AP Gov Vocab 2.8-2.15
National Performance Review
A 1993 effort, led by Vice President Al Gore, to make the bureaucracy work better and cost less.
Iron Triangle
A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group
Federal Election Commission (FEC)
A commission created by the 1974 amendments to the Federal Election Campaign Act to administer election reform laws. It consists of six commissioners appointed by president and confirmed by the Senate. Its duties include overseeing disclosure of campaign finance information and public funding of presidential elections, and enforcing contribution limits.
Binding Precedent
A decision of a higher court that must be followed by lower courts in the same hierarchy.
Judicial Restraint
A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures
Bureaucracy
A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials
Administrative Procedures Act (1946)
A law passed in 1946 requiring federal agencies to give notice, solicit comments, and (sometimes) hold public hearings before adopting any new rules.
Whistleblower Protection Act (1989)
A law passed in 1989 which created an Office of Special Counsel to investigate complaints from bureaucrats claiming they were punished after reporting to Congress about waste, fraud, or abuse in their agencies.
Petition for Certiorari
A petition asking the Supreme Court to hear a case
Dissenting Opinion
A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his or her opinion
Spoils
A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.
Judicial Review
Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws
Judicial Activism
An interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions (particularly decisions of the Supreme Court)
Concurring Opinion
An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.
Rule of Four
At least four justices of the Supreme Court must vote to consider a case before it can be heard
Power of the purse
Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money
US. District Courts
Courts within the lowest tier of the three-tiered federal court system; courts where litigation begins.
Department of Veterans Affairs
Directs services for armed forces veterans
Independent Regulatory Agencies
Federal regulatory agencies that are independent, thus not fully under the power of the president. Ex. Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission.
Patronage
Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support
Original Jurisdiction
In common law legal systems, original jurisdiction of a court is the power to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction when a higher court has the power to review a lower court's decision.
Stare Decisis
Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases
Department of Transportation
Manages the nations highways, railroads, airlines, and sea traffic
Appropriations
Money granted by Congress or to a state legislature for a specific purpose
Congressional Oversight
Power used by Congress to gather information useful for the formation of legislation, review the operations and budgets of executive departments and independent regulatory agencies, conduct investigations through committee hearings, and bring to the public's attention the need for public policy
Senatorial Courtesy
Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.
Department of Education
Provides advice and funding for schools
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs is a Division within the Office of Management and Budget, which in turn, is within the Executive Office of the President.
Legislative Veto
The authority of Congress to block a presidential action after it has taken place. The Supreme Court has held that Congress does not have this power
Civil Service Commission
The initial central personnel agency of the national government, created in 1883.
Office of Personnel Management
The office in charge of hiring for most agencies of the federal government, using elaborate rules in the process.
Marbury v. Madison
This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review
Department of Homeland Security
US federal agency created in 2002 to coordinate national efforts against terrorism
Standing
a legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit
Strict Constructionist
a person who interprets the Constitution in a way that allows the federal government to take only those actions the Constitution specifically says it can take
Majority Opinion
a statement that presents the views of the majority of supreme court justices regarding a case
Precedent
an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action
Environmental Protection Agency
an independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment
Merit System
hiring people into government jobs on the basis of their qualifications
Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)
law that created a Civil Service Commission and stated that federal employees could not be required to contribute to campaign funds nor be fired for political reasons
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
monitors the stock market and enforces laws regulating the sale of stocks and bonds
Liberal Constructionist
one who argues a broad interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution, particularly those granting powers to the Federal Government
Civil Service Reform Act (1978)
recognized that many high level positions in the civil service have important policy making responsibilities and that the president and his cabinet officers ought to have more flexibility in recruiting, assigning, and paying such people.
US. Circuit Courts of Appeals
review the interpretation or application of law in a previous court case.
US. Supreme Court
the highest court of the United States; it sits at the top of the federal court system
Federalist No. 78
written by Alexander Hamilton; talks about the federal judiciary; judiciary must depend on other two branches to uphold its decisions