AP Gov Unit 2 Vocab

Congress

The legislative branch of the U.S. government, composed of the House of Representatives and the Senate, responsible for making laws.

Apportionment

The process of distributing seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on population.

Seventeenth Amendment

Constitutional amendment that established the direct election of U.S. senators by popular vote.

War Powers Resolution

A 1973 law that limits the president's ability to deploy U.S. armed forces without congressional approval.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, elected by its members, and second in the presidential line of succession.

House Majority Leader

The leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives, responsible for scheduling legislation and securing votes.

Minority Leader

The leader of the minority party in either the House or Senate, serving as the chief spokesperson and strategist for the opposition.

Majority Whip

An official in the majority party who ensures party discipline and secures votes for legislation.

Minority Whip

An official in the minority party who assists the minority leader in managing the party's legislative program.

President pro tempore

A senior member of the majority party in the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the vice president.

Senate Majority Leader

The chief spokesperson and strategist for the majority party in the Senate, responsible for legislative scheduling.

Committee Chair

A member of Congress who leads a standing committee, overseeing hearings and managing committee business.

House Rules Committee

A powerful committee in the House that determines the rules for debate and amendment of bills.

Committee of the Whole

A procedural device in the House that allows for expedited consideration of legislation with a quorum of 100 members.

Standing Committee

A permanent committee in Congress that handles legislation in specific policy areas.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislative action by extending debate.

Hold

A Senate procedure where a senator informs the floor leader of their intention to object to a bill or nomination.

Cloture

A procedure to end a filibuster in the Senate, requiring a three

Pork Barrel Spending

Government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative's district.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

An executive branch office that assists the president in preparing the federal budget and overseeing its implementation.

Mandatory Spending

Expenditures required by law, such as Social Security and Medicare, that are not subject to the annual budget process.

Budget Deficit

The financial situation where government expenditures exceed revenue in a fiscal year.

Discretionary Spending

Government expenditures that are set on a yearly basis through appropriations bills, including defense and education.

National Debt

The total amount of money that the federal government owes to creditors.

Gridlock

A situation where there is difficulty passing laws due to evenly divided or polarized legislatures.

Delegate Model

A model of representation where legislators vote according to the preferences of their constituents.

Trustee Model

A model of representation where legislators use their own judgment to make policy decisions.

Politico Model

A hybrid model of representation where legislators act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries based on population changes.

Majority

minority districts

Malapportionment

Unequal representation in legislative bodies due to uneven distribution of population across districts.

Incumbency

The holding of an office or the period during which one is held.

Incumbency Advantage

The electoral edge afforded to those already in office.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that raises and distributes campaign funds to candidates for political purposes.

Gerrymandering (Partisan & Racial)

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries for political advantage or to dilute minority voting power.

Discharge Petition

A procedure to bring a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee.

Unanimous Consent Agreement

An agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for the consideration of a bill, requiring the consent of all senators.

Entitlement Program

A government program that provides benefits to individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements.

Constituency

The body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body.

Bipartisanship

Cooperation between members of different political parties to achieve common goals.

Divided Government

A situation where different political parties control the presidency and one or both houses of Congress.

Lame Duck Period

The time between the election of a new president and the departure of the current president.

Executive Branch

The branch of government responsible for implementing and enforcing laws, headed by the president.

Formal (or enumerated) Powers

Powers explicitly granted to the president by the Constitution.

Informal Powers

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but exercised by the president to fulfill duties.

Veto

The president's constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by Congress.

Pocket Veto

An indirect veto where the president takes no action on a bill for ten days while Congress is adjourned.

Treaty

A formal agreement between countries that requires ratification by the Senate.

Executive Agreement

An international agreement made by the president without Senate ratification.

Executive Order

A directive issued by the president that has the force of law.

Signing Statement

A written pronouncement issued by the president upon signing a bill into law, often outlining interpretations.

Executive Privilege

The president's right to withhold information from Congress or the judiciary.

Executive Office of the President

A group of agencies that support the president in executing official duties.

State of the Union Address

An annual message delivered by the president to Congress, outlining the nation's condition and legislative agenda.

Presidential Pardon

The president's power to forgive a person for a federal crime, eliminating punishment.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body levels charges against a government official.

Bargaining and Persuasion

The president's use of personal influence to manage relationships and negotiate with Congress.

Bully Pulpit

The president's use of visibility and prestige to guide or enthuse the American public.

Going Public

The president's strategy of appealing directly to the public to gain support for policy initiatives.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case first, before any other court.

Appellate Jurisdiction

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

Federalist No. 78

An essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing for the independence of the judiciary and the principle of judicial review.

Federal (US) District Courts

The general trial courts of the United States federal court system.

Federal (US) Courts of Appeals

Courts that hear appeals from the decisions of lower courts.

Certiorari

An order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court.

Supreme Court

The highest federal court in the United States, with ultimate appellate jurisdiction.

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

Precedent

A legal decision that serves as an authoritative rule in future similar cases.

Stare Decisis

The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.

Rule of Four

A Supreme Court practice that permits four of the nine justices to grant a writ of certiorari.

Majority Opinion

A judicial opinion agreed to by more than half of the members of a court.

Concurring Opinion

An opinion that agrees with the court's decision but offers additional reasoning.

Dissenting Opinion

An opinion that disagrees with the majority's decision in a court ruling.

Judicial Restraint

A philosophy where judges play minimal policymaking roles, deferring to legislatures.

Judicial Activism

A philosophy where judges make bold policy decisions, even charting new constitutional ground.

Criminal Law

The body of law that deals with crimes and their punishments.

Civil Law

The body of law that deals with disputes between individuals or organizations.

Federal Bureaucracy

The agencies and employees of the executive branch responsible for implementing government policies.

Administrative Adjudication

The process by which an agency resolves disputes over the implementation of its regulations.

Bureaucrat

A government official, especially one perceived as adhering to fixed rules and procedures.

Iron Triangle

The relationship between Congress, government agencies, and interest groups that influences policy.

Issue Network

A coalition of various interest groups and individuals who unite to promote a common cause.

Political Patronage

The appointment of individuals to government positions as a reward for political support.

Pendleton Act

A federal law that established that government jobs should be awarded based on merit.

Federal Civil Service

The permanent professional branches of a government's administration.

Merit System

A system of hiring and promotion based on competitive exams and qualifications.

Implementation

The process of putting a decision or plan into effect.

Delegated Discretionary Authority

The power given to bureaucratic agencies to make decisions within certain guidelines.

Regulation

A rule or directive made and maintained by an authority.

Congressional Oversight

The review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, and policy implementation.