POL 201 FINAL EXAM VERIFIED STUDY GUIDE
Marbury vs. Madison - Answers - Supreme Court announced for the first time the
principle that a court may declare an act of Congress void if it is inconsistent with the
Constitution
Descriptive Representation - Answers - The idea that elected representatives in
democracies should represent not only the expressed preferences of their
constituencies but also those of their descriptive characteristics that are politically
relevant.
writ of certiorari - Answers - Orders a lower court to deliver its record in a case so that
the higher court may review it.
Judicial Review - Answers - Review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional
validity of a legislative act.
Chief of State - Answers - The titular head of a nation as distinct from the head of the
government.
War Powers Act - Answers - A federal law intended to check the president's power to
commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of the U.S. Congress.
Precedent - Answers - A legal decision or form of proceeding serving as an authoritative
rule or pattern in future similar or analogous cases.
Bicameralism - Answers - The practice of having two legislative or parliamentary
chambers
Seniority System - Answers - A way to determine employment advantages based on the
length of service of employees.
Impeachment - Answers - A charge of misconduct made against the holder of a public
office.
Cloture - Answers - A procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.
Gerrymandering - Answers - Manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency)
so as to favor one party or class.
Civil Service System - Answers - Branches of public service concerned with all
governmental administrative functions outside the armed services
, Iron Triangles of Influence - Answers - The policy-making relationship among the
congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups.
House Rules Committee - Answers - A committee of the United States House of
Representatives, in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the
floor.
Franking Privilege - Answers - Refers to the privilege of sending mail without payment
of postage.
Legislative Veto - Answers - A provision that allows a congressional resolution to nullify
a rulemaking or other action taken by an executive agency.
Congressional Oversight - Answers - Is oversight by the United States Congress over
the Executive Branch, including the numerous U.S. federal agencies.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) - Answers - Is a federal agency within the
legislative branch of the United States government that provides budget and economic
information to Congress.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) - Answers - OMB prepares the President's
budget proposal to Congress and supervises the administration of the executive branch
agencies.
Veto - Answers - A constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-
making body.
Formal Representation - Answers - Usually refers to representative democracies, where
elected officials nominally speak for their constituents in the legislature.
Executive Order - Answers - Are official documents, numbered consecutively, through
which the President of the United States manages the operations of the Federal
Government.
Executive Agreement - Answers - An international agreement, usually regarding routine
administrative matters not warranting a formal treaty, made by the executive branch of
the US government without ratification by the Senate.
Strict Constitution - Answers - Refers to a particular legal philosophy of judicial
interpretation that limits or restricts judicial interpretation.
Double Jeopardy - Answers - The prosecution of a person twice for the same offense.
Line Item Veto - Answers - The power of a president, governor, or other elected
executive to reject individual provisions of a bill.
Marbury vs. Madison - Answers - Supreme Court announced for the first time the
principle that a court may declare an act of Congress void if it is inconsistent with the
Constitution
Descriptive Representation - Answers - The idea that elected representatives in
democracies should represent not only the expressed preferences of their
constituencies but also those of their descriptive characteristics that are politically
relevant.
writ of certiorari - Answers - Orders a lower court to deliver its record in a case so that
the higher court may review it.
Judicial Review - Answers - Review by the US Supreme Court of the constitutional
validity of a legislative act.
Chief of State - Answers - The titular head of a nation as distinct from the head of the
government.
War Powers Act - Answers - A federal law intended to check the president's power to
commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of the U.S. Congress.
Precedent - Answers - A legal decision or form of proceeding serving as an authoritative
rule or pattern in future similar or analogous cases.
Bicameralism - Answers - The practice of having two legislative or parliamentary
chambers
Seniority System - Answers - A way to determine employment advantages based on the
length of service of employees.
Impeachment - Answers - A charge of misconduct made against the holder of a public
office.
Cloture - Answers - A procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.
Gerrymandering - Answers - Manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency)
so as to favor one party or class.
Civil Service System - Answers - Branches of public service concerned with all
governmental administrative functions outside the armed services
, Iron Triangles of Influence - Answers - The policy-making relationship among the
congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups.
House Rules Committee - Answers - A committee of the United States House of
Representatives, in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the
floor.
Franking Privilege - Answers - Refers to the privilege of sending mail without payment
of postage.
Legislative Veto - Answers - A provision that allows a congressional resolution to nullify
a rulemaking or other action taken by an executive agency.
Congressional Oversight - Answers - Is oversight by the United States Congress over
the Executive Branch, including the numerous U.S. federal agencies.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) - Answers - Is a federal agency within the
legislative branch of the United States government that provides budget and economic
information to Congress.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) - Answers - OMB prepares the President's
budget proposal to Congress and supervises the administration of the executive branch
agencies.
Veto - Answers - A constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-
making body.
Formal Representation - Answers - Usually refers to representative democracies, where
elected officials nominally speak for their constituents in the legislature.
Executive Order - Answers - Are official documents, numbered consecutively, through
which the President of the United States manages the operations of the Federal
Government.
Executive Agreement - Answers - An international agreement, usually regarding routine
administrative matters not warranting a formal treaty, made by the executive branch of
the US government without ratification by the Senate.
Strict Constitution - Answers - Refers to a particular legal philosophy of judicial
interpretation that limits or restricts judicial interpretation.
Double Jeopardy - Answers - The prosecution of a person twice for the same offense.
Line Item Veto - Answers - The power of a president, governor, or other elected
executive to reject individual provisions of a bill.
