AP GOV Unit 3.1-3.3 study guide

General election

voting for federal, state, and local officials

Popular vote

votes of the american ppl, takes place on the tue after the first Mon in Nov.

Plurality Vote

a method for choosing the winner of an election (winner-take-all)

Majority vote

when the winner of an election is the candidate that received more than half the votes cast

electoral college

the official system used in the u.s to elect the pres and vice president

electoral vote

votes of the elctoral college, takes place on the tue after the first mon in dec

faithless elector

an elector who votes for a person other than the individual the pledged for

inaguration

when the new president elect is sworn into office by the chief justice of the u.s. (Jan 20)

Formal powers

governing powers explicitly granted to an office or branch by the consititution

informal powers

political tools used by the gov’t executives to influence policies that aren’t explicitly wirtten in the const.

chief executive

making sure that laws and court rulings are carried out

chief diplomat

the key role in relations w/ other countries

commander-in-chief

makes key military decisions (only Congress can declare war)

chief legislator

proposed ideas for legislation

head of state

serves as ceremonial head of the country

economic planner

expected to “fix” our economic issues (tax cuts, stimulus programs)

party leader

leader of political party

executive order

a signed directive from the u.s. pres to manage fed operations w/o Congressional approval

treaty

a formal and legally binding written agreement between two or more sovereign states/international organizations

executive agreement

international pact made by pres/executive branch w/o needing Congressional approval

state of the union address

a yearly speech made by the president to the joking session of Congress to report the condition of the country and legislative priorities

veto - pocket veto

the presidents formal rejection of a bill passed by Congress - not signing while Congress is adjourned

pardon

an official govt decision or polite social expression forgiving someone of a federal crime

budget surplus

when tax revenue exceeds spending

budget deficit

when spending exceeds tax revenue

mandatory spendign

spending that is not dependent on periodic appropriations bills from Congress (cannot be easily changed becos it fills promises of the past)

discretionary spending

spending that requires an appropriations bill from Congress (pres and Congress have more control so it can vary year to year)

national debt

the total any of money the fed govt had borrowed over time to cover budget deficits

Trump v United States

supreme court ruling stating that former presidents have broad const. immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts

Amendment 22

limits an elected president to a max of two terms in office (total of 10 yrs for vice presidents who took over the presidency)

Amendment 25

sets clear clues for presidential succession, filling vice presidential vacancies, and handling pres. disability

war powers resolution

fed law designed to limit the us presidents ability to initiate or escalate military actions abroad w/o Congressional approval

power of the purse

the const. authority granted to Congress to tax, borrow, and dictate all fed govt spending

veto override

congress passing a bill again over the president’s veto with a 2/3 supermajority vote in the house and senate

impeachment

to formally charge a public official with a crime or misconduct white in office

confirmation vote

senate voting to approve or reject a pres. nominee for a key public offcie

ratification vote

a formal democratic process where a Congress’ members vote to approve or reject a tentative agreement, treaty, or const. amendment

judicial review

the power of the courts to examine govt actions and declare them null/void if they violate the const.

United States v Nixon

1974 SC ruling that established executive privilege is not absolute and that no pres. is above the law

executive privilege

the power claimed by the us pres to keep certain internal communications and documents secret from the Congress, courts, and public.

mandate

an official order, command or power given to a person or institution by the executive branch to perform a specific action

vice president

an officer who ranks directly below a president and takes over their duties when necessary.

current secretary of state

mark rubio

current secretary of Treasury

scott bessent

secretary of defense (war)

pete hegseth

attorney general

todd blanche