AP GOV UNIT 2 VOCAB

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to the government in the Constitution.

implied powers

Not specifically mentioned in the constitution. Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

delegated powers

Powers specifically given to the federal government by the US Constitution, for example, the authority to print money.

expressed powers

powers directly stated in the constitution

inherent powers

powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it

concurrent powers

Powers held jointly by the national and state governments.

reserved powers

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government or denied to the states belong to the states and the people (- 10th Amendment)

Formal Powers of the President

Veto power, command armed forces, pardoning power, appointment powers, make treaties, convene Congress

Informal Powers of the President

The power to go public, power of persuasion, make executive agreements, issue executive orders, issue signing statements, create & use bureaucracy, personality and leadership, and make legislative proposals.

House of Representatives

representatives elected by each state, # depends on population size; advantageous for larger states

Senate

2 representatives from each state;advantageous for smaller states

bicameral

a legislature divided into 2 houses, US Congress and every US state legislature except Nebraska's are bicameral

gerrymandering

drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another

census

An official count of the population and collection of demographic data

redistricting

redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following a census , to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population

reapportionment

process of reallocating seats in the House every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census

entitlement programs

Government benefits that certain qualified individuals are entitled to by law, regardless of need. (example: Social Security, Medicare)

amendments

A change or addition to a bill, law, or constitution

mandatory spending

required government spending by permanent laws

discretionary spending

spending set by the government through appropriations and bills, can be changed year to year (Example: defense spending, education)

filibuster

strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation try to talk it to death, based on unlimited debate

President Pro Tempore

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

Speaker of the House

office mandated by the Constitution; Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant

Majority Leader

principal position ally of the Speaker of the House or the party's wheel horse in the Senate; responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes on behalf of the party's legislative positions

Whip

party leaders who work with the majority or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party

fiscal policy

policy that describes the impact of the federal budget- taxes, spending, and borrowing- on the economy; determined by Congress and president

10th Amendment

powers not delegated to the US by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people

Social Security

any government system that provides monetary assistance to people with inadequate or no income; provides benefits

Iron Triangle

entities composed of bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees, which have dominated some areas of domestic policy making; have mutual dependency, in which each element provides key services, info, or policy for the others

Issue networks

Interaction in a common policy area among lobbyists, elected officials, staff personnel, bureaucrats, journalists, and private sector experts. (Iron triangles PLUS other groups)

Conference Committee

congressional committees formed when Senate and House pass a bill in different forms; party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a compromise bill

joint committee

congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses

standing committee

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

select committee

congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose (ex. Watergate investigation)

congressional caucuses

association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest

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.

cloture motions

prevents filibustering and ends debate in the Senate, by a 3/5 vote of Senate

Ways and Means Committee

In the House of Representatives- charged with reviewing and making recommendations for the gov. budgets; imposes taxes

legislative oversight

Congress' monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings

Necessary and Proper Clause

Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government

pork barrel spending

gov. spending for localized projects to bring $$ to a representative district; legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a members chance of reelection

Logrolling

The exchange of political favors for support of a bill

Article I of the Constitution

Establishes the Legislative Branch

Article II of the Constitution

This article describes the role and power of the Executive Branch. The President and Vice President.

Article III of the Constitution

creates the Supreme Court but allows Congress to establish lower courts.

President of the Senate

Vice President

Baker v. Carr

case that est. one man one vote. this decision guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state. Also gave federal courts the power to declare state legislative districts unconstitutional.

Shaw v. Reno

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts. Court used the 14th Amendment in it's decision

Veto

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

Executive Order

a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.

Executive Agreement

an agreement between the president and the leader of another country. Does NOT required congressional approval

Treaty

a formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries. Requires Senate approval

White House Staff

Personnel who run the White House and advise the President. Includes the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary. DO NOT require congressional approval

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.

Cabinet Secretaries

heads of cabinet departments and chief advisers to the president on the issues under their jurisdiction. Chosen by the president and confirmed by the Senate

Commander in Chief

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

State of the Union

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

Executive Appointments

Appointments made by the President that must be confirmed by a majority vote in the Senate. (heads of Cabinet Departments, executive agencies, federal judges, etc)

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

Federalist No. 70

Hamilton argues for the necessity of a single "energetic" president (rather than an executive committee). Hamilton states that Americans should not fear the president becoming a tyrant because a single person would be easier to control. Additionally, a single president could act with more energy, efficiency, and secrecy than could a committee (especially in issues of national security)

Federalist No. 78

Hamilton discusses the power of judicial review. It argues that the federal courts have the job of determining whether acts of Congress are constitutional and what must be done if government is faced with the things that are done on the contrary of the Constitution.

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.

signing statement

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

25th Amendment

Presidential succession. Vice president will take over if president is removed from office. etc

executive privilege

The power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

Bully Pulpit

the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Marbury v. Madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

precedent

How similar cases have been decided in the past.

stare decisis

Let the decision stand; the doctrine that decisions should be based on precedents from previous cases

Life tenure

federal judges keep their jobs until they retire or die; however, they can be impeached

judicial activism

Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions and values. (times change and so should our interpretation of the Constitution)

judicial restraint

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

Court jurisdiction

The authority of a court granted by a constitution or legislative act.

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.

original jurisdiction

the authority to hear cases for the first time

appellate jurisdiction

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

Appeals

to take a case to a higher court for a rehearing

original intent

A view that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the original intent of the framers. Many conservatives support this view.

writ of certiorari

A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court.

civil service

the group of people whose job it is to carry out the work of the government. Employees of the bureaucracy

political patronage

appointment to political office, usually as a reward for helping get a president elected (used to be how most bureaucratic officials gained their position)

merit system

hiring people into government jobs on the basis of their qualifications (how the bureaucracy hires nowadays)

regulatory commissions

independent bodies that oversee and regulate specific aspects of the economy, such as product safety, or industry, such as telecommunications.

committee hearing

The primary means by which committees collect and analyze information as legislative policy making gets under way. Hearings usually feature witnesses providing oral testimony, along with questioning of the witnesses by members of Congress.

Power of the Purse

Constitutional power given to Congress to raise (tax) and spend money

OMB (Office of Management and Budget)

the executive agency that advises the President on the federal budget

rule making authority

the power of an executive agency to issue regulations that carry the force of law

discretionary authority

The power of bureaucratic agencies to decide how a law should be implemented, as well as to investigate and adjudicate rule breakers.

Department of Homeland Security

Cabinet department created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to coordinate domestic security efforts