential powers |
|
|
Term
| Lincoln Expanded presidential powers by ________ |
|
Definition
1. Asserted "implied powers" or inhearant
2. Justified Emergency conditions |
|
|
Term
| Presidents were positive/negative force to congress until ______ |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Who is actually the leader of government? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Who is perceived as the leader of government? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Greatest source of power lies in... |
|
Definition
| politics and public opinion |
|
|
Term
| Office of Budget and Management |
|
Definition
| puts budget on the president, and much more |
|
|
Term
| the more important you are to the president... |
|
Definition
| the closer your office is to the presidents |
|
|
Term
| The Executive office of the president are composed of... |
|
Definition
| agencies that report directly to the president |
|
|
Term
| 3 Functions of the Office of Management and Budget |
|
Definition
1. Assemble Budget
2. Develop Reorganization Plans
3. Reviews legislative proposal of agencies |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
1. Other Politicians and leaders
2. Party Activists and officials inside DC
3. The Various Public |
|
|
Term
| Members of congress believe that it is politically risky to... |
|
Definition
| challenge a popular president |
|
|
Term
| Popularity and Influence of the President have ____ effect on presidential coattails |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Popularity is highest when? |
|
Definition
| immediately after the election, declines by midterm (honeymoon period) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Confidential communications between pres and advisers |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| veto within 10 final days of congress |
|
|
Term
| Executive Privileges are Justified by (2 Things) |
|
Definition
1. Separation of Powers
2. Need for Candid Advice |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| reject claim of absolute executive privileges |
|
|
Term
| you can only sue a president... |
|
Definition
| for things done before office |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| presidential refusal to spend funds appropriated by Congress |
|
|
Term
| Impoundment of Funds is countered by... |
|
Definition
| Budget Reform Act of 1974 |
|
|
Term
| Budget Reform Act of 1974 |
|
Definition
| requires president to notify congress of funds he does not intend to spend, congress must agree in 45 days. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| issued when a president signs legislation |
|
|
Term
| 3 Purposes of Signing Statements |
|
Definition
1. Expresses attitudes about a law
2. tell executive branch how to implement law
3. discuss some aspect considered unconstitutional |
|
|
Term
| Signing statements are common amoung |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Signing statements are ____ among congress |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| 2 Reasons for Reorganaization |
|
Definition
1. Large number of Agencies
2. Easier the change policy |
|
|
Term
| John Tyler defined status of ascending VP: |
|
Definition
| president in title and in power |
|
|
Term
| Congress and Pres like what size of Bureaucracy? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| Bureaucracy Shift 1861-1901 |
|
Definition
| shift in role from regulation to service |
|
|
Term
| Civil War showed _______ of the federal gov and increase demand for _______ |
|
Definition
| administrative weakness, civil service reform |
|
|
Term
| Bureaucrats are hard to fire because |
|
Definition
| one must prove that the member is incompetent or misconduct (very specific) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| income taxes, influenced by WW2, increased heavily |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Term limit for Presidents, two terms or ten years |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| halt and activity being preformed (cease) and not bring it up ever again (desist), issued by judge or gov authority |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| court designed to hear the appeals of a trial court. |
|
|
Term
| Judicial System (3 basic courts) |
|
Definition
| Trial Court, Appellate Court, Supreme Court |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| large complex group of appointed officials that work together |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| head of the US Federal Court system and chief judge of the US supreme court |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Peter Rouse, highest ranking office of the Executive Office of the President |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| rights of people to be treated without unreasonable or unconstitutional differences |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| federal employees are hired based on merit |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| law created by courts, precedent |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| expression of opinion without the force of law, requires house and senate approval but not president |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| rules with punishment for criminal acts |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Law created by congress, or legislations |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| brought activism to the courts, protected citizens from Gov. trespass, 14th Justice of the US, Governor of CA 3 times, |
|
|
Term
| Executive Office of the President |
|
Definition
| the office of the president that encompasses many different offices and councils |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| unofficial group of advisors to Andrew Jackson, met in kitchen |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| no regulation on commerce |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill that was passed |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| First 5 Line of Presidency |
|
Definition
1. President
2. Vice President
3. Speaker of the House
4. President Pro-Tempore of the Senate
5. Secretary of the State |
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| unwritten rule that says the president must consult with the most senior senator, of his/her political party before assigned federal position |
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| one cannot sue the government without the governments consent |
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| aka Patronage, practice in which a political party, after winning an election, gives jobs to its voters as incentive to keep voting for that party |
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| a legal rule saying who is authorized to start a law suit |
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| "let the decision stand", prior rules control the current case |
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| establishes line of who fills the presidency |
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| Presidential refusal to use funds appropriated by congress |
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| head of the 15 executive branch departments of the federal government |
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| people chosen to cast each states votes in a presidential election, 1 vote for each senator or representative |
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| term used to define the presidency in the 1930's |
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| movement of legislators becoming business people with the agencies dealt with while in office |
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| 15th Chief justice of the US, appointed by Nixon |
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