AP U.S. Government and Politics: Key Concepts and Cases

A - Hold in Senate

allows a senator to block debate

Bipartisan gridlock

occurs when parties deadlock

Bully pulpit

refers to the president’s ability to shape opinion

Checks and balances

divides any branch from becoming too powerful

Christmas tree bills

are characterized by many amendments

Cloture

is used in the senate to end a fillibuster

Committee of the whole

allows the House to debate bills more easily

Concurrent powers

powers are shared between federal and state governments

Concurring opinion

agrees with the majority but differs on reasoning

Congressional oversight

involves monitoring the executive branch

Delegate

representative votes based on constituent wishes

Discharge petition

forces a bill out of committee

Discretionary spending

requires new appropiations each year

Dissenting Opinion

diaggress with majority decision

Divided government

occurs when different parties control branches of chambers

Entitlement programs

provide benefits based on eligibility criteria

Enumerated powers

powers that are listed in the constitution

Executive agreement

differs from a treaty by not requiring senate approval

Executive order

an order issued by the president

Federalism

divided power between state and national levels

Filibuster

A senator speaks for hours to delay a vote. What is this tactics?

Gerrymandering

redrawing district lines to favor one party is called

Gibbons v Ogden

which case established federal power and interstate commerce

Gridlock

when congress and the president cannot agree on legislation, this occurs

Habeas Corpus

a writ requiring authorities to justify detentino is called

Implied powers

Powers reasonably inferred from enumerated powers are

Inherent powers

Powers the national government holds simply because it is sovereign

Judicial activism

judges who interpret the Constitution broadly to address modern issues pracice what

Judicial restraint

judges who defer to legislative intent and limit their role practice

Judicial review

The power of courts to declare laws uncositonal is called what

Lame Duck

Elected Offical: lost re-election or is nearing the end of final term

Logrolling

trading of favors/mutual voting support of lawmakers to pass bills

Majority/Minority

Leaders and Whips

Who mananges party strategy and vote counts in Congress

Majoirty Opinion

the binding escion of the court supported by most justices

Mandate

Electoral victory claimed as public approval for a policy agenda

Mandatory Spending

Spending required by existing law, like social security

Marbury v Madison

which case established judicial review

McCulloch v Marland

which case affirmed implied powers and federal supremacy

National Security Council

which body advises the president in foreign policy and security

Omnimbus legislation

A large bill combining many unrelated provisons is

One person, one vote

equal representation

Partisan

primarily supports the group of their own party

Pigeon holding

refers to a committing ignoring a bill

Pocket Veto

occurs when the president takes no action

Policy Agenda

a list of priorities

Policy gridlock

usually results from stalemate

Political realignment

usually involves a shift in party coalitions

Politico

a politico legislator balances the roles of trustee and delegate

Popular sovereignty

means that powers rests with the people

Presidential Cabinet

usually consists of department head officials

Prorogue

means to end a legislative session

Realignment

describes a lasting change in voting patteerns

Recess Appointments

allows the president to bypass the body of the senate

Separation of powers

divides the government into three branches

Signing statement

expresses the presidential view of bill interpretation

Stare Decisis

requires courts to follow the rule of precednet

Trustee

legislator votes based on personal judgemnet

Unanimous Consent Agreement

agreement speeds up senate debate

Veto message

explains why the president rejected legislation

White House Staff

directly advises the president

Writ of Certiorari

is a formal order from a higher court telling a lower court to send up the records of a case for review