AP US Government and Politics - Unit 2 Vocabulary Review

Fill-in-the-blank flashcards for vocabulary from the AP US Government and Politics Unit 2, covering Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches, plus foundational documents and Supreme Court cases.

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution are known as __.

enumerated powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but inferred as necessary to carry out the enumerated powers, often derived from the __ clause.

Implied powers/necessary and proper

Activities conducted by members of Congress and their staff to help constituents with individual problems are called __.

casework

The appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative's district is known as __.

pork barrel spending

The practice of legislators trading votes for one another's proposed legislation is called __.

logrolling

Congressional review of the activities of an executive agency or program is known as __.

oversight

A body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body is called a __.

constituency

The process of allocating congressional seats among the states based on population changes is called __.

apportionment

The process of drawing electoral district boundaries is known as __.

redistricting

The manipulation of legislative district boundaries to benefit a particular incumbent or political party is called __.

gerrymandering

The unequal distribution of representatives among a state's population in legislative districts is known as __.

malapportionment

The holding of an office or the period during which one is held is called __.

incumbency

The presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives is the __.

Speaker of the House

The head of the majority party in a legislative body is known as the __.

majority leader - House/Senate

An official in a political party whose primary task is to ensure party discipline is known as the __.

whip - House/Senate

The head of the minority party in a legislative body is known as the __.

Minority leader - House/Senate

The President of the Senate, who can cast a tie-breaking vote, is the __.

Vice President - Senate

The high-ranking senator of the majority party who presides over the US Senate in the absence of the Vice President is the __.

President pro tempore

The leaders of congressional committees who have significant influence over the legislative process are known as __.

committee chairs

A permanent committee in Congress that meets regularly to consider legislation in a specific subject area is a __.

standing committee

A committee made up of members of both chambers of a bicameral legislature is a __.

joint committee

A temporary joint committee appointed to reconcile differences in legislation passed by both the House and Senate is a __.

conference committee

A small legislative committee appointed for a special purpose, often temporary, is a __.

select committee

A proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration is called a __.

bill

When a committee ignores a bill and does not report it out is known as __.

pigeonhole

A means of bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee is a __.

discharge petition

The committee in the House of Representatives that reviews most bills coming from a House committee before they go to the full House is the __.

House Rules Committee

A parliamentary device used by the House of Representatives to facilitate consideration of a bill is the __.

Committee of the Whole

A tactic used in the Senate to prevent a measure from being brought to a vote by using prolonged speech is called a __.

filibuster

A procedure for ending a debate, especially a filibuster, and taking a vote is called __.

cloture

Government programs that provide benefits to qualified individuals regardless of need are known as __.

entitlement programs

Federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress is known as __.

mandatory spending

Federal spending that can be adjusted each year by Congress through appropriations bills is known as __.

discretionary spending

A situation in which government revenue exceeds government expenditures during a fiscal year is a __.

budget surplus

A situation in which government expenditures exceed government revenue during a fiscal year is a __.

budget deficit

A legislator's function to vote the way their constituents would want them to, regardless of their own opinions, is known as the __.

delegate role

A legislator's function to vote based on their own judgment and conscience, assuming they have been "entrusted" to make good decisions, is known as the __.

trustee role

A legislator's function that combines both delegate and trustee approaches, acting as delegates on issues important to their constituents and as trustees on more complex issues, is known as the __.

politico role

A political situation in which opposing political parties find common ground and work together is called __.

bipartisanship

Strong allegiance to one's own political party, often leading to unwillingness to compromise with other parties, is called __.

partisanship

A situation in which one party controls the presidency and another party controls one or both houses of Congress is called __.

divided government

A situation in which government is incapable of acting on important issues due to rival parties controlling different parts of the government is called __.

gridlock

The time between an election and when the newly elected officials take office, during which the outgoing officials still hold power, is known as the __.

lame duck period

The amendment that sets term limits for the President of the United States is the __.

Twenty-Second Amendment

Powers explicitly granted to the President by the Constitution are known as __ powers.

formal (enumerated)

Powers of the President not explicitly written in the Constitution but generally accepted as legitimate are known as __ powers.

informal powers

A formally concluded and ratified agreement between countries is called a __.

treaty

An annual address presented by the President of the United States to a joint session of Congress is the __.

State of the Union

The constitutional right of the President to reject a bill passed by a legislative body is a __.

veto

A legislative maneuver that allows a president or other official with veto power to exercise that power over a bill by taking no action is called a __.

pocket veto

The action of forgiving or being forgiven for an error or offense, especially a criminal offense, is a __.

pardon

The cancellation or postponement of a punishment is a __.

reprieve

The right of the President to withhold information or their counsel's advice from Congress or the courts is called __.

executive privilege

An international agreement entered into by the President without the need for Senate ratification, often used to bypass traditional treaty requirements, is an __.

executive agreement

A written declaration that a president may make when signing a bill into law, often to influence its interpretation is a __.

signing statement

A rule or order issued by the President to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law is an __.

executive order

A federal law intended to check the President's power to commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of Congress is the __.

War Powers Resolution

The process by which a legislative body initiates charges against a public official, leading to possible removal from office, is called __.

impeachment

The amendment that deals with presidential disability and succession is the __.

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities is the __.

Executive Office of the President

The various hats the President wears, such as chief executive, commander-in-chief, and chief diplomat, refer to the __.

roles of the President

The amendment that provides for the election of the president and vice president by the electoral college is the __.

Twelfth Amendment

The so-called "Lame Duck Amendment" moving inaugurations from March to January is the __.

Twentieth Amendment

The amendment that grants Washington D.C. electors in the Electoral College is the __.

Twenty-Third Amendment

The President's ability to negotiate and convince members of Congress and the public to support their policies is known as __.

bargaining and persuasion

A public office or position of authority that provides an occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out and be listened to, used by the President to sway public opinion, is known as the __.

bully pulpit

A large, complex administrative structure that handles the everyday business of an organization is called a __.

bureaucracy

The system of appointing individuals to government jobs based on their political loyalty and support, rather than merit, is called __.

political patronage

The federal law enacted in 1883 that established the principle of federal employment based on merit and created the Civil Service Commission is the __.

Pendleton Act

The system by which most executive branch employees are hired and promoted based on merit and professionalism is known as the __.

federal civil service

The process of promoting and hiring government employees based on their ability to perform a job, rather than on their political affiliation, is called the __.

merit system

A group of trusted advisors to the President, typically the heads of the executive departments, is called the __.

Cabinet

A long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationship between an interest group, a congressional committee, and a bureaucratic agency is known as an __.

iron triangle

A loose, informal, and generally open alliance of all people and organizations who are interested in or affected by a particular policy or decision is known as an __.

issue network

The ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement congressional or presidential intentions is called __.

bureaucratic discretion

A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority is called a __.

regulation

The process by which the bureaucracy acts as a court system to resolve disputes over the implementation of laws and regulations is called __.

bureaucratic adjudication

The authority of a court to hear a case first, before any other court, is called __.

original jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts is called __.

appellate jurisdiction

The power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and the Executive are in accord with the U.S. Constitution is called __.

judicial review

The branch of law dealing with crime and punishment is called __.

criminal law

The branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals or organizations, rather than criminal matters, is called __.

civil law

The trial courts of the federal court system where most federal cases begin are the __.

federal district courts

Courts that hear appeals from district courts and review decisions of independent regulatory agencies are the __.

federal courts of appeals

The highest judicial court in a country or state is the __.

Supreme Court

A legal principle or rule established in previous court cases that is to be followed in similar cases is called __.

precedent

The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent, meaning "let the decision stand," is known as __.

stare decisis

The judicial opinion agreed upon by more than half of the members of a court is the __.

majority opinion

A judicial opinion that agrees with the majority decision but for different reasons, or to add further legal reasoning, is a __.

concurring opinion

An opinion in a legal case written by one or more judges that expresses disagreement with the majority opinion of the court is a __.

dissenting opinion

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

judicial restraint

A judicial philosophy in which judges make bold policy decisions, even charting new constitutional ground, is called __.

judicial activism

The supreme law of the United States, which establishes the framework for the federal government and guarantees citizens' rights, is the __.

US Constitution

This Federalist Paper argues for a strong, energetic executive leader to ensure effective governance and protection against foreign attacks and domestic factions: __.

Federalist No. 70

This Federalist Paper discusses the importance of an independent judiciary and the power of judicial review: __.

Federalist No. 78

The Supreme Court case that ruled that federal courts have jurisdiction to hear redistricting cases, establishing "one person, one vote" principle for legislative districts: __.

Baker v. Carr

The Supreme Court case that ruled congressional redistricting based on race must be held to a strict scrutiny standard, prohibiting bizarrely shaped majority-minority districts: __.

Shaw v. Reno

The landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review: __.

Marbury v. Madison