AP US GOV: Unit 2

formal/enumerated powers

powers expressly granted in the constitution

informal powers

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

presidential pardon

presidential authority to release individuals convicted of crime

executive privilege

a right claimed by the presidents to keep certain convos, records, and transcripts confidential especially from congress

executive agreement

an agreement between a president and another nation that does not have the same durability as a treaty, but does not require Senate ratification

signing statement

written comments issued by president while signing a bill into a law that usually consists of political statements or reasons for signing the bill, but that may also include a president interpretation of the law itself

executive order

the informal power of the president to issue policy directive that do not require congressional approval

impeachment

the process of removing a president or other officeholder from office articles of impeachment of a federal officeholder are issued by a majority vote in the House of Representatives, followed by a trial in the Senate with 2/3 vote necessary to convict and remove

executive office of the president

a collection of offices within the White House organization designed mainly to provide information to the president

Bargaining and persuasion

an informal tool used by the president to persuade members of Congress to support the administration's policy initiatives

Bully pulpit

the presidential appeals to the public to pressure the other branches of government to support the president's policies

Federal judiciary

the branch of the federal government that interprets the law of the nation

Supreme Court

the highest level of the federal judiciary, which was established in article 3 of the constitution, and serves as the highest court in the nation

Original jurisdiction

the authority of a court to hear a case first which includes the finding of facts in the case

Appellate jurisdiction

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

Federalist No. 78

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

Marbury v. Madison

Chief Justice Marshall found that part of the law that Marbury was basing his claim on, the Judiciary Act of 1789, was unconstitutional and unenforceable. This case established the power of judicial review, which is the power to review laws and actions of other branches and levels of government and overturn them if they conflict with the constitution

Federal District courts

the lowest level of the federal judiciary these courts usually have original jurisdiction in cases that start at the federal level

Federal courts of appeals

the middle level of the federal judiciary these course reveal and hear appeals from the federal District courts

Precendent

a judicial decision, that guides future courts and handling similar cases

stare decisis

letting a previous decision stand

Majority opinion

binding Supreme Court opinion which serve serves as the precedent for future cases

Concurring opinion

an opinion that agrees with a majority decision but offer offers different or additional reasoning and does not have to serve as precedent

Dissenting opinion

an opinion that disagrees with the majority opinion and does not serve as precedent

Judicial restraint

a philosophy of constitutional interpretation that justices should be cautious and overturning laws and should adhere to the constitution in case precedent

Judicial activism

a philosophy of constitutional interpretation that justices should wield the power of judicial review, sometimes creating bold new policies

Federal bureaucracy

the departments and agencies within the executive branch that carry out the laws of the nation

Bureaucrat

an official employed within a government entity

Political patronage

filling of administration positions as a reward for support rather than merit

Merrit system

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

Iron triangle

a mutually benefited association of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups in specific policy areas

Issue network

a temporary coalition formed to address specific policy

Implementation

the bureaucracy role in putting into action, the laws that Congress has passed

Bureaucratic discretion

the power to create an enforced policies and decide what Congress meant when it passed a law

Regulation

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

Compliance monitoring

ensuring that the bureaucracy is following regulations and using its funds wisely