Bully pulpits

the ability to use the office of the presidency to promote a particular program and/or to influence Congress to accept legislative proposals

Cabinet

part of the "unwritten Constitution," it was first established by GeorgeWashington and includes federal departments such as state, defense etc.

Chief executive

used to describe the president. Powers found in Article II of the Constitution.

Executive office of the president

created by Franklin Roosevelt in 1939; it has four major policy

making bodies today—the National Security Council, the Council of Economic Advisors, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Imperial presidency

policy that would allow the president to veto selectively what he considers unnecessary spending items contained in legislation.

chaired by the president, it is the lead advisory board in the area of

national and international security. The other members of the council include the vice president, secretaries of state and defense, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and chair of the joint chiefs of staff.

Pocket veto

rejection of legislation that occurs if the president does not sign a bill within 10 days and the Congress also adjourns within the same time period.

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amendments to bills, often in the form of appropriations, that sometimes have nothing to do with the intent of the bill itself and many times are considered to be pork barrel legislation.

policy that gives senators the right to be notified by the president of pending judicial nominations. Once informed, the approval of the senators from the state from which the judge comes is obtained and the appointment process moves on. This courtesy does not apply to Supreme Court justice nominations.

managed by the White House Chief of Staff, who directly advises the president on a daily basis, it includes the more than 600 people who work at the White House, from the chef to the advance people who make travel arrangements. The key staff departments include the political offices of the Office of Communications, Legislative Affairs, Political Affairs, and Intergovernmental Affairs. It includes the support services of Scheduling, Personnel, and Secret Service and the policy offices of the National Security Affairs, Domestic Policy Affairs, and cabinet secretaries.

the process in which it takes 60 senators to cut off a filibuster and is aimed at protecting minority interests.12

a committee consisting of senators and representatives that meets to resolve differences in legislation.

power used by Congress to gather information useful for the formation of  legislation, review the operations and budgets of executive departments and independent regulatory agencies, conduct investigations through committee hearings, and bring to the public's attention the need for public policy.

results in the government giving benefits directly to people, groups, farmers, and businesses. Typical policies include subsidies, research and development funds for corporations, and direct government aid for highway construction and education.

state legislatures, based on political affiliation, create congressional districts, many of which are oddly shaped and favor the political party in power in the state making the changes.

describes people's perception that Congress and the president are in a state of disagreement that results in little legislation passing.

describes a Congress that succeeds in establishing itself as dominant in legislative and foreign policy.

a tactic used in Congress that is best illustrated by one legislator saying to another, "I'll vote for your legislation, if you vote for mine."

the practice of legislators obtaining funds through legislation that favors their home districts.

act that provides for a permanent size of the House and for the number of seats, based on the census, each state should have.

policy that results in the government taking money from one segment of the society through taxes and giving it back to groups in need. It includes such policies as welfare, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, tax credits for business expenses or business investment, and highway construction made possible through a gasoline tax.

policy that results in government control over individuals and businesses. Examples of regulatory policy include protection of the environment and consumer protection.

Select committees

specially created congressional committees that conduct special investigations. The Watergate Committee and Iran-Contra investigators were select Senate committees.

Speaker of the House

the representative from the majority party in the House of Representatives 13 who presides over House meetings, recognizes speakers, refers bills to committees, answers procedural questions, and declares the outcome of votes.

also known as assistant floor leaders, they check with party members and inform the majority leader of the status and feelings of the membership regarding issues that are going to be voted on. Whips are responsible for keeping party members in line and having an accurate count of who will be voting for or against a particular bill.

Amicus curiae

"friend of the court"; briefs that may be sent to support the position of one side or the other.

those cases that cannot be resolved under common law precedent.

based on the legal concept of stare decis, or judicial precedent.

courts that were formed to carry out the direction in the Constitution so that the Courts would exercise their judicial power.

cases that derive from criminal laws passed by the federal and state governments.

a philosophy of judicial review that results in decisions that overturn precedent.

  a court that maintains the status quo or mirrors what the other branches of government have established as current policy.

key Senate committee that is responsible for recommending presidential judicial appointments to the full Senate for approval.

John Marshall's tenure as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, whose leadership resulted in the landmark decisions of Marbury v Madison, McCulloch v Maryland, and Gibbons v Ogden. These cases shifted power to the judiciary and federal government.

cases heard by the Supreme Court that do not come on appeal and that "affect ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a State shall be a party.

includes constitutional law (cases involving constitutional issues), and administrative law (cases involving disputes over the jurisdiction of public or administrative agencies).

Special courts

courts created by Congress to deal with cases deriving from the delegated powers of Congress such as military appeals, tax appeals, and veteran appeals.

Writ of certiorari

Latin for "to be made more certain," the process in which the Supreme Court accepts written briefs on appeal based on the "rule of four" justices voting to hear the case.