AP U.S. Government vocabulary 2.4-2.11

Policy Agenda

The issues that government officials and the public are paying serious attention to.

Cabinet

The President's chief advisors and the heads of the 15 major executive departments.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

The group of agencies and staff that directly support the President (e.g.

Veto

The President's formal power to reject a bill passed by Congress (can be overridden by a 2/3 vote).

Pocket Veto

When a bill automatically dies because the President takes no action and Congress adjourns within 10 days.

Line Item Veto

The unconstitutional power to reject only parts of a bill while signing the rest into law.

Commander in Chief

The President's constitutional role as the supreme leader of the U.S. armed forces.

Executive Agreement

An international agreement made by the President that does not require a formal Senate vote.

Treaty

A formal agreement with a foreign nation that requires 2/3 approval from the Senate.

Executive Order

A rule or command issued by the President that has the force of law within the executive branch.

Signing Statement

A written statement the President issues upon signing a bill

Congressional Agenda

The set of legislative priorities and issues that Congress is actively working on.

22nd Amendment

Constitutional amendment that limits the President to two elected terms (or a maximum of 10 years).

State of the Union Message

The President's annual address to Congress and the nation about current conditions and policy goals.

Bully Pulpit

The President's use of the office's prestige and visibility to influence public opinion and pressure Congress.

Agenda Setting

The power to draw public and government attention to specific issues and problems.

judicial review

The power of the courts to decide if a law or executive action is constitutional.

precedent

A court decision that sets a standard for judges to follow in similar future cases.

stare decisis

"Latin for let the decision stand. It's the practice of judges following precedent in their rulings."

judicial activism

The belief that judges should use their power to broadly interpret the Constitution and promote new social policies.

judicial restraint

The belief that judges should limit their use of power and generally defer to the policy decisions of the elected branches.

jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case.

original jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time (as a trial court).

appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review a case that has already been decided in a lower court.