Districting
the process of drawing electoral district boundaries
redistricting
Head of the US House of Representatives elected by a majority of the chamber
Speaker of the House
spending money on social security, medicare, medicaid
Mandatory spending
prevents a congressional-passed law from going into effect or if the president refuses to sign a bill and congress adjourns within 10 working days of it being submitted.
Veto and pocket veto
Getting public support, along with bargaining and persuasion, helps the president get Congress to act according to his wishes.
Bully Pulprit
Tennessee had not redrawn its legislative districts in decades. Population shifts made rural votes worth more than urban votes. Voters argued this violated equal representation. Court said redistricting is a justiciable issue
Baker v Carr
used to delay or block a vote on legislation through extended debate
fillabuster
spending on defense, education, infrastructure
Discretionary
formal agreement between the president and a foreign leader
Executive Agreement
An annual message delivered by the President of the United States to a joint session of Congress, in which the president reports on the condition of the country and outlines the legislative agenda and national priorities.
State of the Union
redistribution of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives among the 50 states, conducted every 10 years based on population shifts.
reapportionment
powerful legislative panel that determines the rules and procedures for debating and voting on bills.
rules committee
government appropriation of funds for localized projects intended to please voters or donors, often funding unnecessary or wasteful projects.
Pork Barreling
a directive issued by the U.S. President to federal agencies, managing operations of the executive branch, and directing how legislation is implemented. (tells government officials how to act or interpret exsiting laws)
Executive Order
a strict, narrow method of interpreting the Constitution or statutes by adhering only to the exact, ordinary wording of the text.
Literalism
manipulation of electoral district boundaries to give one political party an unfair advantage
gerrymandering
a procedural tool in the U.S. House of Representatives used to force a bill out of a committee and onto the House floor for a vote, bypassing leadership and committee inaction.
discharge petition
the political practice of trading votes or favors, where legislators support each other's preferred, often local, projects to ensure passage of a larger bill
Logrolling
an official written pronouncement issued by the President of the United States upon signing a bill into law.
signing statements
strong, active presidency where the president acts as a "steward" of the people, exercising any powers necessary to serve the national interest unless specifically prohibited by the Constitution or law.
stewardship
NC created two majority-minority districts to increase black representation. The Court ruled that gerrymandering can violate the Equal Protection Clause.
Shaw v Reno
a Senate procedure used to end a filibuster and bring a debate to a close, forcing a vote on a bill, motion, or amendment
Cloture
government-funded initiatives that guarantee specific benefits to individuals who meet legal eligibility requirements, such as age, income, or disability.
Entitlements
document that argues for a single, "energetic" executive (president) rather than a plural executive. What and who wrote it
Federalist #70- Hamilton
a government structure where all key power and authority are concentrated in a central (national) government, rather than shared with regional or local governments
Unitary