Judiciary
Person being accused in court
Defendant
The process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political connections.
Merit System
manipulate the boundaries to favor one party or class
Gerrymandering
The process by which a legislative body formally levels charges against a high official of government
Impeachment
Election of the President (Election Procedures)
12th Amendment
a Supreme Court of the United States practice that permits four of the nine justices to grant a writ of Certiorari
Rule of Four
the power to control appointments to office or the right to privileges
Patronage
an official of a political party whose task is to ensure party discipline in a legislature
a party's "enforcer"
Whips
a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law
Executive Order
Lame-Duck Period shortened for federal officials
20th Amendment
An earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in subsequent similar circumstances
Precedent
The extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by laws.
Discretionary Authority
Committee in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor
House Committee on Rules
an elected official whose successor has already been elected
the official is often seen as having less influence with other politicians due to their limited time left in office
Lame Duck Period
Succession of offices of the President
25th Amendment
The power of a higher court to review decisions and change outcomes of decisions of lower courts
Appellate Jurisdiction
An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities
A US federal law whose main provision prohibits employees in the executive branch (except the president, VP, and certain officials) from engaging in some forms of political activity
Hatch Act (1939)
An amendment that would add new/different subject matter to, or may be irrelevant to, the bill or other measure it seeks to amend.
usually blocked by Rules in the House for floor debates and blocked by most committee chairs in committee markups
Non-germane amendments
the Supreme Court ruled that the line-item veto as granted in the Line Item Veto Act of 1996 violated the Presentment Clause of the Constitution because it impermissibly gave the President the power to unilaterally amend or repeal parts of statutes that had been duly passed by Congress
Voters in Washington D.C. given the right to vote for presidential electors
23rd Amendment
A writ or order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court
Certiorari
Reform civil service laws
Happened post-Watergate Scandal
Civil Service Reform Act (1978)
racial gerrymandering to balance the inequality of racial discrimination in the past
ruled unconstitutional despite the intent behind it
no gerrymandering to insure minority representation
Shaw V Reno
Supreme Court decision ruling that the President has the exclusive power to remove executive branch officials, and does not need the approval of the Senate or any other legislative body
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Limitation of Presidential term of office
22nd Amendment