Final Exam CH. 11-12, 14, 19 and 23

Political Science 112 with K at California State University - Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

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By: Andre Azares
Created: 2011-06-09
Size: 85 flashcards
Views: 20

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apportionment

the distribution of House seats among the states on the basis of their respective populations

appropriation

a part of the congressional budgeting process that involves the creation of the legal basis for government programs

authorization

a part of the congressional budgeting process that involves the creation of the legal basis for government programs

cloture

a method of ending debate in the Senate and bringing the matter under consideration to a vote by the entire chamber

conference committee

a temporary committee that is formed when the two chambers of Congress pass separate versions of the same bill. the conference committee, which consists of members from both the House and the Senate, works out a compromise form of the bill

conference report

a report submitted by a congressional conference committee after it has drafted a single version of a bill

congressional district

the geographic area that is served by one member in the House of Representatives

continuing resolution

a temporary resolution passed by Congress when an appropriations bill has not been passed by the beginning of the new fiscal year

entitlement program

a government program (such as Social Security) that allows, or entitles, a certain class of people (such as elderly persons) to receive special benefits. entitlement programs operate under open-ended budget authorizations that, in effect, place no limits on how much can be spent

filibustering

the Senate tradition of unlimited debate undertaken for the purpose of preventing action on a bill

first budget resolution

a budget resolution, which is supposed to be passed in May, that sets overall revenue goals and pending targets for the next fiscal year, which begins on Oct. 1

fiscal year

a 12 month period that is established for bookkeeping or accounting purposes. the government's fiscal year runs from Oct.1 thru Sept. 30

gerrymandering

the drawing of a legislative district's boundaries in such a way as to maximize the influence of a certain group or political party

instructed delegate

a representative who mirrors the views of the majority of his or her constituents

majority leader

the party leader elected by the majority party in the House or in the Senate

malapportionment

a condition in which the voting power of citizens in one district is greater than the voting power of citizens in another district

markup session

a meeting held by a congressional committee or subcommittee to approve, amend, or redraft a bill

minority leader

the party leader elected by the minority party in the House or in the Senate

minority-majority district

a district whose boundaries are drawn so as to maximize the voting power of minority groups

"one person, one vote" rule

a rule, or principle, requiring that congressional districts have equal populations so that one person's vote counts as much as another's vote

pocket veto

a special type of veto power used by the chief executive after the legislature has adjourned. bills that are not signed die after a specified period of time

Rules Committee

a standing committee in the House of Representatives that provides special rules governing how particular bills will be considered and debated by the House. The Rules Committee normally proposes time limits on debate for any bill

second budget resolution

a budget resolution, which is supposed to be passed in September, that sets "binding" limits on taxes and spending for the next fiscal year

Speaker of the House

the presiding officer in the House of Representatives. the Speaker has traditionally been a longtime member of the majority party and is often the most powerful and influential member of the House

standing committee

a permanent committee in Congress that deals with legislation concerning a particular area, such as agriculture or foreign relations

subcommittee

a division of a larger committee that deals with a particular part of the committee's policy area. most standing committees have several subcommittees

trustee

a representative who serves the broad interests of the entire society, and not just the narrow interests of his or her constituents

whip

a member of Congress who assists the majority or minority leader in the House or in the Senate in managing the party's legislative preferences

cabinet

an advisory group selected by the president to assist with decision making. traditionally, the cabinet has consisted of the heads of the executive departments and other officers who the president may choose to appoint

chief diplomat

the role of the president in recognizing and interacting with foreign governments

chief executive

the head of the executive branch of government. in the United States, the president

chief of staff

the person who directs the operations of the White House Office and who advises the president on important matters

commander in chief

the supreme commander of a nation's military force

diplomat

a person who represents on country in dealing with representatives of another country

executive agreement

a binding international agreement, or pact, that is made between the president and another head of state and that does not require Senate approval

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

a group of staff agencies that assist the president in carrying out major duties. Franklin D. Roosevelt established the EOP in 1939 to cope with the increased responsibilities brought on by the Great Depression

executive order

a presidential order to carry out a policy or policies described in a law passed by Congress

executive privilege

an inherent executive power claimed by presidents to withhold information from, or to refuse to appear before, Congress, or the courts. the president can also accord the privilege to other executive officials

administrative law

the body of law created by administrative agencies (in the form of rules, regulations, orders, and decisions) in order to carry out their duties and responsibilities

appellate court

a court having appellate jurisdiction. an appellate court normally does not hear evidence or testimony but reviews the transcript of the trial court's proceedings, other records relation to the case, and attorneys' arguments as to why the trial court's decision should or should not stand

case law

the rules of law announced in court decisions. case law includes the aggregate of reported cases that interpret judicial precedents, statutes, regulations, and constitutional provisions

civil law

the branch of law that spells out the duties that individuals in society owe to other persons or their governments, excluding the duty not to commit crimes

common law

the body of law developed from judicial decisions in English and U.S> courts, not attributable to a legislature

concurring opinion

a statement written by a judge or justice who agrees (concurs) with the court's decision, but for reasons different from those in the majority opinion

conference

in regard to the Supreme Court, a private meeting of the justices in which they present their arguments concerning a case under consideration

constitutional law

law based on the U.S. Constitution and the constitutions of the various states

criminal law

the branch of law that defines and governs actions that constitute crimes. generally, criminal law has to do with wrongful actions committed against society for which society demands redress

dissenting opinion

a statement written by a judge or justice who disagrees with the majority opinion

diversity of citizenship

a basis for federal court jurisdiction over a lawsuit that arises when (!) the parties in the lawsuit live in different states or when one of the parties is a foreign government or a foreign citizen, and (2) the amount in controversy is more than $75k

federal question

a question that pertains to the U.S. Constitution, acts of Congress, or treaties. a federal question provides a basis for federal court jurisdiction

judicial review

the power of the courts to decide on the constitutionally of legislative enactments and of actions taken by the executive branch

judiciary

the courts; one of the three branches of the federal government in the United States

jurisdiction

the authority of a court to hear and decide a particular case

justiciable controversy

a controversy that is not hypothetical or academic but real and substantial, a requirement that must be satisfied before a court will hear a case

opinion

a statement written by a court expressing the reasons for its decision in a case

oral argument

a spoken argument presented to a judge in person by an attorney on behalf of her or his client

precedent

a court decision that furnishes an example or authority for deciding subsequent cases involving identical or similar facts and legal issues

primary source of law

a source of law that establishes the law. primary sources of law include constitutions, statutes, administrative agency rules and regulations, and decisions rendered by the courts

senatorial courtesy

a practice that allows a senator of the president's party to veto to the president's nominee to a federal court judgeship within the senator's state

standing to sue

the requirement that an individual must have a sufficient stake in a controversy before he or she can bring a lawsuit. the party bringing the suit must demonstrate that he or she has either been harmed or been threatened with a harm

stare decisis

a common law doctrine under which judges normally are obligated to follow the precedents established by prior court decisions

statutory law

the body of law enacted by legislature (as opposed to constitutional law, administrative law, or case law)

trial court

a court in which trials are held and testimony taken

writ of certiorari

an order from a higher court asking a lower court for the record of a case

absentee ballots

voters who prefer note to vote at their polling places or who are unable to vote on Election Day may apply to their county registrar of voters for an absentee ballot and vote by mail

direct mail

modern campaign technique by which candidates communicate selected messages to selected voters by mail

independent expenditure

an expenditure for activities that are independent from (not coordinated with) those of a political candidate or a political party

political action committee (PAC)

a committee that is established by a corporation, lab union, or special interest group to raise funds and make contributions on the establishing organization's behalf

Political Reform Act of 1974

initiative requiring officials to disclose conflicts of interest, campaign contributions, and spending; also require lobbyists to register with the Fair Political Practices Commission

attorney general

California's top law enforcement officer and legal counsel; the second most powerful member of the executive branch

Board of Equalization

five-member state board that oversees the collection of sales, gasoline, and liquor taxes; members are elected by district; part of the executive branch

controller

independently elected state executive who oversees taxing and spending

director of finance

state officer primarily responsible for preparation of the budget; appointed by the governor

executive order

the ability of the governor to make rules that have the effect of laws; may be overturned by the legislature

general veto

gubernatorial power to reject an entire bill or budget; overruled only by an absolute two-thirds vote of both legislative houses

governor

California's highest ranking executive officeholder; elected every four years

insurance commissioner

elected state executive who regulates the insurance industry; created by a 1988 initiative

item veto

gubernatorial power to delete or reduce the budget within a bill without rejecting the entire bill or budget; an absolute two-thirds vote of both houses of the state legislature is required to override

lieutenant governor

chief executive when the governor is absent from the state or disabled; succeeds the governor in case of death or other departure from office; casts a tie-breaking vote in the senate; is independently elected

Proposition 187

a 1994 initiative reducing government benefits for illegal immigrants; parts of Proposition 187 were declared unconstitutional by federal courts in 1995

Proposition 209

a 1996 initiative that eliminated affirmative action in California

Proposition 227

a 1998 initiative limiting bilingual education to no more than one year

secretary of state

elected state executive who keeps records and supervises elections

superintendent of public instruction

elected state executive in charge of public education

treasurer

elected state executive responsible for state funds between collection and spending

About this deck

By: Andre Azares
Created: 2011-06-09
Size: 85 flashcards
Views: 20

About StudyBlue

“Simply amazing. The flash cards are smooth, there are many different types of studying tools, and there is a great search engine. I praise you on the awesomeness.”
Dennis