AP Government and Politics Unit 2 vocab

Formal power

Explicit authority granted to an individual or office by a governing document or law.

Informal power

Unofficial capabilities or influence that an executive has.

Bicameral

Type of legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses.

Speaker of the House

Presiding officer and highest-ranking member of the United States House of Representatives.

Congressional Committee

Group of members from either the House of Representatives or the Senate that focuses on specific areas of policy, legislation, or oversight.

Unanimous consent

A procedural agreement in Congress where no member objects to a proposed action.

Filibuster

Legislative tactic used in the U.S. Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill or nomination.

Mandatory spending

Expenditures that are required by law, such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Entitlements

Government programs that provide benefits to individuals who meet specific eligibility requirements.

Social Security

Provides financial assistance to individuals in need, primarily the elderly, disabled, and survivors of deceased workers.

Medicare

Federal health insurance program primarily designed for individuals aged 65 and older.

Medicaid

Government program that provides health coverage to eligible low-income individuals and families.

Discretionary spending

The portion of the federal budget decided by annual appropriations bills.

Pork barrel

The practice in which lawmakers allocate government funds for local projects to benefit their constituents.

Logrolling

The practice where legislators exchange support for each other's proposed legislation.

Gridlock

A situation in which the legislative process is stalled due to inability to reach an agreement.

Reapportionment

The process of redistributing the seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on census data.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts.

Gerrymandering

The process of manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor one political party.

Politico representative

A legislator who blends the trustee and delegate models of representation.

Cabinet

Group of high-ranking officials in the executive branch who advise the president.

Pocket veto

A special type of veto that occurs when the president takes no action on a bill while Congress is adjourned.

Line item veto

A veto power allowing an executive to reject specific provisions within a bill.

Executive order

Official directives issued by the President of the United States to manage federal government operations.

State of the Union

An annual address delivered by the President of the United States to a joint session of Congress.

Bully pulpit

The unique platform the President has to advocate for their agenda and influence public opinion.

Agenda setting

The process by which media and political actors influence the importance placed on issues.

Judicial review

The power of courts to examine and invalidate actions of the legislative and executive branches.

Stare decisis

Legal principle meaning 'to stand by things decided,' emphasizing the importance of precedent.

Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear and decide cases.

Original jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time.

Appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review and make decisions on appeals from lower courts.

Judicial activism

Practice where judges take an active role in interpreting the law and creating new legal precedents.

Federal bureaucracy

The complex system of agencies and departments within the executive branch responsible for implementing and enforcing laws.

Government corporation

Entities created to provide specific services that could be provided privately but are considered too important to be left entirely in private hands.

Issue network

The complex web of relationships among stakeholders involved in a specific policy issue.

Iron triangle

Stable, mutually beneficial relationships among government agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups.

Patronage

The practice of providing government jobs or benefits in exchange for political support.

Discretionary power

Authority granted to public officials to make decisions based on their judgment.

Power of the purse

Constitutional power of Congress to control government spending and taxation.

Compliance monitoring

Adherence to laws and regulations set forth by governing bodies.

Example of Formal Power

The president’s power to veto legislation

Example of Informal power

The president advocates for their agenda and influences public opinion

Example of Bicameral

The US Congress consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate

Example of Speaker of the House

 The speaker controls the legislative agenda and committee assignments

Example of Congressional Committee

The House Judiciary Committee handles bills related to the legal system.

Example of Unanimous consent

 The Senate passes a bill to honor veterans with no objections.

Example of Filibuster

 A senator delays a healthcare reform bill.

Example of Mandatory spending

Social Security benefits.

Example of Entitlements

Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

Example of Social Security

Retirees receive monthly checks from the government

Example of Medicare

A 70-year-old receives medical treatment coverage for hospital visits

Example of Medicaid

A low-income family receives Medicaid assistance for medical bills.

Example of Discretionary spending

Funding for education and national defense.

Example of Pork barrel

A senator secures funding for a new airport in their home state.

Example of Logrolling

"I'll vote for your agriculture bill if you support my education bill."

Example of Gridlock

Congress fails to pass a budget, causing a government shutdown.

Example of Reapportionment

A state gains a House seat after population growth.

Example of Redistricting

A state redraws districts after gaining a House seat.

Example of Gerrymandering

A party redraws districts to favor their candidates.

Example of Politico representative

A legislator follows constituents on key issues but uses judgment on others

Example of Cabinet

The Secretary of State advises on foreign affairs.

Example of Pocket veto

A president refuses to sign a bill, and Congress adjourns, preventing it from becoming law

Example of Line item veto

A state governor vetoes certain budget items without rejecting the entire bill.

Example of Executive order

An executive order establishes stricter environmental regulations.

Example of State of the Union

The president outlines policy goals in a televised speech.

Example of Bully pulpit

The president gives a speech to rally support for healthcare reform.

Example of Agenda setting

The president pushes for climate change legislation in Congress.

Example of Judicial review

The Supreme Court strikes down a voter ID law.

Example of Stare decisis

A judge rules in favor of same-sex marriage based on prior Supreme Court decisions.

Example of Jurisdiction

 A federal court hears a case involving constitutional rights.

Example of Original jurisdiction

The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in disputes between states.

Example of Appellate jurisdiction

A federal appeals court reviews a district court ruling.

Example of Judicial activism

The Supreme Court legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide.

Example of Federal bureaucracy

The Food Drug Administration regulates food safety.

Example of Government corporation

The U.S. Postal Service delivers mail

Example of Issue network

Environmental activists, scientists, and lawmakers shape climate policy.

Example of Iron triangle

The Defense Department, Congress, and defense contractors shaping policy.

Example of Patronage

A president appoints a campaign supporter to an ambassadorship.

Example of Discretionary power

The Environmental Protection Agency sets specific pollution limits for industries.

Example of Power of the purse

Congress cuts funding for a military program.

Example of Compliance monitoring

The Environmental Protection Agency checks if companies follow pollution limits.