AP Government Unit 2 - Representation in Congress and Related Concepts

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from AP Government Unit 2 related to representation in Congress, powers, and the functioning of the government.

Bipartisan

Groups made of members from both parties.

Caucus

Members of each house who belong to the same party.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to stall or kill a bill by prolonging debate.

Rules Committee

A committee responsible for determining the rules of debate for bills in the House of Representatives.

Cloture

A procedure used in the Senate to end a filibuster, requiring a 3/5 vote.

Gerrymandering

The drawing of district lines to benefit one political party over another.

Baker v. Carr

A Supreme Court case that established the principle of 'one person, one vote'.

17th Amendment

An amendment that established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.

Power of the Purse

Congress's authority to raise revenue and control government spending.

Executive Orders

Regulations issued by the president that have the force of law.

Veto Power

The president's ability to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Commander-in-Chief

The president's role as the head of the armed forces.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to pass laws required to carry out its enumerated powers.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to determine the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Checks and Balances

A system that ensures that political power is not concentrated in any one branch of government.

Dissenting Opinion

An opinion in a legal case written by one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion.

Majority Opinion

The official opinion of the court, representing the views of more than half of the judges.

Selective Incorporation

The process by which the Supreme Court has decided that most of the protections in the Bill of Rights also apply to the states.

Amicus Curiae

A person or group that is not a party to a legal case but offers information or expertise related to the case.

Due Process Clause

A clause in the 14th Amendment that prohibits state and local governments from depriving individuals of their rights without due process of law.

Pardon Power

The president's authority to forgive an individual for an offense against the United States, removing penalties.

Legislation

Laws made by a legislative body.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body levels charges against a government official, with potential removal from office.