Congressional Rules & Procedures
A two-chamber legislature, which in the U.S. consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
What is a bicameral legislature
This 1974 case ruled that executive privilege is not absolute when evidence is needed in a criminal trial.
What is United States v. Nixon
An international commitment made by the president with a foreign leader that does not require two-thirds Senate approval.
What is an executive agreement
Federal spending governed by existing legal commitments, such as entitlement programs.
What is mandatory spending
The 1913 constitutional amendment that established the direct popular election of U.S. Senators.
What is the Seventeenth Amendment
This permanent type of congressional committee is where most bills live or die.
What is a standing committee
This 1962 case established that equal-protection challenges to state legislative malapportionment are justiciable in federal court.
What is Baker v. Carr
A written statement issued by the president upon signing a bill detailing their interpretation of the law.
What is a signing statement
Funding that Congress must explicitly approve each year through annual appropriations bills
What is discretionary spending
Representation model where a lawmaker strictly votes according to the expressed political views of their constituents.
What is the delegate model
The procedural device used in the Senate to delay or block a vote through extended debate
What is a filibuster
In Shaw v. Reno (1993), the Supreme Court ruled that drawing district boundaries based strictly on this triggers strict scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause
What is race
This type of veto occurs when a bill sits unsigned for 10 days while Congress adjourns, causing the bill to automatically fail.
What is a pocket veto
The informal legislative practice of trading votes or support between lawmakers.
What is logrolling
Representation model where a lawmaker uses their own independent judgment to act in the best interest of the nation.
What is the trustee model
The House procedure requiring 218 signatures to force a stalled bill out of committee and advance it to the floor.
What is a discharge petition
This 1998 case declared line-item vetoes unconstitutional, preventing the president from cancelling selected provisions after signing a bill into law.
What is Clinton v. City of New York
The presidential platform used to directly communicate with and mobilize citizens to pressure other policymakers.
What is the bully pulpit (or "going public")
Temporary funding passed by Congress to keep government operations running while lawmakers negotiate full appropriations.
What is a continuing resolution
The constitutional amendment ratified in 1951 that limits a president to two terms or a maximum of 10 years in office.
What is the Twenty-second Amendment
The vote count required in the Senate to invoke cloture and end a filibuster
What is 60 votes
This 1952 decision held that emergency executive claims did not give the president authority to seize private steel mills.
What is Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer
The presidential theory championed by Theodore Roosevelt stating the president can act for the public welfare unless explicitly forbidden by law.
What is the stewardship theory
Funding designated within broader legislation specifically for a localized project or recipient.
What is an earmark (or pork-barrel legislation)
Federalist paper written by Alexander Hamilton arguing that a single energetic executive is necessary for decisive action and accountability.
What is Federalist No. 70