AP Gov Unit 2

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

Constituency

the residents in the area from which an official is elected

coalition building

a means of expanding an interest group's influence that involves working with other groups

Congressional committee

committee deals w/ specific topic, work of congress goes through committees

Standing committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

Select committee

Groups of appointed for a limited purpose and limited duration

Conference committee

Special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

Joint committee

Committee made up of members of both house of Congress-housekeeping issues decided

Speaker of the house

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives

President of the Senate

Vice President; casts tie breaking vote

President pro tempore

Serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the VP; chosen by the majority party

Majority leader

The elected leader of the party with the most seat in the House of Representatives/Senate

Minority leader

the legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.

Majority whip

the majority leader's assistant

Minority whip

the minority leader's assistant

Filibuster

A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate

Cloture

A Senate procedure through which a supermajority of 60 senators can vote to limit the amount of time spent debating a bill and cut off a filibuster.

Hold

a political tactic meant to slow down the legislative process in the Senate. Senator can delay bill before it gets to the floor; also used as a threat of a filibuster

Rules committee

Responsible for scheduling and managing the flow of legislation on the floor to make the process more efficient and manageable. It can also make it easier or more difficult for a bill to pass depending on the rules they create.

Committee of the Whole

A committee of the House on which all representatives serve in order to consider the details of a proposal.

Discharge petition

A petition signed by members of the House of Representatives to bring a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote.

Treaty ratification

The presidential has the power, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties provided 2/3 of the senators present, concur

Discretionary spending

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

mandatory spending

Federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress.

Entitlements

Entitlement programs are government-sponsored programs providing required benefits to those meeting eligibility requirements.

Social Security

any government system that provides monetary assistance to people with an inadequate or no income.

Medicare

A federal program of health insurance for persons 65 years of age and older

Medicaid

A health care payment program sponsored by federal & state governments. Health insurance to those close to poverty.

Budget deficit

a financial situation that occurs when a government spends more than it takes in.

Pork barrel legislation

The use of federal funding to finance localized projects, typically bringing money into a representative's district in order to please constituents and boost the representative's chances of winning reelection.

Earmarks

Federal funds appropriated by Congress for use on local projects

Riders

And additional provision added to a bill or other measure under the consideration by the legislature, having little connectivity with the subject of the matter of the bill.

Omnibus bill

One very large bill that encompasses many separate bills.

Logrolling

An arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to support each other's bills

Franking privilege

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

Partisanship

Strong allegiance to one's own political party often leading to unwillingness to compromise with members of the opposing party

White House Staff

The analysts and advisers to the president, often given the title "special assistant"

divided government

When one party controls one or more houses in the legislative branch while the other party controls the executive branch.

Gridlock

When the government is unable to reach compromises or make policy decisions.

Gerrymandering

The act of changing the boundaries of an electoral district to favor one party over another.

Packing

drawing the lines so they include as many of the opposing party's voters as possible

Cracking

spreading voters of one type over many districts where they will comprise minorities that are unable to influence elections

Reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

Census

A periodic and official count of a country's population.

Redistricting

The process of adjusting electoral districts in the United States.

safe seat

an office that is extremely likely to be won by a particular candidate or political party

marginal seat

a Congressional seat held by a very small majority of votes

one person, one vote

a concept holding that each person's vote should be counted equally; Applied to state legislative districts in Baker v. Carr

racial gerrymandering

drawing of legislative boundaries to give electoral advantages to a particular racial group; Ruled unconstitutional in Shaw v. Reno

Lame Duck

An elected official who continues to hold political office during the period between the election and the inauguration of their successor.

Trustee Role

A member of Congress who takes into account the views of their constituents and use their own judgment to decide how to vote.

Delegate Role

A member of Congress who always follows their constituents' voting preferences.

Politico Role

A member of Congress who acts as a delegate on issues that their constituents care about, and as a trustee on issues that their constituents don't care about.

Policy agenda

The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time.

Formal presidential powers

Commander-in-chief of armed forces; pardon power (except for impeachment); treaty power; appointment power; veto power

Informal Presidential Powers

The power to go public, power of persuasion, make executive agreements, issue executive orders, issue signing statements, create & use bureaucracy, personality and leadership, and make legislative proposals.

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Pocket veto

president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days

Congressional Override

The power of Congress to pass legislation over a president's veto

Commander in Chief

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

executive agreement

an agreement between the president and the leader of another country

executive order

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

executive privilege

the power that allows a president to refuse to release information to Congress or a court

signing statements

A released letter explaining how the president's administration plans to interpret the law

The Cabinet

the leaders of the executive departments, who also act as advisers to the president

Ambassadors

Highest-ranking officials representing a government in a foreign country.

Chief of staff

the person who oversees the operations of all White House staff and controls access to the president

press secretary

one of the president's top assistants who is in charge of media relations

advice and consent power

The power of the Senate to consult and approve the presidents treaties and appointments.

Lame duck period

A period of time between the election and the oath of office

State of the Union Address

The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation. Ex of bully pulpit intended to exert pressure on Congress & the American public

honeymoon period

The first 100 days of a President's first term when his/her popularity is at its highest point.

Bully Pulpit

a platform used to publicize and seek support for important issues

federal bureaucracy

the collective agencies and employees of the executive branch

Executive Departments

often called the cabinet departments, they are the traditional units of federal administration

Department of State

Cabinet-level agency in charge of foreign policy & international affairs.

Department of treasury

collects federal taxes through IRS, prints money and stamps, makes coins, deals w/nation's finances

Department of Defense

Manages the armed forces

Department of Justice

responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice,

Department of Homeland Security

Cabinet department created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to coordinate domestic security efforts

Department of Transportation

Manages the nations highways, railroads, airlines, and sea traffic

Department of Veterans Affairs

Directs services for veterans

Department of Education

Provides advice and funding for schools

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Created after the Russian Revolution to prevent radicals from taking over. Headed by J Edgar Hoover.

Environmental Protection Agency

An agency created in 1970 to administer all environmental legislation.

Regulatory Commissions

agencies responsible for some sector of the economy, making/enforcing rules to protect the public interest.

Federal Election Commission

a six-member bipartisan agency that enforces and administers campaign finance laws

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

monitors the stock market and enforces laws regulating the sale of stocks and bonds

government corporation

a business owned and operated by the federal government

AMTRAK

Government Corporation
Federally owned passenger rail service. National Railroad.

U.S postal service

an independent federal agency that provides mail processing and delivery service for individuals and businesses in the United States (second for the most federal employees)

regulations

The formal instructions that government issues for implementing laws.

Iron Triangles

Congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that form mutually-beneficial relationships are known as iron triangles.

Issue networks

A loose grouping of people and organizations who seek to influence policy formation.

Patronage

the power to control appointments to office or the right to privileges.

Spoils System

A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends.

civil service system

practice of government employment based on competitive examinations and merit

merit system

a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty

discretionary authority

The ability of executive agencies to make decisions about how to enforce laws and implement policy

rule making

the administrative process that results in the issuance of regulations by government agencies