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Government Test 2
Sullivans Unit 2 study Guide UAFS
86
Civics
Undergraduate 1
03/13/2012

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Term
Incumbents
Definition
Current Office Holders, typically re- elected.
Term
Constituent Services
Definition
services provided for voters, who may vote out of loyalty
Term
Franking
Definition
privilege of sending mail free of charge
Term
Reapportionment
Definition
reallocation of seats in the house based on population. Happens when congressional districts chance according to population shifts within districts.
Term
Redistricting
Definition
when congresstional districts must be redrawn as a result of reappointment.
Term
Gerrymandering
Definition
When congressional districts are drawn to create a political advantage.
Term
Majority-Minority District
Definition
intentionally creating a district that enables a minority group to send representatives to congress.
Term
Earmarks
Definition
specific designation within a bill that is intended to fund a project.
Term
Agenda-setting
Definition
determines the order in which congress addresses policy problems.
Term
Oversight
Definition
the process in which congress reviews the actions of the executive branch. Intended to ensure Executive branch actions are constitutional.
Term
Committee
Definition
a group of congressional members who specifically examine a single issue, or topic. (like army)
Term
Filibuster
Definition
allows senators to speak as long as they hold the floor. ended by cloture vote, or when 3/5 of senators wish to end debate.
Term
Party Whip
Definition
a liaison who relays the voting plans of party members to the leadership.
Term
Logrolling
Definition
practice of trading votes on a single bill in exchange for support on another measure. Swapping votes to gain support for a preferred policy.
Term
Line-Item Veto
Definition
Term
Executive Agreement
Definition
International treaty between a president and a foreign Government but is not ratified by state. Does not build on future presidents.
Term
Head of State
Definition
Chief representative of a state, usually imbued with political powers. (president!)
Term
Cabinet
Definition
a select group of experts who advise the president and implement his policies on a variety of issues. Washington had 4, today we have 15
Term
“Inherent Powers
Definition
Presidential powers that have expanded through American History listed in Article II of the constitution.
Term
Executive Orders
Definition
presidential decrees that have weight of law, they have same effect as a law passed by congress. Often used strategically.
Term
Emergency Powers
Definition
broad powers granted to the president during a crisis. First used by Linclon in Civil war, Formally acknowledged in the supreme court case; US v Curtiss- Wright Export Corp.
Term
Executive Privilege
Definition
allows president and other executive officials to refuse to disclose information
Term
Arthur Schlesinger Jr
Definition
Historian, described the current executive branch as an "Imperial Presidency"
Term
Litigation
Definition
process in which cases are heard and ruled upon in the American Legal system
Term
Marbury v. Madison
Definition
Judicial review was established during this,
supreme court argued it had the authority to decide whether laws were consistent with the constitution.
Term
US Courts of Appeals
Definition
review decisions of district courts to ensure law is properly applied.
Term
Stare Decisis
Definition
rulings based on legal precedent, requires judges to respect the decisions of previous courts. Latin for Let the decision stand.
Term
Original Jurisdiction
Definition
refers to its authority to hear and decide a case, the first court to hear a case.
Term
Appellate Jurisdiction
Definition
authority to review the decisions of a lower court and determine if the law was correctly applied. Only responsibility of Appeals courts.
Term
Senators
Definition
serve a six year term.
Term
Member of the House of Representatives
Definition
elected every two years
Term
7th Amendment
Definition
gave states citizens the right to elect senators. Staggered elections, 1/3 of the senate is elected every two years.
Term
Advantages of Incumbents
Definition
already been in office, people think they have been doing a good job so they vote on them to continue, they hear their name and are most familiar with it so they re-elect them.

98% of Representatives return to congress
88% of senators return
Term
Enumerated powers of congress
Definition
ability to raise army, declare war, regulate interstate commerce, borrow money, coin money, regulate copyrights and patents, establish and regulate immigration process.
Term
Responsibilities of congress
Definition
to represent their constituents (voting in a way that reflects the demands of the district or state), speak for a broader constituency ( feminist, liberal etc), supply pork barrel projects, individual service for constitutes,
Term
Pork Barrel Projects
Definition
funding appropriations intended for a district project in a members district.
Term
Congressional agenda
Definition
is determined by the order by which congress addresses policy problems, usually determined by size of problem,
Term
oversight
Definition
process in which congress reviews the actions of the executive branch ,intended to ensure executive actions are constitutional
Term
Forms of congressional oversight
Definition
congressional hearings on policy implementation

confirmation hearings

investigations of wrongdoings and implementation.
Term
Legislative process (how a bill becomes a law)
Definition
bill must pass in identical forms in both chambers of congress, five phases a bill must pass through: introduction, committee review, house and senate approval, conference committee reconciliation, president approval.
Term
Bill
Definition
proposed piece of legislation
Term
Committees in congress/ Actions they take
Definition
a group of congressional members who specifically examine a single issue or topic, (ex the army)

Agency review
Hearings
Mark UP
Report
Term
Agency Review
Definition
requires that relevant executive agencies consider and comment on a bill
Term
Hearings
Definition
A committee hears testimony from experts and other relevant figures to gather information
Term
Mark Up
Definition
Committee proposes changes to a bill
Term
Report
Definition
committee issues a summary of the bill and its intent
Term
Rules of Debate in the House of Representatives
Definition
committee determines how ong a bill will be debated, and the number of amendments attached.
Term
Rules of Debate in the Senate
Definition
requires unanimous consent to set rules of debate, they may fillibuster a bill,
Term
Current speaker of the house
Definition
John Boehner
Term
Current President Pro tempore
Definition
Daniel K. Inouye
Term
Current Senate Majority Leader
Definition
Harry Reid
Term
Speaker of the house
Definition
manager of the house, sets the agenda, and guides legislative process
Term
President Pro Tempore
Definition
When the Vice president is out the Pro Tempore steps in, the leader of the senate, usually the guy who has been there the longest. responsibility is to manage debate n the floor. Actual political power rests with party leadership.
Term
Senate Majority Leader
Definition
Holds the power.
Term
In House of Representatives, Leadership
Definition
chosen in a caucus, or party conference,
Term
Factors that shape voting behavior
Definition
personal experience, context, political pressure, importance of issue, becomes political during election year. Logrolling takes place.
Term
Veto Power
Definition
the most important legislative power the president posesses. gives him the ability to check the Influence f Congress
Term
Ways president can influence national economy
Definition
creates regulations, or laws, which corporations must obey, appoints chair of federal reserve.

Legislation the president signs is also evaluated in terms of economic impact.
Term
Federal Reservere
Definition
responsible for setting interest rates and managing the countries money supply. President appoints him.
Term
Presidents Powers on Foreign Policy
Definition
negotiates treaties, receives foreign dignitaries, and appoints ambassadors to other countries, also signs executive agreements. Also commander in chief of armed forces.
Term
Executive Agreement
Definition
a type of international treaty between a president and a foreign government but is not ratified by senate.
Term
Elements that influence Vice Presidential Candidates
Definition
based on electoral appeal, and political experiance
Term
Big Four Cabinet Departments
Definition
Justice, State, Treasury, and War (Defense)
Term
25th Amendment
Definition
Vice president shall become president when he dies,
line of succession
establishes protocol if president becomes incapacitated.
Term
What came after the 25th amendment?
Definition
Line of succession, Vice President, speaker of house, president pro temp, etc
Term
What steps allow a Vice President to remove President from Power?
Definition
if president cannot notify congress, the Vp and a majority of cabinet officials inform congress and Vp becomes president. For Vice to remain President he must 2/3 vote is taken to keep vp in power
Term
Expressed Powers of the President
Definition
Commander in chief, Chief ambassador, inherited powers, statutory powers
Term
Rules and exceptions to executive privledge
Definition
allows president and other executive officials to refuse to disclose information, only applies to confidential dialogs, also protects details of a specific conversation.
Term
Bully Pulpit
Definition
Popular presidents can use the authority of their office as a way to spread their message, can use influence to persuade congress.
Term
Evolution of Presidential power
Definition
Thomas Jefferson was first to significantly expand powers of presidency (Louisiana purchase), Jackson was 1st president not part of the elite, mobilized support among common people, Roosevelt New deal plan set new jbs and used Government as a safety net.
Term
Americans trust was eroded by
Definition
pentagon papers, and then watergate scandal
Term
Historically Great Presidents
Definition
Washington, Lincoln, Reagan
Term
Contributors of Imperial Presidency
Definition
Pentagon Papers, Watergate scandal.
Term
How are court cases named?
Definition
Plaintiff (person bringing case) is listed first and then Defendant is named second
Term
Broad distinctions (types) of cases in american legal system?
Definition
Civil Cases, Criminal Cases.
Term
Civil Cases
Definition
Involve a dispute between two private parties
Term
Criminal Cases
Definition
involve an act that violates a law that is designed to protect individuals from harm
Term
Judiciary Act of 1789
Definition
Created federal district courts or sub-units of SC Jurisdiction covered an entire state, Judges were expected to maintain close connections with state governments.
Term
Judicial Review
Definition
Established through case Marbury V Madison (1803) supreme court argued it had the authority decide to whether laws were consistent with the constitution. Laws that were inconsistent were struck down as unconstitutional.
Term
Judicial Act of 1891
Definition
congress created mid-level circuit courts in order to reduce the caseload of the supreme court. Created 9 circuit courts with regional jurisdictions, 12 regional Appellate courts and 13 appeals courts.
Term
Five basic sources of Law
Definition
constitutions, statutes, Judicial Decisions, executive orders and Administrative/ Regulatory Law.
Term
Final interpreter of constitution
Definition
Supreme courts
Term
Statutes
Definition
laws written by legislatures intended to reflect the values and concerns of that government
Term
Administrative Laws
Definition
clarifies vague statures passed by congress, laws written vaguely to generate political support. So interpretation delegates significant power to bureaucrats.
Term
What court will always have jurisdiction?
Definition
original jurisdiction: the first court that hears a case.
Term
Type of Jurisdiction that the supreme court has?
Definition
appellate jurisdiction.
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