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51 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
judging a judicial candidate based on their position on one issue
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"litmus test”
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"friend of the court", someone not a party to the case offers information to the court
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amicus curiae
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power of a court to review decisions
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appellate jurisdiction
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unofficial advisory council to the president
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cabinet
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group of members of Congress that meets to pursue common legislative objectives
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caucus
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numerical count of the population every ten years to determine congressional representation
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census
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highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President and a senior aide
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chief of staff
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Body of employees in any government agency, except the military
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civil service
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Senate vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill and thereby overcome a filibuster
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cloture
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written opinion by judges of a court which agrees with the majority of the court
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concurring opinion
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committee appointed by both houses to resolve disagreements on a particular bill
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conference committee
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provides Congress with analyses needed for economic and budget decisions
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Congressional Budget Office
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an electoral constituency that elects a single member of a congress
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congressional district
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review of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation
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congressional oversight
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means of bringing a bill out of committee without a report from a committee
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discharge petition
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opinion of one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion
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dissenting opinion
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when one party controls the White House and the other controls at least one house of Congress
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divided government
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the 538 Electors who meet every four years to cast the electoral votes for President
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electoral college
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agreement between the executive branch and a foreign government without congressional ratification
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executive agreement
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"talking out a bill", attempt to infinitely extend debate to prevent a vote
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filibuster
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allow members of Congress to send official mail using a signature instead of a stamp
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franking privilege
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is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of Congress
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General Accounting Office
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redrawing district or constituency boundaries to gain an electoral advantage
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gerrymander
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1964 resolution of Congress giving the President authorization to use military force without a formal declaration of war
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Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
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first of two stages in a specific process for a legislative body to remove a government official
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impeachment
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executive refusal to spend money authorized by Congress
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impoundment of funds
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policy-making relationship between the legislature, the bureaucracy, and interest groups
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iron triangle
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committee consisting of Members of both Houses and having jurisdiction over matters of joint interest
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joint committee
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misuse of judicial power for obtaining a judgment based on the political convictions of the judges
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judicial activism
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theory of judicial interpretation that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power
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judicial restraint
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power of a court to review the actions of public sector bodies in terms of their legality or constitutionality
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judicial review
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Supreme Court decision establishing judicial review
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Marbury v. Madison
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Supreme Court decision confirming national supremacy
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McCulloch v. Maryland
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Cabinet-level office by which the White House oversees the activities of federal agencies
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Office of Management and Budget
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power of a court to hear a case for the first time as opposed to appellate jurisdiction
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original jurisdiction
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presidents appointing their followers or fellow party members to positions in exchange for their support
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patronage
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legislation establishing the modern civil-service system of permanent federal employment based on merit
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Pendleton Act
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when the President fails to sign a bill within the 10 days while Congress is in adjournment
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pocket veto
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political metaphor for government spending that primarily benefits particular constituents
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pork barrel
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presiding officer in the Senate when the Vice President is not in attendance
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president pro tempore
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order of succession to the office of President in the event neither a President nor Vice President is able
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presidential succession
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allocation of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives that changes each decade following the census
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reapportionment
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term for excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules
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red tape
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ad hoc committee that deals with a specific issue or bill
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select committee
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custom in the Senate of refusing to confirm a presidential appointment to office opposed by both senators from the state of the appointee
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senatorial courtesy
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System based upon length of service for political rank
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seniority system
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body established in a permanent fashion to aid the parent assembly in accomplishing its duties
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standing committee
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the notion that prior court decisions must be recognized as precedent
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stare decisis
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judicial restraint and fidelity to the original meaning (or originally intended meaning) of constitutions and laws
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strict construction
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allows the President to use military forces for 60 days without a formal declaration of war
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War Powers Act
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document an appellate court issues to a lower court in order to review its judgment for legal error and review
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writ of certiorari
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