Standing
permanent legislative panels established by the United States House of
Representatives and United States Senate rules. (House Rule X, Senate Rule XXV.) Special(or select)
a congressional committee appointed to perform a special function that is beyond the authority or capacity of a standing committee. Joint
a committee made up of members of both chambers of a bicameral legislature. Government Accountability Office: an independent agency which provides to the United
States Congress audit, evaluation, and investigative services. As such it is part of the legislative branch of the United States government. Lame duck session:
A lameduck session of Congress in the United States occurs whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected, but before the successor's term begins Bill (Congress): a draft of a proposed law presented to parliament for discussion. Majority and Minority leader (House):
Selected by their own party caucus es, majority leaders act as chief spokespersons and strategists for their parties. In the House of
Representatives, the majority leader is second in command of his party, after the Speaker of the House. Unitary executive theory: a theory of American constitutional law holding that the President possesses the power to control the entire executive branch. The doctrine is rooted in Article
Two of the United States Constitution, which vests "the executive power" of the United States in the President. CommanderinChief:
The role of the United States president as highest ranking officer in the armed forces. The Constitution provides this power, but, through the system of checks and balances, gives Congress the authority to declare war. Iron Triangle/Issue Networks:
The iron triangle is a unique relationship between the bureaucracy, congressmen and lobbyists that results in the mutual benefit of all three of them.
Issue networks are an alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite in order to promote a single issue in government policy. Administrative Law Judge: a judge and trier of fact who both presides over trials and adjudicates the claims or disputes (in other words, ALJcontrolled proceedings are bench trials) involving administrative law Executive prerogative: the power claimed by the President of the United States and other members of the executive branch to resist certain subpoenas and other interventions by the legislative and judicial branches of government to access information and personnel relating to the executive branch Bicameralism (why important?):
A bicameral legislature is one in which the legislators are divided into two separate assemblies, chambers or houses. Presidential proclamation: a statement issued by a president on a matter of public policy.
They are generally defined as, "The act of causing some state matters to be published or made generally known. Office of Management and Budget: the largest office within the Executive Office of the
President of the United States (EOP). The director of the OMB is a member of the Executive
Office of the President. The main function of the OMB is to assist the president in preparing the budget. The Inspector General:
Office of Inspector General (OIG), for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is charged with identifying and combating waste, fraud, and abuse in the HHS's more than 300 programs, including Medicare and programs conducted by agencies within HHS, such as the Food and Drug Administration. The spoils system: the practice of a successful political party giving public office to its supporters. Presidential intimidation
Delegate theory of representation: a model of a representative democracy. In this model, constituents elect their representatives as delegates for their