unit 4 1-15 Flashcards
appropriation
money that congress has allocated to be spent
appropriations committee
congressional committee that deals with federal spending
appellate jurisdiction
authority of a court to hear an appeal from lower court
bureaucracy
departments, agencies, bureaus, and commissions in the executive branch of government
casework
personal work done by a member of congress for his constituents
civil law
concerns non criminal disputes between private parties
class action lawsuit
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
closed rule
Rules Committee rule that bans amendments to a bill
cloture
senate motion to end a filibuster that requires a 3/5 vote
concurring opinion
written by a supreme court justice who voted with the majority, but for different reasons
Conference committee
works out compromise between differing House-Senate versions of a bill
constituents
the people who are represented by elected officials
discharged petitions
a motion to force a bill to the House floor that has been bottled up in committee
dissenting opinion
written by a supreme court justice who express a minority viewpoint in a case
executive agreement
an agreement between the president and another head of state that, unlike a treaty does not require Senate consent