Terms starting with "N"

Nullification In U.S. political history, nullification refers to the claim that a state may declare a federal law invalid or refuse to enforce it within the state. The Supreme Court has rejected the idea that individual states may unilaterally invalidate federal law. Notice of Appeal A notice of appeal is the document a party files in the district court to take an appeal of right to a court of appeals; under Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure 3 and 4, it must be filed with the clerk within the time prescribed — generally 30 days in a civil case (60 if a federal party), 14 days in a criminal case. It is the step that gives the appellate court jurisdiction: failure to file a timely notice deprives the court of appeals of the power to hear the case. The notice names the parties taking the appeal and designates the judgment or order being appealed. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking A notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is the public notice a federal agency publishes in the Federal Register before adopting, amending or repealing a rule that binds the public. Section 553 of the Administrative Procedure Act requires the notice to state the time, place and nature of the proceeding, the legal authority for the rule, and either the substance of the proposed rule or the subjects and issues involved, and the agency must give interested persons an opportunity to submit written comments, which it must consider. The APA allows the agency to skip notice and comment only "for good cause" — when the ordinary procedures would be impracticable, unnecessary or contrary to the public interest. Nuclear Option The “nuclear option” is an informal term for a Senate procedural tactic in which the presiding officer’s ruling, sustained by a simple-majority vote, changes how Senate rules or precedents are applied. It has been used to reduce the number of votes needed to invoke cloture on certain nominations. Notes Legislative analysts in the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress may supplement a bill record with. Nonpartisan Nonpartisan describes an activity, organization, or position that is not formally aligned with or directed by a political party. A nonpartisan approach may aim to present information or provide services without favoring a party, though neutrality depends on conduct and content rather than the label alone. Notary Public A notary public is a person authorized under state or territorial law to perform specified acts, such as verifying identity, witnessing signatures, or administering oaths. The scope of a notary’s authority and commissioning requirements vary by jurisdiction. Necessary And Proper Clause The constitutional clause (Article I, Section 8) letting Congress pass any law needed to carry out its other enumerated powers — the basis for most of Congress's implied authority. Negotiated Rulemaking Negotiated rulemaking ("reg neg") is a process in which a federal agency brings representatives of the interests affected by a proposed rule together with the agency to negotiate the rule's text before it is proposed, typically through a formal advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990 (now 5 U.S.C. §§ 561-570) established the statutory framework. If the committee reaches consensus, the agency may use it as the basis of the proposed rule — which is still published for public comment and follows the usual Administrative Procedure Act process; if not, the agency proceeds with normal rulemaking. Negotiation Negotiation is an executive-branch and agency term used to describe presidential action, agency authority, public programs, rules, benefits, enforcement, or administrative records. Nomination A nomination is the formal proposal of a person for appointment to a position. For many senior federal offices, the President nominates a candidate and the Senate considers whether to provide advice and consent, as required by the Constitution or law. Nondelegation Doctrine The nondelegation doctrine is the constitutional principle that Congress may not transfer its legislative power to another body without adequate limits. The Supreme Court has generally permitted Congress to authorize agencies to implement statutes when Congress provides an intelligible principle to guide that discretion.