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100
Prisoner's right to a court review of his/her case to determine if there is sufficient cause to keep him/her in jail. Constitution (Article I, Section 9) guarantees this right, except in a time of rebellion or invasion when it may be suspended.
What is Writ of Habeas Corpus
100
Supreme Court ruled that writ of habeas corpus applied to prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay. Allowed Guantanamo Bay prisoners to challenge their detention in federal court.
What is Rasul v. Bush & Al Odah v. united States
100
A law making an action illegal retroactively. Criminalizes acts that were legal when committed. State and federal governments prohibited from making such laws by the Constitution (Article I, Section9).
What is Ex Post Facto Law
100
Legislative process that produces laws authorizing expenditure of money for specific programs. Is dominated by House and Senate standing committees in different policy areas.
What is Authorization Process
100
Two-part process involving passage of both authorization and appropriations bills. Authorization legislation: authorizes federal programs Appropriations legislation: allocates money to authorized programs
What is Congressional Budgetary Process
200
President must spend money allocated in budget; does not have the option to transfer funds or not spend appropriated money. Government Accountability Office, an agency of Congress, monitors federal spending.
What is Carrying Out the Budget
200
President submits budget to Congress Congress reviews and modifies the budget as it sees fit Budget becomes law after both houses of Congress have passed it and the president has signed it.
What is Passing the Federal Budget.
200
Power of legislative branch to control spending by executive branch. Congress must annually pass federal budget determining how much money each federal agency can spend and what it can spend it for. One of the key powers of Congress.
What is Power of the Purse
200
Amendment to a bill that has no connection to subject matter of the bill. Attaching riders to popular bills is a tactic used to get legislation passed that would not otherwise become law (for example, the president may not veto a bill he would otherwise support to avoid the attachment of a rider).
What is a Rider
200
Rewrite of a bill after hearings have been held on it. Action done by Congress as one of the steps to passing the bill into law.
What is Markup
300
Procedure to cut off debate and vote on a bill in Congress. To cut off debate in the Senate, 3/5 of Senators must vote in favor of this. In the House, this is achieved by a simple majority.
What is Cloture.
300
An attempt to keep a debate open in order to stall a vote on a bill. 2/5 of senators must support cloture to end debate and allow voting. allows Senate minority to block a bill. No such practice exists in the House, where a cloture would otherwise be achieved through a simple majority vote.
What is Filibuster
300
Powerful committee in the House of Representatives through which all bills must pass. Determines if a bill is brought to the full House and the rules under which the debate and vote will take place. Senate has no comparable committee, instead leadership within the Senate plays the same role.
What is Rules Committee
300
Amendments to the Constitution can be initiated by Congress if passed by a 2/3 majority in both houses. To be ratified, an amendment then needs approval by 3/4 of state legislatures.
What is Constitutional Amendment Powers
300
Senate must approve all treaties the executive branch negotiates by a 2/3 majority. Senate must approve appointments of ambassadors, judges, and key government officials by a majority vote.
What is Executive Power of Congress
400
Congressional committees can investigate activities of executive branch. Investigations can expose illegal or questionable activities to the public. Investigations provide check on the power of the executive branch.
What is Investigative Powers of Congress
400
Investigative powers, Executive powers, Constitutional amendment powers, Impeachment powers are...
What is Nonlegislative Powers of Congress
400
In a bill or law, money designated for a specific project in a specific place. Restricts spending rather than allowing funds to be spent where most needed or most effective Used by members of Congress to bring government money to home districts.
What is Earmark.
400
Supporting another member's legislation in return for his/her support of your legislation. Tactic often used to obtain pork barrel projects for one's own district.
What is Logrolling
400
Legislation that provides funding for projects in a senator's or representative's home district or state. Members of Congress often brag about the amount of funding for projects they have produced for their constituents.
What is Pork Barrel Legislation
500
Used to continue funding the government when appropriations bill has been stalled by gridlock in congress or a presidential veto If Congress does not pass a this type of bill, agencies without appropriations must shut down.
What is Continuing Resolution
500
Both Senate and House have an Appropriations Committee that writes bills that appropriate money to federal agencies and programs. Generally they are considered the most powerful committees of Congress.
What is Appropriations Committee
500
Legislation process that allocates money to run the government and carry out public policy. Appropriations can only be made after programs have been authorized in separate legislation.
What is Appropriations Process
500
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What is Not Applicable!
500
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What is Not Applicable