Unit 2 AP Gov

Commander in chief

President’s constitutional role as leader of the military

Chief Executive

President’s role in enforcing federal laws

Chief diplomat

President’s role in foreign affairs

Veto

President’s rejection of a bill

Executive order

Directive from the president to the executive branch

Executive agreement

International agreement made by the president w/o Senate treaty ratification

Pardon

Presidential forgiveness of a federal criminal offense

Impeachment

Formal accusation of a federal official by the House

Senate confirmation

Senate approval of certain presidential appointments

Primary

Election used to select party candidates/delegates

Caucus

a party-organized meeting where participants discuss and select candidates or delegates

Electoral College

Constitutional system for selecting the president

Winner-take-all

System in which the candidate receiving the most votes in a state generally receives all of that state’s electoral votes

Going public

President appealing directly to citizens to build political support

Checks and Balances

Congress & the courts can restrict presidential actions

Separation of Powers

The President and Congress have separate powers, creating opportunities for cooperation and conflict

Public Opinion

Presidents may use public support to pressure Congress

Presidential elections are shaped by:

• Primaries

• Caucuses

• Party conventions

• Campaigns

• Electoral College rules

What does Article II do?

establishes the executive branch

How does Congress check presidential power?

Through legislation, spending, oversight, appointments, treaties, impeachment, and veto overrides

How much votes are needed for an Electoral College majority?

270 electoral votes

Why can a candidate win the presidency w/o receiving the most votes nationwide?

b/c the election is decided by the Electoral College

Formal powers come from…

the Constitution or federal law

Informal powers…

developed through presidential practice and political circumstances

Federal courts can:

• Review executive actions

• Declare executive actions unconstitutional

• Interpret the Constitution and federal laws

Article III

establishes the federal judicial branch

What are the 3 main levels of the federal judiciary?

• U.S. District Courts

• U.S. Courts of Appeals

• U.S. Supreme Court

What does U.S. District Courts do?

• trial courts

• hear cases first

• determine facts and apply the law

• have original jurisdiction

What does U.S. Courts of Appeals do?

• review decisions from district courts

• usually do not conduct trials

• focus on whether the law was applied correctly

• have appellate jurisdiction

What does U.S. Supreme Court do?

• highest federal court

• Primarily hears appeals

• has limited original jurisdiction

• its decisions are binding on lower federal courts

Original jurisdiction

Courts hears the case first

Appellate jurisdiction

Court reviews a decision made by a lower court

How does the Supreme Court use its power to interpret the Constitution and federal law?

Judicial review—the power to examine laws, executive actions, and lower-court rulings to determine if they comply with the U.S. Constitution.

Judicial Review

the power of the courts to determine whether government actions are constiutional

What did the Marbury v. Madison (1803) establish?

Judicial Review

Writ of Certiorari

An order from the Supreme Court agreeing to review a lower-court decision

Majority opinion

Explains the reasoning behind the Court’s decision and represents the majority

Concurring opinion

A justice agrees with the outcome, but provides different reasoning

Dissenting opinion

A justice disagrees with the majority’s decision

Why does Court opinions matter?

• Explain constitutional reasoning

• Establish legal interpretations

• Create precedent

• Can influence future cases

Presidential Checks

• Nominates federal judges (they can’t appoint federal judges alone)

• Nominates Supreme Court justices

Congressional Checks

The Senate:

Confirms judicial nominees

Checks and Balances

Congress…

controls funding/structure

Checks and Balances

Courts…

interpret Constitution and laws