AP GOV - TOPIC 2 VOCABULARY

Bicameral legislature

A legislative body with two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

House of Representatives

Lower chamber of Congress with 435 members based on population and 2-year terms.

Senate

Upper chamber of Congress with 100 members (2 per state) serving 6-year terms.

Enumerated powers

Powers explicitly granted to Congress in Article I of the Constitution.

Implied powers

Powers inferred from the Constitution through the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.

Oversight

Congressional authority to monitor and investigate executive branch actions.

Incumbency advantage

The electoral benefit held by current officeholders due to name recognition and resources.

Advertising

Activities used by members of Congress to raise name recognition among constituents.

Credit claiming

Taking responsibility for positive government actions to gain voter support.

Position taking

Publicly expressing views on issues to appeal to voters.

Speaker of the House

The leader of the House who controls legislative agenda and is elected by majority party.

Rules Committee

House committee that determines rules for debate and amendment of bills.

Standing committee

Permanent committee that handles specific policy areas.

Select committee

Temporary committee created for a specific purpose.

Joint committee

Committee made up of members from both House and Senate.

Conference committee

Committee that resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Filibuster

A Senate tactic of extended debate used to block legislation.

Cloture

A procedure requiring 60 votes in the Senate to end a filibuster.

Majority leader

The leader of the majority party in either chamber who directs legislative agenda.

Minority leader

The leader of the minority party who coordinates opposition.

Bill

A proposed law introduced in Congress.

Bureaucracy

The system of federal agencies that implement public policy.

Cabinet

Advisory group of department heads appointed by the president.

Independent agencies

Government agencies not part of the cabinet that perform specialized functions.

Regulatory commissions

Agencies that create and enforce rules in specific industries.

Rulemaking

The process by which agencies create regulations to implement laws.

Judicial review

The power of courts to declare laws or actions unconstitutional.

District courts

Trial courts where federal cases begin.

Courts of appeals

Appellate courts that review decisions of lower courts.

Supreme Court

The highest court in the U.S. with final judicial authority.

Judicial restraint

A philosophy where judges avoid overturning laws unless clearly unconstitutional.

Judicial activism

A philosophy where judges are more willing to overturn laws and shape policy.

Precedent

A prior court decision used as a guide in future cases.

Stare decisis

The principle of following precedent in judicial decisions.

Rule of four

The Supreme Court practice where four justices must agree to hear a case.

Amicus curiae

“Friend of the court” briefs submitted by interested parties.

Oral arguments

Presentations made by lawyers before the Supreme Court.

Impeachment

Process by which the House charges a government official with misconduct.

Veto

The president’s power to reject legislation passed by Congress.

Executive order

A directive issued by the president to manage the executive branch.

Bully pulpit

The president’s ability to use their position to influence public opinion.

Agenda setting

The process by which leaders prioritize certain issues for public attention.

Approval rating

A measure of public support for the president.

Commander-in-chief

The president’s role as head of the military.

Treaty negotiation

The president’s power to make agreements with foreign nations (with Senate approval).

Appointment power

The president’s authority to appoint federal officials and judges.

Executive actions

Broad term for presidential directives that manage government operations.

Legislative process

The steps by which a bill becomes law.

Committee review

The stage where a bill is examined and possibly amended by committees.

Floor debate

The stage where members of Congress debate a bill before voting.

Conference resolution

The process of reconciling House and Senate bill differences.

Bureaucratic implementation

The process by which agencies carry out laws passed by Congress.

Checks and balances

System where each branch of government can limit the others’ power.

Separation of powers

Division of government authority into three branches.

Policy interaction

The interaction between Congress, the president, and the bureaucracy in policymaking.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Established judicial review, giving courts power to interpret the Constitution.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Established federal supremacy and confirmed implied powers.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Established that redistricting issues are justiciable under the Equal Protection Clause.

New York Times v. United States (1971)

Limited prior restraint and protected press freedom in publishing classified information.

United States v. Lopez (1995)

Ruled that Congress exceeded its Commerce Clause power.

Citizens United v. FEC (2010)

Ruled that political spending by corporations is protected speech.

Constitution (Articles I, II, III)

Defines the powers and structure of legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Federalist No. 51

Explains checks and balances and separation of powers.

Federalist No. 70

Argues for a strong executive branch.

Federalist No. 78

Explains the role of the judiciary and judicial review.

Commerce Clause

Gives Congress authority to regulate interstate commerce.

Supremacy Clause

Establishes federal law as the highest law of the land.

Judicial review doctrine

The principle that courts can invalidate unconstitutional laws.

Checks and balances doctrine

The system ensuring no branch becomes too powerful.

Stare decisis doctrine

The principle of following precedent in court decisions.