ap gov vocab

social contract

The people give up some freedoms in trade for the government’s protection

popular sovereignty

The government rules at the consent of whom they govern

republicanism

The people elect leaders to represent them in government. They can re-elect leaders they like, and remove leaders they don’t by voting for someone else (elected officials make decisions on behalf of the people, guided by laws and a constitution)

federalism

Division of power between the national, state and local governments

limited government

A government system that is not as involved in citizens’ lives

factions

Groups of people that do things for their own benefit and not for the best interest of the country

Article 1

Establishes the legislative branch

Article 2

Establishes the executive branch

Article 3

Establishes the judicial branch

Article 4

Describes federalism

participatory democracy

A democracy where citizens can directly vote for policy (referendums and ballot measures)

pluralist democracy

Groups fighting against each other for power or to influence policy (interest groups)

elitist democracy

The wealthy/educated have more influence in democracy/public policy than the average citizen (electoral college)

direct democracy

Citizens control the government and there are no representatives

virginia plan

showed representation based on population and a bicameral legislature

new jersey plan

equal representation with all the states and an unicameral legislature

Great/Connecticut Compromise

Decided that one house of Congress will be represented by population (House)  while the other will be equal representation (Senate).

Article 5

Amendment process

Article 6

National government supersedes the state governments (supremacy clause)

Article 7

States that the Constitution will be official once 9/13 states agree

categorical grants

Money sent from the national government with a very specific purpose

block grants

Money sent from the state governments with a less specific purpose (more general than categorical grants, give states more power and freedoms)

funded mandates

Orders from the national government with funding

unfunded mandates

Orders from the national government without funding

Commerce Clause

(inTRAstate commerce is within a state while inTERstate commerce is between multiple states

Necessary and Proper Clause

Allows Congress to “make all laws necessary for carrying out their enumerated powers” (also called Elastic Clause)

Supremacy Clause

National laws overrule state laws (“supreme Law of the Land”)

dual federalism

Powers that the federal government and state governments have are clearly defined and separated.

cooperative federalism

Powers are shared between federal and state governments and they work together and collaborate.

fiscal federalism

·        States receive funding from the federal government with specific rules and regulations.·

enumerated powers

·        Powers listed in the Constitution (specifically for Congress and the judicial branch). Also called expressed powers.

exclusive powers

·        Powers for one part of government (judicial review is an exclusive power of the judicial branch)

implied powers

·        Powers that are not listed in the Constitution but needed for the branches to carry out their powers. They are defined in the Elastic Clause.

reserved powers

·        Powers reserved for the states.

concurrent powers

Shared between national, state and local governments

denied powers

·        Denied to the national government, state governments or both

bicameralism

·        Two legislative bodies in Congress - House and Senate.

How many House of Representative members are there?? How long do they serve?

·        435 members who serve two year terms.

How many Senators are there? How long do they serve?

·        100 Senators with six year terms.

How old do you have to be to be an HOR member? A Senator?

·        25 to be a HOR member, 30 to be a senator. (you have to be 35 to be the President. So remember it as it goes up by 5 each time. 25 to be in the House, 30 to be in the Senate and 35 to be a President.)

List some powers the legislative branch were given

·        The Power of the Purse (lay and collect taxes), declare war, coin money, regulate inTERstate commerce, the Senate can approve presidential appointments and ratify treaties.

How are judicial appointments confirmed

·        The Senate confirms them with a simple majority.

the Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives. They will (almost) always be a part of the majority party. They determine when a bill should be considered for a vote and preside over debate.

What is the President of the Senate? What is the president pro tempore?

The President of the Senate is the Vice President of the US and only places a vote if the Senate draws a tie. The president pro tempore presides over the Senate and is usually the longest-serving senator from the majority party.

standing committee

·        Permanent committees split in different groups such as Banking, Foreign Relations, etc

 select committees

·        Not permanent, created for a specific purpose and then dissolved. Sometimes they investigate allegations made towards a member of the executive branch.

joint committees

·        Permanent committees that contain both House members and Senators. They take care of tasks that involve both chambers.

conference committees

·        Temporary joint committees, compromise between House and Senate versions of the same bill. Dissolved after the process is finished.

rules committee

·        Decides the rules of debate for the House after a bill is shown by a standing committee. The rules placed will significantly affect the chances of the bill being passed.

 constituents

·        The people that a person who holds office represents. For example, Elizabeth Warren’s constituents are the people of Massachusetts as she is a Senator representing Massachusetts.

coalition

When many groups of people work together for a common end goal in politics

filibuster

·        A practice in the Senate where a Senator can speak for unlimited amounts of time to extend a debate. You might have heard about a filibuster being used when Ted Cruz spoke for 21 hours to defund the Affordable Care Act. A video of him reading Green Eggs and Ham during the filibuster went around social media.

What is cloture? How many are needed for a cloture?

3/5s of the Senate is needed and it calls for a complete end to debate and start of voting.

hold

·        An anonymous way for a Senator to stop any consideration of a bill.

discharge petition

·        They require a majority of House representatives, and it would bring a bill from the standing committee on the floor for a vote.

unanimous consent agreement

·        An agreement in which all Senators must agree to something before proceeding.

Which chamber has stricter rules for debate?

House

earmarks

·        Directs funds to specific projects. Earmarks are provisions on bills.

logrolling

·        Congressmen vote for each other’s bills for returned support. (If you help me, I’ll help you)

pork barrel spending

·        Money sent to congressional districts for special projects.

mandatory spending

·        Spending that must happen by law (social security, medicare)

discretionary spending

·        Optional spending, changes every year. For example, the amount spent on national defense varies yearly.

delegate model of representation

Representatives use their constituents' views ONLY to vote on a bill

trustee model of representation

·        Representatives use their own judgment to vote on bills.

politico model of representation

·        A combination of delegate and trustee. Representatives use their own judgment on bills that may not be as popular, and their constituents' judgment on bills that they have a strong opinion on.

gerrymandering

·        Redistricting to favor one party over another

divided government

·        When the majority of Congress and the President are of different parties.

unified government

·        When the majority of Congress and the President are of the same parties.

is gridlock

disagreement/fighting and it’s hard to get things done.

partisan 

To be biased towards one party

Vesting Clause

·        Establishes the executive branch and the President of the US.

Veto Power

·        Formal - When the president rejects a bill they have used their veto power. When the president doesn’t reject it, but doesn’t sign it for 10 days it dies as a pocket veto.

Make treaties

Formal - The President can make treaties (agreements) with other nations with the Senate’s 2/3s approval

Commander in Chief of military

·        Formal - Manage military operations (Only Congress can declare war)

Executive orders:

·        Informal - Allows the president to pass orders similar to laws without congressional approval

Executive agreements

·        Informal - Allows the president to have agreements with other countries similar to treaties without senate approval

Signing Statements:

·        : Informal - Presidents write these to describe how they interpreted the law when signing it

State of the Union Address

·        A yearly address the president makes to tell congress what they would like to see happen in relation to law/policy

bully pulpit

·        The President's ability to use the public to further their goals. Theodore Roosevelt came up with the term.

cabinet

·        What are some of the departments called? The president’s advisors in different departments such as the Department of Energy/Education/Homeland Security

Can the President introduce legislation to Congress?

·        No. Only congressmen can introduce legislation.

War Powers Act

·        Limited the President’s power in regards to military power.

Judiciary Act of 1789

·        Established a federal court system, however it was ruled unconstitutional.

judicial review

The power of the judicial branch to rule a law/executive order/etc unconstitutional.

judicial independence

·        Judicial branch should be independent from political pressure to remain fair

judicial activism

·        Actively looking for laws/actions that are unconstitutional

judicial restraint

Waiting for laws/acts that are unconstitutional to come to them (Judges hold back their power, preferring to let elected officials make decisions, intervening only when necessary)

·        Who is John Marshall?

First Supreme Court Justice of the United States

How long do justices on the Supreme Court serve?

for life

precedemt

·        The act of following previous rulings to remain constant. Also, lower courts follow higher court decisions.

state decisis

·        Doctrine that describes precedent

original jurisdiction

·        Cases that go straight to a specific court

appellate jurisdiction

·        Cases that go to courts before going to the second court.

court curbing measures

·        Ways that the president or congress could limit the impact of the ruling. Congress can pass legislation to overrule the ruling, President could ignore court rulings, Congress can also determine jurisdiction of the courts

Who can establish or abolish lower courts?

congress

Rule of Four

4/9 of the Supreme Court Justices agree to take a case

bureaucracy

·        Government agencies, divisions and departments.

What makes up the iron triangle

When an interest group, congressional committee, and the bureaucracy work together to achieve a policy goal.

the spoils system

·        Who started it? Giving people jobs if they helped someone win an election. Andrew Jackson started it.

the merit system

·        What did it do? Giving people jobs based on their qualifications and skills. Ended the spoils system.