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43 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Reapportionment
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The process of reallocating seats in the HoR every 10 years based on census data
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Gerrymandering
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Process of establishing electoral districts to create a political advantage
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Redistricting
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Drawing electoral district boundaries made necessary by population change
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Constituency Service
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What politicians do to serve and represent their constituents
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Pork Barrel
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Federal projects, grants, and contracts available to state and local governments businesses colleges and other institutions in a congressional district
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Franking
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Postage like stamps used for postal servicing, free for congress
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Committee System
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Dividing into special groups that hear bills first before they hit the floor and perform other special functions(hearings, investigations, etc.)
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Seniority
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Simple rule for picking committee chairs where the member who sits on committee longest and who's party owns the majority is selected as the head regardless of ability or competence
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War powers resolution
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Law passed in 70s in reaction to Vietnam and Cambodia that requires presidents to consult with Congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw troops after 60 days unless war is declared or extension granted.
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Filibuster
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Strategy unique to senate where opponents of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the senate from voting on a bill. 60 present voters can end a filibuster
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Cloture
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(in legislative assembly) a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote
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Incumbency
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those already holding office. Usually win in congressional races.
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Legislative Veto
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vote in congress to override a presidential decision. (The war power resolution asserts this authority.)
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Senatorial Courtesy
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An unwritten tradition where by nominations for state level federal judicial posts are usually not confirmed if they are opposed by a senator or the presidents party from the state which the nominee will serve.
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Executive orders
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Regulations originating with the executive branch. They are one method presidents can use to control the bureaucracy.
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National Security Council
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committee that links the president's foreign and military policy advisers. Its formal members are the president, vice president, secretary of state, and secretary of defense, and is managed by the president's national security assistant.
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Executive privileges
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The principle that members of the executive branch of government cannot legally be forced to disclose their confidential communications when such disclosure would adversely affect the operations or procedures of the executive branch.
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Impeachment
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The political equivalent of an indictment in criminal law, prescribed by the Constitution. The House of Representatives may impeach the president by a majority vote for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
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Pocket Veto
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A type of veto occurring when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the President, and the President simply let's the bill die by neither signing it or vetoing it.
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Cabinet
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A group of Presidential advisers not mentioned in the Constitution, although every president has had one. Today the cabinet is composed of 14 secretaries, the attorney general, and others designated by the president.
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Bicameral legislature
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a legislature divided into 2 houses. US Congress and all state legislatures except Nebraska are bicameral
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House Rules of Committee
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the committee in the House of Representatives that reviews most bills coming from a House committee before they go to the full House
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Speaker of the House
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an office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant
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Majority Leader
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The principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House, or the party's manager in the Senate. The majority leader is responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes on behalf of the party's legislative position
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Whips
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officials whose primary purpose is ensuring party discipline in a legislature
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Minority leader
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the principal leader of the minority party in the house or senate
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Standing committees
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separate subject-matter committees in each house of congress that handle bills in different policy areas
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Joint committees
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congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from each house of congress (senate and the house)
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Conference committees
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joint committees of a bicameral legislature, which are appointed by, and consist of, members of both chambers to resolve disagreements on a particular bill.
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Select Committees
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Congressional Committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation.
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Legislative Oversight
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Congress's monitoring of the bureaucracy and it's administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings.
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Bill
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A proposed law drafted in legal language. Anyone can draft a bill, but only a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate can formally submit a bill for consideration.
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Caucus (congressional)
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A group of members of Congress sharing some interest. Many are composed of members from both parties and houses.
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Presidential Coattails
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occur when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the President's party because they support the President. Few races are won this way
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Budget
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A policy document allocating burdens (taxes) and benefits (expenditures).
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Deficit
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An excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues.
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Expenditures
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Government spending. Major areas of federal spending are social services and national defense.
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Revenues
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The financial resources of the government. Individual income tax and social security tax are two major sources of the federal government’s revenue.
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Tax Expenditures
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Revenue losses that result from special exemptions, exclusions, or deductions allowed by federal tax law.
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Medicare
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A federal government social insurance program that guarantees access to health insurance for people like elderly, disabled or diseased people.
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Social Security Act
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A social welfare legislative act which created the Social Security system in the United States.
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Uncontrollable expenditures
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expenditures that can't be changed unless new law is enacted because they are built into the law.
-almost 2/3 of the federal budget is uncontrollable. -Some groups are automatically eligible for benefits |
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Entitlements
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Guarantees of access to something, such as to welfare benefits, based on established legislation
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