AP Gov Review

Social contract

Theoretical agreement between individuals to form a society or government, giving up freedoms for protection and benefits.

Popular sovereignty

Principle that political power resides with the people, who govern themselves through elected representatives.

Natural law

Ethical principles inherent in human nature, understood through reason, independent of human-made laws.

Republicanism

Political ideology based on representative government where citizens elect representatives to make decisions.

Grand committee

Special committee formed by a legislative body to resolve differences between conflicting versions of legislation.

Factions

Groups within a society with distinct interests or goals, competing for influence or power.

Connecticut compromise

Agreement at the Constitutional Convention establishing a bicameral legislature with representation based on population and equal representation for each state.

Political liberty

Freedom of individuals to participate in political activities, express opinions, and influence government decisions without interference.

Virginia plan

Proposal at the Constitutional Convention for a strong central government with a bicameral legislature and representation based on population.

New Jersey plan

Counterproposal at the Constitutional Convention advocating for a unicameral legislature with equal representation for each state.

USA PATRIOT Act

U.S. federal law expanding government's surveillance powers to combat terrorism post-9/11.

Self-government

Principle that individuals or communities have the right to govern themselves without external interference.

Pocket veto

President's inaction on a bill within ten days of receiving it from Congress, preventing it from becoming law.

Stakeholders

Individuals, groups, or entities with an interest in a particular issue, decision, or organization.

Habeas corpus

Legal principle protecting individuals from unlawful detention by requiring a court review of their imprisonment.

Cooperative federalism

Model where national and state governments collaborate to address policy issues and deliver services.

Fiscal federalism

Division of financial responsibilities and resources between national and state governments.

Devolution

Transfer of power from central government to regional or local governments, granting greater autonomy.

Revenue sharing

National government distributes tax revenues to state or local governments without specific spending restrictions.

Mandates

Requirements issued by the national government to state or local governments to implement specific policies or programs.

Selective exclusiveness

Doctrine allowing Congress to regulate interstate commerce exclusively in areas of national interest.

Dual federalism

Model where powers of national and state governments are clearly delineated and operate independently.

State sovereignty

Independent authority and autonomy of individual states within a federal system to govern themselves.

advice and consent

o   refers to the Senate's authority to approve or reject presidential appointments, such as cabinet members or federal judges, and to ratify treaties negotiated by the President.

coalitions

o   alliances formed by individuals or groups with shared interests or goals to achieve mutual objectives, often in politics or advocacy, by pooling resources and support to exert influence or achieve policy outcomes.

power of the purse

o   is the authority of a legislative body, such as Congress, to control government spending by determining how public funds are allocated, appropriated, and spent through the budgetary process.

war powers act

a.     The War Powers Act is a U.S. federal law that requires the President to consult with Congress and obtain authorization for the deployment of U.S. armed forces in hostilities, and mandates reporting to Congress on such deployments within a specified timeframe.

congressional committee

a.     A committee in the United States Congress composed of members of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or both, assigned to consider and manage specific legislative matter.

standing committee

a.     A permanent committee in a legislative body, such as the United States Congress, with jurisdiction over subject areas

select committee

a.     A temporary committee established by a legislative body for a specific purpose, often to investigate a particular issue or problem

Conference committees

a.     Joint committees formed from both the House of Representatives and the Senate to reconcile differences between versions of a bill that has passed both chambers

joint committee

a.     A committee composed of members of both chambers of a bicameral legislature, such as the United States Congress

speaker of the house

a.     The presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives, elected by the members of the House

president of the senate

a.     The Vice President of the United States, who serves as the presiding officer of the United States Senate

president pro tempore

a.     The senator who presides over the United States Senate in the absence of the Vice President

majority leader

a.     The leader of the majority party in a legislative body, responsible for managing the legislative agenda and coordinating party activities

majority whip

a.     A member of the majority party in a legislative body responsible for ensuring party discipline and rallying support for party positions

minority whip

a.     A member of the minority party in a legislative body responsible for coordinating the minority party's strategy and ensuring party discipline

committee chairperson

a.     The head of a committee in a legislative body, responsible for managing the committee's activities and agenda

minority leader

a.     The leader of the minority party in a legislative body, responsible for representing the interests of the minority party and coordinating its activities

filibuster

a.     An obstructive tactic used in a legislative body to delay or prevent a vote on a bill by speaking for an extended period

cloture

a.     A procedure used in a legislative body to end a filibuster and bring a debate to a vote

quorum

a.     The minimum number of members required to be present in a legislative body to conduct official business

ways and means committee

a.     A committee in the United States House of Representatives responsible for taxation, revenue, and related issues

rules committee

a.     A committee in the United States House of Representatives responsible for determining the rules and procedures for considering bills on the House floor

committee of the whole

a.     A parliamentary procedure in which a legislative body considers a bill as a whole, rather than in its usual committee structure

discharge petition

a.     A parliamentary procedure used in the United States Congress to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for consideration

budget deficit

a.     The amount by which government spending exceeds government revenue in a given fiscal year

pork barrel legislation

a.     Legislation that allocates government funds to specific projects or programs in a particular district or state, often for the benefit of incumbent politicians

earmarks

a.     Provisions inserted into legislation that allocate funds for specific projects, often at the request of individual members of Congress

omnibus bill

a.     A single piece of legislation that addresses multiple issues or topics

logrolling

a.     The practice of trading favors, such as votes or support on legislation, between legislators

packing

a.     Concentrating members of one political party into a small number of electoral districts to reduce their influence in other districts

cracking

a.     Spreading members of one political party across multiple electoral districts to dilute their voting power and prevent them from forming a majority in any district

reapportionment

a.     The process of reallocating seats in a legislative body based on changes in population, typically after a census

trustee model

a.     A model of representation in which elected officials use their own judgment and expertise to make decisions on behalf of their constituents, rather than simply following their constituents' preferences

delegate model

a.     A model of representation in which elected officials act as proxies for their constituents, representing their preferences and interests

partisan model

a.     A model of representation in which elected officials prioritize the interests of their political party over those of their constituents or the public

politico model

a.     A model of representation in which elected officials balance the interests of their constituents, their political party, and their own personal beliefs and ambitions

pocket veto

a.     A type of veto used by the President when they fail to sign a bill passed by Congress within ten days of receiving it, while Congress is adjourned, effectively killing the bill without the possibility of a congressional override

executive agreement

a.     A binding international agreement between the President and the leader of another country that does not require Senate approval, although it may be subject to congressional oversight

executive order

a.     A directive issued by the President that has the force of law, often used to implement or interpret existing laws or to manage the operations of the executive branch

executive privilege

a.     The principle that the President and other high-ranking executive branch officials have the right to withhold certain information from Congress, the courts, and the public to protect the confidentiality of sensitive communications and decision-making processes

stewardship theory

a.     which argues that the President has the authority to take any action not specifically prohibited by the Constitution in order to fulfill their duties as the steward of the nation

bully pulpit

a.     A term popularized by Theodore Roosevelt, referring to the platform and influence that the President of the United States has to shape public opinion and advocate for their policy agenda through speeches, media appearances, and other forms of communication

judicial review

a.     The power of a court to review and potentially invalidate laws or actions of the executive and legislative branches of government that are deemed unconstitutional

binding precedent

a.     Legal precedent that must be followed by lower courts within the same jurisdiction or by courts at the same level in subsequent cases

persuasive precedent

a.     Legal precedent that is not binding but may be considered by a court in reaching its decision, particularly when no binding precedent exists on the issue

precedent

a.     A legal principle established in a previous court decision that is authoritative and binding in subsequent similar cases

stare decisis

a.     A Latin term meaning "to stand by things decided," referring to the principle that courts should adhere to precedent and decide cases in a manner consistent with previous decisions

court-curbing

a.     Efforts by other branches of government, interest groups, or public opinion to limit the power or independence of the judiciary

certiorari

a.     A writ issued by a higher court, such as the United States Supreme Court, to review a lower court's decision and determine whether to hear an appeal in a particular case

petition for certiorari

a.     A formal request submitted to a higher court, such as the United States Supreme Court, asking it to review a lower court's decision.

rule of four

a.     The practice of the United States Supreme Court that requires the votes of at least four justices to grant a petition for certiorari and agree to hear a case.

origional jurisdiction

a.     The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction, which involves reviewing decisions made by lower courts.

appellate jurisdiction

a.     The authority of a court to review and potentially overturn decisions made by lower courts.

concurrent jurisdiction

a.     The authority shared by two or more courts to hear and decide cases involving the same subject matter and parties.

exclusice jurisdiction

a.     to the sole legal authority granted to a specific court or legal system to adjudicate particular types of cases, barring any other court or legal entity from hearing those cases.

u.s district courts

a.     The trial courts of the federal judiciary system, with original jurisdiction over most federal cases, including both civil and criminal matters.

u.s. circuit courts of appeals

a.     Intermediate appellate courts in the federal judiciary system, responsible for reviewing decisions made by the district courts within their respective geographic circuits and hearing appeals on issues of federal law.

senatorial courtesy

a.     A longstanding tradition in the United States Senate whereby the president consults senators from the same state as a judicial nominee before the nomination is made. The tradition allows senators to express their approval or disapproval of a nominee from their state, although it is not legally binding.

jurisdiction stripping

a.     The process by which Congress limits or removes federal courts' jurisdiction to hear certain cases, effectively preventing them from ruling on particular legal issues.

judicial activism

a.     A judicial philosophy characterized by judges or justices interpreting the law broadly and creatively, often to advance a particular social or political agenda, even if it requires departing from precedent or legislative intent.

judicial restraint

a.     A judicial philosophy characterized by judges or justices interpreting the law narrowly and deferring to precedent, legislative intent, and the original meaning of the Constitution, rather than engaging in activism to achieve desired outcomes.

nuclear option

a.     refers to a parliamentary procedure that allows the majority party to change the Senate rules to eliminate the use of the filibuster for certain types of nominations or legislation. This can effectively lower the threshold for confirming nominees or passing legislation from a supermajority (60 votes) to a simple majority (51 votes).

patronage

a.     The practice of appointing individuals to government positions based on political affiliation or personal loyalty rather than merit or qualifications.

spoils system

a.     A system of government employment in which political supporters and allies are rewarded with government positions, contracts, or other benefits following an electoral victory.

merit system

a.     A system of employment in government based on the principles of merit and qualifications, ensuring that individuals are hired, promoted, and retained based on their skills, experience, and performance rather than political factors.

civil service system

a.     A system of employment in government based on merit and qualifications rather than political affiliation or personal connections.

civil service reform act

a.     A federal law enacted to modernize and improve the civil service system in the United States, establishing principles of merit-based employment, protections for federal employees, and mechanisms for addressing grievances and performance issues.

compliance monitoring

a.     The process of ensuring that government agencies, organizations, and individuals comply with applicable laws, regulations, and policies through monitoring, enforcement, and oversight mechanisms.

civil service commission

a.     A government agency responsible for overseeing the recruitment, hiring, and management of civil servants, ensuring adherence to merit-based principles and equal opportunity employment practices.

appropriations

a.     The process by which Congress allocates funds for specific government purposes through the enactment of appropriations bills. These funds are typically designated for specific programs, agencies, or activities within the federal government and are authorized to be spent within a certain fiscal year.

authorization spending

a.     The process by which Congress establishes or renews the legal authority for a government program or activity to exist and operate. Authorization legislation sets the purpose, scope, and funding levels for programs, but it does not actually provide the funds. Once authorized, Congress must appropriate funds through the appropriations process to implement the authorized programs.

compliance monitoring

a.     The process of ensuring that individuals, organizations, or government agencies comply with applicable laws, regulations, and policies. This may involve conducting audits, inspections, investigations, or other forms of oversight to detect and address instances of non-compliance.

congressional oversight

The authority of Congress to review and supervise the actions of the executive branch, government agencies, and other entities to ensure they are acting in accordance with the law and fulfilling their responsibilities.

congressional appropriation

a.     The act of Congress formally allocating funds for specific government purposes through the enactment of appropriations bills. Appropriations bills specify the amount of money authorized to be spent on particular programs, agencies, or activities within the federal government for a given fiscal year.

congressional authorization

a.     The act of Congress establishing or renewing the legal authority for a government program or activity to exist and operate. Authorization legislation sets the purpose, scope, and funding levels for programs, but it does not actually provide the funds. Once authorized, Congress must appropriate funds through the appropriations process to implement the authorized programs.

rulemaking

the process by which administrative agencies of the federal government propose, promulgate, and establish regulations to implement and enforce statutory laws.

red tape

a.     refers to excessive bureaucracy, paperwork, and administrative procedures that impede efficiency, delay decision-making, and create unnecessary burdens for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.