ap gov vocab unit II list B

Policy Agenda

a set of issues or subjects that gov’t officials/ policymakers prioritize for discussion & action.

Pocket veto

an indirect veto where the president takes no action/ doesn’t sign a bill within 10 days when Congress is adjourned (effectively, preventing it from becoming law).

Commander-in-Chief

the role of the president (as outlined in Constitution) as supreme commander of U.S. military forces & state National Guards.

Executive agreements

a formal intl. agreement made by the President w/ a foreign leader that doesn’t require ratification by Senate; less formal than a treaty.

Executive orders

a directive issued by the U.S. president to manage operations of the federal government. Allows pres. to enact policies or direct gov’t agencies w/o congressional approval.

Signing Statements

Written pronouncements issued by U.S. president at/ near the time of a bill being signed into a law.

Chief of Staff

the highest-ranking staff member w/in a gov’t office, who is responsible for acting as key advisor, managing daily operations, & coordinating staff activity.

Divided government

a situation in which one political party controls the executive branch, while another party controls one or both houses in the legislative branch.

Confirmation hearings

a procedure used by Senate to evaluate & approve pres. appointments to federal offices, serving as a check to federal judiciary.

22nd Amendment

ests. a two-term limit for the office of the pres.

Bully pulpit (State of Union/ social media)

the platform that the U.S. pres. has to advocate for their agenda & influence public opinion.

• State of Union - an annual speech delievered by pres. as part of Bully pulpit

Federalist No. 70

argues for a strong executive leader/ unitary executive, as provided for by the Constitution, as opposed to the weak one proposed in AofC.

Federalist No. 78

defines judiciary as least powerful branch of gov’t, w/ no control over military or financial resources.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

a landmark Supreme Ct. case that est. principle of “judicial review”.

Judicial Review

the power of the Supreme Ct. to overturn laws on the basis of their constitutionality.

Stare Decisis

the legal principle that courts should follow precedents set by earlier, similar cases, in order to maintain consistency & predictability in law.

Political ideology

a consistent set of beliefs & values about the roles of government

Judicial restraint

principle that judges should limit exercise of their own powers &

Judicial activism

a judicial philosophy that allows judges to consider broader societal implications when making decisions

Holding/ ruling

a procedural tactic used in the Senate where a senator can temporarily block consideration of a bill or nomination by privately notifying the party leadership of their objection

Bureaucracy

a system of organization that uses rules and procedures to maintain control and uniformity

Bureaucratic regulations/ rule-making authority

formal rules and procedures that are created and enforced by bureaucratic agencies to ensure that things run efficiently and by the book

Congressional oversight

includes the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation.

Power of the purse

the ability to control the actions of another group by withholding or limiting funding

compliance

the act of adhering to and following laws, regulations, and directives established by governing bodies

Iron triangles/ issue networks

comprises the policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups

partisanship

a strong allegiance to a political party, which can influence opinions, policies, and actions in government and politics

patronage

the system of government appointment where officials are given jobs based on whether or not they supported the victorious political party

Civil Service

body of government employees hired based on merit and qualifications, not political patronage, who carry out the day-to-day functions of the government