Congress
legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states.
pork barrel spending
the institution responsible for carrying out laws passed by the legislative branch.
executive branch
the branch of the federal government that interprets the laws of the nation.
federal judiciary
the departments and agencies within the executive branch that carry out the laws of the nation.
federal bureaucracy
trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation.
logrolling
powers of the president expressly granted in the Constitution.
formal or enumerated powers
the highest level of the federal judiciary, which was established in Article III of the Constitution and serves as the highest court in the nation.
Supreme Court
an official employed within a government bureaucracy.
bureaucrat
efforts by Congress to ensure that executive branch agencies, bureaus, and cabinet departments, as well as their officials, are acting legally and in accordance with congressional goals.
oversight
powers not laid out in the Constitution but used to carry out presidential duties.
informal powers
the authority of a court to hear a case first, which includes the finding of facts in the case.
original jurisdiction
filling administrative positions as a reward for support, rather than merit.
political patronage
a body of voters in a given area who elect a representative or senator.
constituency
an agreement with a foreign government negotiated by the president and requiring a two thirds vote in the Senate to ratify.
treaty
the authority of a court to hear and review decisions made by lower courts in that system.
appellate jurisdiction
an act of Congress that created the first United States Civil Service Commission to draw up and enforce rules on hiring, promotion, and tenure of office within the civil service. Also known as Civil Service Reform Act of 1883.
Pendleton Act
the process of determining the number of representatives for each state using census data.
apportionment
the annual speech from the president to Congress updating that branch on the state of national affairs.
State of the Union Address
argument by Alexander Hamilton that the federal judiciary would be unlikely to infringe upon rights and liberties but would serve as a check on the other two branches.
Federalist No. 78
the merit-based bureaucracy, excluding the armed forces and political appointments.
federal civil service