AP Gov SAFMED Vocab

pluralist democracy

A political system where no one group dominates politically, but instead many groups compete for power

participatory democracy

A political system in which citizens have a direct influence on policy decisions but politicians implement and carry them out

elite democracy

A political system where a small group of people have most if not all the power to influence policy

legislative

branch of government that makes laws, i.e. Congress

executive

branch of government that enforces laws, i.e. President, VP and Cabinet

note: the executive can refer specifcally to the Pres

judicial

branch of government that interprets laws and rules on cases, i.e. the Supreme Court

constituents

the people a representative represents and who elect them

apportionment

the process of distributing seats in the House of Representatives based on population after a census is conducted

redistricting

the process of redrawing congressional districts based on population shifts in the state

gerrymandering

drawing voting districts in a way that is meant to favor a certain candidate or party, usually by grouping minority or low income populations

president pro tempore

presiding officer of the Senate when VP is absent, more of an honorary position nowadays

Rep/Dem whip

position elected by party caucus, “whip” party members into voting party line on issues

incumbency

status of already holding an office

bill

a proposed law

trustee

a representative who listens to their constituents but ultimately exercises their own best judgment when voting

delegate

a representative that votes the way their constituents want no matter their own opinion

politico

a representative that acts as both trustee or delegate, depending on the issue

impeachment

first step in removing government officials from office. the president, VP and other federal officers can all be impeached for any “high” crime, though only the House can impeach

House Committee on Rules

standing committee with important managerial responsibilities: reviews bills before they come to the House floor and sets date for chamber debate on the bill

filibuster

formal method of halting Senate action on a bill through longs speeches and debate to essentially stall for time

cloture

a motion that requires vote of sixty Senators to end debate, i.e. end a filibuster

standing committee

permanent committees where relevant proposed bills are referred

joint committee

committee with members from House and Senate, typically more investigation/study focused

select committee

temporary committee formed with a specific purpose

veto

presidential power to reject any bill passed by Congress, barring a 2/3 congressional override

pocket veto

de facto veto that occurs if Congress adjourns during the 10-day persidential consideration period of a bill

Office of Management and Budget

executive agency which prepares and submits the president’s budget to Congress

Congressional Budget Office

agency the job of which is to evaluate different spending programs and proposed policies as well as analyze the president’s budget

pork/pork barrel legislature

legislature that lets representatives bring money and jobs to their district through public works programs and the like

divided government

condition in which the presidency and at least one house in Congress belong to different parties

logrolling

vote trading, i.e. a representative agrees to vote with a colleague on an upcoming bill in exchange for their support on a current bill

executive privilege

implied power of the president to refuse to disclose information that is confidential or regards national security

US v Nixon (‘74)

SCOTUS ruling that executive privilege does not allow a president to circumvent a court order to produce information for a criminal trial

22nd Amendment

says a president can’t serve more than two terms or ten years

25th Amendment

creates procedures for filling vacancies in office of president or VP, and procedures for temporary suspension of presidential power

Cabinet

a body of advisers to the president, including the fifteen heads of executive departments and often others as well

State of the Union

the Constitution requires a president to periodically update Congress on the “State of the Union”

executive agreements

formal international agreements made solely by president without Senate approval

pardon

executive power to waive the punishment or consequences of a crime, even after conviction

executive order

a rule issued by the president that works as a law

signing statements

written comments attached to a bill signed by the president

foreign policy

policy making regarding how nations build relationships while safeguarding national interest

treaties

president holds power to enter into agreements with other nations, pending 2/3 Senate approval

Commerce Clause

the clause in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution that allows Congress to regulate domestic and international commerce

Necessary and Proper Clause

the clause in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution that grants Congress implied powers

Congressional agenda

the agenda for Congress

coalition

synonym for alliance

entitlement

what most of the mandatory spending budget goes toward; federal programs for people to qualify for money from the government

bully pulpit

the idea that the spotlight on the president allows them unique power to influence politics and people

mandatory spending

spending that is mandated by existing law

discretionary spending

spending allocated annually by Congress and the President in the appropriations process

Government Accountability Office

audits finances of executive branch and federal agencies

bureaucracy

four categories of agency

government agencies, institutions and personnel that implement and administer laws and programs

Cabinet departments, govt corporations, independent executive agencies and ind. regulatory commissions

Cabinet departments

major administrative units responsible for borad areas of govt operations

ex. Homeland Security, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Education

government corporations

businesses established by Congress to perform functions that private businesses could perform, usually when incentives for them to do so are lo

independent executive agencies

governmental units that closely resemble a Cabinet dept. but have narrower areas of reponsibility and perform services rather than regulatory functions

ex. NASA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

independent regulatory commissions

agencies created by Congress that regulates a specific economic activity/interest

ex. FEC, Securities and Exchange Commission

Congressional oversight and committee hearings

Allow Congress to monitor the other branches and federal agencies, mainly for information gathering and mainyl conducted by committees

civil service system

merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected

merit system

employment system based on qualifications and ability rather than party loyalty

spoils system

firing office holders of a defeated political party to be replaced by loyalists of the newly elected party

patronage

jobs, grants, or favors given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support

Hatch Act

1939 act prohibiting civil servants (fed. employees) from taking activist roles in partisan campaigns

iron triangles

the relatively ironclad relationships and interactions among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees

issue networks

the loose and informal relationships existing among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas

rule making

quasi-legislative process resulting in regulations that have the characteristics of a legislative act

Judiciary Act of 1789

act that established three-tiered system of federal courts (district, circuit, SCOTUS)

Marbury v Madison (1803)

SCOTUS case that first asserted the power of judicial review by finding part of a congressional statute extending the Court’s jurisdiction unconstitutional

appellate jurisdiction

cases that can be appealed to a certain court

brief

document containing the legal written arguments in a case filed with a court by a party prior to a hearing/trial

precedent

prior judicial decision that serves as a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature

stare decisis

in court rulings, a reliance on past decisions or precedents to formulate decisions in new cases

writ of certiorari

request for SCOTUS to order up the records from a lower court to review the case

Rule of Four

At least four justices of SCOTUS must vote to consider a case before it can be heard

solicitor general

fourth ranking member of the DOJ, responsible for handling appeals on behalf of the US govt to SCOTUS

dissenting opinion

type of judicial opinion issued by a minority of judges who disagree with the outcome of a case to explain reasoning

concurring opinion

type of judicial opinion issued by a judge(s) who agrees with a case’s outcome but wish to explain different legal reasoning

amicus curiae

“Friend of the court,” may file briefs (of the same name) or appear to argue their interests before the court

judicial restraint

philosophy that courts should allow decisions of other branches to stand even if it contradicts a judge’s principles

judicial activism

philosophy that judges should use power broadly to further justice

judicial implementation

how/whether a court’s decisions are translated into actual policy

strict constructionist

approach to interpreting Const. that emphasizes the original words and intent of Founders

Pendleton Act

established merit system for federal employment rather than spoils

free rider

potential member who don’t actually join a group because they don’t have to get the benefit

Sixteenth Amendment

authorized Congress to enact national income tax

government

the body of persons that constitutes the governing authority of a political unit or organization

politics

art or science of government; political actions, practices or policies; total complex relations between people living in society

democracy

A form of government in which the power ultimately comes from the peopl

republicanism

people choose representatives through elections

popular sovereignty

a government’s power derives from its people (citizens)

natural rights

rights possessed by all of humanity simply for being human

social contract theory

idea that people give up some rights in order to join a community that provides other rights and securities in exchange

limited government

government only has the powers given to it by the Constitution

Declaration of Independence

a political document arguing for America’s right to independence from Britain

Articles of Confederation

the original governing document of the country that established a weak central govt and left most power to the states

Constitutional Convention

Philadelphia, 1787: meeting at which delegates from states debate, argue and ultimately write the US Constitution

Virginia Plan

plan for legislative representation based on state population

New Jersey Plan

plan for legislative representation where all states are equal

Connecticut Compromise/Great Compromise

accepted plan for legislative representation where Congress is bicameral; one house by population, the other equal

Three-Fifths Compromise

agreement to count only 3/5 of the total enslaved population of a state when apportioning representatives