apgov unit 2

Seventeenth Amendment

Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by popular vote.

Advice and consent

The Senate's authority to approve or reject the President's appointments and treaties.

Power of the purse

The constitutional power of Congress to control government spending and taxation.

Enumerated powers

Specific powers granted to Congress by the Constitution.

Implied powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but necessary to implement enumerated powers.

Necessary and proper clause

Allows Congress to make laws required for the exercise of its enumerated powers.

Cloture

A procedure used to end a filibuster in the Senate.

Filibuster

A tactic used to delay or block legislative action in the Senate.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics, by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation.

Pork-barrel spending

Government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative's district.

Standing committee

A permanent committee that meets regularly to discuss and review legislation.

Conference committee

A temporary committee formed to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill.

Select committee

A temporary committee established for a specific purpose, often to conduct investigations.

Discretionary spending

Government spending that is not mandatory and can be adjusted through the annual budget process.

Mandatory spending

Expenditures that are required by law, such as Social Security and Medicare.

Deficit

The amount by which government spending exceeds its revenue in a given period.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party.

Gridlock

A situation in which there is difficulty passing laws due to evenly divided votes.

Politico

A legislator who acts as a delegate on issues that are important to constituents and as a trustee on more complex issues.

Trustee

A legislator who makes decisions based on their own judgment and the public good, rather than constituents' preferences.

Delegate

A legislator who acts according to the wishes of their constituents.

Informal powers

Powers not explicitly granted by the Constitution but exercised by government officials.

Formal powers

Powers explicitly granted to government officials by the Constitution or law.

Veto

The President's constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by Congress.

Executive order

A directive issued by the President to manage the operations of the federal government.

Executive agreement

An international agreement made by the President without the need for Senate approval.

Bargaining and persuasion

The process by which the President negotiates with Congress to achieve legislative goals.

Cabinet

A group of the President's top advisors, typically the heads of the executive departments.

Twenty-second Amendment

Limits the President to two terms in office.

Bully pulpit

A prominent public position that provides an opportunity to speak out and be listened to.

What is the Declaration of Independence and who wrote it?

A document declaring the thirteen American colonies' independence from British rule, primarily authored by Thomas Jefferson.

What are the Articles of Confederation and who wrote it?

The first constitution of the United States, establishing a confederation of sovereign states, drafted by the Second Continental Congress.

What is Brutus No. 1 and who wrote it?

An anti-Federalist paper arguing against the ratification of the Constitution, authored by an anonymous writer known as Brutus.

What is Federalist No. 10 and who wrote it?

An essay advocating for the ratification of the Constitution, discussing the dangers of factionalism, authored by James Madison.

What is Federalist No. 51 and who wrote it?

An essay explaining the need for checks and balances in government, authored by James Madison.

What is Federalist No. 70 and who wrote it?

An essay arguing for a strong executive leader, authored by Alexander Hamilton.

What is the Constitution and who wrote it?

The supreme law of the United States, establishing the framework of government, primarily drafted by James Madison and others at the Constitutional Convention.

What was the ruling in Marbury v. Madison (1803)?

Established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to invalidate laws that conflict with the Constitution.

What was the ruling in McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)?

Confirmed the supremacy of federal laws over state laws and upheld the constitutionality of the Second Bank of the United States.

What was the ruling in United States v. Lopez (1995)?

Limited Congress's power under the Commerce Clause by ruling that the Gun-Free School Zones Act exceeded federal authority.

What was the ruling in Baker v. Carr (1962)?

Established the principle of 'one person, one vote,' allowing federal courts to intervene in and decide redistricting cases.

What was the ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993)?

Ruled that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause.