Capitol Gains
This is the term for when at least two-thirds of Congress "checks" the president by rejecting a veto.
What is an override?
This is the president’s role as head of the armed forces.
What is commander-in-chief?
This principle, established in Marbury v. Madison, allows courts to strike down unconstitutional laws.
What is judicial review?
This is the power of bureaucratic agencies to interpret vague laws passed by Congress.
What is bureaucratic/delegated discretionary authority?
The president checks the judiciary by nominating justices and granting these to federal offenders.
What are pardons?
In this model of representation, members of Congress vote based on their own judgment and conscience, not necessarily the wishes of their constituents.
What is the trustee model?
Presidents can issue these directives that have the force of law but do not require congressional approval—though they are subject to judicial review.
What are executive orders?
The U.S. Supreme Court typically hears cases by granting this.
What is a writ of certiorari?
This term describes rules created by agencies that have the force of law.
What are regulations (or administrative laws)?
The Senate checks the president’s power over treaties by doing this.
What is ratifying them?
Senators use this tactic to delay or block a vote on a bill.
What is a filibuster?
Executive agreements, unlike treaties, do not require this.
What is Senate approval?
Federal judges can serve for this length of time.
What is life (during good behavior)?
This large, complex organization exists to help the president execute the laws.
What is the federal bureaucracy?
Congress checks the judiciary with this power, which can change the size of the Supreme Court.
What is altering the number of justices (court size)?
These permanent groups in Congress handle specific policy areas like agriculture or foreign affairs.
What are standing committees?
The War Powers Resolution limits the president’s ability to do this without congressional approval.
What is commit troops to armed conflict?
This concept means that courts often defer to the elected branches unless a law is obviously unconstitutional.
What is judicial restraint?
This term refers to the "triangle" of influence among congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that shape policy.
What is the iron triangle?
This term describes how Congress can pass new legislation to undo the effects of a Supreme Court ruling.
What is legislative override or legislative check?
Congress can influence the bureaucracy through this process of reviewing the budget and spending.
What is the power of the purse?
The president nominates these officials, who must be confirmed by the Senate.
Who are federal judges, Cabinet members, or ambassadors?
In this type of opinion, a Supreme Court justice agrees with the majority decision but for different constitutional or legal reasons.
What is a concurring opinion?
Bureaucratic agencies often testify in these settings to inform Congress about their work.
What are committee hearings?
In 2016, when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to hold a hearing for Merrick Garland, he claimed the Senate was exercising this constitutional power to check President Obama’s appointment.
What is advice and consent?
In Shaw v. Reno (1993), the Supreme Court ruled that this practice, when done primarily based on race, could violate the Equal Protection Clause.
What is racial gerrymandering?
This part of the executive branch includes the president’s closest advisors and offices like the OMB and NSC.
What is the Executive Office of the President (EOP)?
A lawsuit involving a dispute between two private parties is classified as this kind of case.
What is a civil case?
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is primarily responsible for overseeing the preparation of this.
What is the federal budget?
In 2020, the judicial branch exercised this power by striking down parts of President Trump's travel ban, which aimed to limit immigration from several predominantly Muslim countries.
What is judicial review?
This rule allows the Senate to limit debate on a bill, often invoked to overcome minority obstruction known as a filibuster.
What is cloture?
This theory, which has gained prominence in recent years, asserts that the president has the ultimate control over the entire executive branch, a principle highlighted in Project 2025's push to centralize executive power.
What is unitary executive theory?
This term refers to a judicial screening process where a nominee’s stance on a single issue, such as abortion, determines their likelihood of confirmation.
What is a litmus test?
This term refers to a situation where the government creates unnecessary bureaucratic rules that slow down the regulatory process or create inefficiency.
What is "red tape"?
In 2022, the Supreme Court’s decision in this case overturned nearly 50 years of legal precedent, ending federal protection of abortion rights and leaving the issue to state legislatures.
What is Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization?
When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, members from both chambers meet in this type of committee to iron out the differences.
What is a conference committee?
This theory, championed by Theodore Roosevelt, holds that the president can act with broad authority to do what is necessary for the public good, even if the Constitution does not explicitly grant those powers.
What is stewardship theory?
In this Federalist paper, Alexander Hamilton argued that the judiciary would be the "least dangerous" branch because it had neither the "purse" nor the "sword" to enforce its decisions.
What is Federalist No. 78?
This 1883 law established that government jobs should be awarded based on merit rather than political affiliation, ending the "spoils system."
What is the Pendleton Civil Service Act?
In 2025, President Trump established this initiative, led by Elon Musk, aiming to modernize federal technology and maximize governmental efficiency.
What is the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)?
This process happens every 10 years after the census, redistributing the 435 seats in the House of Representatives based on population changes.
What is reapportionment?
This theory argues that the president can only exercise powers that are explicitly granted by the Constitution or by statutes passed by Congress, a more limited view of executive authority.
What is the constitutional theory of the executive?
This Latin term refers to the judicial principle of adhering to precedent, which ensures legal consistency and stability.
What is stare decisis?
This 1939 law prohibits federal employees from engaging in certain political activities, including running for office or actively campaigning while employed by the government.
What is the Hatch Act?
In 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) played a key role in dismantling this U.S. agency, originally focused on administering foreign aid, as part of efforts to streamline federal operations.
What is USAID (United States Agency for International Development)?
Unlike standing committees, these temporary congressional committees are created for specific investigations, like the one that examined the January 6th Capitol attack.
What are select committees?
In this essay, Alexander Hamilton argues for a strong, energetic executive, claiming that a single president, rather than a plural executive, is essential for effective leadership and accountability.
What is Federalist No. 70?
This judicial philosophy interprets the Constitution based on the original understanding of its text as it was understood at the time of its ratification.
What is originalism?
This term refers to the complex web of relationships between government agencies, interest groups, and other stakeholders who collaborate to shape policy on specific issues.
What is issue networks?
President Trump is committed to dismantling the U.S. Department of Education under Secretary McMahon's leadership, but it will require an act of this governmental body to make it happen.
What is Congress?