ap gov midterm

Republic

An indirect democracy, where you elect representatives to represent you

Bicameral legislature

a type of government where congress is split into two houses or chambers

virginia plan

• 3 branches of government

• bicameral

• more populated=more members in congress

new jersey plan

• unicameral

• each state=1 vote

writ of habeaus corpus

the right to know why you have been imprisoned

shays rebellion

farmers could not pay land taxes and farms were seized. they got mad and rebelled. this proved how weak the central government was under the articles of confederation

great compromise

• bicameral legislature

• more popular=more house members

• 2 senators from each state

3/5 compromise

slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person to account for state popularity to determine how many members in the house. this gave southern states a larger say in presidency.

compromise on importation

congress could not stop slave trade until 1808

separation of powers

each of the three branches has different jobs

checks and balances

each of the three branches can check each other to make sure no one branch becomes too powerful

federalists

• supported the constitution

• strong national government

• AOC was too weak

anti-federalists

• opposed the constitution

• stronger state governments

• Brutus 1

• concerned about oppression of rights

factions

a group within a larger group that has a different opinion than the rest

federalism

powers should be divided with state and central gov

unitary system

one central government with all the power

confederation system

states have more power than national gov

expressed powers

powers listed in the constitution

implied powers

powers not listed in the constitution, but implied for the well-being of the people

commerce clause

congress can regulate trade

necessary and proper clause

the government can stretch and be flexible with what they do even if it is not in the constitution

supremacy clause

laws, treaties, and the constitution are more important than anything else

tenth amendment

powers not prohibited or mentioned in the constitution are reserved for the states.

reserved powers

powers for the states (local ___)

concurrent powers

powers that the state and federal government share (taxes and courts)

full faith and credit clause

states must respect records, public acts, and court proceedings from other states

dual federalism

• also called layer cake federalism

• national government and state government should be separated

cooperative federalism

• also called marble cake federalism

• national and state gov work together

grants

money given to the states from the federal government

block grants

grants with flexible spending (education)

project grants

states compete for money

formula grants

provides money for eligibles based on a formula

funded mandates

federal government orders states to do something and funds it

unfunded mandate

federal gov orders states to do something but does not fund it

devolution

power being returned to the states from the federal government

pork barrel spending/earmarks

legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

logrolling

congress members exchanging votes to get their earmarks passed

oversight

congress making sure executive branch officials and departments are acting within congressional goals

apportionment

determining the number of representatives in the house per state

redistricting

the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries

gerrymandering

redistricting to benefit a political party

incumbency advantages

• franking privilege

  • sending free mail

• media recognition

• credit claiming

speaker of house

• second in line of sucession

• set bill for calendar

• runs the rules committee

• determines open/closed rule

house majority leader

spokesperson for majority party in the house

whip

member of party who ensures party unity and discipline

minority leader

head of the minority party

majority leader

head of party with majority seats

committee chair

leads the committee and assigns responsibilities to members

discharge petition

forcing a bill onto the House floor for discussion and debate

rules committee

• in the house

• most important

• determines how much time is spent on the bill

• puts bills on the calendar
  

filibuster

an attempt to block a vote or legislation by speaking—only done by the senate. 3/5 of senate needed to end

office of management and budget

helps the president work on the budget

mandatory spending

spending that is already allocated (medicare, social security, etc)

discretionary spending

optional spending that congress has a choice on

politico

mix of delegate and trustee

trustee

making decisions based off your personal opinion

delegate

making decisions based off what the people want

gridlock

congress is unable to pass legislature due to disagreements

divided government

when one party controls the white house and the other controls one or both of the houses

formal (enumerated) powers of the president

• veto

• pocket veto

• commander in chief
  

informal powers of the president

• signing statements

• executive order

• bargaining and persuasion

state of the union

message from president to congress to report on the current status of the US

veto

when the president rejects a bill

pocket veto

when the president doesn’t sign a bill until the legislative session is over

pardon

excusing punishment

reprieve

postponing punishment

commutation

lessening punishment

signing statement

when the president releases a statement based off the interpretation of the bill or why they passed it

executive orders

orders from the president that are legally binding but not laws

executive office of the president

speech writers or press managers

bargaining and persuasion

an informal power the president has to persuade members of congress to implement their policy agenda

bully pulpit

when the president uses the power and influence of their office to persuade public opinion

going public

when the president appeals to the American people to pressure Congress to support a policy—speeches, media appearances

patronage/spoils system

giving benefits to people who are loyal as a reward.

bureaucracy

a body of non elected government officials

pendleton act

an act that required using a merit system to hire employees-ended the spoils system

hatch act

prohibited some federal employees from engaging in politics

civil service/merit system

way of hiring and promoting government workers based off skills and qualifications

iron triangle

the relationship between congress, bureaucracies, and interest groups.

how does congress effect interest groups in the iron triangle?

by providing favorable insight and legislationh

how does congress effect bureaucracies in the iron triangle?

by providing funding and support

how do interest groups effect congress in the iron triangle?

provide information and electoral supporth

how do interest groups effect the bureaucracy in the iron triangle?

lobbying and informationh

how does the bureaucracy effect congress in the iron triangle?

provides expertise and executes laws

how do bureaucracies effect interest groups in the iron triangle?

favorable regulations

bureaucratic rulemaking

when the bureaucracy creates regulations based off a law (issues guidelines, legally binding regulations)

bureaucratic adjudication

when the bureaucracy acts as a court

bureaucratic discretion

bureaucracies can make decisions on what actions to take/to not take

legislative oversight

congress can question or review actions of the executive branch to make sure there are correctly enforcing laws

supreme court

the highest court, this court has appellate and original jurisdiction. it has nine justices

what kind of cases might the supreme court hear?

• issues between states

• different interpretations of the law

• international or national importance

original jurisdiction

hearing the case for the first time

appellate jurisdiction

hearing the case after it has been heard from a lower court

judicial review

the courts can declare laws and executive actions unconstitutional

district courts

the lowest level of federal courts, also called trial courts. they only have original jurisdiction

appeals court

the second highest level of federal courts, they have appellate jurisdiction

stare decisis

letting a previous legal decision stand

majority opinion

the binding opinion that serves as the precedent

dissenting opinion

disagrees with the majority opinion

concurring opinion

while they rule with the majority opinion, they do it for a different reason or because there is not enough logic to rule with the other side