Legislative Branch
Term for drawing congressional districts to favor one party.
Gerrymandering
The president's power to reject a bill passed by Congress.
Veto
The term for the Supreme Court's power to declare a law or executive action unconstitutional.
Judicial Review
The main goal of this 1883 Act was to replace the spoils system with a merit-based system.
Pendleton Act
The document arguing that an extended republic will prevent the tyranny of factions.
Federalist No. 10
The specific power of the House to formally charge a federal official.
Impeachment
This power, though not explicitly in the Constitution, allows the President to withhold information.
Executive Privilege
The standard legal doctrine that encourages judges to stand by prior decisions.
Stare Decisis
The process by which the bureaucracy carries out the laws passed by Congress.
Implementation
This document outlined the failures of the Articles of Confederation and the need for a stronger central government.
Brutus No. 1 (or Declaration of Independence)
This rule, used in the Senate, can be stopped with a cloture vote of 60 members.
Filibuster
The President's ability to kill a bill by taking no action when Congress is about to adjourn.
Pocket Veto
The name of the written document summarizing the facts and legal arguments for one side of a case.
Brief (Legal Brief)
Independent agencies, like the FTC or FCC, that are largely free from presidential control.
Independent Regulatory Commissions
This letter argued that necessary and proper clause was not a threat to state power.
Separation of powers HINT
Federalist No. 51
The two types of committees that are permanent, like Ways and Means, or temporary, to iron out differences.
Standing & Conference (or Select) Committees
A presidential directive that manages operations of the federal government and has the force of law.
Executive Order
The legal concept that one must have suffered a direct injury to bring a case to court.
Standing (to Sue)
A relationship between a Congressional committee, an interest group, and a government agency.
Iron Triangle
The clause in the 14th Amendment that has been used to apply the Bill of Rights to the states.
Due Process Clause (of the 14th)
Required by the Constitution, this clause is the basis for Congress's implied powers.
Necessary and Proper Clause
This agreement between the President and the head of a foreign government does not require Senate approval.
Executive Agreement
This Latin term describes a request for the Supreme Court to order up the records of a lower court for review.
Writ of Certiorari
The name for the rules and regulations created by the bureaucracy that have the force of law.
Don't overthink it
Rulemaking (Regulations)
This document argued for the necessity of a single, energetic executive.
Federalist No. 70