ap gov unit 4 legiskative judicial executive and burearecracy

direct election of senators

17th amendment

local project funding

pork barrel spending

trading votes

logrolling

monitoring executive branch

oversight

required (social security)

mandatory spending

optional

disrectionary spending

reveneu>spending

budget surplus

spending > revenue

budget deficit

specific bodies of voters that elect representatives to legislative or executive offices.

Constituency

Leader of the republican house (majority)

House Majority Leader

Counts votes

whip

Leader of minority house (democrat)

Minority Leader

Most powerful member and chief spokesperson of the majority party in the u,s senate

Senate Majority Leader

Leads committees

Committee Chair

Permanent, specialized panels that handle bills regarding policy areas (e.q agriculture or finance)

Standing Committee

Both house and senate, tasked with studies or investigations

Joint Committee

Temporary joint formed to resolve difference between house and senate versions of a bill

Conference Committee

Temporary committees created for emergencies and are dissolved after

Select or Special Committee

A powerful committee in the house that controls the scheduling of bills and sets rules for debate

Rules Committee

Delay debate by yapping

Filibuster

End a filibuster but needs 60 votes

Cloture

Distributing seats

Apportionment

Drawing districts unfairly

Gerrymandering

Drawing districts unfairly to give political advantage to one party

Partisan Gerrymandering

Concentrate voters

packing

split voters

cracking

Gerrymandering using race as the primary factor

Racial Gerrymandering

Electoral districts where a racial or ethnic minority group makes up majority of the population

Majority-minority districts

Established one person one vote

Baker v. Carr (1962)

principle that asserts each individual's vote should carry equal weight in the electoral process, ensuring fairness and equality.

"One person, one vote"

Limited racial gerrymandering

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

equal protection

14th Amendment

Equal treatment under law

Equal Protection Clause

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Protected minority voting rights

The creation of legislative districts with vastly unequal populations, resulting in unfair distribution of representation where some votes hold more weight than others

Malapportionment

Follow voters

Delegate

Use own judgment

Trustee

Mix of both

Politico Role

The cooperation/comprise between the two major political parties to achieve a common goal

Bipartisanship

Legislative stalemate where the government is unable to [ass new laws or take action, usually caused by severe partisan divide or divided government.

Gridlock

Organization of Congress

House = more structured

senate= more flexible

Process of Bill to a Law

Introduced, committee, floor vote, other chamber, conference committee, president either signs/vetoes bill

Role of Committees and Subcommittees

Filter bills, hold hearings, make laws more detailed

Types of Committees

Standing, special, joint, conference

Impact of Gerrymandering

Protects incumbents, reduces competition, can distort representation

Roles of Members of Congress

Legislating, representing constituent interests, performing oversight of the executive branch, engaging in electoral activities

Unique powers of each House of Congress

House = elects president in ties, impeach officials, initiates revenue bills

senate= tries impeachment, confirms appointment, ratifies treaties

Differences between House and Senate including checks each House has on other branches

house= 435 members, 2 year terms, population based

senate= 100 members, 6 year terms, two per state

House can impeach president, vp, but senate must have ⅔ vote for removal

Congress can override a presidential veto w ⅔ vote

Problems with Budgeting

Deficits and debt, political conflict, mandatory spending limits flexibility

Types of Laws Congress CANNOT pass (review from Unit 1)

Ex post facto laws, bills of attainder, laws violating constitution

2 term limit

22nd Amendment

Separate votes for president and vp

12th Amendment

Enforces laws

Chief Executive

Foreign policy

Chief Diplomat

Military leader

Commander- in- Chief

Influences laws

Chief Legislator

Policy agenda

State of the Union Address

Ignore bill for 10 days when Congress adjourns

Pocket veto

Symbolic leader

Head of State

Authorities granted to the President directly by Article II of the Constitution or through statutory law

Formal Powers

Reprieve

Delays punishment

Amnesty

Forgives group

Pardon

Forgives crime

Informal Powers

Implied powers of the pres

Executive Privilege

Keep communication secret

Signing Statements

Interpret laws

Executive Order

Direct government actions

War Powers Resolution

Limits President's military action without Congress

Bully pulpit

Persuade public

Fireside chats

Direct communication (FDR)

Federal Bureaucracy

Government agencies implementing laws

Bureaucrat

Government worker

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

advisors

Chief of Staff

Manages white house

National Security Council

foreign/military advice

Council of Economic Advisors

Economic policy

Spoils System

Jobs for supporters

Pendleton Act of 1883

Ended spoils system

Merit System

Based on qualifications

Iron Triangle

Relationship between congress+bureaucracy+interest group

Implementation

Carrying out laws

Bureaucratic Discretion

Flexibility in decisions

Regulation

Rules made by agencies

Bureaucratic Adjudication

Setting disputes

issue network

looser connections than iron triangle

Difference between Formal and Informal Powers (including examples)

Formal is explicitly for president (eg vetoes, appointments,) and informal are developed through tradition and arent in constitution (executive orders, electoral mandate)

Checks on the Executive Branch

Veto overrides, power of the purse, impeachment

Executive Branch checks on other branches

Veto powers, appointment of federal judges, executive orders

Roles of the President

Chief executive, commander in chief, chief diplomat, chief legislator, chief of state, party leader, and chief citizen

Executive Powers

Divided into formal/informal powers, such as serving as commander in chief, vetoing legislation, making treaties and appointing officials

Different ways the Presidents have communicated with the public

Radio, television, twitter...

Organization of the Federal Bureaucracy

15 cabinet departments

Difference between Spoils System and Merit System

Spoils gave people jobs based of loyalty, merit gives people jobs based on ability and performance

Significance of Pendleton Act of 1883

Established a merit-based system

Relationship between interest groups, Congress and the Bureaucracy (Iron Triangle)

Mutually beneficial three way relationship that dominates policymaking in specific areas

Checks on the Federal Bureaucracy

Congressional budget power and hearing, presidential appointment, and executive orders and judicial reviews of regulations

Jurisdiction

Authority of a court to hear a case

Original jurisdiction

Court hears a case first

Appellate jurisdiction

Court reviews decisions from lower courts

US District Courts

Lowest federal courts; original jurisdiction