Congress Chaos
This chamber represents states equally, with two members per state.
What is the Senate?
This House committee determines the rules for debate on a bill.
What is the Rules Committee?
This is the President's formal power as the civilian commander of military.
What is being the Commander-in-chief?
This Supreme Court case established judicial review.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
This system hires government workers based on qualifications rather than political connections.
What is the merit system?
This clause allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
This procedure requires 60 votes in the Senate to end debate.
What is cloture?
This type of veto cannot be overridden by Congress if issued at the end of a session.
What is a pocket veto?
This concept means courts follow precedent when making decisions.
What is stare decisis?
This alliance includes congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups.
What is an iron triangle?
This committee resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
What is a conference committee?
This type of spending is required by law and includes programs like Social Security.
What is mandatory spending?
This directive allows the president to manage the federal government without congressional approval.
What is an executive order?
This debate centers on whether courts should interpret the Constitution strictly or broadly.
What are judicial restraint vs. judicial activism?
This authority allows agencies to use delegated powers to enforce laws and make decisions.
What is delegated discretionary authority?
This Supreme Court case decided that districts cannot be solely or predominantly drawn based on race because it violated the Equal Protections Clause of the 14th Amendment.
What is Shaw v. Reno?
This situation occurs when one party controls the presidency and another controls at least one chamber of Congress.
What is divided government?
These are powers that include the President's power of executive orders, agenda setting, persuading Congress and the public, and using media and public opinion to shape policy.
What are informal powers?
This is a test to examine the political ideology of a nominated judge.
What is the litmus test?
This executive department identifies and assess threats to the safety of the U.S., coordinates the national response to and lead recovery efforts after acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies, and maintains and controls borders.
What is the Department of Homeland Security?
This process allows Congress to monitor and supervise the executive branch.
What is congressional oversight?
This informal practice involves trading votes to get legislation passed.
What is logrolling?
This amendment limits presidents to two terms in office.
What is the Twenty-Second Amendment?
This is a check by Congress on the courts, where Court funding is limited for staff and resources.
This act protects federal employees from retaliation (demotion, pay cut, or firings) for exposing "government illegality, waste, and corruption."
What is the Whistleblower Protection Act (1989)?