AP U.S. Government: Congress, Presidency, Courts & Bureaucracy

Bicameralism

A two-house legislature (House of Representatives and Senate) designed to balance power between large and small states and check legislative power. [00:00:56]

House of Representatives Structure & Terms

435 members apportioned by state population. Members serve 2-year terms, representing specific districts, making them closely accountable to citizens. [00:01:10]

Senate Structure & Terms

100 members (2 per state). Senators serve 6-year terms, representing entire states, insulating them somewhat from short-term public pressure. [00:01:46]

Enumerated Powers of Congress

Powers explicitly listed in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution (e.g., coining money, levying taxes, passing budgets, declaring war, raising armies). [00:02:40]

Implied Powers & Necessary/Proper Clause

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but reasonably derived from enumerated powers via Article 1, Section 8 (e.g., creating a national bank). [00:03:16]

Speaker of the House

The constitutionally recognized leader of the House, chosen by majority vote. Assigns representatives to committees, recognizes speakers on the floor, and directs legislation. [00:04:10]

Senate Majority Leader

The most powerful figure in the Senate. Sets the legislative agenda by deciding which bills reach the floor for debate. [00:05:35]

Congressional Whips

Party leaders (in both House and Senate) responsible for maintaining party discipline, counting votes, and ensuring members vote along party lines. [00:04:42]

Standing Committees

Permanent committees in Congress that meet regularly to consider and draft legislation in specific policy areas (e.g., Senate Budget Committee). [00:06:13]

Conference Committees

Temporary joint committees created to reconcile differences in House and Senate versions of the same bill before sending it to the President. [00:06:54]

House Rules Committee

A powerful House committee that acts as a traffic cop, determining the rules for debate and deciding which bills reach the floor for consideration. [00:07:50]

Committee of the Whole

A House procedure (requiring a quorum of 100 members) that relaxes debate rules to speed up the consideration of bill amendments. [00:08:04]

Filibuster & Cloture

A Senate tactic used to delay or prevent a vote on a bill through extended debate [00:08:45]. Ended only by a Cloture vote requiring 3/5 (60 senators) approval [00:08:56].

Pork Barrel Spending & Riders

Pork barrel spending earmarks federal funds for specific local projects in a district [00:09:54]. Riders are non-germane amendments attached to popular bills [00:09:42].

Mandatory vs. Discretionary Spending

Mandatory spending is required by law (entitlements like Social Security, Medicare) [00:10:55]. Discretionary spending is debated and allocated annually by Congress [00:11:20].

Trustee vs. Delegate vs. Politico Models

Trustee: Votes based on best judgment [00:13:54]. Delegate: Votes directly aligned with constituent desires [00:14:10]. Politico: Blends both based on context [00:14:26].

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Supreme Court case establishing the "one person, one vote" principle; ruled that congressional redistricting issues are justiciable under the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause. [00:15:18]

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Supreme Court case ruling that majority-minority districts drawn solely on the basis of race constitute unconstitutional racial gerrymandering under the 14th Amendment. [00:16:10]

Presidential Formal Powers

Executive powers explicitly granted in Article II of the Constitution (e.g., formal veto, commander-in-chief, appointing judges/officials, negotiating treaties). [00:18:01]

Presidential Informal Powers

Powers not explicitly in the Constitution but developed through practice (e.g., executive orders, signing statements, executive agreements, bargaining/persuasion). [00:19:52]

Pocket Veto

An informal veto occurring when a president takes no action on a bill during the final 10 days of a congressional session, causing it to automatically die. [00:19:05]

Executive Order

A presidential directive with the force of federal law that directs the bureaucracy or military on how to execute existing laws or manage operations. [00:20:34]

Signing Statement

A written pronouncement issued by the President upon signing a bill into law, expressing the executive branch's interpretation and intended enforcement of the law. [00:21:11]

Federalist No. 70

Essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing for a strong, single ("energetic") executive to ensure decisive leadership, swift action, and clear public accountability. [00:23:30]

22nd Amendment

Limits the President of the United States to a maximum of two terms in office (enacted following Franklin D. Roosevelt's four-term presidency). [00:24:25]

Bully Pulpit & Presidential Communication

The president's unique ability to use national media attention to speak directly to the public and persuade them to pressure Congress regarding policy agendas. [00:26:12]

Structure of Federal Courts

Three-tiered system: US District Courts (original jurisdiction) [00:28:03] -> US Circuit Court of Appeals (appellate jurisdiction) [00:28:14] -> US Supreme Court (both) [00:28:24].

Federalist No. 78

Essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing that an independent judiciary with lifetime tenure is necessary to protect constitutional rights and exercise judicial review. [00:28:40]

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

Landmark Supreme Court case that firmly established the court's power of judicial review—the authority to strike down unconstitutional laws or executive actions. [00:29:18]

Stare Decisis & Precedent

Stare decisis ("let the decision stand") is the judicial principle of relying on past court rulings (precedents) to maintain stability and consistency in law. [00:29:48]

Judicial Activism vs. Judicial Restraint

Activism: Judges should interpret the Constitution broadly to enforce policy and address societal issues [00:30:34]. Restraint: Judges should strictly adhere to written law and defer policy to elected legislatures [00:30:51].

Federal Bureaucracy Structure

Executive branch entities including Cabinet Departments (e.g., Defense) [00:33:42], Independent Regulatory Commissions (e.g., FCC) [00:34:08], and Government Corporations (e.g., PBS) [00:34:30].

Delegated Discretionary Authority

The authority granted by Congress to bureaucratic agencies to write, interpret, and enforce specific regulations to implement broad federal laws. [00:35:14]

Iron Triangle

A strong policy-making alliance formed between a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group to advance shared interests. [00:35:57]

Pendleton Civil Service Act (1883)

Replaced the patronage/spoils system with a merit-based system for hiring government bureaucrats via competitive examinations. [00:39:55]