AP Government & Politics - Unit 2 Terms

Congress

The lawmaking branch made of the House and Senate

House of Representatives

435 members, 2-year terms, based on population, closer to the people

Senate

100 members, 6-year terms, 2 per state; more stability and elite

Advice and Consent

Senate approves presidential appointments and treaties

17th Amendment

Senators are elected directly by voters

Impeachment

The House accuses an official; the Senate holds the trial

Congressional oversight

Congress checks that the executive branch follows the law

Why members vote

They listen to voters, parties, interest groups, or personal beliefs

Lame Duck

An official still in office after losing re-election

Partisanship

Loyalty to one party over cooperation

Divided Government

One party controls Congress, the other the presidency

Election Process

Includes primaries, campaigns, parties, and lobbyists

Delegate Model

Representatives vote how voters want

Trustee Model

Representatives vote using their own judgement

Politico Model

A mix of delegate and trustee styles

Constituency Politics

Representatives serve and please their voters

Gerrymandering

Redrawing districts to help one party

Speaker of the House

Leader of the House; sets the agenda and debate rules

Majority/Minority leaders

Guide party plans in each chamber

Whips

Count votes and keep party members in line

Committees

Small groups in Congress that study and edit bills

Standing Committee

Permanent committee for ongoing topics

Select Committee

Temporary committee for special issues

Joint Committee

Members from both House and Senate

Conference Committee

Fixes differences between House and Senate versions of bills

Bill → Law

Bill is introduced → debated → voted → sent to the president → signed or vetoed

Discharge Petition

Forces a bill out of committee for a vote

House Rules Committee

Sets how long and under what rules a bill is debated

Open Rule

Allows changes to a bill

Closed Rule

No changes allowed to a bill

Pork-Barrel Spending

Government money for local projects to win votes

Riders

Unrelated items added to a bill

Logrolling

Lawmakers trade votes

Filibuster

Talking endlessly in the Senate to block a vote

Cloture

Ends a filibuster with 60 Senate votes

Senate Hold

Senator blocks a bill or nomination

Unanimous Consent

Speeds up Senate action if no one objects

Presidential Actions on Bills

President signs, vetoes, or ignores a bill

Veto Override

Congress passes a bill despite a veto (2/3 vote)

Power of the Purse

Congress controls government spending

Authorization Bill

Creates or continues a program

Appropriations Bill

Gives money to programs

Mandatory Spending

Required by law (ex. Social Security)

Discretionary Spending

Chosen each year (ex. defense or education)

Budget Oversight

Congress checks how money is spent

Formal Presidential Powers

Command military, veto laws, make treaties, appoint officials

Informal Presidential Powers

Use media, persuade Congress, issue executive orders

22nd Amendment

President can serve only two terms

Executive Branch

Enforces laws; consists of President, Vice President, and bureaucracy

Imperial Presidency

When the president uses more power than allowed

Presidential Interaction with Senate

Needs Senate approval for treaties and appointments

War Powers Act

Limits the president’s power to send troops without Congress

Bully Pulpit

The president’s power to influence people through speeches

Bureacucracy

Agencies that carry out and enforce laws

Presidential control of bureaucracy

President can appoint leaders, make budgets, and issue orders

Rule making

Agencies create detailed rules for laws

Discretionary Authority

Agencies decide how to apply laws

Iron Triangle

Congress, agencies, and interest groups working together for their benefit

Cabinet

Heads of major departments advising the president

Executive Agencies

Government groups that do specific jobs (ex. NASA or EPA)

Executive Commissions

Independent regulators (ex. FCC or SEC)

Judicial Branch

Interprets laws and the Constitution

Supreme Court

Top court in the U.S.

Writ of Certiorari

Supreme Court agrees to hear a case

Stare Decisis

Courts follow past rulings (precedent)

Jurisdiction

Court’s power to hear a case (original or appellate)

Judicial Decision Making

Judges use the law, the Constitution, and past cases to decide

Judicial Activism

Judges make bold rulings that shape policy

Judicial Restraint

Judges avoid changing policy and defer to elected officials

Court Legitimacy

Public trust that courts are fair

Checks on Judicial Branch

Congress and president can limit court power

Checks on Legislative Branch

President can veto; courts can strike down laws

Checks on Executive Branch

Congress approves appointments and budgets; courts review actions