AP GOV UNIT 2 VOCAB

Senate

the upper house of Congress, consisting of two representatives from each state

House of Representatives

the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population

Constituent

An individual who is represented by an elected official in a legislative body, often involved in influencing policy decisions.

revenue

government income, raised through taxes and other means, to be used for public expenses

tax revenue

the money a government gains from the collection of taxes

budget

an estimate of income/set expenditure for a certain period of time

speaker of the house

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Filibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate & holding a vote

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.

discharge petitions

a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had the bill for thirty days, may petition to have it brought to the floor

entitlements

Policies for which Congress has obligated itself to pay X level of benefits to Y number of recipients.

-Social Security benefits are an example

pork barrel

the use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes.

logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills

partisanship

Government action based on firm allegiance to a political party

lame duck

A person still in office after he or she has lost a bid for reelection

Trustee Representative

A representative who will vote on issues based on their own knowledge and judgment over public opinion

delegate representative

When representatives follow expressed wishes of the voters

politico representative

Legislators follow their own judgment until the public becomes vocal about a particular matter, at which point they should follow the dictates of constituents

policy agenda

The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time.

veto

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

pocket veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

line item veto

an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

- illegal via us constitution

commander in cheif

President's role as commander of the armed forces

executive agreement

an agreement between the president and the leader of another country

- does not warrant formal treaty

treaty

A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states

executive order

a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.

- manages operations of the federal government

signing statement

a presidential document that reveals what the president thinks of a new law and how it ought to be enforced

22nd amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

state of the union

An annual speech in which the president addresses a joint session of Congress to report on the condition of the country and recommend policies.

bully pulpit

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

- use of public office to speak out on any issue

agenda setting

the process of forming the list of issues to be addressed by government

- can be influenced by political actors/media

judicial review

Allows the court to determine the constitutionality of laws

precedent

a legal principle created by an appellate court decision that lower court judges must follow when deciding similar cases

stare decisis

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

jurisdiction

(n.) an area of authority or control; the right of courts to administer justice

appellate

having the power to hear appeals and to reverse lower court decisions

judicial activism

Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions and values.

- JUDGES MAKE RULINGS BASED ON POLICY VIEWS RATHER THAN HONEST INTERPRETATION OF LAW

judicial restraint

Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect what the framers intended and what its words literally say.

- without regard to personal beliefs

confirmation

the constitutional procedure by which the Senate reviews and approves presidential appointments to the federal judiciary

issue network

Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.

iron triangle

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

- EPA, Public Works Committee, and Sierra Club

Bureaucracy

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

government corporations

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

- NASA, AMTRAK

merit system

hiring people into government jobs on the basis of their qualifications

patronage

Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

discretionary spending

spending category about which government planners can make choices

oversight

the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

- impeachment cases

power of the purse

Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money

Appropriation

money that Congress has allocated to be spent for specific government expenditures