Unit 2 AP GOPO

Flashcards covering essential vocabulary related to the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches, as well as key concepts like Checks and Balances and the Bureaucracy.

Bicameral Legislature

A two-chamber legislative body; in the U.S., this refers to the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution, such as the power to tax, regulate commerce, and declare war.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated but inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause, allowing Congress to pass laws needed to carry out enumerated powers.

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

Grants Congress the authority to pass all laws necessary and proper for executing its enumerated powers.

House Rules Committee

A powerful committee in the House of Representatives that determines the rules for debate and amendment of bills.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislative action by extending debate.

Cloture

A procedure to end a filibuster in the Senate, requiring a three-fifths majority vote.

Discharge Petition

A mechanism in the House to bring a bill out of committee and to the floor for a vote, requiring a majority of members' signatures.

Pork Barrel Legislation

Government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative's district.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political advantage.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing congressional district boundaries based on population changes.

Apportionment

The allocation of congressional seats to each state based on population, determined by the decennial census.

Senate Majority Leader

The chief spokesperson and strategist for the majority party in the Senate.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, elected by its members.

Whip

An official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature.

Formal (Enumerated) Powers

Powers explicitly granted to the president by the Constitution, including serving as commander-in-chief, granting pardons, and making treaties.

Informal Powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but exercised by the president, such as executive orders and executive agreements.

Executive Order

A directive issued by the president that has the force of law, without the need for congressional approval.

Executive Agreement

An international agreement made by the president without Senate ratification.

Veto

The president's constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by Congress.

Pocket Veto

An indirect veto by the president by retaining a bill unsigned until it is too late for it to be dealt with during the legislative session.

Signing Statement

A written pronouncement issued by the president upon signing a bill into law, often outlining their interpretation of the legislation.

Commander-in-Chief

The role of the president as the supreme commander of the military forces of the United States.

State of the Union Address

An annual message delivered by the president to Congress, giving the administration's view of the state of the nation and outlining the legislative agenda.

Cabinet

A group of presidential advisors, typically the heads of the executive departments.

White House Staff

Personnel who assist the president in carrying out the duties of the executive branch.

Bully Pulpit

The president's use of their position to influence public opinion and promote their agenda.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

The landmark case that established the principle of judicial review.

Stare Decisis

The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.

Precedent

A legal decision that serves as an authoritative rule in future similar cases.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.

Judicial Activism

The philosophy that the courts should take an active role in solving societal problems.

Judicial Restraint

The philosophy that courts should defer to elected lawmakers in setting policy and should avoid making policy themselves.

Life Tenure

Federal judges hold their positions for life, pending good behavior, to ensure independence from political pressures.

Senate Confirmation

The process by which the Senate approves presidential appointments to the federal judiciary.

Checks and Balances

A system that allows each branch of government to amend or veto acts of another branch to prevent any one branch from exerting too much power.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body levels charges against a government official.

Advice and Consent

The Senate's authority to approve or reject the president's appointments and treaties.

War Powers Resolution (1973)

A federal law intended to check the president's power to commit the U.S. to armed conflict without the consent of Congress.

Legislative Oversight

Congress's monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings.

Bureaucracy

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

Civil Service

Government employees who are hired based on merit and are not appointed or elected.

Merit System

A system of hiring and promotion based on competitive testing and performance.

Iron Triangle

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.

Issue Network

An alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite to promote a common cause or agenda.

Regulation

A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority.

Implementation

The process by which a law or policy is put into operation.

Discretionary Authority

The ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement congressional or executive intentions.

Rulemaking Authority

The power of an executive agency to issue regulations that have the force of law.

Federalist No. 51

Discusses the necessity of checks and balances and the separation of powers within the government.

Federalist No. 70

Argues for a single, energetic executive leader to ensure accountability and effective governance.

Federalist No. 78

Explains the role of the judiciary, emphasizing its independence and the importance of judicial review.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

Affirmed the supremacy of federal laws over state laws and upheld the implied powers of Congress.

United States v. Nixon (1974)

Limited the power of the president by ruling that executive privilege is not absolute.