AP Gov vocab list 2

Pork Barrel / Earmarks

Government spending that provides funds for local projects, intended to benefit constituents in a particular area.

Germaneness

The relevance of an amendment to the subject matter of the bill under consideration.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, responsible for guiding legislation and maintaining order.

Majority Leader / Minority Leader

The head of the majority party/minority party in each chamber of Congress, responsible for legislative strategy and party leadership.

Whips

Members of Congress who assist party leaders in managing party's legislative program.

President Pro Tempore

An elected member of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President.

Standing Committees

Permanent committees that meet regularly to discuss bills related to specific legislative areas.

Select Committees

Temporary committees established to investigate specific issues or concerns.

Joint Committees

Committees that include members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Conference Committees

Temporary committees created to reconcile differences in legislation passed by both chambers.

House Rules Committee

A committee that determines the rules and procedures for debate on the House floor.

House Ways and Means Committee

The committee that handles all taxation and revenue-related legislation.

Senate Judiciary Committee

The committee responsible for overseeing the administration of justice within the federal courts.

Bicameralism

A system of government in which the legislature comprises two houses or chambers.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislative action by prolonging debate.

Cloture

A procedure used to end a filibuster and bring a debate to a close.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging political favors for mutual benefit, especially in legislative voting.

Marginal Districts

Electoral districts where candidates win by narrow margins, often making elections competitive.

Single-Member Districts

Electoral districts that elect one representative to a legislative body.

Rule-making

The process by which executive branch agencies create regulations to enforce laws.

Executive Agreement

An international agreement made by the President without Senate approval.

Line-item Veto

The power of an executive to reject individual provisions of a bill without vetoing the entire bill.

Signing Statement

A written declaration issued by the President when signing a bill into law.

State of the Union Address

An annual address delivered by the President to Congress outlining the national agenda.

War Powers Resolution

A law that limits the President's power to send troops into combat without congressional approval.

Executive Order

A directive issued by the President to manage the operations of the federal government.

Executive Privilege

The right of the President to withhold information from Congress or the courts.

Bully Pulpit

The President's use of their position to advocate for policy and inspire action.

Pocket Veto

The President's indirect veto of a bill by refusing to sign it while Congress is adjourned.

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which most decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Merit System

A system of hiring and promotion based on qualifications and performance rather than political connections.

Discretionary Authority

The power granted to bureaucrats to make decisions and create policies within the framework of the law.

Compliance Monitoring

The process of ensuring that individuals and organizations follow established rules and regulations.

Political Party

An organized group of people who share similar political beliefs and work together to influence government policy.

Party Platform

A formal set of principles and goals supported by a political party.

Party Realignment

A significant and lasting shift in the support of voters from one political party to another.

Critical Election

An election that leads to a significant transformation in the party system.

Third Parties

Political parties that challenge the two major parties in the U.S. system.

Interest Group

An organization of people with shared goals who seek to influence government policy.

Lobbying

The act of attempting to influence the actions of government officials.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that raises and spends money to elect or defeat candidates.

Iron Triangle

The stable, mutually beneficial relationship between government agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees.

Free-Rider Problem

A situation where individuals benefit from resources, goods, or services without paying for them.

Gatekeeper

A person or group that controls access to something.

Scorekeeper (Horse-Race Journalism)

The role of the media in tracking and reporting on the relative standings of candidates in elections.

Watchdog

The media's role in monitoring the actions of government.

Fiscal Policy

Government policies regarding taxation and spending to influence the economy.

Monetary Policy

The process by which the central bank manages money supply and interest rates.

Entitlement Programs

Government programs that provide benefits to eligible individuals regardless of need.

Mandatory Spending

Expenditures that are required by law and cannot be changed without new legislation.

Discretionary Spending

Expenditures that can be adjusted on an annual basis by the appropriations process.

Incumbent

An individual currently holding a political office.

Electoral College

The body of electors established by the Constitution to elect the President and Vice President.

Winner-Take-All System

An electoral system in which the candidate receiving the majority of votes wins all electoral votes.

Primary Election (Open vs. Closed)

An election to determine a party's candidate for the general election; open allows any registered voter, closed restricts participation to registered party members.

Retrospective Voting

Voting based on an evaluation of past performance in office.

Prospective Voting

Voting based on predictions of future performance.

Down-Ballot Voting

Voting for candidates lower on the ballot, such as state or local offices.

Political Ideology

A set of beliefs about politics and government.

Liberalism

A political ideology favoring social progress and reform.

Conservatism

A political ideology emphasizing tradition and stability.

Libertarianism

A political philosophy that values individual liberty and minimal government intervention.

Valence Issues

Issues for which there is general agreement among voters, such as the economy or national security.

Positional Issues

Issues that divide voters based on their differing opinions or positions.