AP Gov Unit 2B

Patronage

Filling of administrative positions as a reward for support rather than Merit

Merit system

A system of hiring and promotion based on competitive testing results, education and other qualifications rather than politics and personal connections

Civil service

The merit base bureaucracy, excluding the Armed Forces and political appointments

Hatch act

A federal law that restricts political activities of federal employees, including those in the executive branch, to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan manner

Pendleton act

An act of Congress that created the first United States civil service commission to draw up and enforce rules on hiring promotion and tenure of Office within the civil service (also known as the civil service reform act of 1883)

Policy implementation

The process of carrying out and enforcing policies and laws enacted by legislative bodies, involving agencies and stakeholders who are responsible for ensuring that the policies are executed as intended

Discretion/discretionary authority

The powers to the side of the law is implemented into the side what congressmen when it passed a law

Deregulation

The process of reducing or eliminating government rules controlling how businesses can operate, typically to promote competition and efficiency within industries

Iron triangle

coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy Congress and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals

Issue network

Web of influence between interest, groups policy makers, and policy advocates

Oversight hearings

Meetings held by committees or subcommittees to review the activities of a government agency or department, ensuring laws and policies are being implemented effectively and as intended.

Power of the purse

The constitutional power of Congress to raise and spend money, giving it control over financial and budgetary matters of the government.

Fiscal policy

The use of government spending and taxation to influence the economy.

Monetary policy

The process by which the central bank or monetary authority manages the supply of money, interest rates, and inflation to achieve macroeconomic goals such as controlling inflation, consumption, growth, and liquidity

Original jurisdiction

Authority of a court to hear a case, first which includes the finding of fact in the case

Appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear in review decisions made by lower courts in that system

Senatorial courtesy

An unwritten political custom whereby the President consults with the senators from a state before making a judicial appointment or other federal appointments in that state, allowing them to approve or veto the nominee.

Judicial restraint

Philosophy of constitutional interpretation that justices should be cautious and overturning loss

Writ of certiorari

A type of court order that requests the lower court to send the records of a case to the higher court for review.

Justiciable

Refers to issues or cases that can be adjudicated in court and are subject to legal standards or judicial consideration

Standing to sue

The legal right to bring a lawsuit in court. To have standing, a party must demonstrate a sufficient connection to the harm from the law or action being challenged.

Amicus Curiae

A Latin term meaning "friend of the court," referring to someone who is not a party to a case but offers information or arguments to assist the court in its decision-making process

Rule of four

A Supreme Court practice that permits four of the nine justices to grant a writ of certiorari, allowing the case to be heard.

Litmus test

A political term used to describe a single issue or factor that serves as a decisive criterion for determining whether a person, policy, or position is accepted or rejected.

Solicitor general

The Solicitor General is a legal officer in the United States government who represents the federal government before the Supreme Court, overseeing the briefing and oral arguments in cases involving the government

Opinion of the court

The official statement or decision of the court that explains the reasoning behind the judgment

State decisis

The practice of letting a previous legal decision stand

In forma pauperis

A Latin term meaning "in the manner of a pauper," referring to the ability of a poor person to bring a lawsuit without having to pay the usual court fees due to their inability to afford them

Class action suits

Lawsuits filed by one or more plaintiffs on behalf of a larger group of people who are affected by the same issue or legal claim.

Marbury v. Madison

The Supreme Court decision that established judicial review over federal laws

Precedent

A judicial decision that guides future courts in handling similar cases

Civil law

A category of law covering cases involves private rights and relationship between individuals and groups

Criminal law

A category of law covering action that harms the community

Federalist 78

Argument by Alexander Hamilton, that the federal judiciary would be unlikely to infringe upon rights and liberty, but would serve as a check on the other two branches

Judicial activism

A philosophy of constitutional interpretation that justices should wheel the power of judicial review sometimes greeting new policies

Independent regulatory commission

A type of government agency that regulates specific areas of economic activity and operates independently from the executive branch, often with the authority to create and enforce rules.

Government corporations

Businesses established by the government to provide a service or require a certain amount of revenue while being protected from competition by greater regulations or a lack of entrepreneur interest.

Independent executive agency

An independent agency established outside the traditional government departments, tasked with specific functions and responsibilities, operating with greater autonomy and typically led by a director or board.

Cabinet

A body of advisers to the President, consisting of the heads of the executive departments of the government

Judicial review

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

Political question

A doctrine that holds certain issues are not justiciable, meaning that courts should not decide them because they involve decisions that are better left to the executive or legislative branches of government.