Ap Government Vocabulary: Unit 2

Apportionment/ reapportionment

Redistributing House seats based on population every 10 years

Appropriations

Congress deciding how federal money will be spent on programs and agencies

Bicameral

A legislature with two chambers (House and Senate) that must both pass laws

Caucus

A meeting of party members in Congress to plan laws, pick leaders, and set strategy

Chairpersons

Members of Congress who lead committees and control what bills are discussed

Committee of the Whole

When the House meets as one large committee to debate bills more freely

Conference committee

Temporary groups that combine House and Senate versions of a bill into one final agreements so they match

Congressional sessions

The 2-year term of Congress divided into yearly meetings where laws are made

Constituencies

The people in a district/ state that an elected official represents and tries to serve

Discharge petition

A way for House members to force a bill out of committee if it’s being ignored

Floor

Where all members of the House or Senate meet to debate and vote on bills

Holds

When a senator informally delays or blocks a bill or nomination from reaching the floor

Incumbent

A current officeholder running for re-election, often with advantages like name recognition

Joint committee

A committee with both House and Senate members, usually for research or coordination

Majority leader

The main leader of the majority party who schedules bills and guides party goals

Markup

The process where committees debate, change, and rewrite parts of a bill before voting

Minority leader

The leader of the minority party who organizes opposition and strategy

President of the Senate

The Vice President, who presides over the Senate and can break tied votes

Rules committee

A powerful House committee that decides how long debate lasts and if amendments are allowed

Select committee

A temporary committee created to investigate or handle a specific issue

Senator

One of 100 members representing a whole state in the Senate

Speaker

The leader of the House who controls debate, assigns committees, and influences legislation

Standing committee

A permanent committee that focuses on specific policy areas like defense or education

Ways and means

A key House committee that controls taxes, tariffs, and government revenue

Whips

Party officials who make sure members vote with their party and keep track of votes

Appropriations bill

Laws that officially approve government spending for programs

Bipartisan

When both Democrats and Republicans support a bill or idea

Earmarks

Specific funding set aside in a bill for local projects in a member’s district

Entitlements

Programs like Social Security where people must receive benefits if they qualify

Filibuster

A Senate tactic of extended debate to delay or block a vote on a bill

Fiscal year

The government’s budgeting year (Oct 1- Sept 30)

Hastert rule

An informal rule that the Speaker won’t allow a vote unless most of their party agrees

Hearings

Meetings where committees gather information, question witnesses, and review issues

Logrolling

When lawmakers trade support for each other’s bills to get them passed

Nuclear option

Changing Senate rules with a simple majority to bypass filibuters

Omnibus

A large bill that combines many smaller bills or topics into one vote

Oversight

Congress checking how the executive branch is using power and money

Subpoena powers

The legal ability to force people to testify or provide documents

Delegate

A representative who votes exactly how their constituents want

Gerrymandering

Drawing voting districts in a way that gives one party an advantage

Lame-duck

An official still in office after losing or before a successor takes over, with less power

Legislative gridlock

When Congress cannot pass laws due to strong disagreements

Politico

A representative who mixes trustee and delegate roles, choosing whichever approach fits the issue or political situation.

Trustee

A representative who uses their own judgement to make decisions

Bully Pulpit

The president’s ability to shape public opinion using media and speeches

Chief executive

The president’s role in enforcing laws the running the executive branch

Commander in chief

The president’s role as leader of the military

Executive agreements

International deals made by the president with Senate approval

Executive orders

Official directives from the president that manage operations of the government

Formal powers

Powers clearly listed in the Constitution (like vetoing laws)

Informal powers

Unwritten powers based on tradition, influence, and circumstances

OMB

Agency that helps the president create and manage the federal budget

Succession

The order of who becomes president if the current one cannot serve

Veto

Rejecting a bill

Override

Congress passing a law despite a veto with a 2/3 vote

Power of the purse

Congress’s control over taxing and spending

Senate judiciary committee

Reviews judicial nominees and deals with legal system issues

Treaty approval

The Senate must approve treaties with a 2/3 vote

War powers resolution

Law requiring the president to notify Congress when sending troops and limit time without approval

Office of the White House

The president’s advisors and staff who help make decisions

Modern Presidency

The expanded role and powers of the president in today’s government

Press conferences

Events where the president answers questions from journalists

State of the union

Annual speech where the president outlines goals and the nation’s condition

Amicus curiae briefs

“Friend of the court” arguments from outside groups to influence a case

Appellate jurisdiction

A court’s power to review decisions from lower courts

Civil courts

Courts that handle non-criminal cases like disputes or lawsuits

Courts of appeals

Courts that review trial courts decisions for errors

Courts of origin

Courts where a case is first heard (trial courts)

General jurisdiction

Courts that can hear many different types of cases

Judicial review

The power to declare laws or actions unconstitutional

Life terms

Federal judges serve for life to stay independent from politics

Limited jurisdiction

Courts that only hear certain kinds of cases

Exclusive jurisdiction

Only one specific court can hear certain cases

Plaintiffs

People who bring a case to court

Rule of 4

At least four Supreme Court justices must agree to hear a case

Writs of certiorari

An order for a lower court to send up a case for review

Litigate

To take legal action or go through the court process

Concurring opinion

A judge agrees with the decision but for different reasons

Dissenting opinion

A judge disagrees with the majority decision

Judicial activism

When judges interpret laws in ways that may shape policy

Majority opinion

The official ruling agreed on by most justices

Original intent

Interpreting the constitution based on what the framers meant

Precedents

Past court decisions used to guide future cases

Stare decisis

The principle of following past precedents

Statutory law

Laws passed by legislative bodies

Cabinet departments

Major executive agencies led by secretaries advising the president

Civil service

Government workers hired based on qualifications, not politics

Issue networks

Flexible groups of people and organizations influencing policy

Iron triangles

Strong, stable relationships between Congress, agencies, and interest groups

Merit reforms

Changes to ensure hiring is based on skill, not favoritism

Compliance monitoring

Making sure laws and regulations are followed by individuals or organizations