Final Exam: Chapters 12, 13, 14, & 15 Flashcards
(163 cards)
1
Q
Legislature
A
A deliberative council that has the authority to make and repeal laws. In representative democracies, ordinary citizens elect legislators to represent them.
Chapter 12: Page 433
2
Q
Parliamentary System
A
An electoral system in which the party holding the majority of seats in the legislature selects the chief executive
Chapter 12: Page 433
2
Q
Lawmaking
A
A legislature’s power to enact laws that address major problems and then to oversee government administration of those laws
Chapter 12: Page 434
3
Q
Presidential System
A
A political system in which the chief executive and the legislature are elected independently
Chapter 12: Page 433
3
Q
Legislative oversight of administration
A
A variety of tools Congress uses to control administrative agencies, including creating or abolishing agencies, assigning program responsibilities, providing funds, and confirming presidential appointments
Chapter 12: Page 435
4
Q
Representation
A
The relationship between elected officials and the people who put them in office, involving the extent to which officials are responsive to the people
Chapter 12: Page 435
5
Q
Policy Responsiveness
A
The amount of agreement between the people represented and their elected officials on policy issues
Chapter 12: Page 435
6
Q
Service Responsiveness
A
Representation that takes the form of the tasks legislators perform based on the requests and needs of their constituents
7
Q
Casework
A
Activities of members of Congress to act as intermediaries and help private individuals who are having problems with the administrative agencies in the executive branch
Chapter 12: Page 436
8
Q
Allocation Responsiveness
A
Representation that takes the form of members of Congress ensuring that their district gets a share of federal benefits
Chapter 12: Page 436
9
Q
Distributive Benefits
A
Government expenditures and programs that concentrate benefice in specific geographical areas such as states or congressional districts for which the costs are spread across the entire population
Chapter 12: Page 436
10
Q
Port-Barrel Benefits
A
Government sponsored projects that bring economic benefits to a Congress member’s state or district. This is a pejorative term first used in the mid-ninteenth century to describe projects viewed as a waste of tax dollars that serve no purpose other than to aid the reelection of a single incumbent
Chapter 12: Page 436
11
Q
Symbolic Responsiveness
A
A congressional member’s efforts to use political symbols to generate trust and support among the voters
Chapter 12: Page 437
12
Q
Home Style
A
The way a member of Congress behaves, explains his or her legislative actions, and presents himself or herself in the home district
Chapter 12: Page 437
13
Q
Geographical constituency
A
Everyone and everything within the geographical boundaries of a congressional member’s House district
Page 12: Page 437
14
Q
Reelection Constituency
A
The people within a Congress member’s House district who can be counted on for support
Chapter 12: Page 437
15
Q
Primary Constituency
A
A member of Congress’s strongest, mostly partisan supporters
Chapter 12: Page 437
16
Q
Personal constituency
A
A small number of intimate friends, advisors, and confidants, who support a member of Congress
Chapter 12: Page 437
17
Q
Trustee
A
A representative who uses hit or her own judgement to make decisions promoting the best interests of the nation as a whole, with the particular interests of constituents remaining a secondary concern
Chapter 12: Page 438
18
Q
Delegate
A
A representative who makes legislative decisions based on the interests and views of his or her constituents, regardless of personal preference
Chapter 12: Page 438
19
Q
Poltico
A
A representative whose philosophy of representation is a mix of both delegate and trustee. See also delegate and trustee
Chapter 12: Page 438
20
Q
Impeach
A
To charge or accuse
Chapter 12: Page 439
21
Q
Exclude
A
The refusal of Congress to seat any candidate who wins election but does not meet the constitutional requirements to hold congressional office
Chapter 12: Page 442
22
Q
Expulsion
A
The ejections of a member of Congress from office
Chapter 12: Page 442
23
Censures and Reprimands
Verbal condemnations of a member of Congress by the House or Senate, intended to punish bad behavior by expressing the public disapproval of the member's colleagues
Chapter 12: Page 442
24
Perquisites (perks)
The benefits and support activities that members of Congress receive in order to help them perform their job
Chapter 12: Page 450
25
Members' Representational Allowance (MRA)
An allowance of about $1 million per year that members of Congress receive to pay for official duties of representation and lawmaking (e.g. office functions, official travel, and staff). It cannot be used for personal or campaign expenses
Chapter 12: Page 450
26
Franking privilege
The ability of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents free of charge by substituting a facsimile of their signature in place of a stamp
Chapter 12: Page 451
27
Bicameral
A legislature with two chambers
| Chapter 12: Page 451
28
Unicameral
A legislature with one chamber
| Chapter 12: Page 452
29
President of the Senate
The person who presides over the Senate and is responsible for many of the parliamentary duties such as recognizing speakers, The vice president of the United States holds this position
Chapter 12: Page 454
30
President Pro Tempore
The person chosen by the members to preside over the Senate in the absence of the vice president
Chapter 12: Page 454
31
Majority Leader
The person, chosen by the members of the majority party in the House and Senate, who controls the legislative agenda. In the Senate, the majority leader is the most powerful person in the chamber
Chapter 12: Page 454
32
Minority Leader
The leader of the minority party in the House or Senate. Works with majority leader to schedule legislation and leads opposition party
Chapter 12: Page 454
33
Whips
Assistants to the majority and minority party leaders in Congress who encourage rank-and-file members to support the party's positions. Whips make sure that rank-and-file members a re present to vote on key legislative measure and that they know the party leader's desire
Chapter 12: Page 455
34
Speaker of the House of Representatives
The person who presides over the House. The Speaker is responsible for many of the parliamentary duties, such as recognizing speakers, and is the most powerful person in the chamber
Chapter 12: Page 455
35
Standing Committees
Permanent committees in Congress that are responsible for legislation in a specific policy area
Chapter 12: Page 457
36
Party Ratio
The proportion of the seats that each political party controls in the House and the Senate
Chapter 12: Page 459
37
Exclusive Committees
Four House committees -- Appropriations, Energy and Commerce, Rules, and Ways and Means -- whose members typically receive no other committee assignments
Chapter 12: Page 462
38
Prestige Committees
Congressional committees that are highly prized and allow their members to wield tremendous power in Congress
Chapter 12: Page 462
39
Nongermane amendments
Amendments to a piece of legislation that are not related to the subject of the bill to which they are added
Chapter 12: Page 464
40
Riders
A nongermane amendment that is added to a popular bill in hopes that the desirability of the proposed legislation will help the amendment pass
Chapter 12: Page 464
41
Discharge petition
A procedure of the House of Representatives that permits a majority of the members of the House (218) to bring a bill out of committee for consideration on the floor
Chapter 12: Page 466
42
Special Rule
A rule formulated by the House Rules committee specifying the conditions under which a given bill will be considered on the House floor
Chapter 12: Page 467
43
Open Rule
A rule formulated by the House Rules committee that permits any germane amendment to be considered on the floor
Chapter 12: Page 469
44
Closed Rule
The rule that prohibits amending a bill when it is on the floor of Congress for consideration
Chapter 12: page 469
45
Structured Rule
A rule that permits only certain amendments to a bill
| Chapter 12: Page 469
46
Committee of the Whole
A parliamentary action whereby the House of Representatives dissolves into a committee consisting of every member of the House. This procedure is used to facilitate consideration of legislation because it has less burdensome rules governing debate and requires a smaller quorum than the House itself
Chapter 12: Page 470
47
Filibuster
The effort by a senator to delay the chamber's business by making long speeches
Chapter 12: Page 470
48
Hold
The formal request by a member of the Senate to be notified before a specific bill or presidential nomination comes to the floor
Chapter 12: Page 470
49
Cloture
A procedure of the Senate to end a filibuster; invoking cloture requires votes of 60 senators
Chapter 12: Page 470
50
Unanimous consent agreement (UCA)
An agreement between majority and minority party leaders on the procedures and conditions under which a bill will be considered in the Senate
Chapter 12: Page 471
51
Conference Committee
A temporary congressional committee made up of members of the House and Senate that meets to reconcile the differences in legislation that has passed both chambers
Chapter 12: Page 472
52
Conditional Party Government
When members of the majority party caucus in Congress achieve consensus on policy issues, they adopt reforms that obligate congressional committee chairs and party leaders to try to enact the party's legislative agenda on which there is a consensus
Chapter 12: Page 476
53
Party Polarization
Situation in which policy positions (or ideology) within political parties become more homogeneous, and policy positions across the parties move farther apart
Chapter 12: Page 476
54
Executive
A person or group that has administrative and supervisory responsibilities in an organization or government
Chapter 13: Page 483
55
Weak-executive Model
A model of the presidency in which the executive would have a limited term, would have no veto power, and would be allowed to exercise only the authority explicitly granted by Congress
Chapter 13: Page 484
56
Strong-Executive Model
A model of the presidency in which the powers of the executive office are significant and independent from Congress
Chapter 13: Page 484
57
Restrictive View of Presidential Power
A few of presidential power that argues that the president can exercise only those powers listed in the Constitution
Chapter 13: Page 487
58
Stewardship Doctrine
A view of presidential power that states that the president is a steward of the people and should do anything the nation needs that is not prohibited by the Constitution
Chapter 13: Page 487
59
Prerogative View of the Presidential Power
A view of presidential power, promoted by Abraham Lincoln, that argues that the president is requires to preserve the Constitution and take actions to do so that otherwise might be unconstitutional
Chapter 13: Page 487
60
Positive Government
The idea that government should play a major role in preventing or dealing with the crises that face the nation
Chapter 13: Page 488
61
Executive Office of the President (EOP)
The organizational structure in the executive branch that houses the president's most influential advisors and agencies. The most important include the White House Office, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the National Security Council, and the Council of Economic Advisors
Chapter 13: Page 494
62
White House Office
A section of the Executive Office of the President that houses many of the most influential advisors to the president, including the chief of staff; the White House legal counsel; presidential speechwriters; the president's press secretary; assistants for domestic, foreign, and economic policy and liaisons with Congress, the public, and state and local governments
Chapter 13: Page 494
63
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
An agency of the Executive Office of the President that is responsible for assisting the president in creating the budget
Chapter 13: Page 495
64
National Security Council
A group of presidential advisors made up of the vice president, the attorney general, and cabinet officers chosen by the president to advise the president on national security issues; it is part of the Executive Office of the President
Chapter 13: Page 495
65
Council of Economic Advisers
An agency of the Executive office of the President that is responsible for advising the president on the US economy
Chapter 13: Page 495
66
Hierarchical Model
A method of organizing the presidency that calls of clear lines of authority and that delegates responsibility from the president and through the chief of staff
Chapter 13: Page 496
67
Spokes-of-the wheel Model
A method of organizing the presidency that calls for the president to be the center of activity, with numerous advisors reporting directly to the president
Chapter 13: Page 496
68
Executive Agreements
Agreements between the United States and other nations, negotiated by the president, that have the same weight as a treaty but do not require senatorial approval
Chapter 13: Page 503
69
Going Public
A political strategy in which the president appeals tot he public in an effort to persuade Congress to support his or her political goals
Chapter 13: Page 509
70
Pocket Veto
The veto resulting from a president taking no action, before Congress adjourns, on legislation that has passed Congress
Chapter 13: Page 518
71
Party Polarization
Situation in which policy positions (or ideology) within political parties become more homogeneous, and policy positions across the parties move farther apart
Chapter 13: Page 521
72
Unilateral Powers
Presidential directives that carry the weight of law even though they have not been formally endorsed by Congress
Chapter 13: Page 525
73
Executive Orders
Directives of the President that have the same weight as law and are not voted on by Congress
Chapter 13: Page 526
74
Signing Statements
Pronouncements of how the president intends to interpret and apply a law when he signs a bill into law
Chapter 13: Page 528
75
National Security Directive
A type of executive order with the force of law authorizing federal agencies or officials to take some action to protect national security
Chapter 13: Page 530
76
Bureaucracy
The term used to refer to the agencies of the federal government. It also refers to an organizational framework and has negative connotations
Chapter 14: Page 537
77
Spoils System
A system of governing in which political positions and benefits are given to the friends of the winner
Chapter 14: Page 540
78
Merit System
A system of governing in which jobs are given based on relevant technical expertise and the ability to perform
Chapter 14: Page 540
79
Neutral Competence
The idea that agencies should make decisions based on expertise rather than political considerations
Chapter 14: Page 541
80
Executive Office of the President (EOP)
The organizational structure in the executive branch that houses ht president's most influential advisors and agencies. The most important include the White House Office, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the National Security Council, and the Council of Economic Advisers
Chapter 14: Page 544
81
Cabinet Departments
The 15 largest and most influential agencies of the federal bureaucracy
Chapter 14: Page 544
82
Independent Agencies
Federal agencies that are not part of the cabinet-level executive departments
Chapter 14: Page 546
83
Regulatory Agencies and Commissions
Agencies that are independent of cabinet departments and are created by Congress to monitor and regulate specific areas of economic activity
Chapter 14: Page 546
84
Deregulation
The reduction or elimination of government rules and regulations that interfere with the efficient operation to market forces
Chapter 14: page 547
85
Government Corporations
Federally established businesses that are narrow in focus and are in part self-supporting
Chapter 14: Page 549
86
Advisory Committees
Temporary or permanent organizations created to provide information and technical expertise to the bureaucracy
Chapter 14: Page 550
87
Rule
A statement of the bureaucracy that interpret the law of prescribes a specific action. These rules ave the force of law
Chapter 14: Page 553
88
Rulemaking
The process in which the bureaucracy decides what the laws passed by Congress mean and how they should be carried out
Chapter 14: Page 553
89
Adjudication
The process of determining whether a law or rule established by the bureaucracy has been broker
Chapter 14: Page 554
90
Iron Triangles
A term used to refer to the interdependent relationship among the bureaucracy, interest groups, and congressional committees
Chapter 14: Page 556
91
Policy Subsystem
Networks of groups with an interest in a specific policy issuer of area
Chapter 14: Page 557
92
Bounded Rationality
Herber Simon's theory that humans are not utility maximizer as suggested in classical rational choice models. Humans satisfice (see satisficing) rather than maximize
Chapter 14: Page 559
93
Satisficing
Considering possible alternatives until finding one that is good enough to solve the problem at hand even though it mitt not be the 'best' possible solution
Chapter 14: Page 559
94
Overhead democracy
The idea that the bureaucracy is controlled through the oversight of elected officials, who are chosen by the people, thus giving the populace control over the bureaucracy
Chapter 14: Page 560
95
Police Patrol Oversight
The active oversight of the bureaucracy by elected officials to make sure that the bureaucracy by elected officials to make sure that the bureaucracy is acting according to the wishes of the people
Chapter 14: Page 560
96
Fire Alarm Oversight
Oversight that becomes active only when there is evidence of bureaucratic wrongdoing
Chapter 14: Page 560
97
Agency Capture
A term used to describe when an agency seems to ape rate for the benefit of those whom it is supposed to regulate
Chapter 14: Page 561
98
Sunshine Laws
Laws intended to keep the bureaucracy accountable to the people by requiring that agency meetings be open to the public
Chapter 14: Page 562
99
Legislative Veto
Measure that gives Congress the ability to reject an action or decisions of the bureaucracy
Chapter 14: Page 562
100
Appointment Power
A power of the president that enables him or her to control the bureaucracy by selecting the people who will head its agencies
Chapter 14: Page 563
101
Impoundment
The limited ability of the president to not spend money appropriated by Congress
Chapter 14: Page 564
102
Executive Orders
Directives of the president that have same weight as law and are not voted on by Congress
Chapter 14: Page 564
103
Legislative intent
The intention of Congress when it passes laws
| Chapter 14: Page 564
104
Standards of due process
The procedural guarantees provided to ensure fair treatment and constitutional rights
Chapter 14: Page 564
105
Contracting Out
Hiring a private organization to deliver a public program or service
Chapter 14: Page 566
106
Principal-agent Model
A model explaining the relationship between Congress and the bureaucracy, which states that the relationship is similar to that between an employer who seeks to have work done (the principal) and an employee who does the work (the agent)
Chapter 14: Page 566
107
Adverse Selection
Principal's lack of information about the abilities of an agent
Chapter 14: Page 567
108
Moral Hazard
Principal's lack of information about the effort of an agent
| Chapter 14: Page 567
109
Judiciary
A system of courts and judges concerned with administration of justice
Chapter 15: Page 573
110
Judicial Power
The authority of courts to interpret and apply the law in particular cases
Chapter 15: Page 574
111
Jurisdiction
The types of cases a give court is permitted to hear
| Chapter 15: Page 574
112
Courts of Original Jurisdiction
Trial courts that hear cases for the first time and determine issues of fact and law
Chapter 15: Page 575
113
Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction
Courts that review the decisions of lower courts
| Chapter 15: Page 575
114
Judicial Review
The power to review decisions of the lower courts and to determine the constitutionality of laws and actions of public officials
Chapter 15: Page 575
115
Marbury v. Madison
The 1803 case in which the Court asserts the power of judicial review
Chapter 15: Page 575
116
Judicial Conference
A committee of district and appellate judges that reviews the needs of the federal judiciary makes recommendations to Congress
Chapter 15: Page 576
117
Collegial courts
Courts in which groups of judges decide cases based on a review of the record of the lower court trial
Chapter 15: Page 579
118
En Banc
A procedure in which all the members of a US court of appeals hear and decide a case
Chapter 15: Page 579
119
Writ of Certiorari
An order from a higher court to a lower court ordering the lower court to turn over transcripts and documents of a case for review. The US Supreme Court Formally exercises its discretionary powers over what cases to hear by issuing a writ of certiorari, which is granted according to the rule of four
Chapter 15: Page 581
120
Rule of Four
Rule according to which four Supreme Court justices must agree to hear a case
Chapter 15: Page 581
121
Conference
The meeting of Supreme Court justices where they decide which cases they will hear
Chapter 15: Page 582
122
Majority Opinion
A decision of the Supreme Court in which five or more of the justices are in agreement on the ruling on which party to the dispute should win a case and the reason that party should win
Chapter 15: Page 583
123
Concurring Opinion
An opining written by a Supreme Court Justice who agrees with the ruling of the Court but not the reason behind it
Chapter 15: Page 583
124
Plurality Opinion
A decision of the Supreme Court in which a majority of the Court agrees on a decision, but there is no majority agreement on the reason for the decision
Chapter 15: Page 583
125
Dissenting Opinion
An opinion written by a Supreme Court justice who is in the minority that presents the logic and thinking of the justices who opposed the majority opinion
Chapter 15: Page 583
126
Senatorial Courtesy
The practice that allows senators from states with federal district court vacancies to recommend individuals for the president to nominate. If the president fails to follow the home state senators' recommendations, a slighted senator may block the nomination from coming to the floor for a confirmation vote
Chapter 15: Page 586
127
Confirmation Process
The period between when a presidential nomination of a federal judge is received in the Senate and when the nominee is either confirmed or defeated
Chapter 15: Page 594
128
Legal Model
A view of judicial decision making that argues that judges set aside their own values and make decisions based solely on legal criteria
Chapter 15: Page 599
129
Slot Machine Theory
The view of judicial review that all judges do is lay the constitutional provision involved beside the statue being challenged and "decide whether the latter squares with the former."
Chapter 15: Page 599
130
Legal Realist Model
A model of judicial decision making that argues that personal values and ideologies affect a judge's decisions
Chapter 15: Page 600
131
Attitudinal Model
A model that suggests that judges' decisions are largely, if not exclusively, determinedly their personal ideological and policy preferences
Chapter 15: Page 600
132
Strategic Model
The view that sincere voting does not always maximize utility
Chapter 15: Page 600
133
Writ of Mandamus
A court order requiring a public official to perform an official duty over which he or she has no discretion
Chapter 15: Page 605
134
Originalism
The idea that Supreme Court justices should interpret the Constitution in terms of the original intentions of the framers
Chapter 15: Page 606
135
living Constitution
The theory that assumes the Constitution was meant to be a dynamic document whose meaning has to account for contemporary social and political context
Chapter 15: Page 607
136
Judicial Restraint
A view of Supreme Court decision making that calls for the Court to defer policymaking to the other branches of government
Chapter 15: Page 607
137
Judicial Activism
A view of Supreme Court decision making that calls for the Court to take an active role in policymaking through its interpretation of the Constitution
Chapter 15: Page 607
138
Legislative Interpretation
A ruling of the Supreme Court in which the Court inter pets on the meaning an din tent of statue passed by Congress. Congress can overturn a decision based on legislative interpretation by passing another law
Chapter 15: Page 612
139
Constitutional Interpretation
A ruling of the Supreme Court that declares a law unconstitutional based the Court's interpretation of the Constitution. A constitutional interpretation cannot be overturned by a simple statute
Chapter 15: Page 612
140
Runoff Primary
A second primary election held between the top two candidates if no candidate received a majority of the votes in the first primary
Chapter 10: Page 376
141
Nonpartisan Primary
A type of election used in Louisiana in which candidates from all political parties run in the same primary, and the candidate who receives the majority of the vote obtains the office
Chapter 10: Page 377
142
Reapportionment
The process of adjusting the number House seats among the states based on population shifts
Chapter 10: Page 380
143
Multimember District
A method of selecting representatives in which more than one person is chosen to represent a single constituency
Chapter 10: Page 380
144
Single-member District
A method of selecting representatives in which the people in a district select a single representative
Chapter 10: Page 380
145
Redistricting
The process of redrawing congressional district lines after reapportionment
Chapter 10: Page 380
146
Gerrymandering
The drawing of district lines in such a way as to help or hinder the electoral prospects of a specific political interest
Chapter 10: Page 380
147
Malapportioned
A situation in which the distribution of legislative seats does not accurately reflect the distribution of the population
Chapter 10: Page 381
148
Baker v. Carr
The 1962 case in which the Supreme Court overturned the political question doctrine, holding that legislative apportionment was a justiciable issue that the courts and jurisdiction to hear and decide
Chapter 10: Page 381
149
Justiciable issue
An issue or topic over which the courts have jurisdiction or the power to make decisions
Chapter 10: Page 381
150
Wesburry v. Sanders
The 1964 case in which the Supreme Court invalidated unequal congressional districts, saying that all legislative districts must contain about equal numbers of people. The ruling is popularly known as the principle of person, one vote.
Chapter 10: Page 382
151
One Person, One Vote
The idea, arising out of the 1964 Supreme Court decision of Wesberry v. Sanders, that legislative districts must contain about the same number of people.
Chapter 10: Page 381
152
Majority-Minority Districts
Districts in which the majority of the populations composed of ethnic or racial minorities
Chapter 10: Page 381
153
Descriptive Representation
The view of representation that calls for the racial and ethnic makeup of Congress to reflect that of the nation
Chapter 10: Page 382
154
Substantive Representation
The concept of representation that states that officeholders do not have to be minorities to accurately represent minority interests
Chapter 10: Page 383
155
Incumbency Advantage
The tendency for congressional incumbents to be overwhelmingly successful when they run for reelection due to the nature of congressional districts, resources, and relations with constituents, among other reasons
Chapter 10: Page 384
156
Pork-Barrel Benefits
Government sponsored projects that bring economic benefits to a Congress member's state or district. This is a pejorative term first used in the mid-nineteenth century to describe projects viewed as a waste to tax dollars that serve no purpose other than to aid the reelection of a single incumbent
Chapter 10: Page 386
157
Perquisites (perks)
The benefits and support activities that members of Congress receive in order to help them perform their job
Chapter 10: Page 386
158
Advertising
The activities of members of Congress (such as sending out newsletters or visiting the district) designed to familiarize the constituency with the member
Chapter 10: Page 387
159
Credit Claiming
The efforts by members of Congress to get their constituents to believe they are responsible for positive government actions
Chapter 10: Page 387
160
Position Taking
Public statements made by members of Congress on issues of importance to the constituency
Chapter 10: Page 387
161
Open Seats
Legislative seats for which there is no incumbent running for reelection
Chapter 10: Page 388
