AP Gov-Unit 2 Vocab

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

Constituency

the residents in the area from which an official is elected

Congressional committee

a group of members from either the House of Representatives or the Senate that focuses on specific areas of policy, legislation, or oversight.

Standing committee

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

Select committee

Groups of appointed for a limited purpose and limited duration

Conference committee

Special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

Speaker of the house

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Committee chairperson

Leader of committee

Filibuster

A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate

Cloture

A Senate procedure through which a supermajority of 60 senators can vote to limit the amount of time spent debating a bill and cut off a filibuster.

Quorum

number of members necessary to conduct a meeting

Hold

a political tactic meant to slow down the legislative process in the Senate.

Unanimous consent

Complete agreement

Rules committee

Responsible for scheduling and managing the flow of legislation on the floor to make the process more efficient and manageable. It can also make it easier or more difficult for a bill to pass depending on the rules they create.

Committee of the Whole

A committee of the House on which all representatives serve in order to consider the details of a proposal.

Discharge petition

A petition signed by members of the House of Representatives to bring a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote.

Discretionary spending

Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

mandatory spending

Federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress.

Entitlements

Government-sponsored programs providing required benefits to those meeting eligibility requirements.

Medicare

A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older

Medicaid

A health care payment program sponsored by federal & state governments

Budget deficit

a financial situation that occurs when a government spends more than it takes in.

Pork barrel legislation

The use of federal funding to finance localized projects, typically bringing money into a representative's district in order to please constituents and boost the representative's chances of winning reelection.

Earmarks

Federal funds appropriated by Congress for use on local projects

Riders

And additional provision added to a bill or other measure under the consideration by the legislature, having little connectivity with the subject of the matter of the bill.

Logrolling

An arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to support each other's bills

Franking privilege

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

divided government

When one party controls one or more houses in the legislative branch while the other party controls the executive branch.

Gridlock

When the government is unable to reach compromises or make policy decisions.

Gerrymandering

The act of changing the boundaries of an electoral district to favor one party over another.

Reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

Redistricting

The process of adjusting electoral districts in the United States.

Lame Duck

An elected official who continues to hold political office during the period between the election and the inauguration of their successor.

Trustee Role

A member of Congress who takes into account the views of their constituents and use their own judgment to decide how to vote.

Delegate Role

A member of Congress who always follows their constituents' voting preferences.

partisan role

devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause

Politico Role

Legislators follow their own judgment until the public becomes vocal about a particular matter, then they follow the wills of their constituents

Veto

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

Pocket veto

president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days

Commander in Chief

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

executive agreement

an agreement between the president and the leader of another country

executive order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

executive privilege

the power that allows a president to refuse to release information to Congress or a court

signing statements

A released letter explaining how the president's administration plans to interpret the law

advice and consent power

The power of the Senate to consult and approve the presidents treaties and appointments.

State of the Union Address

The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation.

Bully Pulpit

a platform used to publicize and seek support for important issues

precedent

(civil law) a law established by following earlier judicial decisions

federal bureaucracy

the collective agencies and employees of the executive branch

Iron Triangles

Congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that form mutually-beneficial relationships

Issue networks

A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.

Patronage

the power to control appointments to office or the right to privileges.

Spoils System

A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.

civil service system

practice of government employment based on competitive examinations and merit

merit system

a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty

rule making

the administrative process that results in the issuance of regulations by government agencies

red tape

complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done

Congressional Oversight

Congress can review and supervise federal agencies by holding committee hearings and hearing testimony from members of those executive agencies.

committee hearings

sessions where a committee listens to the testimonies of people who are interested in the bill

Power of the Purse

when Congress uses its power over the budget to oversee federal agencies and their policy implementation

Baker v. Carr

Establishing both the "one-person, one-vote" principle - that districts should be proportionately represented - and that the Court had jurisdiction to review state redistricting issues.

Shaw v. Reno

Established that although legislative redistricting must be conscious of race and comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, it cannot exceed what is reasonably necessary to avoid racial imbalances.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

established the principle of judicial review, giving the Supreme Court the power to strike down acts of the legislative or executive branch that violate the Constitution.

Appropriation

A legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency

Bureaucracy

An organization with a hierarchical structure and specific responsibilities intended to enhance efficiency and effectiveness

Bureaucratic Discretion

Bureaucrats' use of their own judgment in interpreting and carrying out the laws of Congress

Casework

Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals; cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get

Closed rule

An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor

Impeachment

The process of bringing charges against a government official for wrongdoing

Line item veto

Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package

Mark up

The process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation