Unit 2 AP Gov AMSCO Terms

bicameral

A legislature with two houses, like the House and the Senate

House of Representatives

Lower house of the bicameral Congress, number of Representatives depends on population, 435 total members, initiates federal laws, handles revenue bills, and has sole power to impeach officials

Senate

Higher house of the bicameral Congress, 2 Senators per state, 100 total members, exclusive power to confirm presidential appointments, ratify treaties, and try impeachment cases acting like a jury

Seventeenth Amendment (1913)

The Senate is to be composed of 2 Senators from each state, elected by the people, 6 year term, and each Senator has 1 vote

advice and consent

The Senate’s power to approve presidential appointments and treaties

coalitions

Temporary alliance of distinct groups, individuals, or political parties that join together to achieve a common goal, such as winning elections, influencing policy, and forming a majority

power of the purse

Constitutional authority granted to Congress to raise revenue (tax) and authorize spending (appropriate funds)

caucuses

Local, open-meeting process where registered party members gather, discuss, and openly vote to select delegates for candidates, rather than a private ballot like a primary

enumerated powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution

implied powers

Powers not listed but suggested by the Constitution

necessary and proper/elastic clause

Allows Congress to expand its powers by making laws that are necessary and proper

War Powers Act (1973)

A law that limits the president’s ability to send troops into combat without Congress’s approval, requiring notification within 48 hours and approval within 60 days

cloture rule

A procedure used to end debate in the Senate with a 3/5 vote

filibuster

A tactic where senators delay or block a vote by continuing debate

germane

A discussion or amendment relevant or closely related to the topic being discussed in a bill

hold

An informal action by a senator to delay or block a bill from reaching the floor

logrolling

When lawmakers agree to support each other’s bills to get them passed

omnibus bill

A large bill that combines many different topics into one piece of legislation

pork-barrel spending

Government spending for projects that benefit a specific district or group

rider

An unrelated amendment added to a bill “riding” along, becoming part of the final law when the bill is enacted

sponsor

A member of Congress who introduces a bill

unanimous consent

An agreement in the Senate to speed up proceedings without a formal vote

Committee of the Whole

A committee of all House members used to debate and amend bills more efficiently

conference committee

A temporary committee that resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill

discharge petition

A petition that allows House members to force a bill out of committee for a floor vote

joint committees

Committees made up of members from both the House and Senate, usually for study or investigation

President of the Senate

The Vice President of the U.S. who presides over the Senate and can cast tie-breaking votes

president pro tempore

A senior senator who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President

Rules Committee

A House committee that sets the rules for debate and amendments on bills

select committee

A temporary committee created for a specific purpose or investigation

Ways and Means Committee

A House committee responsible for tax policy and revenue bills

Senate majority leader

The main leader of the majority party in the Senate who controls the legislative agenda

whip

A party leader who gathers votes and ensures party members support legislation

deficit

When the government spends more money than it collects in revenue in a given year

discretionary spending

Government spending that must be approved each year, like defense and education

mandatory spending

Government spending required by law, like Social Security and Medicare

Baker v. Carr (1962)

A case where the Court ruled that redistricting issues can be decided by federal courts under the Equal Protection Clause

delegate model

A model where representatives vote the way their constituents want

gerrymandering

Drawing district lines to benefit a particular political party or group

gridlock

A situation where the government cannot act because of division or conflict

“lame duck” president

A president who is near the end of their term and has less political power

“one person-one vote principle”

The idea that each person’s vote should carry equal weight

politico model

A model where representatives balance their own judgment with the views of their constituents, a mix of the delegate and trustee model

racial gerrymandering

Drawing district lines based on race, often to influence election outcomes

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

A case where the Court ruled that oddly shaped districts based mainly on race may violate the Equal Protection Clause

swing district

A district where either party has a good chance of winning

trustee model

A model where representatives use their own judgment to make decisions

bargaining and persuasion

The president’s ability to influence others to support policies through negotiation and compromise

Commander in Chief

The president’s role as the head of the military

formal powers

Powers given to the president by the Constitution, like vetoing laws or appointing officials

executive agreement

An agreement between the president and another country that does not require Senate approval

executive order

A directive from the president that has the force of law

executive privilege

The president’s ability to keep certain communications confidential

informal powers

Powers not written in the Constitution, like influencing public opinion or setting the agenda

line-item veto

The power to reject specific parts of a bill without vetoing the whole bill (not allowed at the federal level)

pocket veto

A veto that occurs when the president takes no action on a bill and Congress adjourns

policy agenda

The list of issues that government leaders are focusing on at a given time

signing statements

Written comments by the president when signing a bill that explain how the law will be interpreted or enforced

veto

The president’s power to reject a bill

ambassador

A diplomat who represents the United States in another country

Cabinet

A group of the president’s top advisors who lead executive departments

chief of staff

The president’s top aide who manages the White House staff and schedule

Joint Chiefs of Staff

A group of senior military leaders who advise the president on military matters

inherent powers

Powers the president claims as part of the office, even though they are not explicitly stated in the Constitution

Federalist No. 70

An essay by James Madison arguing that a large republic can control factions

imperial presidency

The idea that presidential power has grown too strong compared to the other branches

Jackson, Andrew

Expanded presidential power by using the veto more aggressively and acting as a direct representative of the people

Lincoln, Abraham

Expanded presidential power during the Civil War by suspending habeas corpus and taking strong executive actions

Roosevelt, Franklin D.

Greatly expanded federal and presidential power through New Deal programs and leadership during WWII

Roosevelt, Theodore

Used the presidency actively to shape policy and supported the idea that the president can act unless explicitly forbidden

stewardship theory

The idea that the president can take any action not specifically prohibited by the Constitution

Twenty-second Amendment (1951)

Limits the president to two terms in office

Washington, George

Founding Father and first U.S. President (1789-1797), he expanded executive power, established the Cabinet (advisory body to the President), presided over the 1787 Constitutional Convention

Wilson, Woodrow

A president who argued for a stronger, more active government and helped shape modern views of presidential leadership

bully pulpit

The president’s ability to use their position to influence public opinion and promote policies

State of the Union Address

An annual speech where the president outlines national conditions and policy goals to Congress

appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts

Attorney General

The head of the Department of Justice and the chief law enforcement officer of the United States

certiorari

An order by the Supreme Court to hear a case from a lower court

Federalist No. 78

An essay arguing that the judiciary should be independent and has the power of judicial review

judicial review

The power of courts to declare laws or actions unconstitutional

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

A case that established the principle of judicial review

original jurisdiction

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

U.S. District Courts

The lowest federal courts where trials are held and cases begin

U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals

Courts that review decisions from district courts

U.S. Supreme Court

The highest court in the United States that has final authority on constitutional issues

binding precedent

A prior court decision that must be followed by lower courts in similar cases.

persuasive precedent

A prior decision that a court may consider but is not required to follow.

stare decisis

The principle that courts should follow previous decisions when ruling on similar cases

precedent

A previous court decision that guides future cases

Roberts, John

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who leads the Court and influences its decisions and direction

concurring opinion

An opinion that agrees with the Court’s decision but gives different reasons

dissenting opinion

An opinion written by judges who disagree with the Court’s decision

liberal constructionist

A judge who interprets the Constitution broadly to fit modern conditions

majority opinion

The official decision of the Court agreed on by more than half the justices

petition for certiorari

A formal request asking the Supreme Court to hear a case

rule of four

A rule that at least four justices must agree to hear a case

strict constructionist

A judge who interprets the Constitution narrowly based on its original meaning

judicial activism

When judges interpret the Constitution broadly and are willing to overturn laws or precedents

judicial restraint

When judges limit their power and avoid overturning laws, leaving decisions to elected branches