AP Gov Unit 2 Vocab

Budget Deficit

The difference when a government takes in less money than it spends.

Bully Pulpit

Presidential appeals to the public to pressure other branches of government to support his or her policies.

Cloture

A procedure through which senators can end a debate on a bill and proceed to action, provided three fifths of senators agree.

Constituency

A body of voters in a given area who elect a representative or senator.

Delegate Model

A person who acts as the voters’ representative at a convention to select the party’s nominee.

Discharge Petition

A motion filed by a member of Congress to move a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.

Discretionary Spending

Spending for programs and policies at the discretion of Congress and the president.

Divided Government

A situation that occurs when control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress is split between the two major parties.

Entitlement Programs

A program that provides benefits for those who qualify under the law, regardless of income.

Executive Office of the President

A collection of offices within the White House organization designed mainly to provide information to the president.

Executive Order

Policy directives issued by presidents that do not require congressional approval.

Executive Privilege

A right claimed by presidents to keep certain conversations, records, and transcripts confidential from outside scrutiny, especially that of Congress.

Filibuster

A tactic through which an individual Senator may use the right of unlimited debate to delay a motion or postpone action on a piece of legislation.

Gerrymandering

The intentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters.

House Rules Committee

A powerful committee that determines when a bill will be subject to debate and vote on the house floor, how long the debate will last, and whether amendments will be allowed.

Impeachment

The process of bringing charges against a government official for wrongdoing.

Incumbency Advantage

Institutional advantages held by those already in office who are trying to fend off challengers in an election.

Issue Network

Webs of influence between interest groups, policy makers, and policy advocates.

Iron Triangle

Coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals.

Judicial Activism

A philosophy of constitutional interpretation that justices should wield the power of judicial review, sometimes creating bold new policies.

Judicial Restraint

A philosophy of constitutional interpretation that asserts justices should be cautious in overturning laws.

Judicial Review

The authority of the Supreme Court to strike down a law or executive action if it conflicts with the constitution.

‘Lame Duck’ President

A president whose term is coming to an end.

Logrolling

Trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get earmarks passed into legislation.

Majority Leader

The head of the party with the most seats in Congress, chosen by the party’s members.

Majority Opinion

Binding Supreme Court opinions which serve as precedent for future cases.

Concurring Opinion

An opinion that agrees with the majority opinion, offering different or additional reasoning that does not serve as precedent.

Dissenting Opinion

An opinion that disagrees with the majority opinion and does not serve as precedent.

Mandatory Spending

Spending required by existing laws that is ‘locked in’ the budget.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to act as the first court to hear a case, which includes the finding of facts in the case.

Oversight Power

Efforts by Congress to ensure that executive branch agencies’ bureaus and cabinet departments, as well as their officials, are acting legally and in accordance with congressional goals.

Pocket Veto

An informal veto caused when the president chooses not to sign a bill within ten days during a time when Congress has adjourned at the end of a session.

Political Patronage

Filling administrative positions as a reward for support rather than solely on merit.

Merit Based Civil Service

Filling administrative positions based on competitive testing results, education, and other qualifications rather than politics and personal connections.

Politico Model

Representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties when making decisions.

Pork Barrel Legislation

Legislation that directs specific funds to projects in the districts or states.

Reapportionment

Redrawing of electoral district lines.

Regulation

The process through which the federal bureaucracy makes rules that have the force of law to carry out the laws passed by Congress.

Signing Statements

Text issued by presidents while signing a bill into law that usually consists of political statements or reasons for signing the bill but may also include a president's interpretation of the law itself.

Speaker of the House

The leader of the House of Representatives chosen by an election of its members.

Standing Committee

Most of the work Congress gets done; permanent and divided by policy area.

Stare Decisis

The practice of letting a previous legal decision stand.

Trustee Model

The idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their judgment.

War Powers Resolution

A law passed over President Nixon's veto that restricts the power of the president to maintain troops in combat for more than 60 days without congressional authorization.

Whip

A member of Congress chosen by their party whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline.