AP GOV UNIT 3 FULL

constituency

the residents in the area from which an official is elected

coalition building

the alliance of special interest groups with the purpose of achieving the same goal

standing committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

select committee

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

conference committee

Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

Rules Committee

A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house.

joint committee

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

Speaker of the House

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

President of the Senate

the presiding officer of a senate; in Congress, the vice president of the United States; in a state's legislature, either the lieutenant governor or a senator

President Pro Tempore

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president

Party leaders

Members of the House and Senate who are chosen by the Democratic or Republican caucus in each chamber to represent the party's interests in that chamber and who give some central direction to the chamber's work.

party whips

legislative floor leaders who report to the majority or minority leaders

Filibuster

A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

Quorum

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress

hold

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.

unanimous consent

an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation

Committee of the Whole

A committee that consists of an entire legislative body; used for a procedure in which a legislative body expedites its business by resolving itself into a committee of itself.

discharge petition

if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.

discretionary spending

Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

mandatory spending

Required govt spending by permanent laws ex: Medicare, social security

CBO (Congressional Budget Office)

a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides budget and economic information to Congress.

legislative oversight

Congress's monitoring of the executive branch and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings.

incumbency advantage

the electoral edge afforded to those already in office

pork-barrel legislation

legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

Riders

Amendments to bills, often in the form of appropriations, that sometimes have nothing to do with the intent of the bill itself and many times are considered to be pork barrel legislation

Logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills

franking privilege

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power. This is legal

Gridlock

the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

partisan divide

politicians who strongly support their party's policies and are reluctant to compromise with their political opponents

Trustee

A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society.

Delegate

an elected represent that represents the opinions of his or her constituents.

partisan

Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause

Baker vs. Carr

The Supreme Court ruling that all state districts must be equal in population., required that voting district needed to be reapportioned.

Shaw v Reno

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts.

Formal Powers

specific grants of authority defined in the Constitution or in law

Informal Powers

powers not laid out in the Constitution but used to carry out presidential duties

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

override

An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.

pocket veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

Commander in Chief

term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces

Article II

establishes the executive branch of the federal government, which carries out and enforces federal laws

Executive Office of the President

The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, and several other units.

National Security Agency

responsible for protecting U.S. government communications and producing intelligence by monitoring foreign communications.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.

Council of Economic Advisors

a group that works within the executive branch to provide advice on maintaining a stable economy

War Powers Resolution

A law passed in 1973 spelling out the conditions under which the president can commit troops without congressional approval.

Impeachment Process

1. House passes articles of impeachment by majority
2. Senate tries and 2/3 to convict

Pardon

A declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment

executive agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

executive order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

bargaining and persuasion

an informal tool used by the president to persuade members of Congress to support his or her policy initiatives

signing statement

a presidential document that reveals what the president thinks of a new law and how it ought to be enforced

The Cabinet

Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.

White House Staff

Personnel who run the White House and advise the President. Includes the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary

First Lady Powers

involvement in political campaigns, management of the White House, championship of social causes, and representation of the president at official occasions

Vice President powers

1st in line of succession to the presidency

President of the senate

Votes if there is a tie

Determines if the president is fit to carry out duties (25th amendment)

Lame duck period

The time during which a president who has lost an election or has ended a second term is still in office before the new president serves

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms or 10 years.

25th Amendment

(1) Succession of VP if president dies or become incapable to do his job.(2) if there is no VP, president must appoint one, and congress must approve

State of the Union

An annual speech in which the president addresses Congress to report on the condition of the country and recommend policies.

Federalist 70

US requires a strong, energetic executive; plural executive is dangerous

Federalist 78

written by Alexander Hamilton; talks about the federal judiciary; judiciary must depend on other two branches to uphold its decisions

Marbury vs. Madison

Case in which the supreme court first asserted the power of Judicial review in finding that the congressional statue expanding the Court's original jurisdiction was unconstitutional

Article III

Establishes the Judicial Branch

Judicial Review

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws

precedent

an example that may serve as a basis for imitation or later action

stare decisis

let the decision stand

judicial activism

Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions and values, more liberal

judicial restraint

A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures. more conservative

strict construction

way of interpreting the Constitution that allows the federal government to take only those actions the Constitution specifically says it can take

loose construction

belief that the government can do anything that the constitution does not prohibit

original jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case first, usually in a trial. These are the courts that determine the facts about a case.

appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts

U.S. District Courts

Courts within the lowest tier of the three-tiered federal court system; courts where litigation begins.

U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

the courts where parties who are dissatisfied with the judgment of a U.S. District court may take their case

U.S. Supreme Court

the highest court of the United States; it sits at the top of the federal court system

legislative courts

Courts created by Congress for specialized purposes whose judges do not enjoy the protections of Article III of the Constitution

constitutional courts

Federal courts specifically created by the U.S. Constitution or by Congress pursuant to its authority in Article III.

Criminal Law

a system of law concerned with the punishment of those who commit crimes.

Civil Law

the system of law concerned with private relations between members of a community rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs.

majority opinion

a statement that presents the views of the majority of supreme court justices regarding a case

concurring opinion

An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.

dissenting opinion

A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his or her opinion

per curiam opinion

A brief, unsigned opinion issued by the Supreme Court to explain its ruling.

amicus curiae brief

Literally, a "friend of the court" brief, filed by an individual or organization to present arguments in addition to those presented by the immediate parties to a case.

writ of certiorari

An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review

federal bureaucracy

agencies and the employees of the executive branch of government

political patronage

appointment to political office, usually as a reward for helping get a president elected

Pendleton 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

federal civil service

the merit-based bureaucracy, excluding the armed forces and political appointments

merit system

hiring people into government jobs on the basis of their qualifications

Iron Triangle

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

Issue networks

The loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas

Implementation

The process of putting a law into practice through bureaucratic rules or spending.

bureaucratic adjudication

when the federal bureaucracy settles disputes between parties that arise over the implementation of federal laws or determines which individuals or groups are covered under a regulation or program

bureaucratic discretion

bureaucrats' use of their own judgement in interpreting and carrying out the laws of Congress

bureaucratic regulation

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

Senor Executive Service

executive positions, including managerial, supervisory and policy positions classified above General service (GS) in most Executive Branch agencies of the federal government.