APGov – Branches Unit

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, institutions, processes, and doctrines from the AP U.S. Government lecture notes on the legislative, executive, judicial branches, and bureaucracy.

Senate Hold

A procedure in which one or more senators block a motion from reaching a vote on the Senate floor.

Constituent

A person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress; 435 members serve two-year terms allotted to states by population.

Senate

The upper chamber of Congress; 100 members (two per state) serving six-year terms.

Budget

A president-prepared plan (via OMB) that sets federal spending and borrowing for the upcoming fiscal year.

Revenue

Government income raised mainly through taxes; all tax bills must originate in the House.

Rules Committee

The House “traffic cop” that schedules bills and sets debate limits.

President of the Senate

Ceremonial title held by the Vice President, who votes only to break ties.

Filibuster

A tactic in the Senate where a senator refuses to yield the floor, delaying or blocking a vote.

Congressional Committees

Groups of members who handle specific legislative duties; include standing, select, joint, and conference types.

Standing Committee

A permanent congressional panel that continues from one Congress to the next.

Speaker of the House

Constitutionally mandated officer who sets the House agenda and is its most powerful member.

Party Leaders

House and Senate leaders who strategize the party agenda; include majority and minority leaders.

Whip

Party official who counts votes and enforces party discipline in Congress.

Cloture

A Senate motion requiring 60 votes to end debate and overcome a filibuster.

Unanimous Consent

Agreement that sets aside a rule or procedure in the Senate provided no senator objects.

Discharge Petition

House mechanism that forces a bill out of committee to the floor with support of a majority of members.

Treaty Ratification

Senate approval of international agreements by a two-thirds vote.

Mandatory Spending

Expenditures required by existing law, such as Social Security and Medicare.

Entitlement

A government program guaranteeing benefits to all who meet eligibility requirements.

Logrolling

Mutual agreement among lawmakers to vote for each other’s bills; vote trading.

Advice and Consent

Senate power to approve treaties and confirm presidential appointments.

Optional (Discretionary) Spending

Annual expenditures set in the budget for programs the government chooses to fund.

Pork-Barrel Spending

Funding for localized projects intended primarily to benefit constituents and help re-election.

Gridlock

Legislative stalemate caused by partisan conflict between or within branches.

Divided Government

When control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress is split between parties.

Polarization

Growing ideological distance between Democrats and Republicans, reducing the number of moderates.

Delegate Model

View that representatives should vote in line with the majority wishes of their constituents.

Veto

President’s constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Partisanship

Strong loyalty to one’s political party, often above other considerations.

Trustee Model

View that representatives should use their own judgment to decide what is best for the nation.

Discretionary Spending (Budget term)

Portion of the federal budget that Congress sets annually through appropriations bills.

Politico Model

Hybrid approach in which lawmakers act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue.

Pocket Veto

Automatic veto that occurs when the president takes no action on a bill and Congress adjourns within ten days.

Executive Agreement

International pact made by the president that does not require Senate ratification.

Formal Powers

Powers specifically granted to an office by the Constitution or statute.

Bully Pulpit

The president’s ability to influence public opinion using the prestige of the office.

Signing Statement

Written comment issued by the president when signing legislation, outlining interpretation or concerns.

Cabinet

Heads of executive departments who advise the president, e.g., State, Treasury, Justice.

Federalist No. 70

Alexander Hamilton’s essay arguing for a single, energetic executive branch.

Executive Order

Presidential directive carrying the force of law without congressional approval, based on enforcement authority.

White House Staff

Close advisors—including Chief of Staff and Press Secretary—who assist the president; not Senate-confirmed.

22nd Amendment

Constitutional amendment limiting a president to two elected terms.

State of the Union

Annual presidential address to Congress outlining national conditions and policy proposals.

Judicial Independence

Principle that judges decide cases free from political pressure and other branches respect their rulings.

Marbury v. Madison

1803 case establishing the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review.

Stare Decisis

Doctrine of following precedent; Latin for “let the decision stand.”

Court Jurisdiction

A court’s legal authority to hear certain cases within a geographic area or subject matter.

Judicial Activism

Philosophy where judges interpret the Constitution broadly, making bold policy decisions.

Judicial Restraint

Philosophy where judges defer to elected branches and avoid policymaking.

Ambassadors & Diplomats

Officials representing U.S. foreign policy abroad; nominated by the president, confirmed by the Senate.

Bureaucracy

Agencies and departments that implement laws; staffed by political appointees and career civil servants.

Issue Network

Fluid alliance among interest groups, experts, and officials to influence policy; more open than iron triangles.

Iron Triangle

Stable relationship among a bureaucratic agency, congressional committee, and interest group shaping policy.

Patronage

Practice of giving government jobs or favors in return for political support.

Civil Servants

Career bureaucrats who keep their jobs regardless of administration; hired on merit.

Meritocracy

System in which hiring and promotion are based on qualifications and performance, not political ties.

Discretionary Rule-Making

Authority delegated by Congress allowing agencies to create regulations that have the force of law.

Power of the Purse

Congressional authority to raise, spend, and allocate federal funds.

Monetary Policy

Economic policy managed by the Federal Reserve that regulates money supply and interest rates.

Congressional Oversight Hearings

Committee sessions that monitor and investigate executive and bureaucratic actions.

Fiscal Policy

Government approach to managing the economy through taxing, spending, and borrowing.

Committee of the Whole

House procedure reducing quorum to 100 members to speed debate and amendment of bills.

Bureaucratic Implementation

Process by which agencies execute and enforce laws passed by Congress.