The branch whose powers include the power to tax, to borrow money, to regulate commerce and currency, to declare war, and to raise armies and maintain the navy.
What is the legislative branch? Who is Congress?
100
A normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group to select candidates or leaders, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters. (See page 198)
What is a caucus?
100
The president's constitutional power to turn down acts of Congress within 10 days of their passage while Congress is in session. It may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress. (See page 249)
What is a veto?
100
The complex structure of offices, tasks, rules, and principles of organization that are employed by all large-scale institutions to coordinate the work of their personnel. (See page 295)
What is the bureaucracy?
100
Prior cases whose principles are used by judges as the bases for their decisions in present cases. (See page 335)
What are precedents?
200
This branch has the power to make treaties (with the consent of another branch).
What is the executive? (Who is the President?)
200
The chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives. He/She is elected at the beginning of every Congress on a straight party vote. He or she is the most important party and House leader. (See page 198)
Who is the Speaker of the House?
200
A rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect and formal status of legislation. (See page 256)
What is an executive order?
200
The act of moving all or part of a program from the public sector to the private sector. (See page 325)
What is privatization?
200
The highest court in a particular state or in the United States. This court primarily serves an appellate function. (See page 336)
What is the Supreme Court?
300
Those who are appointed to this branch, hold their office during “good behavior” (i.e. life tenure).
What is the Judicial Branch? (federal judges)
300
A tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down. Once given the floor, senators have unlimited time to speak, and it requires a cloture vote of three-fifths of the Senate to end it. (See page 213)
What is a Filibuster?
300
The secretaries, or chief administrators, of the major departments of the federal government. (See page 263)
What is the president’s cabinet?
300
The effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies. (See page 314)
What is oversight?
300
The practice whereby the president, before formally nominating a person for a federal judgeship, finds out whether the senators from the candidate's state support the nomination. (See page 344)
What is senatorial courtesy?
400
This branch has the authority (though not vested in the Constitution) to declare laws or other governmental actions unconstitutional.
What is the judicial branch?
400
A legislative practice wherein reciprocal agreements are made between legislators, usually in voting for or against a bill. (See page 227)
What is Logrolling?
400
The power of the president as leader of the national military and the state national guard units (when called into service). (See page 243)
What is commander-in-chief?
400
A department, bureau, or independent agency whose primary mission is to eliminate or restrict certain behaviors defined as negative in themselves or negative in their consequences. (See page 305)
What is a regulatory agency?
400
The power of the courts to declare actions of the legislative and executive branches invalid or unconstitutional. The Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison (1803). (See page 349)
What is Judicial Review?
500
This branch is granted all power “necessary and proper” under Article I, section 8 of the Constitution. Also called the “elastic clause.”
Who is Congress?
500
A parliamentary procedure that allows the U.S. Senate to override a rule or precedent by majority vote. The procedure thus allows the Senate to decide any issue by majority vote, even though the rules of the Senate specify that ending a filibuster requires the consent of 60 senators.
What is the Nuclear Option?
500
An announcement made by the president when a bill is signed into law. (See page 282)
What is a signing statement?
500
Consisting of 12 districts, this regulatory agency facilitates exchanges of cash, checks, and credit; it regulates member banks; and it deploys monetary policies to fight inflation and deflation. (See page 306)
What is the Federal Reserve (the FED)?
500
Literally, 'let the decision stand’; The doctrine whereby a previous decision by a court applies as a precedent in similar cases until that decision is overruled. (See page 335)