AP Government Unit II

constituent

a voter who elects a representative

amicus curiae

"friend of the court" briefs used to influence the decision

revenue

sources of money for the gov't

joint committee

members from both House and Senate

coalition

a combination, union, or merger for some specific purpose

federal budget

a plan for the federal government's revenues and spending for the coming year

appropriation bills

proposed laws to authorize spending money, limits authorization bills timeline

authorization bills

create projects and establish how much money can be spent on them

standing committee

permanent subject matter

select committee

temporary and created for specific purpose

conference committee

resolves difference in House & Senate bills

filibuster

opponents of a bill use their right to prevent the Senate from every voting on a bill; only way to stop it is through a cloture

cloture

halts filibuster, need 60 votes

rules committee

A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house.

whip

Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party

committee of the whole

consists of all members of the House and meets in the House chamber but is governed by different rules, making it easier to consider complex and controversial legislation

discretionary spending

spending category about which government planners can make choices

logrolling

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

redistricting

redrawing of lines for districts based on population

reapportionment

redistricting seats in the HOUSE OF REPS based on population (every 10 years)

trustee

legislator who uses his or her best judgement to make policy in the interests of the people

informal powers

powers not laid out in the Constitution but used to carry out presidential duties

President Pro Tempore

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president

mandatory spending

Required govt spending by permanent laws

Baker v. Carr

ruling that allowed federal courts to review the boundaries of legislative districts

veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

delegate

a representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency

president of the Senate

Vice President

hold

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.

entitlement

social welfare program that people are "entitled to" if they meet certain eligibility requirements (ex: social security)

divided government

Governance divided between the parties, as when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.

gridlock

A situation in which government is incapable of acting on important issues.

Shaw v. Reno

no racial gerrymandering

politico

Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

pocket veto

president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days

majority leader

responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes in behalf of the party's legislative positions

pork barrel

federal money for projects, grants, made available in a district or state

gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

lame-duck

an outgoing official serving out the remainder of a term, after retiring or being defeated for reelection

formal powers

specific grants of authority defined in the Constitution or in law

commander-in-chief

The role of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service

executive agreement

an agreement between the president and the leader of another country

Bureaucracy

a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

executive order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law; used to control the bureaucracy

bully pulpit

the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public

cabinet

A group of advisers to the president (14)

Fed #70

Hamilton: Energy in the Executive leads to liberty; need a strong executive to be successful

22nd amendment

Limits the president to two terms

article III

Judicial Branch

Marbury v. Madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

precedent

How similar cases have been decided in the past

stare decisis

Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases

rule of Four

At least four justices of the Supreme Court must vote to consider a case before it can be heard (need 6 to be heard)

majority opinion

detailed legal explanation of the ruling

dissenting opinion

A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his or her opinion

concurring opinion

written in support of the majority but stress different legal basis

writ of certiorari

to bring a case before the Supreme Court (call up a case)

original jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case first, usually in a trial. These are the courts that determine the facts about a case.

appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts

judicial activism

judges should make bold policy decisions & even chart new constitutional ground (striking down legislation on restrictions or individual rights)

judicial restraint

judges should play a minimal policymaking role (upholding regulations on business)

living constitutionalism

A method of interpreting the Constitution that emphasizes the principles it embodies and their application to changing circumstances and needs.

Council of Economic Advisors

A three-member body appointed by the president to advise the president on economic policy.

Office of Management and Budget

An office that prepares the president's budget and also advises presidents on economic policy

House Ways and Means committee

House committee that handles tax bills

legislative oversight

Congress' monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings

rule making

the administrative process that results in the issuance of regulations by government agencies

issue network

various groups who have joined forces on a single issue to shape policy

iron triangle

The three-way alliance among legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups to make or preserve policies that benefit their respective interests.

patronage

job given for political reasons

civil service

the group of people whose job it is to carry out the work of the government

Hatch Act

prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics (can't get political on the job)

merit system

hiring people into government jobs on the basis of their qualifications rather than who they know

discretionary authority

The ability of officials to make policies that are not spelled out in advance by laws

congressional caucus

group of members from Congress sharing some interest or characteristic, many are formed from both parties and both houses