Ap gov first semester

federalist

supporters of the Constitution

anti-federalist

people who opposed the Constitution

Popular Sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

Social Contract Theory

The belief that people are free and equal by natural right, and that this in turn requires that all people give their consent to be governed; espoused by John Locke and influential in the writing of the declaration of independence.

limited government

The idea that certain restrictions should be placed on government to protect the natural rights of citizens.

checks and balances

A system that allows each branch of government to limit the powers of the other branches in order to prevent abuse of power

Impeach

To accuse government officials of misconduct in office

aquitted

found not guilty

delegated powers

powers given to the national government

implied powers

indirect but rooted in the Constitution via the Necessary and Proper Clause.

enumerated/expressed powers

the powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution

inherent powers

common sense powers- powers are given to federal government not stated in the constitution.

reserved powers

powers given to the state via 10th amendment

denied powers

powers the Constitution denied to the state and national government

concurent powers

powers shared by both the federal and state governmets

continental congress

gathering of selected legislatures from the 13 colonies- became the first American congress

Bicameral Legislation

legislature made up of 2 houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate

gerrymander

to draw district lines in such ways that gives unfair advantage to one group over the other.

incumbency

being already in office as opposed to running for the first time

credit claiming

the advantage derived from incumbents' ability to point to positive outcomes for which they are responsible

franking

A policy that enables members of Congress to send material through the mail by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for postage.

pork barreling

the use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes.

partisan

Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause

appropriation bills

bills that involve spending money; these must begin in the House of Representatives

senate term length

6 years (1/3 come up for re-election every 2 years)

House of Representatives term length

2 years

House of Representatives requirements

25 years old, a US citizen for 7 years, and live in the state you represent

Senate Requirements

30 years old, U.S. citizen for 9 years, and resident of state

President requirements

35 yrs.old, 14 years a citizen and a natural born citizen

filibuster

a tactic for delaying or obstructing legislation by making long speeches- a minority tactic to "talk a bill to death"

bills of attainder

when the legislature declares someone guilty without a trial

ex post facto law

a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed

committees

small groups of representatives who work out the details of bills

standing committees

permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area

special committees

a temporary committee organized around a specific purpose. Also called a select committee or an ad hoc committee, usually investigative in nature and lacks the authority to review legislation.

joint + conference committees

composed of members from both the house and state

committee of the whole

consists of all members of the House and meets in the House chamber

legislative jurisdiction

The authority to make and enforce laws

Congressional Oversight

the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation

quorum

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress

caucuses

private meetings run by political parties- also to choose a candidate

interest groups

Groups of people who work together for similar interests or goals

speaker of the house

The principal leader of the House or Assembly

House Majority Leader

the person who is the second in command of the House of Representatives

majority whip (HoR)

assist the floor leader of the majority party

House minority leader

the leader of the minority party, whose job mirrors that of the majority leader but without the power that comes from holding a majority in the House of Representatives

minority whip (HoR)

assist minority leader on floor

Senate president

US vice president- non-voting member unless there's a tie where the vice president has the deciding vote

President Pro Tempore

elected by senate- to step in if the vice president is absent (by custom the most senior senate in majority party

senate majority leader

The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate.

senate majority whip

The second ranking member of the Senate whose main job is to gather votes on major issues.

senate minority leader

leads minority party in Senate

senate minority whip

\- 4th ranking member of Senate

\- Main function: gather votes on major issues among members of minority party.

presidential benefits

benefits that come with being the president.

head of state

informal power- represents the nation; preforms ceremonial duties, hosts kings and queens, PSA's

chief executive

formal/both power- enforces law, appoints and removes federal offices, impoundment (can refuse to spend money on programs), executive orders, grants, reprieves, pardons, and amnesty

grants

money given by the national government to the states for some reason

categorical grants

federal funding to states for specific purposes with lots of strings attached; states can take it or leave it.

block grants

federal funding provided to states in chunks or "blocks" with only a broad purpose defined

unfunded mandates

direct orders to state governments to do something; little to no funding by the federal government

Land Ordinance of 1785

a law that laid out the process by which lands west of the Appalachian Mountains were to be surveyed and sold.

Malapportionment

the uneven distribution of the population among legislative districts

commander in chief

formal power to send troops to countries; makes key military decisions, directs armed forces, authority to use atomic weapons; Wars Powers Act

party leader

informal power- leader of his party; helps members run for office; fundraisers for his party; gives patronage (appoints people in office in return for their support during his campaign)

economic planner

informal power; acts as economic power, submits annual budget, gives economic report, impoundment

Chief Legislator

formal power; gives State of Union Address to Congress.

state of union address

The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation.

reprieve

postponement of legal punishment ex: death penalty

pardon

a release from legal punishment

amnesty

a group pardon ex: Vietnam War draft evaders

Wars Powers Act of 1973

President can send troops to an area of conflict for 60/90 days; after 60 days president must go to Congress for further allocations of funds- started after Vietnam War

presidential veto

a president's authority to reject a bill passed by Congress; may be overridden only by a two-thirds majority in each house

pocket veto

president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days

Chief Diplomat

directs foreign policy, defense department, treaties, and executive agreements

informal powers

powers not laid out in the Constitution but used to carry out presidential duties

formal powers

specific grants of power defined in the Constitution or in law

line-item veto

Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

treaties

formal agreements between two or more countries

executive agreements

informal pacts between the president and heads of other countries (similar to a handshake; no Senate required); international agreements usually related to trade made by the president w/ the force of a treaty.

executive orders

Orders issued by the President that carry the force of law

executive privilege

claim by the president that he has the right to decide that national interest will be better served if certain information is withheld from the public; including courts and congress

crisis manager

informal responsibility of the president to support the nation through hard times, ex: natural disasters, covid-19, etc etc

Moral Pursuader

informal- using presidency as a soap bar to persuade the public to adopt their policy agenda.

bureaucracy

mechanism that carries our day to day business of government- not specifically mentioned in the constitution

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

a collection of agencies that are all directly responsible for helping the president to deal with Congress and manage the larger executive branch.

white house staffer

usually former campaigners- trusted workers hired and fired by the will of the president

Chief of Staff

Most powerful white house staffer nicknamed gatekeeper- informally pres. closest political advisor- responsible for overseeing actions of other White house members, managing pres. , and controlling outsiders' access to the president.

EOP agencies

agencies that report directly to the President; hired and fired by the will of the president

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

oversees performance of federal agency and administers federal budget

National Security Advisors

chief advisor that advises president on matters of security

Council of Economic Advisors

within the EOP- charged with providing the President objective economic advice on the formulation of both domestic and international economic policy

the cabinet

A group of advisers to the president on policy issues and helps execute those policies; created by George Washington *not mentioned in the Constitution

Department of Agriculture

Develops and executes policy on farming, agriculture, and food

Department of Commerce

Promotes economic growth and job creation. Gathers economic and demographic data for business and government decision making. Issues patents and trademarks.

Department of Defense

Coordinates and supervises all government functions relating to national security and military defense

Department of Education

Smallest department. Devises and executes education policy on federal level and manages student air programs.

Department of Energy

Devises and executes policy on energy and nuclear safety

Health and Human Services Department

Protects health of people in the US and provides essential human services

Homeland Security Department

Protects territory of the US from terrorist attacks and responds to natural disasters