Unit 2 Vocab AP Gov

Advise and Consent

the authority of the United States Senate to approve or reject a resolution of ratification of any treaty to which the United States is a proposed signatory, as well as to evaluate and confirm Presidential nominees to positions in the federal government

Appropriation

the process through which congressional committees allocate funds to executive branch agencies, bureaus, and departments

Bicameral

a two-house legislature

Budget Deficit

the difference when a government takes in less money than it spends

Bully Pulpit

presidential appeals to the public to pressure other branches of government to support his or her policies

Bureaucracy

A hierarchical authority structure that uses task specialization, operates on the merit principle, and behaves with impersonality

Bureaucratic Discretion

the power to decide how a law is implemented and, at times, what Congress actually meant when it passed a given law

Casework

legislative work on behalf of individual constituents to solve their problems with government agencies and programs

Civil Service System

a system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service

Closed Rule

effectively eliminate the opportunity to consider amendments, other than those reported by the committee reporting the bill

Cloture

a procedure through which senators can end a filibuster and proceed to action, provided three-fifths of senators agree to it

Commander-in-Chief

the president is the commander in chief of the Army and Navy. In other words, the armed forces are under civilian, rather than military, control. The president is the ultimate decision maker in military matters

Committee Chairperson

leader of a congressional committee who has authority over the committee's agenda

Committee Hearings

obtain information and opinions on proposed legislation, conduct an investigation, or evaluate/ oversee the activities of a government department or the implementation of a federal law

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

Conference Committee

temporary joint committee created to reconcile any differences between the two houses' versions of a bill. filibuster

Congressional Committee

a group of members from either the House of Representatives or the Senate that focuses on specific areas of policy, legislation, or oversight

Congressional Oversight

the power of Congress to monitor, review, and supervise federal agencies, programs, and policies

Constituents

a body of voters in a given area who elect a representative or senator

Delegate Role

the idea that the main duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituent wishes

Discharge Petition

a motion filed by a member of Congress to move a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote

Discretionary Spending

spending for programs and policies at the discretion of Congress and the president

Divided Government

a situation that occurs when control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress is split between the two major parties

Earmarks

an addition to a piece of legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

Entitlements

those benefits guaranteed by law paid to individuals by the federal government, such. as Social Security

Executive Agreement

an agreement between a president and another nation that does not have the same durability in the American system as a treaty but does not require Senate ratification

Executive Orders

policy directives issued by presidents that do not require congressional approval

Executive Privilege

a right claimed by presidents to keep certain conversations, records, and transcripts confidential from outside scrutiny, especially that of Congress

Filibuster

a tactic through which an individual senator may use the right of unlimited debate to delay a motion or postpone action on a piece of legislation

Franking Privilege

allows for members of Congress and their staff to send mail to their constituents or supporters without having to pay postage

Gerrymandering

the intentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters

Government Corporations

a government agency that operates like a business corporation, created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program

Gridlock

a slowdown or halt in Congress's ability to legislate and overcome divisions, especially those based on partisanship

Holds

a delay placed on legislation by a senator who objects to a bill

Impeachment

charges issued by the House of Representatives against a federal official for committing "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

"Iron Triangles"

coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals

Issue Networks

webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates

Lame-duck President

a president is a lame duck after a successor has been elected, during which time the outgoing president and president-elect usually embark on a transition of power

Line Item Veto

presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Logrolling

trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation

Mark-up

a process during which a bill is revised prior to a final vote in Congress

Medicaid

a federal program that provides health care for the poor

Medicare

a federal program that provides health insurance to seniors and the disabled

Merit System

a system of hiring and promotion based on competitive testing results, education, and other qualifications rather than politics and personal connections

Partisan Role

the president's constitutional right to reject a law passed by Congress. Congress may override the president's veto with a two-thirds vote

Patronage

refers to the practice of providing government jobs, contracts, or other benefits to individuals in exchange for their political support or loyalty. This system often fosters a close relationship between political leaders and their supporters, leading to a network where appointments and resources are distributed based on personal connections rather than merit

Pocket Veto

an informal veto caused when the president chooses not to sign a bill within ten days, during a time when Congress has adjourned at the end of a session

Politico Role

representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties in making decisions

Pork (barrel)

legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

Power of the Purse

the constitutional power of Congress to raise and spend money. Congress can use this as a negative or checking power over the other branches by freezing or cutting their funding

Quorum

the minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action

Reapportionment

the process of redistributing the seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on the latest census data

Red Tape

a series of actions or complicated tasks that seem unnecessary but that a government or organization requires you to do in order to get or do something

Redistricting

states' redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census

Rider

a nongermane amendment to a bill or an amendment to an appropriation bill that changes the permanent law governing a program funded by the bill

Rule-making Authority

the process through which the federal bureaucracy fills in critical details of a law

Rules Committee

committee in the U.S. House of Representatives that establishes the rules for debate on bills and resolutions, determining how and when legislation will be considered

Select Committee

temporary congressional committees established to investigate specific issues, conduct hearings, and report their findings to the full chamber

Signing Statements

text issued by presidents while signing a bill into law that usually consists of political statements or reasons for signing the bill but that may also include a president's interpretation of the law itself

Speaker of the House

the leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by an election of its members

Spoils System

a system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends

Standing Committee

a permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

State of the Union

a communication from the President to Congress in which the chief executive reports on the current condition of the United States and provides policy proposals for the upcoming legislative year

Trustee Role

the idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgment

Unanimous Consent

an agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for consideration of a bill

Veto

formal rejection by the president of a bill that has passed both houses of Congress