AP Gov-Unit Two

Life Tenure

Judges serve indefinitely removable only for misconduct, to ensure independence

Executive Agreement

International pact that does not require Senate ratification

Mandatory Spending

Expenditures required by existing law, such as entitlement programs and interest payments

Rule of Four

Requirement that at least four justices must agree to grant a writ of certiorari

Unanimous‑Consent Agreement

Agreement among all senators to waive debate and proceed directly to a vote

Signing Statement

Presidential comment attached to a bill's enactment, indicating interpretation or objections

Speaker of the House

Presiding officer of the lower chamber who sets the majority party agenda and schedules legislation

Redistricting

Process by which state legislatures redraw congressional district boundaries after reapportionment

Special/Select Committee

Temporary committee formed to investigate a specific issue and issue a report

Interstate‑Commerce Legislation

Statutes that classify activities as affecting interstate trade to expand congressional authority

Entitlement Programs

Legally guaranteed benefits provided to eligible individuals without annual appropriations

Senate Impeachment Role

Body that conducts the trial and can remove an official with a two‑thirds vote

Cloture

Motion to end debate requiring a super‑majority of sixty votes

Rulemaking Authority

Agency capacity to create regulations that have the force of law

Executive Order

Directive issued by the president that has the force of law within the scope of existing authority

Supreme Court

Highest judicial body that has final authority on constitutional questions

State of the Union

Constitutionally mandated annual address by the president to Congress outlining policy priorities

Interest on the Debt

Payments made to service the principal borrowed by the federal government

Medicare

Health insurance program for individuals aged 65 and older

Pork‑Barrel Legislation

Funding earmarked for projects in a lawmaker's district to secure local support

Standing Committee

Permanent committee that marks up bills, holds hearings, and oversees agencies

Delegate Model

Representation style where officials vote in line with the preferences of their constituents

Appointments

Presidential nominations for federal judges, cabinet secretaries, and ambassadors, subject to Senate confirmation

Discretionary Spending

Annual appropriations set by Congress that can be adjusted each fiscal year

Pocket Veto

Presidential refusal to sign a bill when Congress adjourns, causing the bill to expire without a formal veto

Trustee Model

Representation style where officials act according to personal judgment rather than constituent opinion

Conference Committee

Joint committee that reconciles differences between House and Senate versions of a bill

Hold (Senate)

Request by a senator to delay floor scheduling of a measure for further review

Compliance Monitoring

Internal audits by one agency of another to ensure lawful spending and adherence to statutes

Judicial Restraint

Approach emphasizing deference to legislative decisions and limiting judicial intervention

Commander‑in‑Chief

Constitutional role that places the president at the head of the armed forces

Marbury v. Madison

Landmark case that established the principle of judicial review

Veto

Presidential power to reject a bill, which Congress may override with a two‑thirds vote in both chambers

Discharge Petition

Petition signed by a majority of members to bring a stalled bill directly to the floor

Judicial Review

Power of courts to invalidate statutes or executive actions that conflict with the Constitution

Shaw v. Reno

Supreme Court case that struck down a race‑based districting plan under the 14th Amendment

Judicial Activism

Approach where courts are willing to create new policy through their rulings

Senate Majority Leader

Leader who coordinates the majority party's legislative priorities in the upper chamber

Court Packing

Legislative change to increase the number of Supreme Court justices

Medicaid

Joint federal‑state program that offers health coverage to low‑income persons

Omnibus Bill

Large legislative package that bundles many unrelated measures into one vote

Circuit Courts of Appeals

Intermediate appellate courts that review district court decisions

Power of the Purse

Constitutional authority to control federal spending and taxation

Roe v. Wade

Case that recognized a constitutional right to abortion

Social Security

Federal program that provides retirement, survivor, and disability benefits

Simple Majority

More than half of the members present, needed to pass most legislation

Baker v. Carr

Decision establishing the "one‑person, one‑vote" principle for legislative districts

War Powers Resolution

1973 statute requiring the president to notify Congress of military actions and limiting engagements without authorization

Jurisdiction Stripping

Congressional action that limits the types of cases federal courts may hear

Committee of the Whole Procedure

Where the entire chamber operates as a committee to expedite debate and voting

Filibuster

Extended debate or procedural delay used to block or postpone a vote

Treaty‑Making

Process of negotiating international agreements that require a two‑thirds Senate vote for ratification

Non‑germane Amendment

Unrelated to the underlying bill, often used to attach riders

Party Whip

Member responsible for ensuring party cohesion during votes

SNAP

Program that provides food‑stamp benefits to qualifying households

Gerrymandering

Drawing district lines to advantage a political party or protect incumbents

Bully Pulpit

Use of the presidency's public platform to influence public opinion and legislative action

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's

Ruling that overturned Roe, ending the federal constitutional protection for abortion

District Courts

Federal trial courts that hear cases first and issue initial judgments

Presidential Appointment and Removal Authority

To select and dismiss heads of executive agencies, subject to Senate confirmation for many positions

Stare Decisis

Doctrine of following precedent unless a compelling reason exists to overturn it

House Impeachment Role

Body that initiates impeachment charges by adopting articles with a simple majority

Administrative Discretion

Agency power to decide how to implement statutes and allocate resources

Reapportionment

Redistribution of the 435 House seats among states based on decennial census data

Iron Triangle

Stable relationship among congressional committees, interest groups, and bureaucratic agencies that shapes policy

Congressional Oversight

Legislative monitoring of executive agencies through hearings, investigations, and budget control

Brown v. Board of Education

Decision that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional

House Rules Committee

Committee that determines debate rules, amendment limits, and time allocations for floor consideration

Logrolling

Reciprocal exchange of votes on each other's proposals

TANF

Block grant that supplies cash assistance to needy families