AP gov unit 2

Pork Barrel Spending

allocation of money to projects within districts or states (narrow focus)

Logrolling

members of Congress trade votes for favors

Oversight

Congress ability to ensure laws are being followed w/ original intention OR to investigate members of exec branch

Constituency

a specific geographic area/district that is represented by an elected official (related to voting borders)

Apportionment

process of dividing 435 seats

Redistricting

process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, every 10 years following Census

Gerrymandering

manipulating electoral district boundaries to give unfair advantage to a party/group

Partisan Gerrymandering

jerrymandering specifically for one party

Majority Minority Districts

congressional district drawn to contain a maj of constituents from 1+ racial or ethnic groups (allow minority to be heard)

Malapportionment

unequal distribution of population among legislative districts

Incumbency

the state of holding an elected office

Incumbency Advantage

tendency for elected officials to win more reelection more than challengers

Speaker Of The House

presiding officer of the House, the head/leader (chosen by maj party)

Political Action Committee

private organization that raises and spends money to influence elections

House Majority Leader

2nd highest ranking member, elected by party’s caucus or conference, manger

Whip

party official that ensures party discipline and unity during votes (keeping in line)

House Minority Leader

same as majority but for minority

Senate Majority Leader

lead of maj senate party, elected by party to be chief spokesperson and strategist, most powerful senator

Committee Chair

member of maj party who leads a standing committee

Discharge Petition

procedural tool in House, used to force a bill out of a committee and onto the floor for a vote

House Rules Committee

powerful standing committee, controls the flow of legislation to the floor

Committee Of The Whole

entire house operates as a single committee, expedites legislative process for bills

Hold

tactic used in Senate to block or delay a bill or presidential nomination, object or signals a delay or reconsideration, informal

Unanimous Consent Agreement

rule in senate the requires all members to agree to specific parameters for debate and voting on a bill/nomination

Filibuster

tactic used in senate to delay or block a vote on a bill, talking it to death

Cloture

procedure in senate to end a filibuster and limit further debate

Veto

president refuses to sign a bill, returns to congress, 2/3rds overdoes it

Office Of Management And Budget

largest office in exec, implements presidents policy, budget, and management agenda

Entitlement Program

program that provide benefits for those who qualify under the law, regardless of income

Mandatory Spending

spending required by existing laws that is “locked in” the budget

Discretionary Spending

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

Budget Surplus

govt total revenue > total expenditures during a fiscal year

Budget Deficit

govt total revenue < total expenditures during a fiscal year

National Debt

the growing budget deficits

Delegate Role

elected official acting as a direct representative who votes and makes decisions according to wishes of constituents

Trustee Role

elected official, uses own judgement to make decisions in constituents best interests

Politico Role

elected official, mix between trustee and delegate role

Bipartisanship

when dems and repubs set aside differences to find common ground and compromise

Gridlock

legislative process is stalled due to lack of consensus

Divided Government

1+ chambers of congress controlled by political party different from party of president

Lame Duck Period

period where new president elected where old is still in office

Executive Branch

implement and enforce laws created by legislative, president, VP, cabinet, and federal bureaucracy

Formal/Enumerated Powers

powers directly given to president by law

Informal Powers

powers of president that are not directly given, allow exec branch to carry out policy agenda

Treaty

formal, legally binding agreement by president with head of foreign nation

State Of The Union Address

annual speech from president, constitutional, bully pulpit can be used

Pocket Veto

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

Presidential Pardon

pres lets smbd out of federal crime

Executive Privilege

implied power of president to withhold confidential communications from legislative and judicial branches

Executive Agreement

intl agreement by president without need for senate

Signing Statement

presidential declaration when signing a bill into law that comments on it

Executive Order

issue by president that has the power of a law without congress approval

War Powers Resolution

1973 federal law, attempts to limit pres power to send troops into war without congress approval

(limit 60 days without approval)

Impeachment

removal from house and senate, half and two thirds

Executive Office Of The President

group of federal agencies, advisors, and staff that support the President in implementing policy

Bargaining and Persuasion

informal presidential power to negotiate w and influence Congress to secure agenda

Bully Pulpit

presidents ability to use platform to influence public opinion

Going Public

presidential strategy of appealing directly to people to build support for a policy (more specific)

Federal Judiciary

system of federal courts that interprets and applies laws

Supreme Court

highest court, authority to interpret constitutionality

Original Jurisdiction

courts authority to hear a case for the very first time before any other court

Appellate Jurisdiction

courts authority to review and hear appeals from lower courts

Federalist No. 78

defends need for independent judiciary and (idea) judicial review

says its the least dangerous (no power of sword or purse)

independence and lifetime appointment is key to be free of political pressure

court must act as a check on congress

DISSENT: feared judicial supremacy, no checks on supreme court, and state rights

Marbury V. Madison - 1803

established judicial review

1803, Adams appointed midnight judges, forgot to send some commissions, Marbury sued for it

Does SC have authority to force delivery of a commission? Can SC declare on constitutionality?

Marbury had right to commission but could not order writ, was unconstitutional

Judicial Review

SC can examine actions of legislative and exec branches that are uncon

Criminal Law

body of rules that defines crimes and their punishments

Civil Law

law that governs the relationships/disputes between private individuals/organizations

Federal District Courts

general trial courts of federal judiciary, vast majority begin here (jurisdiction over civil and criminal)

Federal Courts of Appeals

intermediate appellate courts that review lower court decisions

Precedent

previous court decision

Stare Decisis

legal principle where courts are required to follow precedents when deciding new similar cases

Majority Opinion

formal decision of a court that reflects view of more than half of judges

Concurring Opinion

legal opinion written by judge who agrees with majoritys final decision but for diff reasons

Dissenting Opinion

opinion by judge who disagrees with maj decision

Judicial Restraint

judges limit their own power, deferring to legislative and exec branches when possible, only overturning laws if obv uncon

Judicial Activism

judges use power actively to interpret law and create new precedents, often with goal of addressing social issues or wrong precedents

Hats Of The President

chief executive: enforces laws, runs exec branch
chief legislator: influences congress, proposes laws, signs or vetoes
chief diplomat: directs foreign policy, negotiates treaties
commander in chief: head of armed forces
chief of state: represents US at official events
chief of party: leader of political party
chief economist: oversees economy, budget, and employment
chief citizen: represents all Americans

Baker v Carr - 1962

Tennessee hadn’t redrawn districts despite population shift, unequal representation. Baker sues under 14th amendment, Equal Protection Clause

Can federal courts intervene in state legislative questions? (redistricting)
Yes, 6-2 Baker. Federal courts can hear redistricting cases

Redistricting claims involve equal protection, not just politics, so courts can review them. One person one vote

Dissent: redistricting is a political question, courts should defer to state legislatures
Opened the door for federal courts to enforce equal representation, gave judiciary power to influence state political processes
Activism: court intervened in state politics to enforce constitutional rights
Restraint; (dissent) courts should avoid involvement in political questions

Shaw v Reno - 1993

NC drew congressional district with weird shape to create maj min district. white voters sued, claimed racial jerrymandering, violating 14th amendment
Is creating a district based solely on race constituional?
5-4 for Shaw, districts drawn because of race alone are subject to more scrutiny or fixing
Maj: Race cannot be the predominant factor in redistricting
Dissent: courts should defer to the legislature

Limits racial gerrymandering

activism: court intervened in state redistricting to protect constitution
restraint: courts should defer to legislature to address

14th amendment used on both sides

Federalist No. 70

need for a strong, energetic, and unitary executive (president)
President must be a single individual, can act quickly, decisively, and accountably
Can enforce laws and respond to crises quickly without needing a convince a whole groups
A single person is easier to punish and watch if they abuse power
Dissent: feared a dictator who would become monarchial