AP Gov Final Exam

How each branch checks each other

Executive- Can veto laws passed by legislative branch, appoints judges for judicial branch

Legislative- Approves judges appointed by pres for judicial branch, impeachment power and can override veto w a 2/3 vote for executive branch

Judicial- Can declare pres acts unconstit for executive, can declare laws unconstit for legislative

Baker v. Carr

Case that est. one person one vote. this decision created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state

Fillibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill

Trustee Role

the idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgement

Delegate Role

the idea that the main duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituents' wishes

Politico Role

representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties in making decisions

Executive Branch Duties

Enforces the laws and is made up of the president, vice president, and the cabinet agencies

Legislative Branch Duties

Making laws

Approving/rejecting executive agency rules, setting national budget, oversight

Judicial Branch Duties

interprets the constitution and other laws, reviews lower-court decisions

Oversight

the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

Logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills (back-scratching)

Pork Barrel

Extra spending to benefit a specific group (state, county, city, etc…)

Discretionary spending

Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

Mandatory Spending

Required govt spending by permanent laws

PAC

Political Action Committee

Interest Group

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

PACs vs. Interest Groups

PACs have donors, interest groups have members and donors. PACs are the political arm of interest groups. They are like parties when they focus on election results. PACs are like interest groups when interest in the candidates are narrowly based.

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Executive Privilege

The power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

Executive Order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

Executive Agreements

Agreements with other countries that do not need senate approval

Override

An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.

Roles of a President

chief of state, chief executive, chief administrator, chief diplomat, commander in chief, chief legislator, party chief, chief citizen,

Chief Legislator

term for the president as architect of public policy and the one who sets the agenda for congress

Commander in Chief

term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces

Chief Diplomat

The role of the president in recognizing foreign governments, making treaties, and effecting executive agreements.

Federalist No. 70

Here Hamilton argues for the necessity of a single president (rather than an executive committee).

Impeachment Process

1. House passes articles of impeachment by majority

2. Senate tries and 2/3 must convict

Removal Process

War Powers Resolution

A law passed in 1973 spelling out the conditions under which the president can commit troops without congressional approval.

LEJFASR

Legislative, Executive, Judicial, Federalism, Amendment process, Supremacy clause, and Ratification

Original Jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case first, usually in a trial. These are the courts that determine the facts about a case.

Appellate Jurisdiction

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

Marbury v. Madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

Majority Opinion

a statement that presents the views of the majority of supreme court justices regarding a case

Concurring Opinion

An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.

Dissenting Opinion

A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his or her opinion

Judicial Activism

An interpretation of the U.S. constitution holding that the spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can legitimately influence judicial decisions.

Judicial Restraint

A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly to the legislatures.

Federal Bureaucrat

Person who works in the bureaucracy

Patronage

Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

Merit

deserving reward or praise

Bureaucratic Discretion

bureaucrats' use of their own judgement in interpreting and carrying out the laws of Congress

Bureaucratic Adjudication

when the federal bureaucracy settles disputes between parties that arise over the implementation of federal laws or determines which individuals or groups are covered under a regulation or program.

How all three branches have power over the bureaucracy

The legislative branch establishes laws that the bureaucracy implements, while the executive branch oversees the bureaucracy activities and appointments, and the judicial branch can review and challenge bureaucratic actions.

UNIT 3

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Establishment Clause

Clause in the First Amendment that says the government may not establish an official religion.

Free Exercise Clause

A First Amendment provision that prohibits government from interfering with the practice of religion.

Federalists

supporters of the Constitution

Antifederalists

Opponents of ratification of the Constitution and of a strong central government, generally.

Amendment 1

Freedom of Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, and Petition

Amendment 2

Right to bear arms

Amendment 3

No quartering of soldiers

Amendment 4

search and seizure (4 Car Door)

Amendment 5

due process, double jeopardy; self incrimination

Amendment 6

Right to a speedy and public trial (6 Second Trial)

Amendment 7

Right to trial by jury

Amendment 8

No cruel and unusual punishment (8 is against Hate)

Amendment 9

People's rights are not limited to those in the Constitution.

Amendment 10

Powers Reserved to the States

Amendment 11

lawsuits against states

Amendment 12

Election of President and Vice President (1 and 2)

Amendment 13

abolished slavery

Amendment 14

If you are born or naturalized in the U.S. then you are a citizen of the U.S.

Amendment 15

Black Suffrage (15 wrote blacks can vote)

Amendment 16

income tax (when your 16 you pay income taxes)

Amendment 17

Direct election of senators (7 - Senators)

Amendment 18

Prohibition of alcohol

Amendment 19

Women's right to vote

Amendment 20

President takes office on January 20th instead of March 4th. (January 20th)

Amendment 21

Amendment 18 Repealed (21 to drink)

Amendment 22

President can only serve two terms. (2 terms - 2 T's)

Amendment 23

Washington D.C. residents can vote for president. (D.C. 23)

Amendment 24

No poll tax ( 2, 4, 6, 8 we vote to vote but not to pay)

Amendment 25

Presidential succession (25 if president dies)

Amendment 26

Voting Age Set to 18 Years (Year we all graduate)

Due Process Clause

14th amendment clause stating that no state may deprive a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law

Equal Protection

the equal application of the law regardless of a person's race, religion, political beliefs, or other qualities

Jury vs. Grand Jury

Grand jury determines whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime, while a jury (also called a petit jury) decides guilt or innocence in a trial.

Engel v. Vitale

The 1962 Supreme Court decision holding that state officials violated the First Amendment when they wrote a prayer to be recited by New York's schoolchildren.

Schenk vs. US

Ruled that 1st Amendment right of free speech is limited in the time of war and created a precedent that First Amendment guarantees are not absolute.

Plessy v. Ferguson

a 1896 Supreme Court decision which legalized state ordered segregation so long as the facilities for blacks and whites were equal (Separate but equal)

Brown v. Board of Education

1954 - The Supreme Court overruled Plessy v. Ferguson, declared that racially segregated facilities are inherently unequal and ordered all public schools desegregated.

Civil Rights

the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

Civil Liberties

Constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all citizens - Defined in Bill of Rights

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A law designed to help end formal and informal barriers to African-American suffrage

Rosa Parks

United States civil rights leader who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white man in Montgomery (Alabama) and so triggered the national civil rights movement (born in 1913)

Title IX

A United States law enacted on June 23, 1972 that states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

Letter From Birmingham Jail

A letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. after he had been arrested when he took part in a nonviolent march against segregation. He was disappointed more Christians didn't speak out against racism.

Non-Violent Civil Disobedience

the act of protesting without the use of violence