AP Gov Unit 2 Vocabulary

Congress

the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States consisting of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives

House of Representatives

the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population

Senate

the upper house of Congress, with equal representation of each state, 100 members total

census

population count

congressional districts

The area that a member of the House represents

redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

apportionment

Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state

House Ways and Means Committee

The House of Representatives committee that, along with the Senate Finance Committee, writes the tax codes, subject to the approval of Congress as a whole.

bill of attainder

a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court

ex post facto laws

A law that punishes people for a crime that was not a crime when it was committed. Congress cannot pass these laws.

congressional oversight

The United States Congress has the authority to conduct hearings, investigations, and budget reviews of the actions by the executive branch.

House Rules Committee

the committee that determines how and when debate on a bill will take place in the House

closed rule

An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor

open rule

an order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor

amendment proposal

2/3 vote by each house of Congress or 2/3 of the state legislatures at a national convention.

amendment ratification

¾ state legislatures or ¾ state conventions

filibuster

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

cloture

A procedure used in the Senate to limit debate on a bill

pork barrel

Federal projects, grants, and contracts available to state and local governments, businesses, colleges, and other institutions in a congressional district.

earmarks

Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.

conference committee

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

standing committee

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

joint committee

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

select committee

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

pocket veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

line item veto

Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

subcommittee

A group within a standing committee that specializes in a subcategory of its standing committee's responsibility

pigeonhole

to set a congressional bill aside in committee without considering it

discharge petition

a motion to force a bill to the House floor that has been bottled up in committee

Speaker of the House

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

majority leader

the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate

minority leader

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

whips

an assistant to the party floor leader in the legislature

President of the Senate

Constitutional leader of the Senate, Vice President

President Pro Tempore

The official chair of the Senate; usually the most senior member of the majority party.

Freedom of Information Act

Gives all citizens the right to inspect all records of federal agencies except those containing military, intelligence, or trade secrets; increases accountability of bureaucracy

War Powers Act

a president must inform Congress within 48 hours of sending forces into a hostile area without a declaration of war and has 60 days until Congress can require the troops to return

commander in chief

The role of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service

chief of Staff

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

National Security Council

An agency in the Executive Office of the President that advises the president on national security

Office of Management and Budget

An office that prepares the president's budget and also advises presidents on proposals from departments and agencies and helps review their proposed regulations.

cabinet

Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.

Department Secretaries

a government official in charge of a department and a member of the Presidential cabinet

impeachment

Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives

removal

following impeachment, the conviction and removal from office by the Senate

Watergate

a political scandal involving abuse of power and bribery and obstruction of justice

Supreme Court

Consists of nine justices, each appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress. Appointment is for life. Supreme Court exercises the power to determine constitutionality of statutes

due process

following established legal procedures

Civil Law

A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.

criminal law

a system of law concerned with the punishment of those who commit crimes.

grand jury

A group of citizens that decides whether there is sufficient evidence to accuse someone of a crime.

original jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case first, usually in a trial. These are the courts that determine the facts about a case.

appellate jurisdiction

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

Federal District Court

a general trial court of the federal system

Court of Appeals

a court that hears appeals of trial court decisions

senatorial courtesy

Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.

judicial activism

A judicial philosophy in which judges make bold policy decisions, even charting new constitutional ground. Advocates of this approach emphasize that the courts can correct pressing needs, especially those unmet by the majoritarian political process.

judicial restraint

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

writ of certiorari

A formal writ used to bring a case before the Supreme Court.

standing

legitimate justification for bringing a civil case to court

stare decisis

Let the decision stand; decisions are based on precedents from previous cases

amicus briefs

Legal briefs submitted by a "friend of the court" for the purpose of raising additional points of view and presenting information not contained in the briefs of the formal parties. These briefs attempt to influence a court's decision.

majority opinion

a statement that presents the views of the majority of supreme court justices regarding a case

dissenting opinion

A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his or her opinion

concurring opinion

An opinion that agrees with the majority in a Supreme Court ruling but differs on the reasoning.

bureaucracy

A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials that assist with carrying out the laws of the country

regulatory agencies

Administrative units, such as the Federal Communications Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, that have responsibility for the monitoring and regulation of ongoing economic activities.

iron Triangle

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

government corporations

A government agency that operates like a business corporation, created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.

civil service exam

a test given to qualify candidates for positions in the government

Pendleton Act

A law enacted in 1883 that established a bipartisan civil service commission to make appointments to government jobs by means of the merit system.

spoils system

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

agenda setting

Determining which public-policy questions will be debated or considered.

gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills

seniority system

a system that gives the member of the majority party with the longest uninterrupted service on a particular committee the leadership of that committee

trustee model of representation

a model of representation in which representatives feel at liberty to act in the way they believe is best for their constituents

politico model

Members of Congress act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue

delegate model

The view that an elected represent should represent the opinions of his or her constituents.

presidential approval ratings

A measure of the degree to which the public approves or disapproves of the president's performance in office.

divided government

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

united government

the same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress

emergency powers

broad powers exercised by the president during times of national crisis

Executive Office of the President

Agencies that perform staff services for the president but are not part of the White House

executive order

a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.

executive agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

enumerated powers

Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution; including the power to collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war.

formal powers

specific grants of authority defined in the Constitution or in law

informal powers

Powers not directly granted by the Constitution or law

formal qualifications

these are the qualification for holding public office that are specified by the constitution

informal qualifications

expectations for office such asL gender, ethnicity, political experience, name recognition, and party affiliation.

honeymoon period

a time early in a new president's administration characterized by optimistic approval by the public

signing statement

an announcement made by the president when a bill is signed into law

White House Office (WHO)

the office that develops policies and protects the president's legal and political interests

appropriations

funding that must be authorized by Congress for any federal spending

authorization bill

An act of Congress that establishes, continues, or changes a discretionary government program or an entitlement. It specifies program goals and maximum expenditures for discretionary programs.

civil servants

employees of bureaucratic agencies within the government

independent agencies

additional agencies created by Congress located outside the Cabinet departments

inspectors general

political appointees who work within a government agency to ensure the integrity of public service by investigating allegations of misconduct by bureaucrats

patronage system

AKA Spoils System. Filling government bureaucracy based on connections & political favors not merit; ended by Pendleton Act (1883)