The First Branch (Congress)
This is the specific "Model of Representation" where a member of Congress acts as a mouthpiece for their voters' wishes.
What is the Delegate Model?
This is the President’s power to say "no" to a bill, sending it back to Congress.
What is a Veto?
This case gave the Supreme Court the power of Judicial Review.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
This system ensures government jobs go to people who are qualified, not just friends of the President.
What is the Merit System?
This group refused to support the Constitution until a Bill of Rights was promised.
What are Anti-Federalists?
These are the permanent committees (like Agriculture or Foreign Affairs) where most bills are first debated.
What are Standing Committees?
In this role, the President acts as the supreme commander of all U.S. military forces.
What is Commander-in-Chief?
This Latin term refers to the Court’s habit of following past "precedents" when making a ruling.
What is Stare Decisis?
Although they aren't Congress, bureaucratic agencies have THIS power to create regulations that have the same legal force as a law.
What is Rulemaking Authority?
This "Plan" at the Convention wanted every state to have the same number of votes, regardless of size.
What is the New Jersey Plan?
This Supreme Court case established the "one person, one vote" rule for drawing district lines.
What is Baker v. Carr?
This Federalist Paper argued that a single, powerful President is better than a group of leaders.
What is Federalist No. 70?
A judge who believes they should strictly follow the original intent of the Constitution practices this.
What is Judicial Restraint?
This is the "alliance" between a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.
What is the Iron Triangle?
This event proved the Articles of Confederation were too weak to stop internal rebellions.
What is Shays' Rebellion?
This is the Senate's power to review and confirm the President’s nominees for the Supreme Court.
What is Advice and Consent?
The President uses this to make a deal with a foreign country without needing the Senate's 2/3 approval.
What is an Executive Agreement?
If Congress hates a Court ruling, they can try to "check" the Court by proposing one of these.
What is a Constitutional Amendment?
Congress uses these public meetings to investigate agencies and make sure they are following the law.
What are Oversight Hearings?
This "Problem" occurs when people benefit from an interest group’s work without paying any dues.
What is the Free-Rider Problem?
This term describes the "standstill" that happens when the President and Congress are from different parties.
What is Divided Government?
This 1973 law was passed by Congress to limit the President's power to commit U.S. troops to war without a formal declaration.
What is the War Powers Resolution (or War Powers Act)?
A judge who is willing to strike down laws to protect social rights (like in Roe v. Wade or Brown v. Board of Education) practices this.
What is Judicial Activism?
This term describes an agency's power to decide how to carry out a law since they are the experts.
What is Discretionary Authority?
This term describes a person who already holds the office they are running for, giving them a massive advantage in fundraising and name recognition.
What is an Incumbent?