AP Gov Unit 2

Expressed Powers

Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but assumed through the necessary and proper clause.

Bipartisan

A political situation in which two opposing parties find common ground through compromise.

Constituency

The residents in the area from which an official is elected.

Executive Order

A directive issued by the President that has the force of law without needing congressional approval.

Pocket Veto

A method by which the President can veto a bill by taking no action on it when Congress adjourns within ten days.

Lame Duck Period

The time between an election and the end of an official's term, often marked by reduced influence.

Motion for Cloture

A Senate procedure to end a filibuster, requiring a three-fifths majority.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging favors, such as votes, among legislators to achieve mutual benefits.

Filibuster

A tactic in the Senate to delay or block legislative action through prolonged debate.

Inherent Powers

Powers assumed to be held by the President, even though not explicitly stated in the Constitution.

White House Staff

Advisors and assistants to the President, selected for their loyalty and trustworthiness.

Amendments to the 1964 Voting Act

Changes made to strengthen voting rights protections for minorities.

Regulatory Review

The process by which federal agencies review and oversee regulations.

Earmark

Funds allocated by Congress for specific local projects within a legislator's district.

Gatekeeping Authority

The power of a committee to decide whether or not to consider a bill or policy change.

Staff Agencies

Agencies that provide support and expertise to Congress, aiding in legislative processes.

Majority Leader

The head of the majority party in a legislative body, responsible for managing the party's agenda.

Whip

A party leader responsible for ensuring party members’ attendance and voting in line with party positions.

Committee System

A structure in Congress for organizing and managing legislative responsibilities.

Reapportionment

The redistribution of representation in Congress based on population changes in the census.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party or class.

Incumbency

Holding a political office for which one is seeking re-election, often an advantage in campaigns.

Agency Representation

A form of representation in which legislators act in the best interest of their constituents.

Delegate

A representative who votes in line with the preferences of their constituents.

Trustee

A representative who votes based on their own judgment of what is best for their constituents.

Standing Committee

A permanent legislative committee that handles specific areas of policy.

Joint Committee

A committee with members from both the House and Senate.

Conference Committee

A temporary committee to resolve differences in House and Senate versions of a bill.

Select Committee

A committee created for a specific purpose, often investigative.

Bill

A proposed law presented to Congress for enactment.

Closed Rule

A procedural rule in the House that prohibits amendments to a bill during debate.

Open Rule

A procedural rule in the House that allows amendments to be added during debate.

Caucus

A group of legislators with shared interests or goals, often pushing specific agendas.

Commander-in-Chief

The role of the President as the leader of the military forces.

Veto

The President’s constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Line-Item Veto

The ability to veto specific parts of a bill without rejecting the entire bill (unconstitutional for Presidents).

Executive Privilege

The right of the President to withhold information from Congress or the courts.

Reprieve

A delay in carrying out a sentence, granted by the President.

Pardon

Full forgiveness of a crime, removing any penalties, granted by the President.

Incremental Budgeting

A budgeting method where agencies expect slight annual increases and assume they will receive at least the previous year's allocation without proving merit each year.

Government Budget

A policy document that allocates financial resources by attaching price tags to policy goals, balancing public benefits and burdens.

Budget Resolution

A legislative measure by Congress setting a target expenditure level as a ceiling for federal spending across programs.

SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission)

A federal agency that regulates and oversees financial markets to ensure stability and protect investors.

Progressive Tax

A tax structure where higher-income earners pay a larger percentage of their income than lower-income earners.

Proportional Tax

A tax system where all income levels pay the same percentage of their income, maintaining a uniform rate across earners.

Regressive Tax

A tax that imposes a higher percentage on low-income earners compared to high-income earners.

Entitlement Programs

Government programs that provide benefits to individuals based on eligibility criteria, such as Social Security.

Social Security

A federal program providing financial assistance to retirees and the disabled, funded through payroll taxes.

Negative Externalities

Unintended harmful effects on third parties due to an economic activity, such as air pollution from factories.

Federal Reserve System

The central banking system of the U.S. that manages monetary policy to control inflation and stabilize the economy.

Interstate Commerce Commission Act of 1887

Legislation that established the first federal regulatory agency to oversee fair practices in interstate commerce.

Debt Ceiling

The maximum borrowing limit set by Congress for federal debt, above which government cannot borrow more funds.

Deregulation

The removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain economic activity.

Subsidies

Financial assistance provided by the government to support or promote certain economic activities, such as agriculture.

Stagflation

An economic condition marked by stagnant growth, high inflation, and high unemployment.

Fiscal Policy

Government policy on taxation and spending to influence the economy, typically managed by Congress.

Monetary Policy

Central bank actions, like interest rate adjustments, aimed at influencing economic growth and inflation.

Mandatory Spending

Federal spending required by law for programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Bureaucracy

A structured organization within the executive branch, composed of agencies and departments, executing public policies.

Independent Executive Agencies

Federal agencies with independent missions similar to Cabinet departments but without Cabinet status (e.g., NASA, SBA).

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Agencies established by Congress to regulate specific economic sectors, operating autonomously from presidential control (e.g., FCC, SEC).

Government Corporations

Federal agencies that operate like businesses, delivering public services with some financial independence (e.g., Postal Service).

Regulatory Agencies

Independent agencies that set rules in specific economic areas to protect public interests (e.g., EPA, SEC).

Maintenance of the Union

Agencies that ensure the government’s core functions and national security, such as the IRS and DOD.

Administrative Adjudication

A process where agencies settle disputes by applying rules and precedents.

Rulemaking

The quasi-legislative function of agencies to create regulations that have the force of law.

Implementation

The process through which government agencies execute and enforce laws through specific procedures.

Privatization

Transferring a government function to the private sector to potentially increase efficiency and reduce public expenses.

Judicial Review

The Supreme Court’s power to determine the constitutionality of laws and government actions.

Marbury v. Madison

The landmark case that established judicial review, empowering the Court to nullify unconstitutional laws.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, determining facts and issuing judgments.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review the decision of a lower court, focusing on legal errors.

Common Law

A legal system based on judicial precedents rather than written statutes.

Stare Decisis

The doctrine of following legal precedents to ensure consistency and predictability in judicial decisions.

Amicus Curiae

"Friend of the court" briefs filed by non-parties offering additional perspectives to influence appellate decisions.

Federalist No. 78

An essay advocating judicial independence, arguing that the judiciary is the least dangerous branch of government.

Judicial Independence

The concept that the judiciary should be impartial and free from political influence to ensure fair rulings.

Bureaucratic Drift

The tendency for agencies to execute laws in ways that align with their preferences rather than congressional intent.

Coalitional Drift

When shifts in political coalitions cause changes in the enforcement or focus of previously enacted policies.

Devolution

The transfer of responsibilities from federal to state or local governments, often for greater administrative efficiency.

Judicial Branch’s Article III

The constitutional article establishing the Supreme Court and delineating its powers and jurisdiction.

Writ

A formal court order requiring an action, such as a subpoena or warrant.

Clientele Agencies

Government departments serving specific groups’ interests, like the Department of Agriculture or Labor.

Redistributive Agencies

Agencies focused on wealth redistribution through fiscal and welfare policies, e.g., the Department of Treasury.

Principal-Agent Problem

The issue where bureaucrats, as agents of elected officials, may act contrary to officials' policy goals.

Termination

The cessation of government programs, often challenging due to program entrenchment.

Administrative Discretion

The authority granted to agencies by Congress to interpret and implement laws with reasonable judgment.

Federalist Papers

A series of essays advocating for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, addressing the judiciary and other branches.

Quasi-Judicial Power

Authority allowing regulatory agencies to resolve disputes within their scope, like the FCC or SEC.

Redistributive Fiscal Policy

Policies aimed at wealth redistribution through taxation and spending, often guided by social equity goals.

Redistributive Monetary Policy

Central bank actions influencing economic stability by controlling money supply and interest rates.

Efficiency in Bureaucracy

Bureaucracies aim to deliver services equitably and expediently despite the stereotype of being slow or ineffective.

Amtrak

A government corporation operating like a business to provide national rail services across the United States.

Treason

The only crime defined in the Constitution, involving acts against one’s country, with specific legal standards for conviction.