AP Gov Unit 2 - Interactions Among Branches of Government

Legislative Branch

Branch of government that makes laws

Structure of Congress

Bicameral legislature with the Senate and House of Representatives

Connecticut Compromise

Agreement that led to the creation of a bicameral legislature

Senate

Upper house of Congress with 100 members, 2 per state, and 6-year terms

House of Representatives

Lower house of Congress with 435 members, representation based on population, and 2-year terms

Filibuster

Tactic used in the Senate to delay or prevent a vote on a bill

Cloture

Procedure used in the Senate to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote

17th Amendment

Amendment that established the direct election of senators by the people

Membership Requirements for Senate

25 years old, citizen for 9 years, resident of the state

Membership Requirements for House of Representatives

25 years old, citizen for 7 years, resident of the district

Demographics of Congress - House of Representatives

Representation of different categories in the House of Representatives

Demographics of Congress - Senate

Representation of different categories in the Senate

Coalitions in Congress

Groups of lawmakers who come together to support or oppose legislation

Continuous Body

Not all seats in the Senate are up for re-election at the same time

Enumerated Powers of Congress

Powers explicitly listed in the Constitution

Implied Powers of Congress

Powers not explicitly listed in the Constitution but necessary for carrying out the enumerated powers

Congress & Money

Congress has the power to create a budget, coin money, and raise revenue

Powers of Congress - Passing a federal budget

Congress's power to allocate burdens and benefits through a policy document

Powers of Congress - Declaring war

Congress's power to officially declare war and maintain the armed forces

Stretching the Elastic Clause

Congress's use of the Necessary and Proper Clause to justify legislation

Social Legislation

Laws enacted by Congress to address civil rights, voting rights, and other social issues

Economic Legislation

Laws enacted by Congress to address economic issues, such as taxation and trade

Environmental Legislation

Laws enacted by Congress to address environmental issues, such as clean air and water

Function of Congress

The different structures, powers, and functions of the Senate and the House of Representatives affect the policy-making process

Legislators

Members of Congress who make laws

Committee Members

Members of Congress who work in committees to conduct hearings and debate bills

Duties of Congress

Legislators, committee members, and servants of constituents

Chamber & Debate Rules - House of Representatives

More centralized leadership, limited debate time, power to filibuster

Chamber & Debate Rules - Senate

Less centralized leadership, loose debate, power to stop filibuster with cloture

Congressional Leadership

Roles and positions of leadership in Congress

Filibuster

Tactic used in the Senate to delay or prevent a vote on a bill

Cloture

Procedure used in the Senate to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote

Holds

Stalls the discussion of a bill in the Senate

Unanimous Consent

Request to suspend the rules and limit debate in the Senate

Treaty Ratification

Process of approving treaties with other nations in the Senate

Rules Committee

House committee that controls the agenda and debate rules

Discharge Petition

Procedure to force a bill out of committee and onto the House floor

Congress & Money

Congress's role in creating a budget, coining money, and raising revenue

Congressional Behavior

Factors that influence how members of Congress behave and make decisions

Baker v. Carr

Supreme Court case that established the principle of one person, one vote

Shaw v. Reno

Supreme Court case that addressed racial gerrymandering

Roles & Powers of the President

Responsibilities and authorities of the President

Checks on the Presidency

Mechanisms in place to limit the power of the President

Expansion of Presidential Power

Increase in the authority and influence of the President over time

Presidential Communication

Methods and channels used by the President to communicate with the public and other branches of government

The Judicial Branch

Branch of government responsible for interpreting laws

Article 3 of the Constitution

Section of the Constitution that establishes the Judicial Branch

Marbury v. Madison

Landmark Supreme Court case that established judicial review

Checks on the Judicial Branch

Mechanisms in place to limit the power of the Judicial Branch

The Bureaucracy

Administrative system responsible for implementing and enforcing laws

Discretionary Authority

Power of the bureaucracy to make decisions and interpret laws

Rule-Making Authority

Power of the bureaucracy to create regulations and rules

Holding the Bureaucracy Accountable

Methods and mechanisms to ensure the bureaucracy is acting in accordance with the law

Achieving Administration's Goals

Strategies and approaches used by the executive branch to accomplish its objectives