AP Government and Politics - Unit 2 Vocab

Apportionment

Process of dividing the 435 memberships (seats) in the House of Representatives among the 50 states; Congressional seats to each state following the census according to the proportion of population.

Bipartisanship

The involvement of the agreement and cooperation of two opposing parties on public policy through legislation on the public agenda.

Cloture

A procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.

Committee Chairs

Members of Congress responsible for running a committee.

Committee of the Whole

Procedural device in the US House of Representatives where all members act as one large committee to expedite legislation.

Constituency

Body of citizens eligible to vote for a particular representative.

Delegate Role

Job of elected representatives who vote the way their constituents would desire them to, regardless of personal opinion.

Discharge Petition

Procedure allowing the majority to force a bill out of a committee and onto the floor for a vote, bypassing leadership and committee chairs.

Discretionary Spending

Areas of the budget that Congress can change year to year and includes most of the appropriation bills that fund various agencies of the federal government.

Divided Government

President and Congress are controlled by two different political parties.

Entitlement Programs

Government initiatives providing benefits to eligible citizens (Social Security, Medicare) often due to age or income.

Filibuster

Tactic in the Senate to delay or block legislation by lengthy speeches, requiring a 60 vote majority to end.

Gerrymandering

Process of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor one political party over another.

House Majority Leader

Second-ranking official in the House of Representatives elected by the majority party to act as commander for managing operations, scheduling legislation, and promoting the party’s legislative agenda.

House Rules Committee

Sets rules for House debate, affecting how bills are considered and amendments allowed both in committee and on the house floor.

Incumbency

Currently holding an elected office, often granting advantages in re-election.

Lame Duck Period

Time between an election and the inauguration of a new government where the outgoing officials have limited power or influence.

Majority-minority Districts

Electoral districts designed to ensure minority representation, typically with a district with a majority of minority voters.

Malapportionment

Unequal representation of populations in legislative districts where the distribution of voters across districts is uneven.

Mandatory Spending

Government expenditures that law requires, such as entitlements and interest on national debt.

Minority Leader

The leader of the minority party in Congress, which serves to counterbalance the majority.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Business division of the Executive Office of the President of US that administers the federal budget. 

Oversight

Process by Congress in which they monitor and supervise government agencies and activities to ensure accountability.

Partisan Gerrymandering

Practice of drawing electoral district boundaries in a way that gives one political party an advantage over others.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Organizations that raise and spend money to support or oppose political causes.

Politico Role

Role of members of Congress to balance constituent interest with party and constituent beliefs when decisions are made.

Pork Barrel Spending

Allocation of federal funds for projects in lawmakers’ districts to gain political support from their constituents.

Redistricting

Process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts to reflect changes in population and ensure fair representation. 

Speaker of the House

Leader of the House of Representatives who presides over sessions and sets the agenda.

Trustee Role

Representative who uses their own independent judgement and not with their constituents.

Unanimous Consent Agreement

Agreement on the rules of debate for proposed legislation in the Senate that is approved by ALL members.

Whip

Party official in Congress whose primary role is to ensure party discipline, manage party strategy, and communicate party positions to members.

Bully Pupit

Public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an opportunity to speak out on any issue.

Executive Agreement

International agreements made by the US president without the need for Senate approval, allowing for quick and flexible diplomatic actions.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Made up of offices that support the President. Each office has a different function. Some offices oversee and coordinate the work of others, while some deal with domestic or foreign policy.

Executive Order

Directive issued by the US President to manage the operations of the federal government.

Executive privilege

Privilege claimed by the president of the executive branch of withholding information in the public interest.

Formal or enumerated powers

(Article I, Section 8) powers of the federal government that are granted by the Constitution.

Going Public

Where the President appeals directly to the public to gain favor for policies.

Impeachment

Process by which a legislative body, such as Congress, brings charges against a public official, including the President, for misconduct while in office.

Informal powers of the President

Implied authorities not explicitly listed in the Constitution but essential for governing.

Pocket veto

Veto exercised by the President after Congress has adjourned, occurring when the President takes no action on a bill for ten days.

Presidential Pardon

Power granted to the President of the US that allows them to forgive or lessen the penalties for federal offenses.

Signing Statement

Written pronouncements issued by the President of the US at the time of signing a bill into law. 

State of the Union Address

Annual speech delivered by the US President to a joint session of Congress, outlining the administration’s goals, legislative agenda, and national priorities.

Fed 70

Refutes argument of a strong executive leader in the US government. 

War Powers Resolution

Federal law intended to check the US president’s power to commit the US to an armed conflict without consent of the US Congress.

Appellate Jurisdiction

Authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.

Civil Law

Law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.

Concurring Opinion

Opinion that agrees with the majority opinion but does not agree with the rationale behind it.

Dissenting Opinion

Statement written by one or more judges expressing disagreement with the majority opinion of the court.

Federalist No. 78

Defined the judiciary as the least powerful branch of government, with no control over military or financial resources; ensure they align with constitutional principles.

Judicial Activism

practice where judges take an active role in interpreting the law and making decisions that create new legal precedents or change existing ones.

Judicial Restraint

Judges are encouraged to limit the exercise of their own power, deferring to the decisions of the legislative and executive branches except when a law is clearly unconstitutional.

The Living Constitution

idea that the US Constitution can adapt to changing societal values and norms without formal amendments.

Majority Opinion

appellate opinion supporting the court’s judgment which receives a majority vote of the justices or judges hearing the case. 

Original Jurisdiction

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

Originalism

interpretation of the constitution based on its original intent.

Precedent

legal principle or rule established in a previous court case that is binding or persuasive in future cases with similar circumstances.

State Decisis

“to stand by things decided;” doctrine that courts will adhere to precedent in making their decisions and lower courts should obey the decisions.

Bureaucratic Discretion

authority granted by Congress to federal agencies and their employees to make independent decisions regarding how to interpret and enforce laws and regulations.

Federal Civil Service

permanent, nonpartisan and professional branch of government administration (excluding military and judicial personnel) responsible for implementing laws and managing federal programs. 

Iron Triangle

policymaking relationship between congressional committees, bureaucracy, and interest groups.

Issue Network

where interest groups, agencies, and experts align to influence policy.

Merit System

hiring is done based on qualifications and competence.

Pendleton Act of 1883

established a merit-based system for the federal government that replaced the patronage-based “spoils system” with a merit-based system for federal employment.

Political Patronage

Appointments are made based on political loyalty.

Regulation

rules and guidelines created by government agencies to control and manage society.

Technocrat

bureaucrat with expertise in certain policy areas that provide use to the agency.

Rule Making Power

authority to make rules and regulations to implement laws.

Revolving Door

movement of individuals between government positions and the private sector, which can create issues with conflict of interests.