Unit 4 Vocabulary AP Gov

Constituency

the people that vote for a representative or senator

Filibuster

a tactic for delaying legislation by using the right of unlimited debate

Cloture

procedure used in the Senate to end debate on a bill and proceed to action

Incumbency Advantage

advantages that current officeholders have during election over competitors

Standing Committee

permanent legislative committee focused on a specific policy area

Discharge Petition

petition to move a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the house of representatives for a vote

Discretionary Spending

federal spending on programs and policies that is up to Congress and the president

Mandatory Spending

federal spending on certain programs and policies that is required by existing laws

Entitlement Programs

government benefits that qualified individuals are entitled to by law

Budget Deficit

the shortfall when federal spending exceeds its revenue

Pork Barrel Legislation

legislation that is meant to directly benefit a politician’s home district or state

Logrolling

when legislators trade votes to get their bills passed

Gerrymandering

intentional redistricting to benefit a political party over another

Reapportionment

the process of redistributing the seats in the House of Representatives based on census data

Divided Government

one party controls the executive branch while the other controls one or both chambers of Congress

“lame duck” president

when a president has reduced powers because they are on their way out of office

trustee model

model where representatives prioritize the common good

delegate model

model where representatives prioritize constituent wishes

politico model

model where representatives consider both the common good and constituent wishes

pocket veto

an indirect veto, occurs when the president can't make a decision on a bill within 10 days

executive order

the president can issue policy directives that Congress does not need to approve

executive privilege

the power of the executive branch to refuse to disclose information or testify

impeachment

power of legislative branch to remove federal officials from office

bully pulpit

when the president influences the public to pressure the other branches to support their policies

stare decisis

the principle that courts should follow the decisions made in similar cases.

judicial activism

justices have the authority to create new policies to promote justice

iron triangle

the policymaking relationship between interest groups, Congress, and the bureaucracy

oversight power

the power of Congress to monitor federal agencies, programs, and policies

original jurisdiction

the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time

speaker of the house

the leader of the house of representatives, chosen by an election of its members

majority leader

the leader of the party with the most seats in Congress, chosen by party’s members

whip

member of Congress who ensures party unity and discipline

house rules committee

powerful committee that determines the rules for debate of each bill, including whether the bill may be amended

signing statements

notes added by presidents when signing a bill into law, explains why the president supports the bill or highlights issues

war powers resolution

a law preventing the president from keeping troops in combat for more than 60 days without Congressional approval

executive office of the president

a collection of offices and agencies that provides information to the president

judicial review

justices have the authority to strike down policies that go against the Constitution

majority opinion

a judicial opinion agreed to by more than half of the members of a court

concurring opinion

a judicial opinion that agrees with the majority opinion but differs in the reasoning

dissenting opinion

a judicial opinion that disagrees with the majority opinion

regulation

the formal instructions that the government issues for implementing laws

political patronage vs. merit based civil service

giving political favors to political supporters as a reward for support rather than merit alone vs. a system of hiring and promotion based on an individual’s skills

judicial restraint

justices should be cautious in overturning laws

issue network

an alliance of various interest groups and individuals to promote a common policy