AP Government Unit 2a: The Legislative Branch

Vocabulary flashcards covering congressional powers, chamber differences, lawmaking procedures, budgeting, redistricting court cases, and models of representation from AP Government Unit 2a.

Article I, Section 8

The constitutional section that explicitly grants enumerated or expressed powers to Congress, such as coining money, declaring war, and collecting taxes.

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

The constitutional clause that serves as the source of Congress's implied powers, permitting legislation necessary to execute its enumerated duties.

Revenue Bills

Tax and revenue-raising legislation that constitutionally must originate in the House of Representatives under the Power of the Purse.

Impeachment Process

The constitutional procedure in which the House of Representatives has the sole authority to formally accuse an official with a simple majority, and the Senate conducts the trial requiring a $\frac{2}{3}$ majority vote to convict and remove.

Advice and Consent

The exclusive constitutional power of the Senate to confirm presidential appointments and ratify treaties.

House Rules Committee

A powerful House committee that manages the flow of legislation by scheduling bills for debate and setting amendment rules.

Filibuster

A procedural tactic in the Senate that allows extended, unlimited debate to stall, block, or delay legislation.

Hold

An informal procedural measure in the Senate allowing an individual senator to place a delay on a bill or presidential nomination.

Cloture Vote

A Senate vote requiring a $\frac{3}{5}$ majority, or $60$ votes, to place a time limit on debate and end a filibuster.

Discharge Petition

A procedural mechanism used in the House of Representatives to force a bill out of a committee and bring it directly to the floor for debate.

Standing Committee

A permanent legislative panel organized predominantly by the majority party to manage legislation and maintain control over the policy agenda.

Conference Committee

A temporary committee formed specifically to reconcile differences between separate House and Senate versions of the same bill.

Mandatory Spending

Federal expenditures required by existing law—such as Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid—that constitute $60\text{--}70\%$ of the federal budget.

Discretionary Spending

Option-based spending decided annually through congressional appropriations bills for areas such as defense, education, national parks, and infrastructure.

Power of the Purse

The constitutional authority of Congress to check the Executive Branch by approving, adjusting, or denying funding requests in the annual federal budget.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

A Supreme Court case ruling that state redistricting challenges are justiciable in federal court under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, establishing the 'one person, one vote' principle.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

A Supreme Court case ruling that drawing majority-minority districts primarily based on race (racial gerrymandering) violates the Equal Protection Clause unless strictly tailored to serve a compelling government interest.

Malapportionment

The uneven distribution of population across legislative districts, leading to unequal representation for voters in different areas.

Delegate Model

A model of congressional representation in which lawmakers vote strictly according to the explicit preferences of their constituents, setting aside personal judgment.

Trustee Model

A model of congressional representation in which lawmakers rely on their personal judgment to decide what is best for the public interest, regardless of constituent input.

Politico Model

A hybrid model of representation where a lawmaker alternates between the delegate and trustee roles depending on constituent interest and the complexity of the issue.

Pork-Barrel Spending

Legislation or amendments that direct federal funding and specific projects to a lawmaker's home district to secure constituent support.

Logrolling

A legislative tactic of vote-trading among lawmakers, summarized by the exchange: 'you vote for my bill, I'll vote for yours.'

Divided Government

A political condition in which opposing political parties control the presidency and at least one chamber of Congress, often increasing legislative gridlock and slowing appointee confirmations.

Reconciliation

A Senate legislative procedure that allows budget-related bills to pass with a simple majority rather than being subject to a $60$-vote filibuster threshold.

War Powers Resolution (1973)

Federal legislation intended to check the presidency by limiting presidential military action without congressional approval.