AP GOPO FEB 21

Executive order

Directive issued by a president or governor that has the force of law.

Cabinet

Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.

Signing Statement

A written comment issued by the President of the United States when signing a bill into law.

Life Tenure

A lifetime appointment for a federal judge, meaning they serve on the bench until they die, retire, or are impeached.

Federalist 70

Advocates for a strong executive leader, as provided for by the Constitution, as opposed to the weak executive under the Articles of Confederation.

22nd Amendment

Ratified on February 27, 1951, establishing term limits on those elected president.

Formal powers

Powers explicitly granted to the president in Article II.

Informal power

The powers not explicitly listed

State of the Union

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

Bully Pulpit

A way the president can promote an agenda directly to the public

Agenda Setting

The process by which the media and political actors influence the public's perception of which issues are most important.

Article 3

The part of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the judicial branch of the federal government.

Federalist 78

Argues for the importance of an independent judiciary with the power of judicial review.

Marbury v. Madison

A landmark case in United States law that is the basis for the exercise of judicial review.

Judicial review

The power of a court to refuse to enforce a law or regulation that conflicts with the U.S. Constitution.

Precedent

A decision made by a higher court that is binding on all other federal courts.

Stare decisis

The rule of precedent that is viewed as binding on judges for similar cases.

Jurisdiction

The power of a court to hear and decide a case.

Appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.

Judicial activism

Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions and values.

Judicial restraint

Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution based on the framers' intended meaning.

Confirmation

The process by which the U.S. Senate reviews and approves or rejects presidential nominations for federal positions.

Issue network

Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees, and government agencies that share a common policy concern.

Iron triangle

A policy-making alliance involving a congressional committee, an interest group, and a Federal Department or agency.

Bureaucracy

A form of organization that operates through impersonal, uniform rules and procedures.

Government corporation

A government agency that operates like a business corporation to secure greater freedom of action for a particular program.