AP GOV Unit 2

Republicanism

democratic principle that the will of the people is reflected in government debates

Senate

• state representation

• more insulated from public opinion

• longer terms (6 years)

• more constitutional responsibilities

• 1/3 elected every 2 years, more continuous body

• looser debates

  • filibuster allowed but limited by cloture vote

House of Representative

• people representation

• smaller congressional districts

  • more intimate constituent representative relationship

• all members are elected every 2 years

• debate is more formal with 435 members

• limited debate time

Filibuster

block to nomination or to let the time run out on a deadline for voting on a bill (talking for a long time)

Enumerated powers of congress

• passing the federal budget

• raising revenue by laying and collecting taxes

• borrowing and coining money

• POWER OF THE PURSE

• declaring war

• fund military

• foreign endeavors and aid

• controls the draft

• ratifies treaties

Necessary and Proper Clause

allows congress to pass bills that they deem necessary and beneficial for the country beyond their congressional powers (expanded the size and role of the federal government)

McCulloch v. Maryland

establishment of a bank is implied and has given congress authority to pass legislation addressing issues that are economic, social, and environmental

Speaker of the House

elected by majority of members and presides over the legislative work. the only leadership position in mentioned in the consistution

Congressional oversight

check and balance on the agencies themselves and competes with the president for influence over them. House and Senate committees hold oversight hearings to address agency action, inaction and their relationship with the agency

House Rules Committee

established the rules for debate on a bill within the house. acts as a traffic cop to the house floor. nothing reaches the floor unless the allow it

Conference Committee

when a bill is passed in both houses, but is slightly different a temporary committee is formed to iron out the differences. the final bill must pass through both houses before going on to receive the president’s signature.

Majority/Minority Whips

below the floor leader is the deputy leaser whois in charge of party discipline. keeps a rough tally of votes among their party members, which aids in determining the outcome of the vote.

President of the Senate

The vice president is the non-voting president of the senate and is rarely president. used when their is a tie vote that needs to be split

Senate Majority Leader

has more power than the VP, chief legislator, the first person who is recognized in debate and the leader who sets the calendar and determines which bills make it to the floor

Cloture

a procedure for ending a debate and taking taking a vote after a filibuster

Gridlock

when they aren’t able to make a decision and are not coming to a compromise

Partisan Voting

voting based on political party affiliation

Polarization

movement toward extremes

Congressional Redistricting

the reshaping of congressional districts based on shifts in population, the majority party commonly determines the new congressional map

Gerrymandering

illogical districts lines drawn to benefit one party

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Baker argued the lines were old and caused an imbalance in urban areas where under represented.

Q: Did the supreme court have jurisdiction over questioned legislature appointment?

Complaint’s allegations of a denial of equal protection presented a justifiable constitutional cause of action upon which appellants are entitled to a trial and a decision.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

a redistricting plan was made to create a majority-minority district. Plaintiff argued it was racial gerrymandering.

Q: Is the claim racial gerrymandering valid under the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection clause?

Yes, the plan was bezzar enough to suggest that there was a deliberate seperation of voters.

Divided Government

when one party controls the presidency and the other controls the controls either/both chambers of congress

Presidential Initiatives

presidents can initiate a piece of legislation. partisanship can lead to congress voting against presidential initiatives

“Lame Duck” President

president who was no won reelection or is closing in on the end of their 2nd term. can appoint people by congress can deny them deny to their “lame duck” status

Trustee

will vote on issues based on their own knowledge and judgements (typically a member of the senate)

Delegate

an agent of those who elected them and will vote based on the interest of the constitutes (typically followed by members of the house)

Politico

uses a combination of delegate and trustee concepts and use a variety of factors especially if it is of public concern

Formal powers of the president

• veto/pocket vetos

• commander-in-chief/treaties

Informal powers of the president

• executive agreements

• bargaining and persuasion

• executive orders

• signing statements

Pocket Veto

when the president receives a bill in final 10 days of congressional secession and does nothing

Commander-in-chief/Treaties

formal power to influence relationship with foreign nations. presidents manages military, can make treaties w/ senate approval

Executive Agreements

resembles a treaty yet don’t need the Senates ²/₃ approval. Contract between two heads of state.

Bargaining and Persuasion

informal powers that enable the president to secure congressional action

Executive Orders

allow the president to manage the federal government and are implied by the president’s vested executive power or by power delegated by congress

Signing Statements

are informal powers that inform congress and the public of the president’s interpretation of laws passed by congress and signed by the president

Cabinet Members

when senate disagrees with a president’s choices. cabinet shaped national policy, senate use confirmation power to challenge agenda. can result in gridlock.

Ambassadors

state department is the president’s main diplomatic body. top diplomat appointed to represent the US

White House Staff

no senate approval needed, can be depended on more than cabinet or agency heads since they serve the president driectly

Federalist 70

argued a strong single executive was essential for protection against foreign attacks.

Bully Puplit

a prominent stage from where a president could pitch ideas to the American people and garner support

Executive Departments

president oversees executive branch though its departments

Executive Agencies

departments contain agencies that divide goals and workload, head is referred to as a director

Commmissions

board consists of 5-7 members, have staggered terms to ensure the president cannot replace all at once

Government Corporations

hybrid of government agencies and a private company, operates like a corporation but ran by government

• UPS

• Amtrack

Powers of the Bureaucracy

• Writing and Enforcing Regulation

  • Bureaucrats administer the law.

    • 1970 clean water act the EPA enforces

• Issuing fines

  • focus on the industries or companies, not individual citizens

• Testifying before Congress

  • cabinet secretaries and agency directors are typically experts in their field

• ‘Iron Triangle’

  • alliances of congressional committees, bureaucracies agencies and interest groups that are prominent in political areas

Discretionary Authority

power given to officials to make a decision within a framework of laws and regulation

Spoils System

will give government jobs to friends or supporters rather than based on how they can do the job

Merit System

hiring based on their ability and skills rather than political connections

Department of Homeland Security

allowing certain exemptions for immigrants

Department of Transportation

determining which highway projects get special grants

Department of Veterans Affairs

deciding how to administer a health program for veterans

Department of Eduction

canceling or lowering student debt

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

intervening in state environmental issues

Federal Elections Commission (FEC)

administering and enforcing federal campaign finance laws

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

determining if financial firms should be disqualified from raising money because of illegal conduct

Committee Hearing

an investigation of bureaucratic activity

Power of the Purse

congress can check the bureaucracy’s funds by approving or withdrawing funds

Mandatory Spending

government spending on programs required to exist by law

• social security

• medicare

Discretionary Spending

portion of budget that isn’t mandatory spending subject to annual congressional approval

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

examines and analyzes the budget proposal and serves as a check on president’s OMB

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

president’s budgeting arm, headed by presidents accountant

Article III of the Constitution

established the terms for judges, jurisdiction of SCOTUS, definition of treason, can serve for life → allows them to make unpopular , but necessary decisions

Federalist 78

affirmed an independent judicial branch that has the power of judicial review, believed they posed no threat

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

gave the power of judicial review, the ability for the judicial branch to check legislation for if it’s constitutional

Stare Decisis

legal doctrine which courts follow legal precedents when deciding, cases with similar facts, using a case as another example for similar cases

Judicial Activism

judicial review allows the court to overturn current constitutional and case precedents or invalidate legislature or executive acts (judges act in creating law)

Judicial Restraint

judicial review should only be used in decisions that adhere to current constitutional and case precedents (judges should only judge, leave law creation to legilature)