AP Gov Vocab 2

Executive Agreement

Agreements made with the president and international leader without the approval of the Senate.

Treaty

A binding agreement between the US and one or more nations that requires two thirds of the Senate for it to pass.

Executive Order

A presidential informal power that forces federal agencies to act upon the law without needing approval from Congress.

Pocket Veto

A bill is automatically vetoed when the president does not sign off on a bill for 10 days.

Senate

Half of Congress that represents all states equally, with each state receiving 2 senators for a total of 100. In charge of making the decision for treaties through a majority vote or ⅔ majority vote in certain cases to pass the act or bill.

House of Representatives

The other half of Congress, representing each states’ population with a total of 435. Also in charge of voting on bills or acts, with a  majority vote for most cases and in special occasions ⅔ majority to pass

Constituent

People who live in a district or area that a person represents.

Revenue

The amount of money the federal government collect

Tax Revenue

Money collected by the government from businesses and individuals.

Budget

A plan of which the federal government allocates it's available funds to the different departments and programs.

Speaker of the House

The highest ranking member of the House of Representatives, being a part of the majority party, next in line for succession of president after the vice president.

Filibuster

A long speech or debate used as a tactic to delay votes in the Senate.

Cloture

A Senate decision that ends a debate (like a filibuster) and forces a vote on the bill, the cloture must be voted by 60 Senate members for it to happen.

Rules Committee

A committee in the House of Representatives that decides whether a bill goes to the floor and under what conditions.

Discharge Petitions

The House of Representatives vote to force out a bill to the floor without the approval of the Rules Committee.

Pork Barrel

Congress members direct some federal funding towards their home state.

Entitlements

Government programs that provide for those who qualify

Logrolling

Two or more lawmakers agree to exchange votes for each other’s projects and bills.

Partisanship

An allegiance to a certain political party which influences the decisions of these inside it.

Lame Duck

The old President in session is in the transition period where the new Elected President will come into office.

Trustee Representative

An official chooses their decisions based on their values and beliefs rather than the demands of their party or group.

Delegate Representatives

Officials choose baesd off their group or party beliefs rather than their own.

Politico Representatives

Officials change whether to vote based on Delegate or Trustee depending on the public coverage of an issue.

Policy Agenda

Problems that officials focus on at any given time.

Veto

President rejects a bill and sends it back to Congress.

Line Item Veto

The president can reject certain spending priveliges’ in a bill while accepting the rest of it.

Commander in Chief

As well as being the President, they are also leading the US military and National Guard units.

Signing Statement

A statement said by the president after signing something, interpreting what it will do.

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to have a maximum of 2 terms with each term lasting 4 years.

State of the Union

Yearly meeting where the president delivers a message to Congress.

Bully Pulpit

The president publicly speaks out to the public on certain issues to persuade them, this is an informal power.

Agenda Setting

The use of selectively choosing what issues are publicly broadcast to the wider public.

Judicial Review

Gives the federal courts the power to review how certain rules, clauses, or bills are considered unconstitutional.

Precedent

Previous decisions that set a standard for later cases to be followed.

State Decisis

Following the set ruling from previous cases.

Jurisdiction

The court’s right to first hear what the case has to offer.

Appellate Jurisdiction

Higher court’s ability to change decisions of a lower court.

Judicial Activism

Belief that judges should use their ability to override precedents.

Judicial Restraint

Belief that judges should limit the power of their branch.

Confirmation

Senate questions the choice of the President’s judges or executive nominees.

Issue Network

A temporary coalition that is formed to promote an issue or idea

Iron Triangle

An alliance formed between a federal bureaucratic agency, interest group, and a congressional committee to control an area of policy.

Bureaucracy

The structure of government in which the administration, consisting of many officials, agencies, departments, committees, commissions, and government, carry out the laws set by the executive and legislative branches

Government Corporations

A federal agency that is handled by private individuals or groups.

Merit Systems

 Hiring individuals based on skill and performance rather than connections.

Patronage

Giving government positions or favors based on the fact of loyalty and support (usually monetary).

Discretionary Spending

Spending of the budget based on voting where it is going to.

Oversight

Congress’ ability to monitor how the executive branch implements law.

Power of the Purse

Congress’ ability to choose what the federal budget goes to.

Appropriation

Congress’ passed laws that give out money to the specified programs, agencies, or activities